By Rishona Gauba
Music is one of the most intricate art forms. As a musician, this may be a biased opinion, but I believe everyone can see merit in that claim. Try to recall the memories of your first concert – did you get goosebumps the second you heard the first note of the opening song? How about crying to your favourite artist’s performances? Ever felt the need to move around and dance when that one song comes on? Every single one of these reactions is surely universal, and these are just some of the responses we have to music, making it such an impactful art.
During the summer of 2024, I attended a five-week program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, which I will be attending in the fall of 2025. One of my biggest apprehensions about going into this program was that I would not be “good enough”, and when I walked into the guitar audition on the first day, this feeling amplified. I saw two rooms full of incredibly talented guitarists practising, and my first reaction was to feel nervous. I was worried this feeling would affect how I played, so I tuned it out and focused on practising when someone in the room started talking to me about the audition. Instead of feeling intimidated, I felt this odd sense of comfort and realised I was surrounded by people who were as in love with music as me. This changed my entire perspective – I was no longer nervous or unsure of my skills, while still being able to respect and appreciate the talent that surrounded me. Those five weeks were filled with meeting new people, jamming anywhere and everywhere, learning more about music theory and my instrument, and creating unforgettable memories. I could not be more grateful for this experience, and I can confidently say it made me a better musician. Nevertheless, many other driving factors have shaped my style and knowledge in this subject.
Being in CIS, I have been lucky enough to know and work with the art and music departments on numerous instances, and they have taught me more than I could have imagined in the past 6 years. I have been a part of the cast in our school musicals like School of Rock (2022), The Addams Family (2023), and now Legally Blonde (2024), and have learned more about the art of musical theatre. I have worked with MYP and DP music teachers Ms. Heath and Ms. Zellhoefer and accompanied their choirs (junior and senior) on guitar, bass, and drums. Alongside enriching my experience with music at CIS, these two teachers have been driving factors in my journey as a musician at this school. Their support has allowed me to perform at The Blackbird restaurant and play music for the Class of 2024’s DP Visual Arts Exhibition. Amongst these experiences, I have been a part of the secondary rock bands at CIS since 2022, performing at the CIS Winter and End of Year Concerts alongside the annual “Beatfreaked” show. These opportunities and resources have been invaluable and the foundational characteristic of my drive to pursue music.
Being in CIS, I have been lucky enough to know and work with the art and music departments on numerous instances, and they have taught me more than I could have imagined in the past 6 years. I have been a part of the cast in our school musicals like School of Rock (2022), The Addams Family (2023), and now Legally Blonde (2024), and have learned more about the art of musical theatre. I have worked with MYP and DP music teachers Ms. Heath and Ms. Zellhoefer and accompanied their choirs (junior and senior) on guitar, bass, and drums. Alongside enriching my experience with music at CIS, these two teachers have been driving factors in my journey as a musician at this school. Their support has allowed me to perform at The Blackbird restaurant and play music for the Class of 2024’s DP Visual Arts Exhibition. Amongst these experiences, I have been a part of the secondary rock bands at CIS since 2022, performing at the CIS Winter and End of Year Concerts alongside the annual “Beatfreaked” show. These opportunities and resources have been invaluable and the foundational characteristic of my drive to pursue music.
CIS’s ability to foster interests and nurture their development into something more than just a hobby allowed me to grow as a musician in a supportive and enthusiastic environment. As I continue to thrive in my final year of high school, I am grateful for the opportunities I got at this school and the teachers who encouraged and pushed me to take risks.