English was prohibited inside the home – we spoke in Russian and studied Scripture in Hebrew. The house resonated with the strains of live music, a symphony of sound echoed through the halls. Whether it was the trills of piano keys, the mournful melody of a violin, the rich tones of a clarinet, the rhythmic strumming of a guitar, the harmonies of singing voices, or my father secluded himself upstairs, crafting compositions in the style of Anton Webern.

As a Jewish youth, I regularly memorized and sang Scripture for the congregation, including at my Bar Mitzvah.          This experience undoubtedly honed my musical memory, benefiting my violin performance and conducting skills.

At the age of 14, I made a pivotal decision to pursue conducting, investing my life's savings, accumulated from leading youth groups at the synagogue, into purchasing my first score: Beethoven’s 9th. Previously earmarked for Baskin-Robbins visits, I redirected 50% of my funds towards building my score library. Sneaking the Beethoven symphony score out of my closet one night, I immersed myself in it, following along with my finger as I listened to the mysterious opening through headphones under a feeble glow of a solitary lamp light. This ritual of score study gradually became the perfect sanctuary for the introspective and somewhat solitary teenager that I was.

Fast forward to my first rehearsal at Georgia State University. Maestro Michael Palmer captivated me with his conducting. Introduced by my violin professor, our connection swiftly evolved into weekly conducting lessons, culminating in my role as Maestro Palmer's personal and orchestra assistant. Throughout the years of studying with Maestro Palmer, we focused on all dimensions of a conductor and an all-around musician.
Music means the world to me; hardly an hour goes by without it in my life, as Gilbert K. Chesterton said; “Life exists for the love of music or beautiful things”. I never have to force myself to study, play, practice, or listen to it. Music fills my life with boundless joy, fulfillment, and profound meaning, igniting a deep-seated inspiration to share its beauty with all. My dream is to bring music to as many people as possible; so that, hopefully, one day, somewhere in a concert hall, a kid sitting in an “uncomfortable” chair can have their life changed forever like mine was.