Senior Spotlight Questionnaire Results

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What would people be surprised to learn about you?

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What would people be surprised to learn about you?

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What would people be surprised to learn about you?

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Increasing Qubit Lifetimes for Superconducting Quantum Computing

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Music
Music Performance
Computer Science

Trombone

Creative Large Ensemble, Small Group A

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

In the Spring of my first year here, the Creative Large Ensemble hosted pianist/composer Orrin Evans as a guest composer for the jazz festival. Not only were the compositions we played fantastic, but during the concert, the song order was not set beforehand but instead was chosen by Orrin in real time. I remember feeling a nervous excitement throughout the entire concert; I loved that both the performers and the audience didn't know what to expect. I have several other fond memories from that concert, including one of my first improvised solos that I was proud of, as well as a wild tenor saxophone solo from a CLE alumn, Preston, where he was chirping like a bird. The whole time I felt extremely present in the music, and the experience made me certain I wanted to continue with jazz at Princeton.

Who is your favorite composer/musician, and why?

Too many possible answers here, but someone whose work has had a large influence on my relationship with improvisation and composition is the alto saxophonist / composer, Steve Lehman. His album, Ex Machina, recorded by Orchestre National de Jazz and himself, blew my mind. The entire album combined computer processing and feedback in the context of a jazz large ensemble environment, and it had some of the weirdest harmonies and improvisation that I have ever heard. What draws me to Lehman the most is his approach to improvisation: his harmonic choices live in the gray area between dissonance and consonance, and his rhythmic choices, much like Thelonious Monk, feel super angular yet intentional.

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

I would really like to give a shoutout to Matthew Parrish, the current leader of Small Group A and the previous leader of Small Group X. Small Group X was the first small group I joined at Princeton, and it was initially quite an intimidating experience for a sophomore just getting started with jazz improvisation. However, Prof. Parrish helped alleviate a lot of my imposter syndrome, particularly when he told the whole group that we could all be professional jazz musicians if we really wanted to. That quote has resonated in my head since then, and in general, I attribute a large majority of my growth as an improviser to the time I've played with Matthew Parrish as a group leader. He is one of the nicest teachers at Princeton, and he truly cares about the growth of his students!

Memoir

English

Music, Creative Writing

Marimba, Percussion, Piano

Princeton University Wind Ensemble, Princeton University Percussion Players Ensemble, Princeton University Band

How does pursing a music major/certificate fit into your life plans?

I plan to be a music teacher!

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

My favorite moments were conducting the band at the March Madness Sweet 16 game and the Reunions P-Rade my sophomore year.

What will you miss most about being at Princeton?

I will miss being able to connect with so many different musicians in one place.

AI-Enabled Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Music Performance
Computer Science

Voice

Chamber Choir, Glee Club

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

I’ve most enjoyed working with David Kellett, my voice teacher, who has been the most influential person in both my vocal and musical development at Princeton. Beyond being an exceptional teacher, he’s also a great friend—kind, witty, wise, and deeply relatable. His support and guidance have shaped not only how I sing, but also how I connect with music and express myself as an artist.

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

Outside of being an electrical engineer in training, I have immersed myself in singing at Princeton. Throughout my 4 years, my involvement in the Nassoons, Chamber Choir, and Glee Club has defined a large part of my undergraduate experience. Besides singing, I also play on the Men's Club Volleyball team and participate in E-Club's IgniteSTEM.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

As I look back on my time at Princeton, I think my favorite moment was performing the role of Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte through the MPP219 course. After spending a full semester learning music, blocking, and perfecting the show, the course culminated in a final performance that I will never forget. I will forever be grateful to David Kellett, Ruth Ochs, and the music department for that amazing opportunity.

A Distributed Morphological (DM) analysis of Occitan verbal morphology and polymorphy

Linguistics

MPP Minor in Conducting
FRE Minor in French Language and Culture

Voice, violin

Glee Club, Chamber Choir, Trenton Youth Singers and Orchestra, Sinfonia

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

My favorite moment was performing Path of Miracles with the Chamber Choir this past March. It was one of the most incredible musical experiences I have ever had, and perhaps will ever have. Path of Miracles is such a complex and grandiose piece, and to sing it to a nearly sold-out Richardson and receive such a warm audience response (standing ovation!!) was an honor and a privilege.

What's your favorite spot on campus and why?

I can frequently be found in the Campus Club Coffee Club location – it's really close to Woolworth (where I basically spend all my time) and has fantastic drinks. Since it's frequented by so many people, you'll always bump into a friend there, which makes everything better 🙂

What are you most proud of from your time as an undergraduate student?

I'm very proud of and thankful for the musical theater shows I got to music direct. Throughout my time at Princeton, I music directed and conducted seven full-length musicals, each of which was so different from the last. Carrie, which went up at the end of February, was my final time as full music director, and was such a special production; I am so proud of all of the actors and so grateful that I got to be a part of it.

Methods to the Madness: Representations of Mental Difference in Opera and Musical Theatre

Minor in Vocal Performance, Minor in Theater and Music Theater

Voice

Princeton University Glee Club

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

Singing the soprano solo in PUO and Glee Club's performance of Poulenc's Gloria was a very special experience for me. This has been my favorite piece of choral music for a long time, and getting to sing it with so many of my favorite people on campus was a memory I will treasure forever. I am so grateful to Maestro Pratt, Mike McCormick, and Gabriel Crouch for making this opportunity possible.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

For those who don't already know, I initially declared my major as chemistry! I have been passionate about chemistry since high school, and though that passion has continued, I realized that the independent work I really wanted to be doing as an upperclassman centered around music instead.

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

I have devoted a lot of my time at Princeton to student theatre, whether as a performer, director, music director, or other member of the production team. I feel endlessly lucky to be surrounded by such talented and dedicated peers who have also become some of my closest friends during the last four years. I have learned so much from them, and I know I will look back fondly on all the time we spent working together.

Electronic Music Composition

N/A

Piano, voice

Jazz Small Group A, Nassoons (a cappella)

What will you miss most about being at Princeton?

I will miss the community of brilliant musicians and supportive faculty who made my undergraduate career so amazing. It is so nice to be surrounded by people with similar passions.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I am going to medical school in August!

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

I have loved performing at every concert with my Jazz Small Group, but I think I will look back most fondly on the times my friends and I would jam together in the practice rooms– completely spontaneous, not trying to impress anyone.

Earthly Desires - A Symphony in four movements

Engineering Biology
Piano Performance

Piano

Early Music Princeton

What will you miss most about being at Princeton?

The incredibly easy access to Steinway Pianos! For the past four years, I woke up every day at 6am to practice on either the Rocky common room Steinway B (one of my favorite pianos on campus), the Woolworth basement Steinways, or the Effron Steinways. I especially loved going to the Rocky common room, where I could play Bach for the dining staff bathed in the aroma of the Rocky bakery.

What are you most proud of from your time as an undergraduate student?

I am most proud of how much I have challenged myself at Princeton and what I have been able to accomplish by pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Never would I have thought I would be going on tour during finals my junior year or performing in every performance hall on campus, presenting my research at two international conferences or composing a four-movement symphony for my final senior thesis, but I have been able to do these and so much more, all while successfully pursuing my dreams of becoming a pianist/physician.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

This past year, I have been serving as the interim director and Treton Arts Fellow for the Trenton Youth Orchestra as a part of the Trenton Arts at Princeton program. Working with the incredibly talented and driven students gave me so much joy each Saturday, and seeing them work together throughout the year on the challenging pieces was a treat. I loved being able to greet them each week and guide them through tough passages or hard rhythms. Their final showcase performance was a particularly heart-warming moment, seeing all of the year’s hard work come together in a beautiful performance despite all of the logistical challenges the year presented us. I was so proud that we were able to present a student playing a commissioned concerto written by a fellow Princeton Music Major, Toussaint.

Branching Out: An Alternative Approach to Variational Based Clonal Tree Reconstruction Using Wilson's Algorithm

ORFE

Computer Science

Clarinet

PUO, OPUS

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

I'm a member of Opus, a student led chamber ensemble, and this year, I also joined Naacho, Princeton's South Asian dance team.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

Definitely my senior recital. Seeing all of my friends come to support me in my last performance as an undergraduate student was a very memorable experience.

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

My teacher, Jo-Ann Sternberg! She has been such a joy to learn from and has been so helpful throughout my college music journey.

A Collection of Songs

East Asian Studies

Drums, Latin Percussion, Guitar, Bass, Voice

Jazz Vocal Ensemble

What are you most proud of from your time as an undergraduate student?

The moment I decided to abandon physics as my degree during my sophomore year. There was doubt, anxiety, and a slew of other emotions, but my love for music and songwriting kept me committed, and I am eternally happy that I stayed that way.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

The first Jazz Vocal Ensemble concert I performed at. I arranged one of my original tunes for the band, and hearing my voice and song echo throughout the halls of Richardson Auditorium is a feeling that still sits in my heart till this day.

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

Even though I got into it quite recently, I have loved climbing and bouldering!

Epistemic Partiality and the Demands of Friendship

Philosophy

Minors in Linguistics and Music Performance (Classical Percussion). Certificate in Cognitive Science.

Percussion

Princeton University Orchestra

Who is your favorite composer/musician, and why?

Keiko Abe! She is a pioneering composer and marimbist. I love how she combines traditional Japanese sounds and Western musical forms.

What will you miss most about being at Princeton?

My friends! I have met so many new people, who have such interesting stories to tell. I think that my time in PUO has been instrumental to meeting these awesome people.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I have studied/worked in six countries: Australia, US, UK, Germany, Spain, and Taiwan.

Discourse Particles in Gen Z Texting

COS

Linguistics, Music

African Music Ensemble

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

Building a light-sensitive oscillator in the StudioLab

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

Playing with Tora Taiko, our traditional Japanese drumming ensemble

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

Learning how to play a baroque recorder in a day for a big concert at the Chapel

"That Which I Cannot See: Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra"

n/a

How does pursing a music major/certificate fit into your life plans?

I plan to write orchestra music and play in my progressive rock band Strawberry Milk. Majoring in music allowed me nearly endless access to opportunities in which I was able to hone my orchestrational abilities, and I was able to co-write and engineer two prog rock albums, amounting to 30 songs and 170 minutes of music.

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

I've been extremely privileged to receive the mentorship of Professor Ruth Ochs in the study of the construction of orchestral music. She has been ceaselessly committed to fostering my development as an orchestral creator, and has selflessly carved out unbelievable numbers of programming opportunities for my work. At every juncture in my development while at Princeton, Professor Ochs has striven to share with me all that she knows, to understand who I wish to be so as to understand how to edify me, and to challenge me to take my craft to the next level. It is only because of Ruth that I am the musician and person who I am today, and I cherish her friendship.

What are you most proud of from your time as an undergraduate student?

I'm quite proud of the body of work that I've produced while at Princeton. I've composed 6 orchestra pieces (3 for Sinfonia and 3 for Camerata), crafted 8 chamber works – including a piece for Sō Percussion, written around 70 songs, and engineered 2 albums.

Symphony for Wind Ensemble

Clarinet Performance

Clarinet, Saxophone

Wind Ensemble, PUO, Sinfonia, CLE, Afrobeat

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

One of my favorite things I've done on campus has been working at the Coffee Club - not only is it an amazing community (with really great coffee), but it's also a great way to work and get into a flow state without focusing on the stress of academic life.

Who is your favorite composer/musician, and why?

I think my favorite composer at this point is John Mackey. His music, particularly his orchestration for winds, is incredibly evocative and colorful, and he's expanded the modern wind band repertoire so much over the past several decades. He's certainly had a very large influence on my musical work at Princeton.

What are you most proud of from your time as an undergraduate student?

Without a doubt the thing I'm most proud of from my time as an undergrad was helping to reestablish and relaunch the Wind Ensemble, bringing from a defunct group to an active, vibrant ensemble of over 50 students. Working with PUWE has been a true highlight of my time at Princeton!

Sounding the Folk-Pop Aesthetic: An Examination of Genre Hybridity in Noah Kahan's Stick Season

Chinese Language

Piano

How does pursing a music major/minor fit into your life plans?

Building on the liberal arts education I've received at Princeton, I hope to pursue graduate school in music theory/musicology with the goal of becoming an academic. The different ways I've engaged with music research as a major in the department have greatly shaped my scholarly voice and approach to acquiring musical knowledge, and I'm excited to continue honing my skills in future educational endeavors.

What's your favorite spot on campus and why?

I consider the Effron Music Building to be somewhat of a second home. Some weeks, I have found myself frequenting there as much as fifteen times, whether to practice a piano piece or work on a composition or simply play around with different chords and melodies. I enjoy the natural light in each practice room and the proximity to my current dorm in Forbes.

What will you miss most about being at Princeton?

I will definitely miss being in the presence of such talented, well-rounded peers. I've learned so much not only from the wonderful faculty and staff at Princeton, but from other students whose distinct stories and perspectives have enriched my intellectual and social worldviews.

Suite on Armenian Themes

Piano

Princeton Piano Ensemble

Who is your favorite composer/musician, and why?

My favorite composer is Frédéric Chopin. All of Chopin's works are distinctly beautiful. Each of his nocturnes, etudes, and waltzes was composed with great skill and talent. But more than this, his music has the ability to refresh the soul. Oftentimes, after a long day studying, I enjoy nothing more than playing through some of Chopin's nocturnes. They may be simple and technically easy to play, but it is through their simplicity that so much beauty can be found.

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

I am very involved with the Aquinas Institute. As a sub-deacon in the Armenian Apostolic Church, I am passionate about my faith, and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow as a Christian through the Catholic community on campus.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

There are two chairs and a small desk in the Mendel Music library. It is located on the second floor, where the cubicles and journals/magazines are. Enter the room and go all the way to the end. I love these two chairs and table. It is the perfect spot to study. It has a beautiful view of Prospect Garden, and nobody will bother you since the spot is difficult to find. Also, the tilt of the chairs perfectly matches my back, so I never get sore no matter how long I sit in those chairs.

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What would people be surprised to learn about you?

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What would people be surprised to learn about you?

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What would people be surprised to learn about you?

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Novel Self-Reporting Mechanism for Musically-Evoked Kinesthetic Imagery

COS AB

Music Performance

French Horn, Piano, Conducting

OPUS, PUO, Sinfonia, Glee Club, Triangle, PUP

How does pursing a music major/minor fit into your life plans?

I want to keep music performance in my life in whatever shape possible. Since I'm moving to NYC, I hope I will be able to enter the gig or community theater/orchestra world even as I work full-time as an engineer. The dream is to use my training in the MPP minor to one day make music my career!

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

I'm had so many great collaborators and mentors in the music department, but I wanted to give a special shoutout to Vince di Mura, who has been a force of nature to work with. From playing delightful MT shows together to tackling intense chamber repertoire on my senior recital, he has been an amazing musician and friend.

What will you miss most about being at Princeton?

I'll miss how effortless it is to find your 'people.' From the moment I stepped on campus, I've been able to tap into the Princeton music community for friendship and unforgettable performance opportunities alike. It was incredibly easy to pack my weekends full of concerts and witness (and decompress to) the talent that students here have.

Structuring the "Double Security": The Function of the State Constitution in New Jersey and Beyond

Politics

German and Music

Voice, piano, and conducting

Glee Club and Chamber Choir

What's your favorite spot on campus and why?

McAlpin Rehearsal Room in Woolworth Center -- it's where I spent countless precious hours singing with the Glee Club and Chamber Choir.

Who is your favorite composer/musician, and why?

Franz Schubert, because his music (especially his Lieder, speaking as a student of the German language) is so deeply lyrical and intimate. He knew how to write a melody, for sure!

What will you miss most about being at Princeton?

One of many things: having a close-knit community to make beautiful (choral) music with at the highest levels possible.

The Human Voice: an English singing translation of Francis Poulenc's La voix humaine

Comparative Literature

Humanistic Studies
Vocal Performance
Translation and Intercultural Communication

Voice

Chamber Choir, Glee Club, Decem, Princeton Opera Company

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

I am deeply grateful for my time with my voice teacher, David Kellett. Through every week on campus, he has guided me attentively, firmly, and with unwavering faith in my ability, and has shaped the musician I am today. Thank you, David!

What's your favorite spot on campus and why?

Richardson Auditorium, besides being a gorgeous building, has been a formative place for me these past years. I performed on its stage with Glee Club, Chamber Choir, The Princeton Opera Company, Sinfonia, and PUO, attended countless events as an audience member, and worked there as a house manager with the wonderful front of house team.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

Performing Joby Talbot's Path of Miracles with the Chamber Choir was, and will remain, one of the top musical experiences of my life. The satisfaction of working hard on a piece for a whole year and performing it on campus and abroad was an experience that solidified my commitment to performance after Princeton.

San Diego Public High School Performance

Economics

Finance
Music

Violin

Princeton University Orchestra

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

As assistant director for POCO's Spring 2026 production of Gianni Schicchi, watching a packed Richardson abuzz with excitement for our production was immensely gratifying. 🙂

Who is your favorite composer/musician, and why?

Tchaikovsky. Throughout thick and thin, I find consistent solace in his music's sentimentality.

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

I am very fortunate to have three answers here!

Nancy Wilson, my violin teacher for all four years here, for her expertise, grace, and especially her unending kindness.

Professor Ruth Ochs, who helped me re-kindle my enthusiasm for repertoire discovery and music historiography.

And last but certainly not least, Professor Simon Morrison, who removed my fear of writing about music and encouraged me to view music holistically.

Black Holes and General Relativity

Astrophysics

Music Performance: Jazz Voice

Voice

Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Creative Large Ensemble, Small Group X, Roaring 20 A Cappella

With whom on the music faculty/staff have you particularly enjoyed working, and why?

Ms. Michelle Lordi - when I started working with her, my goal was simply to win more a cappella solos and try to expand my range. She slowly turned me into a jazz singer, and as I look forward to attending graduate school, I want to thank her for her guidance and dedicate much of my success to her and her support.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I played classical French horn for 11 years (2 in PUO) and jazz trumpet for 8 years.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

A turning point for me was performing at my first Jazz Vocal Ensemble show during my junior fall. The feeling of performing on a stage with a trio is indescribable, and I realized that this is something I truly love to do and want to pursue at a higher level.

Semantic Overlap in Music Tags: An Embedding Analysis of a Music Dataset (IW)

Computer Science

Music

Trumpet, Voice, Guitar

What non-academic pursuits have you enjoyed on campus?

Singing a cappella for the Princeton Footnotes has surprisingly impacted my entire experience as an undergraduate in ways I could have never expected, giving me some of my closest friendships, most meaningful memories, and one of the strongest senses of home on campus.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

Analyzing and composing music for film with Yihan and Dmitri was a truly formative experience, and it completely changed the way I listen to movie scores. The course inspired me to record and edit music for a short film with Princeton Pictures as the Music Supervisor.

Describe a favorite moment/s related to music as you look back on your time on campus.

Attending the recent Princeton Electronic Dance Music Festival at the LCA for PLOrk’s 20th anniversary! It was exciting to see the range of technologies artists used to create dance music, audio-reactive lighting, and interactive structures.