For sophomore Stacey Kim, music has been a defining part of her life since she was five years old.
“I started playing when I was in Singapore, and the school that I went to made it mandatory to learn either the violin or the cello,” Stacey said. “I obviously didn’t know what either was because I was 5 years old. So I remember asking my mom and looking at photos of both. I ended up choosing the violin because the cello was ‘too big.’”
Choosing the violin was a childhood decision that paid off for Stacey, and she is a talented and hardworking musician today. She balances a demanding musical schedule alongside challenging academics, all while maintaining a variety of interests outside of school.
“Some of my favorite hobbies outside of school are cooking and gardening,” she said. “My family has a vegetable garden in our backyard, and I help my parents plant, maintain, and harvest the vegetables throughout the growing season. It’s super fun because I can then use the plants that I grow and incorporate them into my own cooking.”
“My mom has been teaching me to make Korean food so that’s been my new niche as of late,” she said.
At Chatham High School, Stacey’s favorite classes are biology and history. “Even though they seem to be on completely different ends of the spectrum, I think they are similar because they both feel very relevant in the real world,” she said. “Biology is interesting because it helps explain the world around us and how our bodies function. History is interesting because studying the past helps you better understand what’s happening in the world today.”
Balancing academics with her musical training requires serious dedication and discipline. Stacey typically begins her days early every morning. “On weekdays, I typically wake up around 5:00 AM to get in about two hours of practice before school,” she said. “After school, I usually spend my time either studying or practicing unless I have something scheduled.”
Her musical commitments include “solo pieces, orchestra music, chamber music, and audition excerpts.” In addition, she teaches younger students, takes lessons, and attends rehearsals throughout the week.
Most Saturdays are spent at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College program. “While I’m there, I have my private lesson, and take classes such as ear training, music theory, and orchestra,” Stacey said. “I love it there so much. The people there are so incredibly inspiring, talented, and fun to be around.”
“I’ve met some of my best friends through the program, and I’ve learned so much both musically and personally,” she said. “I’ve had the opportunities to serve as concertmaster, take on other leadership roles, and perform as part of a solo quartet with orchestra, which has been an amazing experience.”
For Stacey, the most rewarding aspect of music is not necessarily performing alone, but working with others.
“What has inspired me to keep playing since that fateful day has been my love for making music with others,” she said. “I love being part of the music community and collaborating with other musicians—whether that’s in an orchestra, with an accompanist, in a pit, or at a music camp.”
She added, “Working with others has helped me grow not only as a musician but also as a person, and I’ve formed many meaningful relationships through music.”
This year has brought several memorable performance opportunities. Stacey performed for violinist Ray Chen in a masterclass, played the Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins with the Chooi Brothers, performed as a soloist with an orchestra, and gave the world premiere of a work with an orchestra in Boston.
She has also served as second violin principal in the highest-level orchestra at Manhattan School of Music Pre-College, performed in a piano quintet, and regularly performs at senior centers as part of a violin-cello duo.
Despite her accomplishments, Stacey acknowledges that balancing everything can be difficult. “There was this one week this year I distinctly remember, when I had something like 3 camp auditions, an orchestra seating audition, and 4 tests.”
Still, she found a valuable lesson in the experience. “What I learned from that experience is that no matter what, you’ll always get through it,” she said. “Even when it feels like this is the end, you’ll end up on the other side.”
Stacey said that to balance everything, being adaptable and having good time management skills is the key. “I balance a high academic workload and music by trying to be as efficient with my time as possible and by prioritizing tasks based on what’s most critical at that point in my life,” she said. “Balancing both academics and music is less about being perfect and more about being flexible and making the best use of the time you have.”
She also has big dreams for her future. “In the future, I hope to study medicine,” she said. “Through music, I’ve become fascinated by the relationship between music and neuroplasticity. I would love to explore how music can influence learning, recovery, and overall brain function.”
Stacey is also going to be part of Chatham’s EMT program, connecting to her interest in medicine. “I’m looking forward to gaining more hands-on experience and interacting with patients in real-world situations,” she said.
Although she does not currently plan to pursue music as her primary profession, she expects it to remain a major part of her life.
“Music has shaped so much of who I am, and I cannot imagine giving it up completely,” she said. “I hope to continue performing and playing in ensembles. Music has become my creative outlet and a way to connect to other people.”
“I’m dedicated to the things that I commit myself to and care about, whether that’s academics, music, or serving my community,” Stacey said. “I’m ambitious and always look for different ways to challenge myself to learn and grow. I’ve learned to be resilient through all the setbacks that I’ve had and times where I felt like I wasn’t getting any better.”
A fun fact that many classmates may not know is that Stacey has lived in three countries: the United States, South Korea, and Singapore.
She also had great advice for other students who are trying to focus on multiple goals. “My biggest piece of advice would be to learn how to prioritize and accept that you can’t do everything perfectly all the time,” she said. “There will be periods when one part of your life requires more attention than another, and that’s okay.”
Most importantly, she has a genuine passion for what she does. “Always remember why you love what you do and try to hold on to it as much as possible,” Stacey said. “I personally do not really enjoy practicing, and honestly, no one does. But the reason I keep practicing every day is that my love for music is greater than my dislike of practicing.”
