On October 14th, sophomore Michelle Stern performed a 35 minute solo at the Massapequa Philharmonic at Berner Auditorium in Massapequa.

“The Sibelius violin concerto is a staple repertoire for a violinist… with its beautiful thematic sequences and unforgettable musical nuances,” she stated. “Gaining the opportunity to learn, perfect, and perform this riveting concerto was a dream come true for me.”

Stern has been playing the violin since she was about three years old, and she credits much of her interest in music to her mother, a music major and violin teacher.

“The constant musical environment is what essentially inspired me to give the violin a try when I was younger,” Michelle said. “My mother’s teaching experience was vital to my development as a musician, especially in my earlier years.”

When she was ten years old, Michelle was accepted into the Julliard precollege program, which she still attends every Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm. Within the program, she she studies under Professor Ann Setzer. She attributes much of her success to the support of her family, friends, and the musicians that she works with.

Michelle described her experience playing at the Philharmonic as “exhilarating” and “unique,” stating that “working alongside the conductor to put together a concert as brilliant as possible was an amazing glimpse into the professional world, and the process from beginning to end was exceptionally exciting.”

In the future, she hopes to continue to perform in the Philharmonic, and hopes to continue playing in other venues as well.

“In a general sense, performance to me is an experience like none other- be it the rush of adrenaline, the irreplaceable opportunity to use my music as an emotional medium, the duty of bringing notes to life, or, possibly most importantly, gaining the ability to change the lives of my audience members,” Michelle stated. “Music is, and always will be, what makes me who I am.”