I am a 17-year-old high school junior and the first African-American harpist with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. I am an ASYO concerto winner, and on Sunday, February 23 at 3 p.m., I will play Ravel's Introduction et Allegrowith the ASYO. Imagine that. This is such a big honor for me. A few years ago, I was selected for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's Talent Development Program, which provides African-American and Latino classical music students with training, mentoring and scholarship funds for summer music programs. The TDP has made all the difference for me, by pairing me with the principal harpist of the ASO. In addition, the scholarship funds paid my way to the Boston University Tanglewood Institute summer music program, where I studied with Ms. Ann Hobson Pilot, who was the first African-American harpist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I was selected as principal harpist with the 2010 National High School Honors Orchestra in Santa Clara, CA and as principal harpist with the 2010 Georgia All-Sate Orchestra.

The slogan of the Talent Development Program is "Changing the Face of American Orchestras," and two students who have gone through the program are now playing with professional orchestras. That is my goal! After graduation from high school next year, I hope to attend a music conservatory to study harp performance. I appreciate the musicians of color who have paved the way for me to succeed.