Music has always been my way of connecting with others, especially within my neighbors. Growing up, I shared music with my neighbors during both joyful and difficult moments, using cello performance as a way to offer comfort and presence. One experience that remains especially meaningful to me involved a girl with autism who had recently lost her father to lung cancer. Because communication was difficult for her, music became the language we shared. We met often during that time and played music together based on what she wanted. She played the violin while I accompanied her on the cello, shaping the bass line to support her sound. One memory stands out in particular: we began playing Canon in D without sheet music, and she did not want the piece to end. Instead of stopping, we continued playing together for a long time, letting the music carry what words could not. That experience showed me how powerful music can be as a form of empathy and emotional support. At school, I continue to explore this same love for collaboration by arranging classical pieces and performing them in ensembles with my orchestra friends, finding joy in creating shared musical experiences.
My name is Brian Ha, and I am an 11th-grade cellist who has been studying the cello for 10 years. I currently serve as a principal cellist in both the Los Gatos High School Orchestra and the California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
I have received several awards, including First Prize in the American Protégé International Competition and the BAMA U.S. International Open Competition, and I have been selected for the CODA All-State Orchestra for two consecutive years and Bach Festival.
For the past two years, I have been teaching cello to younger students in my community at an affordable cost, holding weekly lessons and helping them grow both musically and personally. I also volunteer as a cello teacher about 3 years with AMASE, a nonprofit organization that provides music education to students with autism.
I enjoy collaborating with others through chamber music. I have performed in ensembles such as the J’adore Cello Ensemble, and I co-founded LeGatos String Quartet at my school, where I arrange music and perform with my peers for school and community.
In addition, I volunteer at a hospice center, where I help care for patients and occasionally share music through performance when the opportunity arises.
Through my music, I hope to create meaningful connections and bring comfort to others.
Watch Brian Ha perform Schumann Cello Concerto 1st Movement by Robert Schumann on the cello for the 2026 Spring Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.