Clara An started playing violin at six years old, inspired by her violinist aunt. Her first orchestra was the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) in Wisconsin, where she also participated in her school orchestra, choir, and band. In MYSO, she learned the joy of playing music with others as well as important leadership abilities. After moving to Portland, she joined the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and met her current teacher, Dr. Kim Su-Un, who encouraged her to explore her emotional connection with music. She then joined the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra and moved up to the Portland Youth Philharmonic the next year. Today, she loves playing with her orchestra and volunteering to spread her passion for music with the world.
You can find Clara’s 2024 Classical Music Competition violin performance here.