Music is an art capable of evoking multiple emotions, occasionally simultaneously. Something that is found in every culture across the world, it has the potential to stir feelings to an extent not many other forms of media are able to. It’s a method for people to express themselves. Several ACP students have musical talent, including freshman Mack Jones, who visited and soloed on violin at Carnegie Hall, a concert venue in New York City.
Having played violin since he was three years old, Mack discovered his ardor for music through programs such as summer camps, recalling that “these experiences made me realize that music could be enjoyable and expressive.” Dedicated to his passions, Mack gets up at 4:30 every day to practice violin until he leaves at 7:00. Once a week, he attends an online zoom lesson with Suzie Collier, a teacher at the Royal Conservatory in London. He plays music as in his opinion, it is “one of the purest forms of expressing human emotion. At this point, it is also so embedded into my routine and my identity as a person that I don’t think I could give it up if I tried. Music is a part of me.”
Mack chose to perform Bruch’s G Minor Violin Concerto from a few different options because of its romantic style. He notes that “Romantic music was generally written from around the mid-eighteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. It is a very emotional style of music, and the music is written as an expression of these emotions. The Bruch especially is a very flashy piece that feels impressive to play.” He believes that being able to solo was such a surreal experience because he set that as a goal around a year ago. “It’s crazy that I went from playing at local nursery homes, to rodeos, to sports events, to Carnegie hall. It’s such an amazing feeling to know that I got there.”
Right before he performed, Mack was feeling fine. “I convinced myself it was just another concert. I got up there, and then you practice so much that the song is basically just muscle memory. I didn’t really think about it that much. The goal was to enter a flow state. I felt almost a little bit numb because of the amazing talent and some of the incredible people who have come through Carnegie Hall. I was just so shocked to be there, and I didn’t feel that nervous until right before I hit the stage. Sitting right outside that door listening to the person before me go was probably the most nervous I was. I got on stage and it felt great. It was a great performance that I was happy with.” To Mack, the best part about playing music is “the emotions that you can express and how you can make other people feel. With the correct song and the correct articulation of that song, you can create emotions in other people. That it can make humans feel emotions.”
To anyone interested in pursuing music, he explains that “music is a part of the world” and advises to “look for it in your everyday life. Every day countless songs with different melodies and rhythms race through my mind. Half of these are created simply from my footsteps as I walk to and from classes. Apart from that, everyday practice is vital. Practice makes improvement, which is what we should strive for.” Not only is he a talented musician, but a well-rounded student participating in additional extracurriculars. We’re very proud of Mack’s impressive feat and wish him great success on his future musical endeavors. Go Knights!
