The position of concertmaster in an orchestra is an important and prestigious chair for a violinist to hold. In recent years at Miami University, a violinist majoring in music is usually who earns this position. This all changed in the fall of 2024 when violinist, Grace Koo, stepped into this role. Grace is a junior at Miami double majoring in Business Analytics, and Data Science and Statistics, making her the first non-music major at Miami to hold this prestigious position. Grace is also currently pursuing a combined masters in Statistics. We interviewed Ms. Koo about her musical background and her career goals.
I started playing violin in kindergarten! Before coming to Miami, I've been in numerous ensembles, ranging from the school orchestra and Cincinnati Junior Strings, to Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras' Concert and Philharmonic Orchestras.
I've always had a heart for academia and I hope to earn a doctorate degree and teach at the undergraduate level. While I don't see violin as a central part of my professional career, it's something I'll enjoy as a life-long hobby. Playing violin is such a great way to de-stress and engage with other musicians who also love to make music for fun (I love jam sessions)!
I'm super grateful that Miami offers non-major musicians the opportunity to continue playing their instruments and be a part of the fun and welcoming music community on campus. I always look forward to MUSO because it balances out my STEM-heavy schedule and I get to bring great music to life with other talented musicians!
