“I just love the sound of the saxophone,” junior Pindar Chen said. Pindar has been playing the saxophone since the fourth grade, following in the footsteps of his older brother. “I sort of fell in love with it when he played it,” he shared. “So, I picked it up as well.” Since then, music, specifically his saxophone, has been an integral part of Pindar’s life.
Although his brother was his first inspiration, his private music teacher has been one of the greatest contributors to Pindar’s musical progress and Pindar noted his lasting impact. “He’s built me to where I am now,” Pindar said. As evidence of Pindar’s love for music and his commitment to practice, he has been playing with the same teacher since he first started playing the saxophone.
As he reflects on his time playing the saxophone, Pindar considers the process of applying for the Giamalis Family Music Merit Scholarship to be the most rewarding task that he’s accomplished. Working with his brother and beloved music teacher, Pindar perfected his application and was selected as the scholarship recipient. “I put a lot of effort and time into my application,” he recalled.
This year, Pindar is taking musicianship as his fall sport. He values his time in the practice rooms and constantly works to improve his skills. “I’m always wanting to improve how I play because there’s always more to learn and practice,” he said. Although he appreciates his time practicing independently, it is the time spent with his mentor, band and orchestra director Todd Millen, that has impacted his music the most. “Mr. Millen always has his doors open to those who want to improve and want to have someone to listen to,” he said.
When he’s not refining his skills in musicianship or impressing the audience in KO’s band, Pindar can be found playing at the Hartt School of Music with the Greater Hartford Youth Wind Ensemble. Every Sunday, Pindar practices with fellow musicians to prepare for their upcoming concert in December.
In the future, Pindar hopes to continue playing music after his high school career. “I might take a minor in music,” he shared. Due to his love for the instrument, he expects to play the saxophone for many years to come.
If Pindar could attribute his musical success to one thing, it would be the hours he’s spent practicing. His piece of advice to anyone hoping to pursue music at KO would be to seek out your mentors and practice as much as possible. “Go find your teachers to help you because that’s a great way to improve,” he commented.
