eSymphony : Virtual Concerts

by Jisue Choi, The Youth Outlook outreach team member

On March 7th, 2020, I received a call from the organizer of my solo piano performance: my performance the following week was to be cancelled. My thoughts swayed between doubt and confusion, although I was ready to consider the news as a possibility. I had been following the news of the pandemic that was beginning to take over the entire world, but I never thought the concern would grow to the point where one of the most important things in my life was taken away. Music performances are how I share what I have learned, created, and felt during the time I had spent with a piece, and I wasn’t ready to give it all up to a virus.

Hoping all the change would be over in a short amount of time, I waited and looked

forward to my next performance in April as a member of Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra. But after the performances I was anticipating before the summer decreased from four to zero, I gave up on the possibility of ever performing again for a long time. After speaking to musicians around me, it was clear that many of them expressed the same concern and disappointment that I faced. Not only were we facing month after month of inactivity, but the work we had put into these performances, some going all the way back to the beginning of the school year, was suddenly nullified. 

However, by the end of April, I had an idea that could change everything for these

musicians and the people who appreciated their work. I recruited my friend Rachel Dai to help me develop this plan, and we began a nonprofit organization called eSymphony. We work to give young musicians a chance to perform; in the process, we reach out to assisted living facilities and senior homes, where many residents have limited internet access, to provide them with the opportunity to view our self-made virtual concerts safely. While participating in these concerts, I was able to perform three of the solo pieces from my concert in March and watch the inspiring performances of other musicians without worrying about the safety of those around me. Despite the unfortunate changes brought by the virus this year, I was able to keep doing what I love and give others the same opportunities, and I will keep doing so until music can be shared live once again.