XI XIN

Viola Performance · University of Colorado Boulder

xinxi2023@outlook.com  |  +1 (303) 505-2379

About

I'm a freshman in CU music college majoring in viola performance, and I have both music and non-musical skills. I have determined and earnest personalities. I also bring an international perspective about the world through my identity as an international student.

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Education

Viola Performance

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Music Performance

University of Colorado Boulder  |  2024 – Present

Experience

Viola Principal

Province Orchestra  |  2018 – 2021

As the principal violist, I helped the section stay in tune and in time. I guided and supported fellow musicians during rehearsals, demonstrating strong leadership skills.

Skills

Community Service

Chamber Orchestra Concert — Grusin Hall

Event Details

Date: March 5, 2026

Location: Grusin Hall, Imig Music Building, CU Boulder

Organizer: Chamber Orchestra / Music Faculty

Description

I participated in a Chamber Orchestra concert as a violist. During this event, I performed classical music for the local community and members of the music college. The concert was successful and well-organized. I chose this activity because music is my major, and I want to use my skills to serve others. Through this performance, I was able to bring enjoyment and emotional connection to the audience. Many audience members said they were very impressed, which showed that our performance had a positive impact.

Reflection

Before the concert, I felt excited and focused. I also felt confident because our group was very well-prepared. After the concert, I felt proud and satisfied with our performance. I also felt a stronger connection with my fellow musicians. This experience showed me that music can be a meaningful way to contribute to the community. In the future, I plan to continue participating in community service through musical performance.

Sample of Work

The Role of Music in Understanding and Experiencing Space

Space is often described as silent, dark, and empty. In reality, there is no sound in space because there is no air for sound waves to travel. However, even though space has no sound, music plays an important role in how humans understand and experience space. Music helps people imagine space, feel emotions about space, and connect more deeply with the universe. For these reasons, music is an important tool for exploring and communicating ideas about space.

First, music helps create a feeling of space. When people watch movies or documentaries about space, music is always very important. Without music, space scenes can feel empty or difficult to understand emotionally. Music adds meaning and feeling to what we see. For example, in the movie Interstellar, the music plays a very important role. The composer uses deep sounds, slow rhythms, and powerful dynamics to show how big and mysterious space is. The music makes the audience feel both wonder and fear. It helps people feel the beauty and danger of space, even though they are only watching a screen.

Second, music can help explain scientific ideas. Music and science are connected in many ways. Sound is based on vibration and frequency, which are also important concepts in physics. In music, different pitches come from different frequencies. In space science, scientists also study waves and frequencies, such as light waves and radio waves. By understanding music, people can better understand some basic scientific ideas. For example, rhythm can be compared to patterns in nature, and harmony can represent balance and structure. Using music as a tool can make complex space concepts easier to understand, especially for people who are new to science.

Third, music is important for human experience in space. Astronauts who live and work in space often face stress, isolation, and loneliness. Space missions can last for months, and astronauts are far away from family and friends. Music can help them relax and feel more comfortable. Listening to music can reduce stress and improve mental health. Some astronauts bring musical instruments to space. For example, astronauts have played guitar on the International Space Station. Music gives them a sense of normal life and emotional support, even in a very different environment.

In addition, music can be used as a way to communicate space to the public. Not everyone understands complex scientific language, but many people can understand music. Music can express ideas and emotions that are difficult to explain with words. For example, a piece of music can represent the movement of planets, the beauty of stars, or the feeling of traveling through space. This makes space more accessible and interesting to a wider audience. Through music, more people can become interested in space exploration and science.

Another important point is that music can connect different cultures through space. Space exploration is an international effort. Many countries work together on space missions. Music is also a universal language that people from different cultures can understand. By combining music and space, we can create a shared human experience. For example, space-themed concerts, films, or performances can bring people together and inspire global cooperation. This is important because space exploration requires teamwork between nations.

Music also plays a role in creativity and imagination. Space is still full of unknowns, and imagination is very important for future discoveries. Music encourages creativity and helps people think in new ways. Scientists and engineers need creativity to solve problems and design new technologies. Music can inspire new ideas and ways of thinking. In this way, music indirectly supports the development of space exploration.

For me, music has a personal connection to space. I have studied music for many years, and I play the viola. Through music, I can express emotions and ideas that are difficult to describe with words. When I think about space, I imagine deep, long sounds and quiet moments, like the feeling of floating in the universe. I believe that music can help people feel closer to space, even if they have never been there. In the future, I hope to combine music and space in creative ways, such as composing music inspired by space or using music to help people learn about space.

Some people may think that music is not important for space exploration because it is not scientific or technical. However, this view is limited. Space exploration is not only about technology and data; it is also about human experience and understanding. Music helps us connect emotionally with space, which is just as important as scientific knowledge. Without this emotional connection, people may not feel interested or inspired to support space exploration.

In conclusion, music plays an important role in understanding and experiencing space. It helps create emotional connections, explains scientific ideas, supports astronauts, and communicates space to the public. Music also encourages creativity and connects people from different cultures. Even though space itself is silent, music allows us to give it meaning and feeling. By combining music and space, we can better understand the universe and our place in it.

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