Allyson at the New Mozart Winter Student Recital on Dec. 3, 2017.
1 What is your name and how old are you?
My name is Allyson Dinh and I will turn 13 on March 16th.
2. What instrument are you currently studying, and who is your teacher?
I have been playing the cello with Teacher Cynthia since June 2015 and also study viola with Dr. Elizabeth.
3. What pieces are you currently working on?
I am working on the first Bach Suite and I recently worked on “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saëns.
4. How often do you practice?
I try my best to practice everyday. I spend between 15-60 minutes 6-7 times a week.
5. Why do you like playing the cello?
I like playing the cello because it has a warm and earthy tone, and it brings me to my happy place whenever I hear or play cello music.
6. You've been selected to join the prestigious Cambridge-Heidelberg-Montpellier Youth Symphony this summer. What do you hope to achieve through this experience?
I am so excited to experience German culture, food, landmarks, and their general lifestyle as I stay with my host family in Heidelberg. I also hope to understand the similarities and differences between young musicians from the UK, Germany, and France. Most importantly, I want to experience an intensive music program and also learn from my fellow young musicians in Europe what playing music means to them.
7. Tell us about your interests or accomplishments outside of music.
I am a Freestyle 5 figure skater at Winter Lodge, the only outdoor ice skating rink in the Bay Area. I have been skating for almost five years and I’m a member of three performing teams (Ice Crystals, Jazz, and Specialty Group) and skate 4 times a week. Sometimes I also help with my brother’s Boy Scout troop at donation drives and fundraisers.
8. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a pediatrician when I grow up so that I can work with children and watch them grow up and progress in life. My pediatrician has been taking care of my brother and me since the day we were born. It seems like a truly challenging and rewarding job.
Allyson is one of the three New Mozart students accepted to attend the prestigious CHMYO (Cambridge-Heidelberg-Montpellier-Youth-Orchestra) in Heidelberg, Germany this summer.