Nana Opoku

From a young age, music has always encapsulated my life. Whether it was my mother singing gospel songs in the car on the way to school or my father humming movie soundtracks around the house, there was always a melody playing somewhere. My mother sang in the church choir, and people would often ask if I had inherited her musical ear or ability to sing.

At age seven, my parents enrolled me in piano lessons, which I continued for five years. Despite the work I put in, my growth did not improve and lessons gradually turned into a chore rather than a passion. Realizing my love for singing, my parents shifted me to vocal lessons, hopeful that I might one day sing in the church choir and share my voice with the world. However, severe stage fright and self-doubt made it difficult for me to truly embrace that path for myself. Unfortunately, vocal lessons came to an end as I entered high school and the pandemic began.

The only constant music during this time in my life was the viola, which I played in my school orchestra. Unlike piano or voice lessons, the viola came naturally to me. I didn’t feel pressured to overachieve, yet I was able to perform beautifully, earning myself the position of first chair in our chamber orchestra. Throughout high school I maintained this position, but frequently felt insecure about the title being in orchestra gave me. It was seen as “weird” or “nerdy”, but after a while I was able to realize it made me more of a well rounded person if anything.

Leaving my orchestra family after high school was bittersweet. It was the end of something I shared a deep love for and had finally committed to without giving up after a few years. Starting college without continuing my music journey was harder than I expected. Although I didn’t have the time to pursue my viola journey, I quickly realized how much joy and stress relief music had given me over the years. Now, I turn to singing, often with my mother and sister, to try and keep the spark I have alive. Though doubts still come to form, singing remains one of the few things that brings me clarity. It’s difficult to accept that this may be the end of my music journey, especially with parents who discouraged me from pursuing music academically. I also have other passions, one being pursuing medical school and becoming a dermatologist. Still,I try to listen for the beautiful melodies in life, the ones that bring me peace and healing.