Senior Spotlight: Emily Hunter (flute)

What AYPO ensembles have you played in and for how long?

Flute Ensemble-1 year, AYCO-1 year, AYPO-2 years, Chamber Ensemble-1 year

A funny, favorite, or memorable AYPO experience?

Just as I was going to leave the house for my first AYPO concert, I quickly realized that I needed a black shirt instead of a white one while skimming through an email with final reminders. In a hurry, I grabbed the closest thing: my older sister's black blazer. My mom went to three stores and texted all of her friends right before the concert to find a black shirt for me. She drove back home to borrow my neighbor's blouse and I changed just in time for the concert. I became a much better reader after this.

What musician inspires you and why?

Yo Yo Ma because my friend and I were kicked out the library in 3rd grade for laughing at his name. It wasn't until I became a musician myself when I realized that music is a universal language and it can knock down any preconceptions one has toward another person.

Your advice for young musicians?

Make an effort to get to know the musicians sitting next to you. It's easy to just to go to practice, play a few notes, then leave, but the whole point is to have fun and build relationships with other people.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

I will be majoring in cognitive science on a pre-med track and I hope to conduct research on how music affects the brain.