Teens of Bay Area

As a powerhouse of musical talent, senior Olivia Park has mastered three instruments with precision and passion. As a level 10 Certificate of Merit pianist, a YoungArts Winner with Distinction in the Classical Music: Flute category, and the lead alto saxophonist in Archbishop Mitty High School’s jazz band, Olivia doesn’t just play music — it’s her lifestyle. Her journey with music is built on not only relentless practice and artistic versatility, but also her love and dedication towards music. With every music score she reads, she resonates with it, finding more than one way to bring it to life.

Olivia emphasizes the importance of mastering the basics, highlighting the influence the piano has had on every step of her musical journey. When asked which instrument had the greatest impact, she doesn’t hesitate to say the piano. “Piano teaches you the core principles of music theory. You learn to coordinate both hands—one carrying the melody while the other provides accompaniment,” Olivia said.

Her piano training has proven to be invaluable in her pursuits of other instruments. Whether she’s playing the flute or the saxophone, Olivia finds that the phrasing and musicality she’s developed as a pianist have naturally transferred over to the flute and saxophone, enriching her performances.

Despite her accomplishments, Olivia’s path hasn’t always been smooth. Like many other musicians, she faces pre-performance anxiety. Those nerves that come up every time she steps onto the stage and starts to play those crucial opening notes. Her strategy to stay calm is a focused pep talk, a mental preparation that has transformed her perspective entirely.

“You got this. You practiced enough. You’ve done all that you can. Now is your time to just show off what you’ve been working on. I think that has helped me look at music in a different way, rather than just a competition,” Olivia said.

Her advice for other artists who may also be struggling with motivation is to focus on the small victories. Olivia encourages musicians to find those small moments of joy in their craft. Whether it be during practice sessions or performances, she reminds us to take pride, celebrating the progress that might have gone unnoticed by others.

“It doesn’t matter if anybody else can see it. If you’re proud of it yourself, that’s still something that counts. If you’re struggling a little bit with motivation, be proud of yourself. Take pride in even the small ones, and ultimately, once those build up, you’ll realize ‘oh, I’m way better than I think of myself to be.’ I think that would help a lot with keeping you motivated in your craft.” Olivia said.

For her, music is no longer just a form of competition and awards. But rather, it’s now all about personal expression and emotional connection. Through her musical journey, she has discovered the power of persevering through challenges, learning that mastery doesn’t just happen overnight and that everything worthwhile takes dedicated practice. Now, as she undergoes the college application process, Olivia carries these lessons with her. She focuses on viewing her musical experiences from a different perspective, one of personal growth rather than external achievement.