It isn’t often that a 13-year-old is an accomplished violinist. Usually it takes years of discipline and practice to play at prestigious places, win awards and be accepted into reputable music programs.
However, Haddonfield’s Julia Chin might be an exception. She has already performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the Kimmel Center; won in multiple events including the Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition, the American Fine Arts Crescendo Competition and the East Coast International Concerto Competition, and was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Concert Orchestra and the Symphony in C Youth Orchestra affiliated with Curtis Institute.
Now a rising ninth grader, Chin has once again shown her amazing musical skills by being accepted into a prestigious program at the Juilliard School in New York City called the Juilliard Pre-College program. She was named one of 60 violinists in the program, with 200 applicants and only 10 being accepted this year.
“I was just so happy. I am enjoying the good result I got from all of my hard work,” Chin said.
Chin started taking lessons for violin when she was 6 years old, inspired by a violinist visiting her school and her babysitter who played. Since then, she has been working hard to perfect her skills.
When she is in school, Chin plays in the school orchestra and All-South Jersey orchestra, and was recently accepted into the high school’s select ensemble. She also really likes music theory and plans to continue it in high school. When she isn’t in school, she is getting involved in competitions and orchestras where she can.
Since she was young, Juilliard always fascinated Chin, as she thought the building was beautiful and wanted to go there. When she found out about the Juilliard Pre-College Program, her drive to go there was pushed even further.
Chin practices violin every day for an hour or so. However, right before the audition, Chin was practicing two to three hours, even on school nights.
“I practice so much every day because some experts say to not practice one day is equal to four days going backward. You need to practice every day so you can achieve as much as you can,” Chin said.
Chin said the audition was intense. The judges started writing as soon as she walked in, and one of the judges was famous violinist Itzhak Perlman.
Despite the intense audition, Chin was accepted into the program and will be attending on Saturdays during the school year throughout high school for the next four years until she goes on to college.
“I was really happy and excited. I’m excited to be going there. It is a big goal I’ve been working toward, and I’ve finally accomplished it,” Chin said.
When she attends the pre-college program, she hopes to gain friends and experience.
“I think it will be a fun and good experience to meet people,” Chin said.
Chin credits her hard work for her acceptance into the program.
“When you’re working hard and perseverant about a goal, it makes you feel even better and more accomplished if you know you really worked hard for it. It’s a good life lesson I learned through working hard,” Chin said.
Chin doesn’t just enjoy violin and music. She is accomplished in academics as well as volunteerism. At school, Chin enjoys math, science and reading, especially robotics, as she feels it is a perfect mix of science and math.
For her volunteerism, she was a part of the Principal’s Advisory Committee where parents, teachers and students discuss issues such as lunch lines and dress codes. She also would play her violin at benefit concerts with her parents’ non-profit, Play It For Good, as well as at local senior centers.
“I volunteer because to me it is fun and I feel happy helping causes. You’re helping causes while still having fun. It is winning for both parties,” Chin said.
Chin will surely be playing in many concerts and orchestras to come, but she isn’t sure she would like to pursue the violin as a career. Chin is more interested in math and engineering programs. However, she said she would definitely continue to play the violin, just as a hobby.
Edit: This edition reflects some changes from the print/original article. In the original it said the Symphony in C Youth Orchestra was at Curtis Institute; it is in fact affiliated with Curtis Institute. Also, the original said that Chin would be attending Julliard during the summer; she will actually be attending during the school year.
