Notes Newsletter Student Spotlight: Kevin He

Posted on April 10, 2025

As we approach the end of the year, we like to seek wisdom from members that have been in the organization for a while. Kevin joined us all the way back in season 98! Now, he is just finishing up his first year at Portland State University.

How has PYP affected your life?

I think PYP affected my life in two different ways, my peers and the conductor. Peers, I am deeply motivated to play with all of these high-talent musicians. I feel that we are not just simply playing music together but more like to accomplish our goal as a team. Being with these people requires me to learn to be able to work in a group better and I am delighted to have a chance to play with these people. For the conductor, David Hattner is counted as one of the best conductors I have been working and studying with. His requirements ask me and other members of the orchestra to prepare each rehearsal beyond an average high school student. Before every rehearsal ends, he always gives people a small speech about the music industry or practice methods. This information is critical for the member of the orchestra to choose their future path.

What is your most cherished memory of PYP?

My most cherished memory of PYP is the Eastern Coast Tour for sure. It was my first time going to the other side of America, so the destination of the tour was already meaningful to me. I also enjoyed all of the events PYP went through there, such as watching the Baltimore Philharmonic performance, performing at the same hall a few days later, a city walk in New York, a morning run at Philadelphia following Rocky’s route, playing Wii Sports at the hotel and countless other amazing activities with my friends. My favorite stop of the whole trip is Washington D.C. National Gallery of Art and National Museum of Natural History left me unreadable memories and I always want to visit these museums again.

Do you have something you regret that you did or happened while in PYP?

I don’t have too much recalling in my mind, but if I have to name one thing, I would probably say that I didn’t pay attention to what others were playing. I thought to play good music just means to play our own instrument well, but to produce higher standard music requires tacit teamwork and sensitive awareness of listening to the surroundings. I remember one time David Danzmayr said, “To play music, requires constant and careful listening throughout the piece. You must be aware of what is happening around you and the best way is to listen constantly.”

Look back on the very first year you were in PYP. If you could give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

One piece of advice I want to give to myself back then is to count the rhythm very accurately and treat it as the top priority of all musical elements. I gradually realize the importance of the rhythm in all kinds of music while I am studying relatively deeper in college. Because rhythm is so objective despite personal preference, it is absolutely worth practicing patiently with the metronome to create the subdivision and internal pulse.

How do you balance your music, studies, and life?

It is not easy to balance all of these things together, but there are two things that I did to make them go alright. First of all, is to create a schedule for a week including all of the activities. I don’t strictly follow mine and I always plan my days within the frame of my schedule. The second thing is to do your best to finish your projects and assignments before the deadline. Otherwise, the accumulation of late assignments can really burn you out.

What do you hope to accomplish in life?

In the long term, I want to become a professional orchestra player and a person who enjoys life. I also wish to develop more hobbies outside of music, such as watching movies and reading books. One short-term goal I have been working on is to create more disciplined schedules and to spend less time on my phone. I think music is all about expressing emotions you have toward the world we are living. To play better music or to do anything better, we have to experience the beauty of the world ourselves first.

Do you have anything you want to say to PYP and/or its participants?

I want to say that just to enjoy this experience as much as possible. It is not a very common experience for many of our peers to have the privilege to participate. I am grateful to be able to share this memory with all of you and I hope you feel the same way too. Instead of playing note by note on the music sheet, please consider yourselves as an artist who celebrates one of the greatest legacies of human culture.