Gifted Student Hits the Right Notes at Scandinavian Middle School
14 FACES
W hen Scandinavian Middle School student Thalay Souksengdau practices her viola , a three-hour session often feels like only 20 minutes have gone by . She is immersed in the music , enjoying the challenge of perfecting the notes .
Her goal is to be a professional musician and practicing scales and music pieces is fun and rewarding .
“ It ’ s not a chore . It ’ s by choice ,” said Thalay , an eighth grader .
Thalay hopes to be accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School in New York after graduating from high school . To achieve this will likely mean adding private lessons to her self-motivated practice after school .
For now , Scandinavian music teacher John Sandler is guiding and encouraging her .
“ A quote we live by in this program is ‘ The only way to fail is to not try .’ I ' ve always encouraged Thalay to be willing to put herself out there , even if it means being imperfect ,” Sandler said .
Thalay moved to Fresno from Las Vegas before seventh grade because her parents wanted to be near her grandparents in Fresno to help care for them .
Thalay learned to play the viola as a sixth grader in Las Vegas at the Lied STEM Academy in an orchestra elective , where she had a music teacher who recognized her talent and encouraged her . She chose to play the viola “ to be different .”
She discovered that playing music satisfied her competitiveness and her