November 11, 2024
The following is an edited version of Christine Kharazian’s interview with 13-year-old cellist Amelia Baisden in July 2024.
1. Amelia, you started playing cello when you were 3. Do you remember how it began? Who or what motivated you and what were your first impressions?
Since I started taking cello lessons at a very young age, the question of how I chose my instrument comes up a lot and my response is always met with a few chuckles. The truth is that my mother envisioned me playing the cello before I was born and always planned to sign me up for lessons just after my third birthday. The big turning point for me was when I was six years old: I was sitting in the audience at Carnegie Hall, watching Alisa Weilerstein’s captivating performance, and I was truly inspired to pursue a career as a professional musician. Despite attending numerous performances previously, this particular concert clearly stands out in my memory. Watching such a talented female cellist ignited in me a sense of possibility, allowing me to dream about the future and ponder what I could achieve through hard work. My cello journey continued from there. I might not have selected my instrument, but the cello has become my inseparable companion and I’m grateful for the choice made for me over a decade ago because it has brought me to where I am and who I am today.
2. You are a winner of numerous competitions. Are you competitive by nature? Do you enjoy the competition process? What are some things you do to be a stronger competitor? Do you feel music competitions support or conflict with the musical creativity?
I have always been competitive, and this characteristic has significantly shaped my approach to music. The drive to constantly improve and surpass my previous achievements has had a profound impact on the way I approach my musical practice and performance. My competitiveness fuels my determination to elevate my technical abilities. It motivates me to seek out unique interpretations, experiment with different musical styles, and push the boundaries of conventional sound. I find joy in developing innovative ideas that make me stand out as a musician and help me find my voice in the world of classical music. However, during my younger years, my competitiveness led me to compare myself to others, negatively affecting my musical practice and growth. It wasn’t until my teacher, Dr. Daniel Levitov, emphasized the idea that progress and effort matter more than the outcome that I began to understand the true purpose of competitions—to push oneself and grow. This realization has made me more open and excited about competitions, as they offer valuable experiences and opportunities to develop new skills regardless of the prize-level results or outcomes.
3. There is a saying: A teacher affects eternity. Can you think of something a teacher told you, that you will always remember, cherish, or follow?
Very recently, I had been struggling for some time with a particular piece in my repertoire, working hard to improve, yet feeling stuck and unable to move on. After recording the piece for my teacher, I felt proud and thought that I was finally done with it. However, the feedback I received was that it still wasn’t polished enough, and I was free to move on with the understanding that there was still some room for improvement. Initially, I felt frustrated and began to doubt my progress but then I realized that my teacher was right. I needed to improve and polish the piece to become better. This experience made me reflect on the importance of perseverance and dedication to continued development. It taught me that progress often involves overcoming challenges and embracing feedback, even if it’s initially disappointing. It also reinforced the idea that seeking improvement is a continuous journey and that setbacks can be valuable learning opportunities. I then decided to accept my teacher’s feedback and work on the piece with renewed motivation. It was a valuable lesson for me, not only in music but also in life. It taught me the importance of persevering and constantly striving for improvement, no matter the challenges that come my way. This experience highlighted the significance of embracing constructive criticism and using it as a catalyst for personal and artistic growth.
4. In addition to the FMMC student solo opportunities you play in our Avanti Orchestra. That makes you one of our most active young members, and we appreciate you! What motivates you and what can you share with the other young musicians about the FMMC in your life and the Avanti experience to encourage them to participate?
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of FMMC and Avanti Orchestra. There are plenty of options for young musicians my age in the area to hone their skills at pre-college music programs and youth orchestra organizations and I have been fortunate to participate in several such programs over the years; however, the Avanti Orchestra is very special in that it offers a unique environment and a chance for community members to connect over their shared passion for classical music. This exposure has been incredibly inspiring and has sparked my enthusiasm as I look ahead to a potential career in music. As I envision my future, I aim to unify people from diverse backgrounds and across generations to create a harmonious community. Thanks to Avanti, I have had the pleasure of meeting and sharing the stage with incredible musicians that might have loved music for longer than I have been alive and whom I might not have met otherwise. It’s incredible to see the power that music possesses to bring people together. Equally valuable for a young musician in training is the experience of a shorter timeline for rehearsals and concert program preparation under which Avanti operates—especially in comparison to what might be expected from the standpoint of a typical youth orchestra concert cycle—as it allows me to gain an understanding of expectations for professional orchestral musicians. I whole-heartedly recommend joining FMMC and Avanti Orchestra, as it excels at uniting people and creating an enriching and inclusive musical community. I look forward to joining my fellow Avanti musicians and Maestra Chi-Yuan Lin again this season!
5. I have to ask about your passion for ping pong! Please tell us!
It was during my time at Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute in summer 2023 that I discovered my love of ping pong. I’ve never been good at sports but with ping pong, I felt the drive to continue working on my skills to improve and enjoy the downtime with my peers.
Outside of music, I have never experienced the same type of drive, dedication, and the need for a recurring practice of a skill in order to bring my abilities to a higher level through an extended period of time. Upon my return to Washington, DC, I used every opportunity I could to make it to Comet Ping Pong and continue to improve my skill set ahead of my next opportunity to play my Menlo colleagues again this summer. While my favorite thing about ping pong used to be connecting with people I knew and worked with in music circles, the experience of playing on public tables in a local pizza restaurant got me excited about the possibility of growing confidence and developing vulnerability with people who might not be musicians but possess the same values needed to excel in music and ping pong alike!
