ASO Youth Orchestra Member with Big Plans for the Future

My name is Evan Buckner and I'm currently a 16 year old junior at Pine Bluff High School playing the viola there in the school's string orchestra and a violist in the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra.

I can fondly remember seven years ago when I started playing the viola. My teacher then (Christie Bonds) told me, "Evan, your hands are too big for the violin and I'm going to have to move you to the viola". Here I am 7 years later still going at it.

Music hasn't always been my forte. Never would I even touch my viola when I first started playing it. It wasn't until my 6th grade year that a light in me was turned on and I just started growing musically. Soon after I was introduced into the All-Region orchestras, and after participating for two years with the all region I tried out and made it to the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra. The youth orchestra has been a shining light to me and I've played in numerous places with them since then, including many small chamber performances.

All the pieces I've played and people I've met have been extremely wonderful and a true blessing. Other than playing viola I garden most of the time. Gardening is a real passion for me and I'm proud to say that I am a member of a garden club with my school and an affiliate with the Arkansas Federation of garden clubs. Playing the viola and gardening have pushed me into wanting to go to the University of Michigan or Michigan State University for a major in plant sciences and a minor in music. Of course whatever happens to me after high school will be God's will and I hope greatly to still pursue my dreams. I hope greatly to become a botanist and hopefully play in a symphony along the side, but I will never let go of what music has done to me in my life.