When you want to know about the future, we feel it’s best to ask those who will help shape it. We checked in with accomplished youth violinist, budding photographer, and long time Walker|West student Muhkuhi about where she thinks we’re headed.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE OF
WALKER|WEST?
I’m excited to work with new people. We (string students) have gotten to work with some great composers and musicians.
HOW HAS PLAYING AS A MEMBER OF THE KAMOINGE STRING
ENSEMBLE CHANGED YOUR PLAYING / APPROACH TO MUSIC?
Before the ensemble it used to just be playing solo on the strings recitals, with the ensemble we play together. We get to perform in new places with new people and I didn’t have as many opportunities to do that before. I get nervous playing solo because… well, that’s just me, but in Kamoinge everyone is playing something different. But then it all comes together as one piece.
YOUR TWO SISTERS ALSO STUDY VIOLIN. WHAT’S IT LIKE HAVING SIBLINGS STUDYING THE SAME INSTRUMENT?
During the school year we are mostly all practicing on our own. We all have different schedules, but once in a while–like in the summer when we are practicing for the youth symphony we will work together. Sometimes it’s annoying and they don’t listen, but
other times it’s nice to hear what we can play together.
Sometimes we’ll play old duets that we’ve played before. We can always hear each other practicing and it really motivates me to keep practicing.
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Walker|West youth ensembles like our Youth Jazz Ensemble and our Kamoinge String Ensemble have opened for, and accompanied professional musicians at the Twin Cities Jazz Fest, Selby Avenue Jazz Fest, Landmark Center, and other local
places. Most recently our youth string ensemble accompanied PaviElle French at the world premiere of “The SOVEREIGN Suite”, an original work which debuted in 2022.