At about age 10 my older brother showed me how to play a song on the accordion, and I liked playing it so much that I began to learn others on my own. It wasn’t until many years later that I took lessons and learned to read music and many of the fundamentals that I had missed trying to teach myself.

I also play the guitar, but something about the accordion makes me want to play it daily. I enjoy a variety of music, and I choose individual songs depending on what feels good to me.

I have never played with a group before, so I feel happy and honored to be a part of the Ruk orchestra. It is truly a new experience trying to hear my own accordion while playing in harmony with the others. It is also nice to feel the camaraderie of the group, as everyone seems to enjoy being there, and is warm and supportive.