Why did you choose Baltimore for college?

I ultimately chose Baltimore for college as I knew that I could get an unmatched education here. Having the ability to study at the nation’s oldest research university (JHU) as well as it’s oldest music conservatory (Peabody) was a chance that I could not pass up and literally could not get elsewhere.

Why did you choose your major?

I chose my majors in Voice and Romance Languages really for a few simple reasons. First, I knew I wanted to pursue a classical singing career – so a voice performance program was a no-brainer. Though I knew I wanted to lead the life of a musician, I knew that I also wanted to continue my language studies as I had really fallen in love with them in high school. So, I started looking at double degree programs around the country, and Hopkins had the one that just felt right.

Voice comes with a requirement to take multiple languages. A Romance Languages degree program allows me not only to continue studying Spanish, but also add more rigorous study of Voice-related languages. It helps to make my engagement and understanding with the languages I sing in even deeper.

What do you love most about the area and your campus?

I think the best thing about Baltimore is how you can really get both the big city and suburban vibe at the same time. Whether you’re downtown in the Inner Harbor or hitting up a local farmers market, you can experience both a fast-paced and slowed-down lifestyle in the same city which I think is so special.

I honestly love the community here at Hopkins the most. Overall, we are a community that lifts you up, helps you strive to do your best, and ultimately will get you to achieve whatever goals you can imagine for yourself. There is a stereotype that it’s a cutthroat and rigorous environment. I’d say rigorous, yes, but the good kind of rigor: one where the challenges you face are opportunities to grow and become a better version of yourself.

If someone were to visit you for the weekend, what locations in Baltimore would you absolutely have to show them?

Without a doubt, there would be two places I’d take them. The first is the Peabody Library in Mt. Vernon. The library is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture I have ever seen, filled with some of the rarest books you could imagine. And its location on the Peabody Conservatory’s campus makes it an ideal study spot! Number two is the Baltimore Museum of Art. The amount of culturally enriching free things to do in Baltimore is extensive, but I think the BMA always has something cool to see, especially with new exhibits all the time.