Photograph by Dai Sugano

At age 9, violinist Jennifer Wey is already winning awards and playing in bands.




Young violinist earns distinguished award

Saratoga student plays piano, too, but just for fun

By Amy Golod

Jennifer Wey of Saratoga remembers dancing to classical music when she was just a little girl. "My dad would play the 'Für Elise' and I would dance to it. I thought if piano music sounded this beautiful, I wanted to play it," Jennifer says.

Today, she is a much older girl--all of 9 years old. Her love of music allowed her to become a pianist and an accomplished violinist as well. On July 7, Jennifer earned the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award, given to students who shine in academics, leadership or the arts.

British citizens Reg and Maggie Green established the Distinguished Student Awards to recognize talented children who are about the same age as their son Nicholas was when he died. The Greens also created the Nicholas Green Foundation in memory of their son, who was killed in a drive-by shooting during a 1994 family vacation in Italy. The foundation has already awarded scholarships to high school and college students for their education.

The Distinguished Student Awards are given to students in grades 3 through 6. One representative student from each state receives the award, plus a $500 U.S. savings bond. Jennifer, the California recipient, was nominated by her second- and third-grade teacher, Vanya Jackowski, and had to submit a composition in which she described her dedication to music.

"It felt pretty good to receive the award. It was an honor to meet these cool people like the Green family," Jennifer recalls.

Jennifer is a student at Saratoga School and also a dedicated student of the piano and the violin. She began violin studies at age 3 and piano at age 4. She practices the violin between one and two hours a day and the piano for a half-hour to an hour each day.

"I am more interested in the violin because I started earlier and I thought I would do well in it. I play the piano for fun," she adds.

When she first heard the violin at a concert, Jennifer decided she wanted to try playing the instrument, as she liked its high pitch. Her desire to learn the piano came from her father's at-home concerts.

Jennifer plays the violin with the San Jose Symphony Youth Orchestra, a chamber ensemble and the local Skillet Family Band, where she is known as "Jumping Jenny." She says the country band is her favorite among the three. On Aug. 15, Jennifer will attend the week-long SJSYO Summer Music Camp, which precedes the weekly, intense practices for concerts during the school year.

Violin competitions also find their way into Jennifer's schedule. In 1996 and 1997, she won first place in her age division at the Chinese Overseas Music Competition. In 1998 and 1999, she played in the VOCE Competition (vocalists, orchestral instrumentalists, chamber music, ensembles) and won second place both years in her age division at the state level.

Jennifer also enjoys writing stories, reading, and playing on the computer. She said that in the future she would like to be a kindergarten teacher by day and a violinist by night--all while authoring books and raising a family.

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