It’s pretty clear that Harriton is full of talented individuals; from the artists whose work hangs in the lobby, to the athletes that tear up the field, to the brainiacs who ace every test, the Rams pretty much have all the bases covered. So it’s not surprising that our RAM of the Week comes from this pool of talented individuals.

Meet Bihn Park, cello prodigy. He met President Obama, so we made him Ram of the Week. Because that’s awesome. But after hearing his answers, it became clear that Bihn truly deserves to be recognized for more than his mad cello skills. He has a perspective that is truly unique, and quite mature, that makes him worthy of his title, Ram of the week.

Harriton Banner: Why cello?

Bihn Park: I actually started the cello because my younger brother had started before me and I was immediately drawn to the natural timbre and tone of the instrument. The sound was one of ethereal quality yet so human at the same time. So, I sometimes call my cello Clara, meaning bright but also after the Clara Schumann, who was known for being a bit angsty.

HB: Tell the story of how you met President Obama.

BP: I’m a 2014 Alumnus of a fantastic organization called YoungArts, which is a program that seeks to identify and support the next generation of artists in whatever means necessary. As an alumnus, I was asked to perform for President Obama and The First Lady as well as the UN General Assembly with violinist Joshua Bell and other YoungArts alumni! The President and Mrs. Obama came backstage after the performance where, after taking pictures, we introduced ourselves and spoke with them! It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I still can’t get over that it actually happened.

HB: They say success is 2% talent and 98% hard work. What do you think of this?

BP: I think it is undeniable that some people are just more talented than others. That’s not something we really have any control over. However, I believe that hard work is 100% necessary to cultivate and nurture that talent to get to the next level. A lot of times you see immensely talented kids burn out after a period time due to their lack of work ethic. Diligence and persistence is key to success.

HB: What gets you motivated?

BP: The desire to want to positively impact the world always drives me to maintain my busy lifestyle. Whether it’s raising awareness for controversial global topics or just bringing a moment of joy or peace to an audience member, I hope to live my life in a way that will benefit those around me.

HB: What is some really good advice you’ve been given?

BP: Especially in this hyper-driven society, it is so important to take a step back from your own hectic life and relax. Have fun. Sleep. It’s amazing how much good a couple hours of chilling out does to your psyche and mentality. You’ll be able to undertake tasks with a sharper focus and stronger commitment.

HB: What music genre do you like playing most?

BP: Having only been classically-trained, I only play classical music seriously. For fun, however, I sometimes mess around with pop or Disney songs. I love listening to musical theatre, especially Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. Those two musicals changed my life.

HB: Personal Statement

BP: As Mr. Imaizumi always says, “be grateful.” Here we are stressing over grades, SATs, college, and our social life when in other parts of the world, people lack basic needs like food and water. We should count ourselves lucky to be in a situation where our biggest worry is getting into our first-choice school. I’m definitely guilty of becoming too caught up with things I need to get done, but I do try to put my goals and aspirations into a broader perspective.