From Science Olympiad to Varsity Swim, Sang-o Park, a current senior here at Harriton High School, does it all. However, what he is the most well known for, among his peers, would be his recognized talent in playing the cello, something he has been doing since he was three years old.

Winning the 2017 National Young Arts Foundation, 2016-17 Music Teachers National Association Eastern Division, as well as being invited to Novosibirsk, Russia, for the IX International Young Tchaikovsky Competition, Park is undoubtedly a valuable asset to the accomplished Harriton community.

Recently, Park came out with a website that is dedicated to highlighting these identified achievements of his, and many more, including his poetry work and performances at Philly soup kitchens while giving back. We were able to sit down with Park for an interview on his website debut.

HB: What was the purpose behind creating this website?
SP: In the off-chance that somebody looks at it, to make sure that my entire self was fully presented (Yes, I do seriously mean “off-chance.” This was not supposed to happen.)

HB: Do you intend on continuing to play the cello in college?
SP: Yeah, definitely. When I was applying to colleges this year, I had to make a pretty big decision on whether I wanted to attend academic schools or music conservatories. But while I love music, I don’t think I could give up all of my academic dreams for it. That said, something great about a lot of academic colleges is that you can still play in orchestras and chamber music programs, so that’s awesome!

HB: What would others take away from visiting your site?
SP: If they want to know about the secret life of Sang-O Park or have an opportunity to embarrass me, they can go right on ahead. They can take away that everybody’s got something interesting that they don’t explicitly tell their peers.

HB: Who do you look up to?
SP: I look up to one of my former cello teachers, Metta “Billie” Watts. I was with her for 10 years and it was only after I got a bit older that I realized that her reputation was incredible. But to me, she had always just been a driving presence in my life. By the time I moved on to Juilliard and had to switch teachers, I was 17 and she was 93. Yet she still continued to teach.

HB: What is a motto that you live by?
SP: The world is still young! There’s still so much that we’re all capable of doing regardless of if we’re coming off a great success or a pretty bad failure. The universe is waiting for our next move, so we just have to go and make it.

HB: What do you hope to accomplish in the next chapter of your life?
SP: Figure out what exactly it is I want to be and want to do. I’ve got interests in music. I’ve got dreams in the sciences. I just hope I know what to do with them.

HB: What will you miss the most about Harriton?
SP: Science Olympiad. I’ve spent the past seven years doing Science Olympiad and going to countless invitational, regional, state, and national tournaments – winning and losing. This definitely sets aside a spot for it in your heart. While I’m excited about the prospects of what lies ahead, it’s going to be pretty hard to have to leave behind what’s developed into my favorite part about school.

HB: Are you content with where you are in life right now?
SP: Probably just more content with the fact that a stage of my life has more or less come to a close and that a new one is about to begin.

HB: How has Harriton shaped you?
SP: Exposed me to a lot of new environments/brought me out of my comfort zone and was the basis for a lot of the ideas and dreams I have today.

If you are still curious about the multi-talented maestro that is, Sang-o Park, visit his website: www.sangopark.com, for more.