Elias Kremer, Founder
What is your inspiration for playing piano?
While being able to bring joy through music into the lives of those who I play for really drives me to play, there is a therapeutic element to playing piano I benefit from myself. Life in high school is filled with stressors; whenever I have the chance, I find time to play and experiment with the piano, which provides a great opportunity to destress from all the different things I pursue.
What are some of your interests outside of piano?
I have many other interests along with piano, ranging from soccer and debate to music production/writing and business endeavors. In my free time, I enjoy running and going to the gym, as well as spending time with family and friends.
What do you want to study in college?
As I begin finding the right college for me, I am looking into studying in the areas of political science, business, international relations, and music.
Dylan Reiser
What is your inspiration for playing guitar?
My inspiration for playing guitar began in middle-school guitar ensemble, where I would play rock and roll songs with my friends. However, I lost interest and quit guitar altogether for several years, until I heard some classical guitar on some of my mom's old CDs. I have since picked up classical guitar for its elegance and use of different techniques, and loved every moment of it.
What are some of your interests outside of guitar? What do you want to study in college?
Some of my interests outside of guitar include engineering and swimming. I have been a year-round swimmer for five years, swimming for Galloway and Chastain Park Athletic Club. My passions for engineering and science has been key features of who I am as well for some time, and I love to work on different projects related to those fields. In college, I want to pursue a field of engineering, most likely mechanical or aerospace, as I love figuring out how different things function.
Livi Birch
What is your inspiration for playing guitar and composing music?
I asked to play guitar when I was 5 but my mum made me wait until I was six. I wrote my first song on the guitar when I was 8 and performed it with a band at an outdoor concert. I loved it and that is how I ended up with an acting agent. I have written songs on the ukulele, electric guitar and keyboard (it’s a work in progress as I am learning from YouTube!) Most of my songs are written from personal experiences or things that influence and resonate with me. I’ve also had a couple licensed by tv shows which is exciting! Writing songs is a form of “therapy” for me: it allows me to process any emotions and hopefully by sharing them I can in a small way bring a positive vibe to others.
What are some of your interests outside of music? What do you want to study in college?
I have been acting in movies and tv shows since I was nine which can take up a lot of my time. When I have downtime I love hanging with my friends, thrifting and reading lots and lots of books. I also make the most of being home and being with my family and two very fluffy cats.
I will be 17 when I graduate so may take a gap year and travel or intern on some productions. If I am working on a production then I think I will wait for the right time to apply for college and see what my interests are closer to the time.
Sean Mouzon
Why did you join NOTEWORTHE Music? What is your inspiration for playing French Horn?
I want to make a positive impact on people the way I know best, making music. NOTEWORTHE Music does an excellent job of doing just that and that goal inspires me.
When I was very young, I saw a cartoon character playing the French Horn and the show drew me to try the instrument in real life. I have been playing ever since to influence people the way I was when I first heard the Horn.
What are some of your interests outside of playing French Horn?
Outside of Music, I enjoy Roller Skating, Tennis, and Archery from time to time. I also enjoy going to the gym, swimming and doing photography.
Mathew LeCompte
What is your inspiration for playing piano? What are some of your interests outside of piano?
I originally started playing piano when I was 4 or 5 years old as an extracurricular thing my mom signed me up for. We always used to listen to classical music in the car so she figured it would be a good fit. Eventually I stopped taking lessons and started teaching myself, which allowed to broaden my horizons in terms of genres. From there, I found a lot of enjoyment from both performing my concerts or musicals, as well as composing music myself. I enjoy composing music in general, typically scoring things like animations, short films, or themes for characters. I also like to play Dungeons and Dragons a lot, as I’m a big fan of world-building and creative writing. Lately I’ve been working on writing my own story and world just as a sort of passion project. I currently work as a Performing Associate for the store CAMP.
What do you want to study in college?
I’m hoping to study Scoring for things like movies and games as well as Electronic Music. I find making music for characters, or settings, or scenarios is incredibly fun and I want to hopefully do that on a larger scale in the future. Given that I already have a strong passion for playing video games, I think it would be cool if I could make the soundtrack for one, one day.
Shang Jiang
What is your inspiration for playing the flute/piano?
I started playing piano because I was fascinated with the way a seemingly bland set of sounds good be morphed together into form music. Outside of piano, I enjoy reading, teaching speech and debate, and hanging out with friends. Moreover, I’ve been an extremely dedicated flautist, achieving recognition in the Missouri All Suburban/State bands and principal in Webster Universities Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra. In college, I plan on majoring and teaching economics at a university with a potential minor in music.
Emanuel Armira
Why did you join NOTEWORTHE Music? What is your inspiration for playing Saxophone?
I love helping out people, and seeing that my passion for music can be used to help those in need is such an incredible opportunity. I’ve always enjoyed music so much when I was younger, and once I joined band and started playing the saxophone in 6th grade. Now that I am older and more experienced, I love being able to play for people and help people have an experience that can truly make their day. No one ever knows what’s going on in someone’s life, but it does feel nice to know that I helped make someones day.
What are some of your interests outside of Saxaphone?
I enjoy gardening as one of my hobbies. The fragility of nature is so much fun to explore and nurture on your own. And also lifting has been a passion of mine. Finding a way to improve oneself not only physically but mentally, while working out is a great hobby on its own.
Tait Stubits
What is your inspiration for playing ukulele/singing?
My inspiration for ukulele is my Kindergarten teacher who would sing to us and play the ukulele. I thought she was so cool when I was little, so I decided to learn how to play it. I enjoy baking, art, reading, shopping, and running cross country. My favorite subject in school is History, but I also enjoy drama and choir!
Jeremy Gassman
What is your inspiration for playing piano? What are some of your interests outside of piano?
I have been playing piano since around 3rd grade, and have always enjoyed it. I love expressing myself and my feelings through music, as sometimes I find this difficult to do through words. I remember piano tutorials popping up on Youtube once, and that is when I really discovered that I could play anything. Currently, I am going through a film music arc where I am learning the soundtracks to various movies that I love. The versatility of the instrument and looking up to some of its greatest players have also continued to inspire me throughout the years. Outside of piano, I also enjoy playing trombone in my school pit orchestra, and speedcubing. Speedcubing is the art of solving Rubik's Cubes and other twisty puzzles as fast as possible. I love a good Christopher Nolan film, and love to travel to foreign places too.
What do you want to study in college?
I do not know what I want to study in college, but I would like it to be somewhat along the lines of economics, chemistry, government, or mathematics.
Evan Frilingos
Why did you join NOTEWORTHE Music? What is your inspiration for playing piano?
I wanted to join Noteworthe because the mission to connect with people and transmit love through music is essentially my purpose with my playing as well as the way that I myself have experienced music. I think that the best way to use a gift is to connect, encourage and serve others, and that is exactly what I see Noteworthe doing.
I began teaching myself about a year and a half ago because I realized that playing the piano helped me cope with trauma and gave me an outlet for my emotions that at the time were overwhelming, confusing and suppressed. I was inspired by the way that the piano gave me a unique sense of peace, and the stories behind the music of composers such as Beethoven and Schubert acted as mirrors in which I could see my own experience.
Outside of piano I love to do photography—I’m a photojournalism major at UGA, and I love to play and watch soccer.
Micah Parness, Multimedia Coordinator
Why did you want to work with NOTEWORTHE Music, and what is your inspiration for graphic design?
I am inspired by NOTEWORTHE Music's mission. Music is something that can bring a sense of community and harmony to people, and is truly like therapy. I love to listen to all different types of music, which is another reason I was drawn to the organization.
I get inspiration from everywhere. Sometimes it’s from the clients I’m working with, and sometimes it’s whatever I find intriguing that day. I really enjoy channeling the vibe and aesthetic of whatever or whoever I’m creating for, and essentially becoming a chameleon in my designing to make everything seamless and cohesive.
Right now, I work at the High Museum on their Teen Team, helping to plan and coordinate all of the Museum's teen programming. In college, I hope to study public relations and marketing.