Echoes of Success
Discover the Inspiring Journeys of Our Key to Change Alumni. Our alumni are the truest testament to the impact and success of Key to Change Studio. They are the melodies that have been fine-tuned within our walls and have since resonated in the wider world of music and beyond. From professional musicians gracing international stages to educators shaping the next generation, our alumni represent the diverse and rich paths that a foundation in music education can lead to.
Our alumni find success in many ways.
String Studio Assistant at
Key to Change
Analisa Teresa Ruiz
Favorite piece of music right now: “Si Una Vez” by Selena Quintanilla
Analisa is gaining professional experience as a Key to Change intern, helping with student recruitment, administrative support, classroom assistance, community engagement, and more. She says music gives her serenity, focus, and a way to express herself. She remembers performing at Benaroya Hall with Key to Change during the pandemic, playing an exceptional violin donated to the Studio by luthier David Van Zandt: “It was an empty concert hall, and despite feeling so small on that grand stage, the sound of my violin filled the space. Words cannot describe how amazing and emotional I felt standing there on a stage that so many musicians have performed on.”
Computer science student
Seattle University
Derek Nguyen
Favorite piece of music right now:
“Les Toreadors” by Georges Bizet, which appears in the Five Nights at Freddy’s game series
and is the podium music after every Formula One race.
“Right now, music is a hobby and safe space for me to relax and escape the stress of the world,” Derek says. Looking back on his time with Key to Change, he remembers having fun with his friends in the Saint Georges group class, especially during Solo String Festivals. He credits the Studio with helping him develop his work ethic and become a stronger leader, team player, and friend. “Learning the violin and working together to play ensemble pieces has transformed me and made both school and work a LOT easier for me,” he says.
Mechanical engineering student
Seattle University
Devin Nguyen
Favorite piece of music right now:
The Japanese military march “Yuki no Shingun” and the
Finnish folk song “Säkkijärven Polkka,” both of which
were featured in one of Devin’s favorite TV shows.
When Devin first arrived at Key to Change, “I had no idea how to learn things,” he says. “Learning the violin was a great way to figure out how to improve at something.” After taking some summer classes at Bellevue College, he’s now enrolled at Seattle University, where he’s majoring in mechanical engineering. Devin still practices his violin and stays in touch with friends he made at the Studio. “Key to Change has played a big part in developing my social skills,” he says.
Nursing student,
Highline College
Ellie Whitby
Favorite piece of music right now: Symphony No. 3 in A minor by Felix Mendelssohn (performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Peter Maag), “Dance the Night Away” by Dua Lipa
After graduating from high school in the top 5% of her class, Ellie got a job with the medical surgery team at Valley Medical Center, where she continues to work while pursuing her nursing degree. Music still plays a huge role in her life, she says, in both her personal and professional life. “We often use music therapy at work as we find that it can help to calm patients.” Ellie still plays her violin and cherishes the “camaraderie and friendships” that defined her time with Key to Change. “It was such a supportive environment and the community vibes were amazing.”
Chemistry student,
University of Washington
Jolene Nguyen
Favorite piece of music right now:
Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
“Learning an instrument has taught me that I am much more capable than I think I am,” she says. Music continues to play an important, therapeutic role in her life, helping her to decompress. Reflecting on her time with Key to Change, Jolene says she most remembers the supportive community and friends she made through the program.
Music education student
Louisiana State University
Madison Cole
Favorite piece of music right now:
“Adoration” by Florence Price
Madison discovered her love of music at Key to Change. It also helped her grow both her self-confidence and her work ethic. “My instrument taught me that initial talent isn’t what gets you far,” she says. “It’s how hard you put in work behind the scenes that matters.” Madison found her best friend at the Studio, too; they got closer by supporting each other during concerts and classes.
Physical therapy & Spanish student
Central Washington University
Malak Ali
Favorite piece of music right now:
The Sanctus movement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B minor.
As Malak gets started at Central Washington University, music continues to drive her productivity. “Playing music and learning music gives me purpose,” she says. Looking back on her time with Key to Change, she still remembers every concert, every class, and hanging out with the great friends she made through the Studio. Her time with the Studio taught her that she is a “powerfully resilient person,” she says. “Learning an instrument helps catalyze the trial-and-error cycle. I am not afraid to try and fail, then dust my knees off and keep trudging no matter what.”
Computer Science & International Studies, University of Washington
Richie Doan
Favorite piece of music right now: “Hummingbird” by James Blake and Metro Boomin (from the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack
“Music has always been a way for me to explore and express my emotions,” Rich says, explaining how studying the violin helped him articulate his feelings and practice empathy. Key to Change taught him “the value and importance of making mistakes,” he says. “Being surrounded with so many brilliant peers and educators is humbling and puts you in an extremely special place where you can grow in earnest without fear of being excluded or demeaned. You develop a really healthy relationship with criticism and failure, which I still find to be invaluable.
Aerospace engineering student
Seattle Central College
Zora Rose Mtunga
Favorite piece of music right now:
De Taeye’s “Humoresque” and “The First Taste” by Fiona Apple.
In addition to being an engineering student, Zora is also working in customer service at Northwestern Mutual, where she’s become interested in financial technology. Once she completes her two-year degree at Seattle Central, she plans to transfer into the University of Washington’s Informatics program. She says her experience with Key to Change has been “profoundly influential” because it motivated her “to overcome obstacles and approach every room with confidence, even in fields like classical arts where diversity can be limited.”