Growing up, I loved to entertain people - family, friends, neighbors and even random strangers! I soon realized I could earn tips playing my violin on the street and use the money to help others while putting aside some of the cash for later. It was scary at first since I was six when I started, but once I noticed people smiling and even adding dollar bills into my violin case, I began to relax!

When I was eight years old, I started donating my tips and playing the violin at a homeless shelter in San Francisco for the children’s program and then as part of a Mother’s Day event for homeless moms and their families.

A few years later, when I was 10, I started a tradition, which has continued to this day, of playing my violin for tips (or “propina” in Spanish) during the “art walk event” in San Jose del Cabo and giving the money to Casa Hogar, an orphanage in Cabo, while performing for the children who live there.

Another influential event happened when I was 13, handing out supplies to children who live in the small towns in the Costa Rica jungle and playing my violin for these students who attend remote one-room schools. I was told that the kids had never seen anyone play the violin before! My violin became my translator with these children.

These early childhood experiences led me to the realization that I could communicate and contribute through the language of music.

Traveling to nursing homes, rural schools, homeless shelters, orphanages, public parks, cafes, retirement centers and churches all around the world became a way of life for me. I play to fill not only my heart with joy but other people's hearts as well. No matter where I am in the world, my violin is with me.

I have joined fellow musicians to bring music to charitable organizations and have performed in many different settings including with my original Suzuki group at a Chinese nursing home for Christmas music; with a professional Mariachi family at the orphanage in Mexico in full Mariachi attire and playing Mexican favorites; and with members of the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra performing the Star Spangled Banner at the regional Rotary Club meeting and playing Bach compositions as part of a trio for a Giving Marin nonprofit award dinner and free Bach Festival.

In the future, I will be scheduling a fundraising concert as a way to publicly promote Music4Happiness. I would also like to find a way to expand Music4Happiness in Chinese speaking communities or in Asia as I am fluent in Mandarin.

Now, with Music4Happiness, I am actively recruiting music ambassador volunteers including fellow musicians to perform and provide lessons and also people who can help plan events or donate so that Music4Happiness can reach its goals.