[viola music] - My name is Vivian Van de Sype Cucu, and I am a senior at the University School of Milwaukee.

My family and I, we're really close.

We really like sailing together.

I've been sailing for as long as I can remember.

With sailing, you have to adapt to the wind and who you're with.

And with music, I kind of have to adapt with the people I'm playing with or the hall that I'm playing in.

I think the viola is a pretty interesting instrument.

It has such a beautiful tone, almost like a singing voice.

[viola music] I started playing when I was four years old.

I really enjoy playing in ensembles.

The viola adds a really unique texture, and I love to provide that.

I'm a part of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, and my quartet is definitely my favorite part.

My nonprofit organization, Musicians for Hope, is a collaboration between me and a few peers from the Academy.

We try to raise money to bring instruments and better funded music programs to public schools.

- Davis King: Ha!

That's better.

- Vivian: I've been studying with Davis King for three years now.

He's helped me progress exponentially.

He's really enjoyable to work with, and I love him.

- No change of bow speed.

- Really?

He really makes me have to perfect it before we can move on.

That's really helpful.

- Now you're getting sharp.

- I will be playing the first movement of the Walton Viola Concerto.

The beginning's really soft, but it gets really intense as it goes on.

I know Walton was in love with someone, but it was sort of an unrequited love.

I try to think of that when I play, but I can't relate.

The ending is so wonderful.

It just slowly fades away and it sort of dies at the end.

Playing with the Madison Symphony Orchestra is definitely a big deal.

I'm just gonna really try to savor the moment and appreciate the music.

[ending note] [applause]