VCUarts Music students Arianna Greggs and Kevin Nguyen grew up playing music as part of their public school systems, and they’re now using their talent to advocate for the importance of public arts funding. Greggs is a fourth-year violin student graduating in May 2025 with her Bachelor of Music, and Nguyen is a third-year cello student, anticipated to graduate in 2026.
In July 2024, both participated in the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Summer Music Institute (SMI). Located at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Institute provides high school and college students with a pre-professional program to help them gain performance opportunities and practical skills to pursue a professional music career.
Greggs noted that her participation in the SMI was heavily influenced by the fact that the program is “a tuition-free festival,” which is unique for a program of its caliber. This significantly offset the personal financial requirements needed to participate.
Through the connections they made and the obvious dedication to their music, Greggs and Nguyen were contacted by the Kennedy Center to perform as SMI alumni as part of a string quartet at September 2024’s Congressional Record: “a night of music and arts education advocacy in partnership with the Congressional Musicians Caucus and Congressional Arts Caucus.”
VCU News published an article about Arianna and Kevin’s time at the Congressional Record which you can read here.
Related Inspirations
