What makes you feel alive? At peace? Energized? Senior Eshaan Giri feels all of this and more when he plays the cello. 

“It’s like visual art. It’s a way to express my ideas, it’s a way to express my emotions, it’s a way to de-stress,” Giri said.

From a young age, music has had a strong and impactful hold on Giri’s life. Since the age of five, Giri has been composing music on both the cello and piano. 

“I’ve always had a passion for music. It’s a way to express ideas I just can’t use words for,” Giri said. 

For the past ten years, Giri has been persistently dragging his bow across his cello to create deep, rich music. Music that has taken him far and wide across the nation.

So far, Giri’s efforts have paid off, as he was selected for All-State. From there, he met the highest criteria and was chosen to participate in All Nationals in Washington D.C.

“I practiced the audition excerpt for 10 or 11 hours, I was practicing every day,” Giri said.

The road to All Nationals was lengthy and difficult. Giri was given his music a couple of months in advance in order to prepare for the conference. Everyone was expected to have their music learned and perfected by the time of All Nationals. 

“Everyone had their own individual parts down. The purpose of rehearsal is for everyone to learn how to play as a group,” Giri said.

At All Nationals, Giri spent the majority of his time rehearsing with some of the most talented orchestra students in the country. During the three-day conference, rehearsing took up 6-8 hours per day. The students ended the conference with an ensemble performance to showcase their skills.

“Playing a solo is nice, but playing with an ensemble is even better because then it’s an added element of a collaborative experience. You’re all making this music together, you’re all contributing to this one idea together in a fashion that nothing ever compares to,” Giri said. 

Currently, Giri has an active role in the orchestra. His musical talent and admired enthusiasm make him a great cello section leader.

“My job is to make sure our sectionals are as productive as they can be so that when we come back into the full orchestra, everything runs smoothly, ” Giri said.

As a cello section leader, Giri is responsible for guiding rehearsals, figuring out what needs to be worked on, and determining how the group is going to improve.

“He really helps push the cello section to perform at a higher level than a lot of other school orchestras,” senior Noelle Whitbeck said.

Giri’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Others around him see the positive impact he has on the rest of his community.

“He is very persistent, he loves music, and he enjoys working with other people. Those three qualities just really help his drive for success,” orchestra director Debbie Martinez said.

In the foreseeable future, Giri envisions himself continuing to play and prioritize music in his life– ready to see where else his music will take him.