By Kate Lohnes

Artistic talent flows freely in Upper Arlington these days, particularly among its younger residents.

UA is home to many kids and teens with creative talents, from music to the stage to the big and small screens. Upper Arlington Magazine chatted with five local students who are devoted to pursuing these passions about what keeps them dedicated …

Jennifer Zhou, 16, junior at Upper Arlington High School
Jennifer began playing the flute when she was 6 years old. In addition to performing with the Upper Arlington High School Symphony, Jennifer is also a member of the Cleveland Youth Orchestra. She was a finalist in the 2008 “President’s Own” Marine Band High School Concerto Competition in Washington, D.C. and competed again as a finalist in February. Other accomplishments include winning the national MTNA Junior Woodwind Competition and performing on National Public Radio’s From the Top in May 2008.
What made you want to become a musician? “When I was a toddler, I was living in China and I was watching a music show with a performance by a violinist. It enlightened me. I grabbed chopsticks and rubbed them together like a violin. My mom thought I wanted to play violin, so I took lessons, but it didn’t work out. I tried the flute next.”
How much do you practice each week? “I practice daily. (How long) depends on how much homework I have. It’s usually two or three hours. I take weekly lessons, and sometimes have lessons with other professors. I also participate in the youth orchestra in Cleveland, so I have to drive up there every weekend.”
Do you ever feel like you’re sacrificing other parts of your life for music? “It’s sort of like the SATs. You have to spend time studying. You can’t cram for the SATs. You can’t cram for a performance, either. You always have to dig out time every day and focus on practicing.”
What have your experiences as a musician taught you? “I realized at one point that I can’t always be on top of things. Things happen and you have to get over it. I go on the belief that I should just do my personal best.”
You say you want to be a professional musician. What is your ultimate goal? “I absolutely want to get my name known. I want to be known as a good flutist.”

Nate West, 17, senior at Upper Arlington High School
Nate has been playing the double bass (also known as the contrabass) for eight years. He performs with the UA High School Symphony, the New Albany Symphony and the Chamber Music Connection in Worthington. Nate participated in the national youngARTS competition, presented by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. He was one of 141 students to perform at the competition in Miami in January. He has also been nominated as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. If selected, Nate will be honored at the White House and perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in June.
What inspired you to become a musician? “My sister, who is three years older than me, played the violin when she was a kid. I decided I wanted to play when I was in fourth grade. I liked hearing my sister play, but I wanted to be different, so I chose the double bass.”
Was the double bass a perfect fit for you? “Not really. It’s a hard instrument to play. I didn’t understand how to play it for a while. Then I started taking private lessons and doing it more in school. But at first I had no idea what I was doing.”
Do you ever take a week off from music? “Every once in a while, like when I’ve just finished a big audition or a competition, I’ll go a day where I don’t practice as much. You try not to go too long without playing. You can lose muscle memory.”
What has music taught you about life? “There’s no right or wrong answer. You can’t say you know something because, no matter what you think is correct, there will always be someone who thinks they have a better way.”
What would you like to accomplish in your career? “I want to be an orchestral musician, like for the Chicago Symphony. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Jake Borelli, 17, senior at Upper Arlington High School
Jake has two artistic passions in life: painting and acting. Recently his art won two gold and one silver medal in the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Competition, and his eight-piece portfolio was selected for the competition’s national level. Jake is also a professional actor: his work has included TV and radio commercials, industrial videos for corporations and schools and an independent film with Ohio University students.
When did you begin acting? “When I was about 11, I was doing plays at the Columbus Children’s Theater. I did three or four a year constantly.”
When did you get serious about acting? “I had contacts through the children’s theater, and I got in contact with an agent who is now my agent. I work with them on auditions, which can be located anywhere in Ohio. I got my agent the summer before my freshman year of high school, so I was about 14.”
What does it feel like to have an agent? “It felt weird at first. Starting out with them, my only background was theater, and then I jumped into doing professional paid jobs. I’m used to it now. It’s how the business works.”
Describe some of the projects you’ve worked on. “I’ve done radio and TV commercials and industrial work videos. I’ve done a couple of health videos. My school actually bought one of the videos, so kids that are in health class recognize me as I’m walking through the halls. It’s kind of awkward, but I don’t mind it.”
When was the first time you were recognized from your work? “I did an Aldi grocery store commercial this past year that aired nationally, and it was playing here non-stop. A lot of people said ‘Hey, I saw you on TV,’ which was cool.”
What’s next for you? “I’m moving to Los Angeles in the summer, and I need to get a manager. I’m also auditioning for UCLA’s theater department, but it’s really selective. I’m ready to drop everything and go try my hardest to be a working actor. I’m going to try everything I can to break into the business, and if it fails 15 years from now, I’ll go back to school. I’m afraid if I don’t go now, I’ll regret it. It’s scary, but it’s what I love and what I’ve wanted to do forever.”

Liz Held, 17, junior at Wellington School
Liz is a jack of all trades when it comes to the arts. Her interest in theater took her and her classmates to Edinburgh, Scotland, where they performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last summer. Liz’s biggest passion, however, is photography. This summer she will be one of a few dozen students on a National Geographic Student Expedition to Tanzania, where she will document the experience through photography.
In what areas of theater are you most interested? “I’ve been involved in tech crew since seventh grade and I stage-managed my first show, Aladdin, in eighth grade.”
Why did you want to be behind the scenes? “When I first started, it was the attitude of the tech crew that made it so much fun. The tech manager, who’s also a math teacher, made it intriguing. The first thing I ever worked was sound. I loved being up there in the booth. It was interesting to be a part of it.”
What is your biggest passion? “Definitely photography. I want to be a photojournalist or a photo advertiser. I really like travel photography, seeing something I’ve never seen before or different cultures. My No. 1 dream is to be a photographer for National Geographic.”
What is it you enjoy about photography? “I like capturing real life. When you look at things, you get so used to it that you don’t see the beauty in it. When you get the right shot, you look at it in a completely different way.”

Kate Lohnes is assistant editor of Upper Arlington Magazine.