Ladue Horton Watkins High School (LHWHS) junior Kimmi Lin has earned a spot as a percussionist in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO2)—a sister ensemble to the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) for outstanding young players ages 14-17. This summer, Kimmi will perform at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall before embarking on a European tour, where she will take the stage at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland.

Kimmi was one of nearly 90 musicians accepted to NYO2, a program designed to train and develop young musicians, many of whom later go on to join NYO-USA. For Kimmi, earning a spot was a rewarding milestone that reflected countless hours of dedicated practice

“It felt very rewarding because I had put in as much effort as I would've if I were applying to something like college,” she explained. “I practiced every day whenever I had free time, and when I didn't have instruments available, I would listen to the excerpts on Spotify. For some excerpts, there were over 50 takes.”

Kimmi’s musical journey began in childhood, learning drum set and piano before choosing percussion in fifth grade. Since then, she has flourished under the mentorship of Tim Crockett, Kurena Yamaguchi, and Ladue Schools’ own Erin Elstner, the associate director of high school and middle school bands.

“I definitely wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have without their support over the years,” Kimmi states. “They have been there for me through everything—recitals, concertos, and auditions. They listened tirelessly and gave feedback on my multiple takes, even when I sent them as late as 11 p.m. Ms. Elstner listened to my audition and supported me emotionally by reminding me of the hard work and improvement that I've achieved and that I should be proud of myself whether I was selected or not.”

As she prepares for Carnegie Hall and her international tour, Kimmi looks forward to playing alongside some of the best young musicians in the world.

“Getting to play with such high-level musicians is always something to be excited about. The music sounds much better, and I feel proud of what I helped create. I think I’ll grow a lot this summer after playing and interacting with such talented musicians,” she exclaims.

For other young musicians hoping to achieve similar success, Kimmi offers some words of wisdom:

“A piece of advice I would like to give is to live in the moment. There will always be more auditions, and failing one shouldn't be something you dwell on for a long time. Failures and achievements don’t make you who you are or what you're worth, so I feel it’s best to keep looking forward and staying positive.”

Congratulations to Kimmi on this outstanding achievement! The Ladue Schools community can’t wait to hear about your summer musical journey!