In this heartfelt episode, I reunite with three remarkable former Alpharetta High School Orchestra students—Jason Juang, Kacie Xie, and Sarang Pujari—as they share their orchestra journeys and how those experiences have shaped their collegiate years and budding careers. From concert stages to cutting-edge innovation, their stories highlight the transformative power of music education and the lifelong impact of creative collaboration.

Jason Juang, a Georgia Tech alumnus and Henry Luce Scholar, is now a climate change researcher at the Delta Electronics Foundation in Taipei, Taiwan. A former cellist with 7 years of orchestra experience, Jason reminisces about his middle and high school music days and how impromptu college jam sessions with his roommate kept his love for music alive.

Kaci Xie, a recent Yale graduate in Computing and the Arts and Education Studies, reflects on her time as a violist and how it fueled her passion for early childhood education and her involvement with the Yale Symphony Orchestra. Now the founder of Cimu, a startup helping fashion retailers reduce returns, Kacie shares how the discipline and creativity she cultivated in orchestra continue to inspire her entrepreneurial and educational endeavors.

Sarang Pujari, a dual-degree recipient in Computer Science from Georgia Tech, recalls his rich musical background, including six years in All-State, performing with the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra, and his time in Georgia Tech's Symphony Orchestra. Now a software engineer in Miami, Sarang discusses how his orchestra experience instilled teamwork and focus—skills he carries into his career in tech.Join us as we explore how their time in the orchestra prepared them for success, nurtured their passions, and created lifelong memories.

Whether you're a music enthusiast, educator, or former performer, this episode celebrates the enduring influence of music education on personal and professional growth. 🎻✨Also watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YnIvEhgDNXk

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