The crowd falls silent as the hands hit the strings. The music slowly becomes louder and louder for the audience. The distractions and worries disappear from senior Frank Song’s mind, and the only thing he can think about is to play. Song always keeps his guitar close by his side and said his love for everything musical surfaced early in his youth, and since then has become a very talented guitarist and singer.

“I was very into music in my elementary school,” Song said. “I used to love Michael Jackson even though I would dance on each New Year’s performance. But I sucked at it, I didn’t professionally learn or take lessons of it, but I just was very brave and just sort of just got out there to sing and dance. I play a little bit of piano and guitar, and I started to learn guitar when I was in fifth grade. And I learned piano before elementary school so I would say, like three or something. But I give up soon after that, like after elementary school.”

Song has done a couple of performances here and there, but his first ever live performance dates was a competition in 2021.

“I had a gap year in China and couldn’t come back from China because of COVID-19,” Song said. “And so I sort of went to a competition in China while I was there. I even got to the next round, which was pretty cool, it was a good first time performance.”

Song said his passion and guitar solos are heavily motivated by Shawn Mendez, who is dear to his heart.

“I value the impact of the music the most,” Song said. “Shawn Mendez is definitely one of the most inspirational musicians I know, when I was starting to learn guitar and singing.”

Song said he saw the impact that Mendez’s music had on the people around him, how that music touched their hearts and healed their spirits and that he strives to follow in the footsteps of Mendez. “Through Shawn, I sort of saw how he used music to sort of express himself and healed a lot of people at the same time,” Song said. “So I sort of saw my value through that. I could use my ability to impact others.”

Realizing what his talent could do for others, Song said he decided to put his skills to the test. Song saw an opportunity to put his talent online by participating in an online concert event.

“You record a video of yourself playing and submit it, it’s a fundraiser,” Song said. “One person put up all of the videos on Bilibili, which is a Chinese platform that raised over $5,600 for COVID-19.”

Last year, Song had the opportunity to play for the elderly at a local retirement home.

“I’m also in an AP music theory class,” Song said. “I was in a group performance with senior Bowie Wu. He coordinated the events. We basically all practiced songs together during the weekends and went to a retirement home to perform.”

Song hopes to continue his journey of bringing music to everyone he can and shows no signs of slowing down.

“Music is something that has accompanied me since my rock bottom – during the COVID years,” Song said. “In this limited life of mine so far, it is one of the few things I enjoy doing, so I want to be extraordinary in this area. I want to make an impact by adding my music in people’s lives, I can see myself writing and performing my own songs. By doing so, I believe it can heal others. One of my favorite songs is ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ by Elvis Presley.”