Some teens go to camp for the summer, others solo with a lauded orchestra. 

Pre-College student Ava Pakiam traveled to Mexico this summer to perform with Filarmonía Orchestra, under music director Jorge Vasquez. At 15, Ava has been honing her craft at SFCM since she was seven, studying under faculty member Simon James. 

“It was really fun to work with Filarmonía because Jorge is fantastic and the players are young and full of joy. I don’t speak any Spanish but that didn’t matter at all because the music connected us,” Ava said of the experience. 

This was Ava’s third concert engagement with Vasquez, who originally reached out to the young performer after seeing her perform on social media. The two performances, held in late June, were in the Mexican cities of Xalapa and Tlaxcala. 

Ava Pakiam performs in Mexico.

“My favorite part of these concerts was hearing them clap rhythmically after we finished the Tchaikovsky Concerto, which I learned was their signal for an encore,” Ava continued. “It was so exciting to hear them start clapping together to call me back out there!”

The violinist is no stranger to big performances: She performed as a soloist with the Seattle symphony in 2022, as well as the Olympia Symphony in 2023, her Pre-College teacher Simon James helps her prepare for everyone one. 

“Simon taught me all of my concerti this year,” Ava said. “I performed the Brahms, Bruch, and Tchaikovsky this year with multiple orchestras and I couldn’t have done it without his continuous inspiration and support!” 

It’s been an exciting summer for Ava. In addition to her Mexico performances, she was a recipient of the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, one of five people (or ensembles) from an international pool to receive this award this year. 

The Xicohténcatl Theater in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

“I love the friends and community I have made through SFCM, the incredible opportunities to perform, and the faculty that has supported me over the last seven years. I have been here half my life now!” Ava said. 

SFCM’s Pre-College division offers an immersive set of programs that instill the value of music in youth 18 and under, providing an artistic framework and tailored instruction for the next generation of musicians. Within the Pre-College there are multiple programs for young musicians including the Academy, Bridge to Arts and Music (BAM), Early Childhood, and Smart Start. 

For Ava, the lessons she’s learned in the Pre-College program have given her the skills to continue performing at a high level. “This year, I was offered the chance to perform Steve Reich’s Duet for Two Violins with another young soloist and orchestra. It was incredibly difficult rhythmically and I was given a tight timeline,” Ava said. 

“While I put it together I realized I couldn’t have gotten it ready on time if it weren’t for the training I received in my Pre-College Musicianship classes for rhythm and ear training. I found myself learning it using the techniques they taught us all these years and seeing it come together made me so proud,” she added.

Learn more about SFCM’s Pre-College.