Eli Gee, 18, was first introduced to the violin at the age of 10 at St. Andrew’s School.
“There were only four violins at the time, and when I started, I picked it up quickly, and was always excited to learn new stuff. I really like the instrument,” Gee says. “At that time, we weren’t learning how to read music, I taught myself how to do that. I started reading music midway through 6th grade, and that was a big accomplishment for me.”
Today, Gee is a senior at Collegiate School, and is preparing to attend Denison University in the fall – where he plans on including music education as one of his majors.
“When I was in 7th grade, I began to really love the violin and it really clicked for me. I love the relationships that it has helped me create,” he says.
At St. Andrew’s School, Gee says he always had a supportive environment.
“It was so loving and caring,” he says. “It was a close-knit community, and I felt like I belonged, and I was loved and cared for.”
Gee says as he learned how to focus on studying, those benefits spilled over into his musical world.
“I was introduced to sheet music and found some mentors who always helped me. I became really good at music theory, and auditioned for Central Regional Orchestra,” he says. “With music theory, you either get it or you don’t. I’m happy that I understand it, and I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I’ve even learned how to play the guitar. Last August, the director of the band at my church asked me to figure out how to play the guitar, and in two months I had figured it out so now I play that as well.”
Central Regional Orchestra (CRO) through Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) accepts students in grades 7-9.
In addition to playing the violin (and guitar), Gee’s interests also include the wrestling team, a cappella, varsity football, cross-country, the African American Resource Group, and theater.
Gee says he developed an understanding of the importance of relationships at St. Andrew’s School, which he carried over to his years at Collegiate, and which he hopes to carry with him to Denison.
“I realize that with my learning style I do better in a smaller environment and tighter community,” he says.