Chelsey Green, Storyteller

CHELSEY GREEN, D.M.A in Performance - Viola, UMD School of Music

At 4 years old, I began taking private lessons from a violinist in the Houston Ballet Orchestra. At 4, a child is in awe of almost everything, so of course, to me this woman was no ordinary violinist. She was, and definitely still is, a world-class musician who studied at Juilliard and traveled the world performing but made Houston her home. I thought, “That’s where I’m from, Houston!” The connection was nearly instantaneous.

Those moments impressed upon me that making music is something special, something that is not only moving for patrons but also for those who are part of the production.

A couple years later, she invited me to sit in the pit with her for one of the Ballet’s performances of The Nutcracker. The whole experience completely blew my mind.

To watch this magical and fantastical story come to life on stage while experiencing the magic between all of the artists involved inspired me so much to see how everyone was such an integral part of the production. I saw how the musicians were speaking with the dancers through their music and how the dancers were speaking with the audience through choreographed movement and how the production team helped facilitate the show. Those moments impressed upon me that making music is something special, something that is not only moving for patrons but also for those who are part of the production. It was at that moment that I knew it was something I had to be a part of one day.