Oberlin Portrait: Sarah Wass Story and Photo by Michael Chipman
	RELATED Oberlin Music Coalition to Paint Musical Colors in Children's Concert Based on Dr. Seuss' "My Many Colored Days," Saturday, February 5, 2 P.M., Warner Concert Hall; "Musical Petting Zoo" Also Offered A Course Assignment for Kathleen Chastain's Flute Pedagogy Class Evolves into National Publication for Three Students News and features about the Conservatory Preview CD's released by faculty, staff & students Past articles from the Oberlin Portrait		Sarah Wass, a senior flute performance major, student of Michel Debost , from West Seneca, New York, recently produced a free children's concert with the Oberlin Music Coalition (OMC), in an effort to give children "an early experience with live classical music that really grabs their attention so that they learn to appreciate it. That appreciation will grow with opportunity and age," she says, "and they will become educated audience members in the future." Wass was pleased with the turnout -- around 200 guests showed up for the concert. She designed the theme, chose music with conductor Amitabh Rao, a senior from New Delhi, India, handled publicity, organized an orchestra of over 60 Con and College students, and created a pre-concert mini-lesson with OMC member Dominic Powell, a junior from Dallas, Texas, that was presented to over 500 area school children during the two weeks preceding the concert. Wass says of the experience, "Organizing this event was challenging, rewarding and one of the most meaningful experiences I've ever had." What is your first memory of music? My parents would take my sister and me to free town band concerts in the park near our house. My favorite part came at the end: they would play a march and invite the kids in the audience to form a line and parade around. I always wanted to be first in line because then you got to hold the flag and lead the other kids. How old were you when you started playing? Nine years old. What inspired you to be a musician? What keeps you inspired on discouraging days? I've had some incredible music teachers. I also never "blended" in high school. Music, for me, was a good reason to stand out. On discouraging days, I think about the terrible part-time and summer jobs I've worked. Just the thought of doing that for the rest of my life inspires me to continue with music. What is the most memorable performance you have ever seen and why? I still remember when my parents took me to see "Peter Pan" when I was three years old. For the longest time, I wanted to play Peter Pan on Broadway. Then I realized I was too tall. If you could perform with one musician living or dead, who would it be and what would you perform? One of my favorite experiences at Oberlin has been playing duets with Mr. Debost in my lessons. If you could master another instrument, what would it be? Hands down, the cello. It is so beautiful. If you couldn't be a musician what profession would you choose? Which profession would you definitely not choose? If I couldn't be a musician, I'd be a journalist on international assignment. Or work at Starbucks. I would definitely not be a meatpacker. What do you listen to after a long day? The lounge stylings of Juan Garcia Esquivel. What do you like to read? Everything! The three words that best describe you: Excited about life.