If CHS were a human body, the different high school clichés would inhabit the obvious choices. The athletes would be the arms and legs, while the scholars would be the brain. The musicians, however, would be the very soul of the student body.

Junior Kenneth Liao has been playing violin for half of his life, and listening to the harmonic melody of his strings is nothing short of extraordinary.

“When I play any piece, I try to capture the mood and feeling the composer felt at the time and present it to the audience,” Liao said. “I can be imagining anything from the coldness and desolation of Sibelius to the excited and cheerful mood of Mozart.”

According to Liao, his career as a violinist began after being inspired by recitals at Phil Hosford’s Academy of Music. Since then, he has flourished as one of CHS’s finest violinists.

Liao’s mastery of the violin has been recognized by many renowned artists at the acclaimed artistic venue Strathmore. He has also performed solo at the Kennedy Center concert hall.

While Liao is a master in the string section of the band, junior Isaiah Shim dominates on the piano.

According to Shim, his passion for the piano is largely motivated by his admiration of conductor, composer and pianist Leonard Bernstein. His incredible enthusiasm for playing also comes from his genuine love of music.

“Music means joy, comfort, entertainment and life to me because it affects my emotions and I’ll hopefully be [working with] music for rest of my life,” Shim said. “I don’t know what I would be like if I [didn’t have] music.”

Another one of CHS best is junior Joshua Coyne, a dual violinist and composer who declares that music is his life’s true passion.

“Music is everything to me,” Coyne said. “It’s what’s really important in my life. Composing is great because there are no rules and you can express yourself in a way that no [one] can tell you [is] wrong.”

Beginning instruction on the violin at the age of four, Coyne showed enthusiasm for the instrument and has since developed into a composer and seasoned performer.

Coyne has performed for several famous people, including President of the United States Barack Obama. He was asked to play for Obama’s “Stand for Change” rally and played in front of 13,500 people at Baltimore’s First Mariner Arena.

The next time you are at a CHS sporting event or musical, take some time to look behind the scholar athletes and belting singers towards the band or the orchestra; they will amaze you.