Charisse Vu (’19) is a bright individual with a promising future. Photo by Amy Vu.By Kaitlyn Ngo & Amy Vu, Staff Writers
Charisse Vu (‘19), a talented pianist, dedicated tennis player and an outstanding scholar, stands out from the crowd of sophomores at Fountain Valley High School.
Around the ages of four and five, Vu began her impressive journey as a gifted musician. However, her initial encounters with the piano proved disastrous as she grew to despise playing the instrument. There was a lack of social exchanges between her and the other students, which was forced upon Vu by her original piano mentor.
Vu soon changed piano schools, and her learning experience improved drastically. At Little Chopin Piano Studio, Vu interacted with a variety of people in an environment that was more personal than that of her previous school
She blossomed into an extraordinary instrumentalist and performed in numerous distinguished competitions, including the United States Open Music Competition in Oakland. There, she won fourth place for solo. Additionally, Vu and her partner received a green emerald as the reward for winning first place in the category of showcase piano duo.
“I like playing duos the most since they’re quite challenging, but they’re also a lot more fun than solos and duets,” Vu said.
Vu’s love for ensembles shines through when she mentions that she had placed first in the seven duo and duet competitions that she had taken part in. To view a piece that Vu and her partner, Andrew Luu, played, click here.
Besides the U.S. Open Music Competition, Vu had participated in the annual Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF) where she usually competes in the solo and duo categories. In the past, Vu received anywhere from second to third place for solos (This year, she won 2nd place in the open Chopin category and 3rd place in the qualified solo category.) while repeatedly performing better in duos.
At the 20th Fullerton College Piano Ensemble Festival, Vu and her duo and duet partner placed first in the Late Intermediate Category and were awarded a cash prize.
In Oct. of 2016, she will be participating in the United States International Duo Piano Competition (USIDPC). If Vu makes it through the first round, she will be able to fly to Colorado to compete. Vu is also currently considering competing in a concerto national competition that would allow her to perform at Carnegie Hall if she places.
In order to expand her musical horizons, Vu experimented with the violin but realized that she much preferred the piano for its versatility in range of sound. Additionally, it was through playing the piano that she gained countless valuable friendships.
For Vu, the road to success was not always easy. There were instances when overwhelming amount of stress and disappointing losses in competitions discouraged Vu. Nonetheless, with the support of her loyal friends and family, she persevered.
A significant piece of advice Vu would give to budding musicians is “to have fun, and if that’s not possible, try making friends who also play the same instrument so that your suffering won’t be in vain.”
Not only is she putting her heart into playing keys, Vu also plays tennis here at FVHS. Known for her competitive nature and commendable sportsmanship, Vu has constantly impressed her coaches and teammates with her adeptness and cheerful personality both on and off the court.
Despite only having participated in the sport for three and a half years, Vu has proven to be a natural athlete. As a freshman still learning to maneuver through high school, Vu won the Sunset League title for junior varsity singles. In fact, she went undefeated the entire season, establishing her well-respected place in female high school tennis. During the girls’ tennis banquet at Dave & Buster’s last year, Vu received the honorable award of most valuable player.
“I felt super happy. I was so overwhelmed with joy that I almost tripped on my way up to receive the award,” Vu said.
This year, Vu’s reputation precedes her, and great things can be expected from this humble and affable sophomore.
“I just honestly like a challenge and to expand my knowledge in different fields,” Vu said.
As her future appears bright and promising, Vu’s charming and determined character is guaranteed to get her far in life.
