For String Trio
 
As someone who is bi-racial, I have experienced people constantly questioning my ancestry,
where I always felt as though I had to prove my heritage not only to others, but to myself. With
multiple research articles finding a correlation between racial discrimination and “lower levels of
psychological functioning as measured by perceived stress, depression, and overall
‘psychological well-being,’' I know I am not alone.
Before writing this work, I interviewed multiple volunteers ranging from friends, mentors, and
colleagues who come from racially ambiguous backgrounds to hear their story. I asked about
their ethnicity, people's initial reaction to their ethnicity, any internal struggles that may have
occurred, and if they have found their place and community. Through these few weeks of
interviewing and research, I learned so much about my peers and felt so seen and validated
about my experiences.
To write this work, I transcribed portions of the interviews into musical motifs that are
heard throughout the piece, creating voices of uncertainty and insecurity that goes through one’s
head.
 
Duration:
c. 9'
 
Performances:
Written for & premiered by Salastina Composers Collective 2024