Leon Talks About the ‘Life-Changing’ Power of Music

This is the first is a series of stories spotlighting some of the best young musicians from around the world that have arrived in Fayette County for this summer’s Round Top Festival Institute:

Music is what feelings sound like, and at the season opening concert for the 54th Annual Round Top Music Summer Festival at Festival Hill on Saturday, June 7, the young artist orchestra was overflowing with emotions.

For violinist Julian Leon, a 20-year-old Round Top Music Festival alumnus from Orange County, CA, who is in his third year at the San Fransisco Conservatory of Music, Festival Hill has shown him that the true love of music is a shared passion.

“Before college, I was going to a music high school, but most kids there were forced into music by their parents, so one big thing I noticed here at the program is that everyone wants to be here and everyone truly wants and loves to make music together, which is a game-changer,” said Leon, who started playing the violin in 4th grade.

“I was always drawn to the violin, no one else in my family is into music which is interesting because if you talk to anyone else who plays an instrument, they have at least some other relative who plays it. But as soon as I was able to play it then I just started and never stopped.”

This year at Festival Hill, Leon, who humbly was the opening concertmaster this past weekend, is pushing himself more than he did last year. “I am still learning how to organize my time with all the repertoire I have to learn and how to practice my music efficiently in the shortest time possible,” said Leon.

When asked what music means to him, Leon thoughtfully said, “Music is the one thing that allows me to fully express not only myself but everything I am thinking, and I am still learning how to do that. You go to school to learn how to achieve that, but when you learn and something clicks in your mind, it is so life-changing in a way that goes beyond words. I know words can hurt more than sticks and stones, but I believe through music, you can convey so much, even in just one note.”

If you want to see Leon and the rest of the Festival Hill orchestra perform, you can see their schedule and get tickets at FestivalHill.org.