To my freshman self four years ago, leadership sounded like a far-fetched idea. Playing saxophone is definitely one of my biggest passions in life, but as the last-seat saxophone in wind ensemble and a “newbie” in jazz band, what could I do to make a real impact?
But Kijun Song '14, founder of Tomatoes, recruited me into his newly founded musicians service group. He introduced me to the routine of heading over to the Sippican Health Center every Sunday afternoon, performing 2 to 3 pieces of music for the elderly, and stopping by Dunkin Donuts as a group on the way back. Finding myself in a group of musicians with similar goals gave me a sense of satisfaction. When I practiced music, it was no longer just for my own benefit; it was also for the elderly we play for each week. I began to see that when I play, it is not simply to showcase my musical skills, but a way to bring joy to others.
Tomatoes has come a long way since then. Kijun described the first concert as “awkward.” He said, “They weren’t even ready for our concert. There were only two older women listening and we only had three musicians who played just 40 minutes.” But the group’s mission to engage with others gradually attracted many more Tabor musicians – ranging from string and wind instrumentalists to vocalists. The styles of the performances also started to vary: to make performances more “spicy,” we started to perform solos with accompaniments, duets, trios, quartets, and ensemble music. After five years, we now have a group of around 30 musicians performing various kinds of music for 15-30 regular attendees.
Tomatoes has also evolved into a legitimate community service opportunity supported by the school. Members now not only have Mr. Sanborn as a faculty advisor, but also transportation and service credits provided by the community service board.
Without an audience, music is soliloquy and loses its larger purpose. As Tomatoes' current co-head, I have always held this belief in the highest regard. Yes, it is hard sometimes for everyone to practice music in their spare time rather than hang out with their friends. And, it isn’t easy to perform for an hour every week. But it is our vision to share our music with others that brings everyone together and drives Tomatoes forward. It has been my pleasure to continue Kijun’s musical mission at Tabor.
