When I was five, my mother registered me in an introduction to music class which was held in the basement of the local conservatory.

Once a week, a teacher from the conservatory would come down to the basement with one of their students, who would introduce their instrument to us.

One day the flute teacher came down and introduced her instrument, “mother, I want to play flute!”

When we went to talk to the teacher she said I was too young to start—my lungs weren’t developed enough yet and I would have to wait a couple of years.

I was very disappointed but I kept going to the class. A few weeks later the violin teacher came downstairs with his student. She was wearing a cute little white dress. It was a love at first sight! I watched the student play and had no more doubts: “I want to play violin!”

I started lessons the following school year, just before turning six and never stopped!