Like many kids, Henry Soung, ’18, grew up playing the piano, then quit as a teenager. “My mother pushed me to continue taking lessons, but I really detested the piano,” he says.

After arriving at the University of Minnesota Crookston, he changed his tune. “I was really in love with the song ‘Let’s Save the World’ by Swedish House Mafia. I knew that if I could find the music sheets, I could learn it on the piano,” he says. 

Soung, who is majoring in communications and studying at Temple University in Tokyo this spring, has been at the keyboard ever since. He says receiving the George French Endowed Music Scholarship and other support has allowed him to pursue his music and explore related careers. 

Do you perform?

I have done performances on and off campus. My last two were off campus, one at the Empire Theater in Grand Forks for Martin Luther King Day, the other at the Masonic Lodge in Crookston. I’m planning to perform a solo at Temple University during the choir’s concert. 

Why is music so important to you? 

Playing the piano isn’t just fun, it also is a stress-reliever. When I close my eyes and let my hands go to work, I feel at peace and in sync with myself. 

What does your playing do for others?

Sharing music is one of the best feelings. It’s the wonders of music that sometimes bring us together.