Academy Student Spotlight: Brayden Wu
August 27th, 2025
"Outside of the practice room, music has taught me that art and feeling is just as important as everything else in life, and oftentimes, art is just what we need to nourish our souls when nothing else seems to work."
Brayden Wu, 17, has been playing the viola for 11 years, ten of those with the Community Music School, and has just completed his first year in the Academy. While in the Community Music School, he studied viola with Vannia Phillips, and now with Sang Mee Lee, who he has been studying with for the past eight years, as well as piano with the late Irene Faliks and Katherine Lee.
Brayden first became interested in music in the first grade when he wanted to join his elementary school’s orchestra program. Seeing his interest, his mother took him to William Harris Lee to pick out an instrument. He was drawn to the viola. “My mom helped me practice every day, signed me up for lessons, and brought me to concerts,” he said. “Since then, I've never looked back!”
What he enjoys about learning music, and what keeps him motivated, is the room for growth and improvement. “There's never a stopping point or 'finish line' in music, which I find fascinating. There's always more to discover in any piece, and I enjoy being able to turn notes on a page into art.”
As a longtime student at MIC, Brayden has experienced a wide range of offerings in the Community Music School, which he credits with preparing him for the rigorous Academy training. From Musikgarten to Musicianship, to Preludio Orchestra, along with his piano and viola lessons and performance experiences in school-wide and departmental recitals, he reflects, “All of the classes I've engaged in at the Community School have helped me at the Academy, whether it's having a basic music theory background or keyboard proficiency.”
In his experience, Brayden has found a home at MIC. “The supportive and welcoming community has made MIC my musical home,” he shares. “The melodies floating down the halls while I wait for my lesson are so comforting, not to mention the extremely supportive administration, faculty, peers, and parents. Most of all, the quality of music education at MIC is truly unmatched and cannot be found elsewhere.”
Brayden joined the Academy after deciding to take a break from competitive swimming and channeling his time toward music. Having been at MIC for a long time, the Academy was a natural next step. “Having studied with Sang Mee Lee for a long time, her regular instruction in private lessons and studio classes had prepared me very well for the Academy, and I owe it to her for my smooth transition to such a demanding program. The larger time commitment was certainly something I noticed, but I was expecting the change and truly enjoyed being immersed in music, surrounded by other peers who also love music.”
Even beyond the practice room, music has made a lasting impression on Brayden’s life. “Music has taught me grit, resilience, and delayed gratification,” he reflects. “It's an anchor that I can always rely on to take my mind off everything else that's going on in my life; it has become very therapeutic and rewarding. Outside of the practice room, music has taught me that art and feeling is just as important as everything else in life, and oftentimes, art is just what we need to nourish our souls when nothing else seems to work.”
Some of Brayden’s greatest musical achievements include advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as a member of the Vermilion Quartet this past year, being featured with the Vermilion Quartet on WFMT's Introductions program, winning Honorable Mention with Distinction at the DePaul National Concerto Competition, and being selected as principal violist for the ILMEA All-State Orchestra.
Outside of music, Brayden enjoys reading, going to the gym, snowboarding, watching food review videos, and spending time with friends. He also runs a club focused on preventing food waste, where members create fresh meals from scratch ingredients, and serve them to the homeless. He looks forward to continuing to make a difference, as well as to the upcoming Academy year and new performance opportunities.
