Growing up, Jocelyn Zhu didn’t give much thought to her future. She figured she’d do like so many others in her family and become a professor, doctor, scientist, or, perhaps, even an engineer like her father. At 19, her career path is now clear. She will head to The Juilliard School, an acclaimed college for drama, dance and music, to pursue a master’s education and career as a violinist.
“Everyone in my immediate family is very scientific-minded,” she said. “My talent and love for music came out of nowhere. I know how to play the piano, and I think I’m a pretty good shower singer, too.”
Jocelyn’s dad is a computer engineer for Verizon, and her mom teaches Chinese at Jackson Prep. Although Jocelyn is classically trained, she’s open to all the genres to which she’ll be exposed at Juilliard.
“I hope to spend the next two years defining my music talents. Although I love the romantic period, it’s always an adventure to be introduced to and explore new music,” she said. “There is truth, beauty and goodness to be found in all music. Each piece has something to say, and it’s up to the individual to find that personal message.”
Jocelyn was 3 or so when her mom signed her up for violin lessons.
“It was OK,” said the native Mississippian and Canton resident. “I liked fiddling and I liked my teacher, Tammy Mason.”
When she hit her preteens, though, everything changed.
“I realized I really liked playing the violin and that I was kind of good at it.”
Homeschooled in academics by her mom, Jocelyn took violin instruction from Song Xie, an associate music professor at Belhaven University, and her list of achievements grew. She performed at prestigious competitions, national festivals and with orchestras, including the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. When she was 8, Jocelyn made a solo appearance with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Eight years later, she played in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
“I enjoyed it all, but I told my parents I wanted to be a regular kid and play team sports. I really liked soccer, and I played for the Mississippi Fire team and swam with Makos,” she said.
“My instructor pointed out that high school and sports wouldn’t leave much time for the violin, and he casually suggested that I go ahead and start college.”
From there, “It all happened so fast and unexpected. I passed my GED and scored pretty well on my ACT, so we decided why not give it a try.”
“She’s very smart, dedicated and disciplined,” Song Xie said. “By the time she was a young teenager, Jocelyn had reached the point where she needed to be in a college-level environment if she wanted to continue to perfect her skills.”
Then only 14, Jocelyn enrolled at Belhaven and continued studying with her mentor. For the pre-med major and college soccer player, music was important, but it wasn’t a career choice. Yet.
“I was so busy, and I knew I had to put some things aside. I chose to stay with the violin, and now I graduated in May with a bachelor of arts degree with a violin performance major.”
Applying to Juilliard meant five to six hours of practice each day to perfect an extensive repertoire. A taped audition followed by a live performance before a panel of eight or nine professors earned Jocelyn a place at the exclusive institution with partial scholarships to cover the $50,000-plus annual cost.
Juilliard has about 200 students in its master of music program, including 55 in the violin program, said Lee Cioppa, associate dean for admissions. The acceptance rate is about 15 percent for Juilliard’s approximate 800 students enrolled in bachelor and master programs for dance, drama and music.
Come late August, Jocelyn will move to New York, a huge city where she knows only a few faces from previous violin performances.
“Mom is worried, of course, like all moms are,” Jocelyn said. “But my parents are glad for me to have this opportunity.”
Jocelyn, on the other hand, has no fear of new places.
“Travel is one my favorite things about this violin thing,” she said. “I really love visiting new places.”
While she’s eager to see new sites, Jocelyn appreciates what her home state has given her.
“I love Mississippi. This is all I’ve ever known, but in a bigger place, it’s easy to get lost and just be another face in the crowd. I have no regrets growing up here,” she said. “It’s true what people say, that Mississippi is a very giving state. My family, friends, church and everyone I come in contact with have supported me. They come to my concerts; they give up their time for me.”
A packed suitcase and musical talent won’t be all that Jocelyn takes to the Big Apple.
“During the last few years, I’ve changed a lot,” she said, reflecting on her time at Belhaven. “I’ve learned to incorporate my Christian upbringing and mindset into a music field that often is very competitive and cutthroat. With great mentoring from Song Xie and help from God, I always look for the joy in music.”
“She’s reached the skill and maturity level for a higher level of training at Juilliard,” Xie said. “Jocelyn will be going from a Christian university to a secular and highly competitive environment. There will be many challenges ahead and it won’t be easy, but I believe she is prepared. Her calling is to be a musician, all to God’s glory.”
Her Mississippi roots have helped her maintain her focus and share her gift of music.
“People who aren’t acquainted with Mississippi tend to think that we’re lacking in arts and music,” she said. “They are wrong. There are a lot of hidden treasures here.”
Jocelyn Zhu is one of those.
STORY Susan O’Bryan
PHOTOGRAPHS Jane Zhu