If you could choose one song that expresses who you are,what is it and why?

At first glance you might pin me as someone easily summarized by a top-40 Britney or Beyoncé song, and I won’t deny that the female-empowerment side of me revels in the comparison. However, those that truly know me would pick another piece: Sonata in E Major Op.14 by Beethoven.

Growing up training as a concert pianist, I climbed my way to the final level at Belgium’s Royal Conservatory of Music, and Sonata in E Major Op.14 was key to passing. For months I practiced incessantly, drilling each note into muscle memory. Fortunately, my efforts paid off and the song serves as a reminder of my hard work.

Sonata in E Major Op.14 expresses many characteristics that I value and emulate. Written 200 years ago and performed worldwide, it encapsulates the concept of “boundaryless.” Similarly, raised in Belgium and having studied in the US, Spain, Mexico, and India, I deeply value diversity. This past year I have spent my spare time consulting to E.P. Clarke (low-income school) on how to increase diversity in its classrooms, an effort that will forever enrich student lives. Another reflective characteristic is Beethoven’s ability to riff while confined to the rules of classical music. I too add a creative spin to my work, once even using client products as prizes to engage an audience who later laughed realizing the prizes included mayonnaise!

While Beethoven’s Sonata may not be an obvious choice, its sense of imagination and limitlessness make it the song that best expresses who I am.