Anna-Mariah Jacobo has been playing playing the violin for five and a half years. Two and a half of those years were for the Westside Orchestra, and the last three were for the Elkhart Memorial Symphony. For Jacobo, it all started in sixth grade when Memorial came to her school for a recruiting concert.

At first she wanted to join the band and play the trumpet, but after awhile, she lost interest.

“I never saw myself playing in band. I just thought the trumpet was cool,” Jacobo said.

She was drawn more towards orchestra once she saw Memorial’s orchestra perform.

“I enjoyed how beautiful they sounded,” Jacobo said.

She first wanted to play the cello, but after hearing the sound of the violin, she was mesmerized.

“The violin just interested me more because it had a lighter sound.”

Jacobo has been the first chair in the second violins for almost two years now. First chair in orchestra is tantamount to being the captain of a athletic team. The student who is “first chair” is basically the head honcho of their section.

This year has been the best year of her musical career as she’s earn Gold at both regionals and state.

“It was my first year going to state, so it was really exciting…I felt really confident playing my solo,” Jacobo said.