A little about me
This is my Statement of Purpose submitted with my application to Graduate School at the University of Utah School of Music.
I am Miriam, shaped by the many experiences and influences that have woven together the fabric of my life. I was a child not too different from the rest of humanity; fundamentally curious of mind and cheerful of heart. I was given room to explore music and creativity. I was taken outside often and given wide parameters for adventure. I was loved and cared for and encouraged in my efforts to acquire independence and a formal education. These early experiences of exploration, support, and discovery became the fertile ground where my passion for music took root, offering me both a rich sense of identity and a vibrant path toward self-expression. As I followed this path, these foundational experiences not only nurtured my passion for music but also began to weave together the complex tapestry of my identity. It was within this evolving framework that I stepped into the roles that would further sculpt me—as a Woman, a Mother, and an Artist—each offering its own challenges while enriching my creative expression in distinct ways. I have been formed by the intersections of these identities, each contributing to my depth of experience and natural creative expression, while simultaneously challenging me on my journey toward self-actualization and pursuit of artistic authenticity.
I am a Woman. Raised within the confines of religious fundamentalism, my identity as a woman was compartmentalized and constrained. Yet, from these limitations, I developed an understanding of the inherent duality in all things—the coexistence of pain and pleasure, patience and persistence, conflict and resolution. As a woman, I have a voice, but that voice is often bound by arbitrary constraints. Deconstructing this paradox, I now cherish the unique perspective I can offer my fellow artists navigating these same dichotomies. I recognize the power of a voice that is honed yet unconstrained, and I believe this dynamic tension is central to the pursuit of authenticity in any artistic endeavor.
I am a Mother. Motherhood deepened the part of me inclined toward the unconditional love for the heart of humanity that yearns for knowledge and exploration. The efforts of developing an inspiring learning environment for my own children evolved naturally into ensuring the vibrancy of the educational and collaborative spaces I was (and am) continuously given. As a collaborative musician, I have learned that empathy and flexibility are essential to appreciating the unique contributions of every individual—whether they are young or old, amateur or experienced. This understanding has allowed me to navigate the natural dance between acceptance and challenge, where every voice is valued and every idea has the potential to inspire. In this way, I believe the true essence of creative collaboration comes to life, shaped by both mutual respect and a shared inclination toward discovery.
I am an Artist. As a child, I frequently found a quiet corner in which to sing my storylines and don the costumes of many free-spirited characters. As a youth, I procured a secret space for dancing to vinyls of Tchaikovsky and William-Tell. As a young mother, I held sacred the telling of made-up stories to my children to the soundtrack of Rimsky-Korsokov and Poulenc. As a maturing adult, I planted seeds of motivation and inspiration in the hearts and minds of those less bold in order to perpetuate the collaborative and transcendent nature of collective music making. Beneath the layers of expectation that life imposed, a latent and resilient force of vitality remained, refusing to be extinguished by the restrictive norms and societal demands that sought to define me. Inevitably, the constraints of social and institutional convention—once oppressive—were peeled away, leaving only the unwavering, confident voice of the confluence I have become: Miriam, living unapologetically at the core of her creative existence.
It is in partnership with this liberated, unapologetic voice that I have come to understand the nature of music that took root in me so long ago: not as a solitary pursuit, but as a profound connection between individuals. As both creator and collaborator, I am deeply moved by music's inherent power to unite, to dissolve boundaries, and to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Music is one of the few mediums that brings a community together, dissolving individual egos and replacing them with the shared transcendence of collective experience. For the players and for the audience, it becomes an ephemeral gift to those within its proximity. It is, without question, one of the most profound forms of poetry humanity has to offer wherein there is no tangible gain but the experience itself, inherently unique to each participant. In the words of Rick Rubin, “I’m just here to create.” I seek no other accomplishment than to live the poetry of music with other artists in this fleeting existence. I trust that the poetic nature in all of humanity will rise to the occasion and we will meet along the way, time and time again.
