Jasmine Gong

I'm a rising junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland. I began playing percussion in fourth grade after watching my sister perform at her middle school concert. I currently participate in my school's marching band, a state and national-title winning ensemble in 2019, drumline, which performs at numerous school events and annual Strayer University graduations, and wind ensemble. In marching band, I played marimba my first season and snare the following seasons, and in the past, I've been a part of my school's indoor percussion group, winning the KIDA Regional Indoor Championships in 2018. I've been a part of the Montgomery County Honors Band for the past four years and second-chair in the Maryland All-State Band this past year.

I think the triangle is the most underrated percussion instrument while the ratchet is the most intriguing. While being a percussionist entails practicing many different instruments, I think this variety allows percussionists to create music and express their emotions through many different outlets. In the past, I have worked with a summer camp and non-profit to provide musicians with free percussion lessons. Outside of music, I enjoy baking, painting, and playing Minecraft.