Kelsey Ma is currently in her third year at UCLA and pursuing a double major in Piano Performance and Music Education under the tutelage of David Kaplan. A recipient of the Mimi Alpert Feldman scholarship, she has also been awarded other music and academic scholarships such as the Benny Goodman Scholarship, the Benno Rubinyi Scholarship, and the Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund. Kelsey is an active performer on the piano and has participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Ning An, Victor Rosenbaum, Jinha Park, and Timo Andres. She spends her summers at music festivals and has attended the Brevard Music Institute and the Montecito International Music Festival. Kelsey was also invited to play at the UCLA Chancellor’s Residence for Ms. Block’s recital series in May of 2019. Kelsey’s former teachers include Haggai Niv, Craig Richey, Sandra Shen, and Peter Takacs.

Kelsey now serves as the secretary on the board of UCLA’s Collegiate National Association of Music Education. Seeing the work ethic of her music education colleagues has influenced her to follow in their footsteps, and she now collaborates with her board members and professors to ensure that each music education student has the opportunities for a fun and fulfilling four years. These opportunities include music education conferences such as CASMEC, where UCLA students have the chance to work with All-State ensembles and attend various seminars for professional development.

In 2018, Kelsey became a student ambassador for HASOM because she wanted to give back to the community. She gives tours to prospective students and helps manage student events like auditions and admissions events, such as Bruin Day and HASOM Open House. She enjoys meeting new people and their families, and loves showing off her Bruin pride! When she is not practicing or giving tours, you can find Kelsey bullet journaling, drinking coffee, and watching Netflix.

After graduation, she plans on pursuing a Master’s degree in piano to continue her passion in teaching and performance. She hopes to continue inspiring others, whether it be in lessons, the classroom, her performances, or her meticulous bullet journaling.