8 By the time Ashni Budge arrived at the Eastman School of Music, she’d already dedicated most of her life to music. She started playing the violin at just three years old. When she was five, she added the piano to her repertoire. At about that same time, Budge’s family discovered that she had perfect pitch. Budge attributes that to her grandmother, a professional Chinese opera singer. “She taught my younger brother and me to sing,” says Budge, who grew up outside of Los Angeles. “I have vivid memories of the two of us performing and of me putting on operas for our family.” In middle school, Budge joined the band and, even though it didn’t have a string section, she wasn’t deterred. That’s when she picked up the clarinet, which she continued playing throughout high school. She joined the choir, too. When it came time to decide on a college, Budge knew Eastman was for her. She was drawn to its renowned reputation and that it is part of the University of Rochester, a leading private research university with a flexible undergraduate curriculum. She was also excited to travel and live on the other side of the country. Being a scholarship recipient has made it all possible for Budge. “Without the generosity of others, I couldn’t afford to be here,” she adds. “I can’t believe that people who don’t even know me have provided me with scholarships. Someday, I hope to help others in a similar way.” PERFECT PITCH and MUCH MORE: Talent, drive, and donor generosity fuel the ambitions of this scholarship recipient
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