Imani Edwards of Fairfax, Virginia, officially began her musical journey at the age of five. Having been surrounded by music for as long as she could remember, it was no surprise that seeing her neighbor with a violin sparked her curiosity. Eventually her parents relented and signed her up for lessons with a phenomenal teacher who happened to live on the same street. Over the years she has experimented with the double bass, piano, and currently, the viola, but the violin will always have a special place in her heart. Before attending UVA, Imani had been a member of the DC Youth Orchestra for almost five years; highlight performances include the Chilean Presidential Palace and the International Development Bank under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. She also had the pleasure of taking part in the first two seasons of Carnegie Hall’s NYO2, in addition to attending other music festivals such as Credo Oberlin and the Philadelphia International Music Festival. As the daughter of a hospice social worker, Imani has seen firsthand how important (and rewarding) it is to use these skills she has developed to give back to others. At UVA, she has continued playing the violin as a member of the Charlottesville Symphony, in addition to taking up the viola to play in a piano quintet. Imani is incredibly grateful for the many opportunities, most recently the chance to become a Miller Arts Scholar, that she has been afforded to grow both as a musician and a person. She looks forward to taking advantage of everything this program has to offer, and cannot wait to see where this experience takes her.