Passion to play
SPRING HILL- Balance is key in Nina Morales’ life.
Along with balancing her honors classes at Springstead High School, spending time with her family and participating at Grace Presbyterian Church, Nina, 14, also finds time to dedicate herself to another passion- violin.
Nina Morales, 14, practices violin at least two hours every day at her home in Spring Hill. For the past two years, Nina has been awarded a scholarship from the Nature Coast Festival Singers.
Since taking her first violin lesson at the age of five, Nina has performed with groups such as the Nature Coast Festival Singers and the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra in Tampa and has trained at the University of Tampa School of Music and the New World Symphony in Miami, just to name a few.
“I just kept playing and playing. I really grew to love the instrument,” she said. “I love the sound of the violin.”
Nina’s dedication to the violin has won her numerous awards and scholarships.
For the second year in a row, she was awarded a scholarship from the Nature Coast Festival Singers. In March, she won the junior division of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s 20th annual Young Artist Competition.
“I couldn’t believe it. It was exciting,” she said. “You can always grow with the instrument. You can always improve on something. It’s a challenge which I like.”
When Nina isn’t practicing for hours at a time at her Spring Hill home, she studies once a week at the University of South Florida School of Music or attends music camps like the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival at Virginia Tech University.
Nina’s mother Fe and father Jonathan said they are very proud
“She’s just surpassed every one of my dreams,” she said.
“I’m glad it’s coming out well. We wanted to put some musical culture in her life,” he said. “She provides a lot of satisfaction to a lot of people.”
Nina has high aspirations for her future as well. She wants to attend Harvard University to become a professional violinist or a genetic engineer.
“I hope I can use violin as a way to get into college,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ll use this as my career but I’ll definitely keep playing and keep it going for a long time.”
