February Musician of the Month: Alana Youssefian

Alana Youssefian is no stranger to PIMF. Having attended the festival for over 15 years, Alana has used her PIMF experience to help her attend some of the best musical institutions in the world. This includes degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Rice University, and The Julliard School.

“The experiences that have stuck with me the most are those in which I encountered people and places who made me either realize that I want to pursue music as a career, or that I made the right decision to pursue music as a career,” Alana says. Although she highly values individual private practice, she feels that she learns the most when she is surrounded by like-minded musicians.

Alana says that PIMF was the first musical community where she felt truly welcomed. She was inspired not only by the incredible guidance she received from The Philadelphia Orchestra members but also through daily interactions with her extremely talented peers. She especially enjoyed her chamber music ensembles and her many chances to perform as a soloist. Alana says, “The endless opportunities to perform also helped me slowly become comfortable on stage; the type of focus this requires takes plenty of practice, and PIMF provides that much needed time to all of the students.”

Alana’s practice has certainly paid off. As a musician, Alana has performed in concert halls throughout the world. This includes trips to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, India, and New Zealand. Recent highlights include a concerto performance in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.