Youth Spotlight: Sophia Zhang uses music to give back

Sixteen-year-old Sophia Zhang, a junior at Socorro High School, recently turned a solo piano recital into a powerful act of community service. Held at Epiphany Episcopal Church, the event welcomed both monetary and material donations. Funds raised were shared between the Socorro Senior Center and the church, while non-perishable food items were donated to Puerto Seguro, Safe Harbor Inc.

“I thought maybe I can use music and give back to this community that has done so much for me,” Sophia said. “Living in Socorro, we’re a very small town, and New Mexico as a whole isn’t doing so well in terms of music education. So I wanted to do something meaningful.”

Sophia’s connection to music runs deep. She’s been studying piano for nearly a decade, inspired by a childhood visit to a string quartet performance at the Macey Center.

“I fell in love with the piano and how you perform on it,” she said. “It’s an 88-key instrument, and I liked that because you can do so much with it.”

Her dedication has taken her far, last October, she performed with the Symphony Orchestra of Albuquerque.

“It was a lot,” she recalled. “Driving from Socorro to Albuquerque after class at Tech, rehearsing until 8 p.m., and then driving back. But it was worth it.”

Sophia is the daughter of Chinese immigrants who came to the United States 16–17 years ago. Born in Kansas, she grew up in a household shaped by cultural tradition and academic discipline.

“I think growing up with a Chinese background, I was taught the language,” she said. “We’re all about efficiency, hard work, and ambition—to get out of a small town and see the world.”

Her parents’ experience with China’s rigorous college entrance exams instilled a strong sense of purpose. “They had to take the gaokao, which is basically three days of testing that determines your future,” she explained. “That mindset definitely influenced how I approach school and goals.”

Using her heritage and experience as motivation, Sophia is a dual-credit student at Central New Mexico Community College and New Mexico Tech, having started college-level coursework in the summer of eighth grade.

“It keeps me on my toes,” she said. “This fall, I go to school, then Tech, then back to school, it’s a lot of driving.”

Her academic ambition matches her musical talent. She’s currently touring colleges and hopes to pursue a dual degree in music and biochemistry.

“I want to advance to medical school,” she said. “Maybe pediatrics, nothing too bloody. But if I can overcome that, I’d love to do surgery. It’s a way of giving back.”

Sophia’s leadership extends to her school community as well. Last year, she served as class president and helped organize graduation.

“I was head of the planning committee,” she said. “This year, I’m running for class secretary, and we’re actually doing campaigning, it’s more realistic of what the student council is supposed to be.”

When asked what music means to her, Sophia’s answer is both poetic and practical.

“I find when I’m doing homework at my desk, I can’t focus as much. But when I sit at the piano, I can spend hours,” she said. “It’s like a sport, you practice it. I have control over my fingers. Music has helped me with memorization in class.”

Her recital at Epiphany Episcopal Church was a magnificent performance, but it was a reflection of her values. “Making it a charity fundraiser allowed me to give back to people who aren’t as lucky as I am,” she said. “That was the goal. I’m glad it worked.”

Following her interview, Sophia sent a note to the Chieftain thanking the audience of her performance:

To the audience of my first piano recital on August 2, 2025,

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended my piano recital at the Epiphany Episcopal Church on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

This was my first time performing a solo recital, and I truly didn’t expect such a large and supportive turnout!

Thanks to your generosity, we raised $466 and collected 119 food items on the day of the recital, with an additional $65 donated afterward. Half of the $466 was donated to the church, and the other half went to the senior center. The additional $65 was also given to the senior center.

None of this would have been possible without your support! Because of you, we’ve been able to help feed those in need and provide more care and comfort to the elderly in our community.

I’m hoping to put on another performance in early January, so please stay tuned for more information!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

Warmly,

Sophia Zhang