More than a decade ago, when she was four, Noa Suk’s father brought her to her first orchestra performance. As she watched, mesmerized, one sound rose above the rest—the violin. Inspired, she began a journey to learn the instrument that’s been a part of her life since.
Since then, Suk, now a senior, has been a part of several ensembles and musical groups, and she has amassed numerous accolades for her skills as a violinist. She has been the concertmaster of the annual Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s All-State Concert and its Senior Districts Festival since her sophomore year, and she performed for the 2025 All-Eastern Honors Ensemble in April. As for whether she’ll continue to pursue music with the same vigor in college, she says she’s ready to take a step towards something new.
According to Suk, music has been a cornerstone of her life. She said her parents have encouraged her to practice it from a young age, and they did the same for her older siblings, too.
Suk auditioned for nine music schools this past year and was offered spots at programs like Juilliard and The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, but she said her plan completely changed upon her acceptance to Harvard.
“I was so set on going to music school and working towards that career of being in an orchestra, or being in some ensemble,” Suk said. “But when I got into Harvard, I saw a way out.”
Suk said her decision was immensely difficult. She added that she’d spoken with a cellist who had also been deciding between Juilliard and Harvard and had learned from their teacher that their only regret was not considering other options beyond music. Reflecting on what she’d heard, Suk said she didn’t want to continue down the same path while constantly asking herself, “What if?”
“I realized that, if I went to a music school or a conservatory, I would be limiting myself to just music. Since I’ve already been doing that throughout high school, I thought to myself, ‘I want to know what else there is,’” Suk said.
Orchestra director Nina Bishop, one of Suk’s teachers over the past few years, said that Suk has been a role model for other students and fulfills a core value of music teachers.
“A lot of people appreciate music, but they’re not always willing to give their time,” Bishop said. “It’s nice for students to see one of their peers being really committed to music and realize that it’s not a sacrifice, it’s a reward.”
Pianist John Ferguson, a Brookline Public Schools violin and orchestra teacher and a conductor of the Brookline Youth Orchestra (BYO), met Suk when she was in the eighth grade at Lawrence. He said his first impression of her was that she played the violin extremely well and was far more advanced than her peers, but that she was also very humble and got along well with other students.
“That spirit of teamwork, camaraderie and generosity she has serves her well in all areas of her musicianship,” Ferguson said. “She has such a great attitude and is open to learning from other people and different teachers—I just can’t say enough things about her as a person and as a musician.”
Ferguson said that Suk assisted him at a recent BYO concert. He explained that he had been looking for someone who could teach the ensemble’s younger musicians in the days leading up to the performance, and Suk jumped at the opportunity, which Ferguson said perfectly illustrated her generosity.
“Not only did Noa agree cheerfully to participate, but she did an amazing job and thanked me for inviting her when it was all over,” Ferguson said. “I really should have been the one thanking her.”
On her commitment to Harvard, Ferguson said that he wishes Suk luck, and he knows she made the right decision. He admitted that he is not familiar with the music and performance programs at Harvard, but he said it’s irrelevant in a way, because he feels that Suk will succeed regardless.
Despite choosing Harvard over a music school, Suk said she still plans on joining the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra and continuing her musical studies. Among other things, she said she was most impressed by Harvard’s extensive archives, and she hopes to work there or in one of the libraries on campus.
“By going to Harvard, I can explore other careers,” Suk said. “I’m going to try and find more things that interest me.”
Bishop said that Suk has been an inspiration to musicians in Brookline and that as she nears the end of her time at the high school, she leaves shoes that may never be filled.
“We’ve never had a Noa,” Bishop said. “And I don’t think we’ll have another, even though I hope we do.”
