The student: Elizabeth Shin, 16

School: River Hill High

Special achievement: She was selected to play cello with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra (BCO) in this year's "Side-by-Side" concert. To prepare for the February concert, she and other students chosen from the Maryland Senior All-State Orchestra rehearsed and played with professional musicians.

What was it like playing with the BCO? "The conductor, Anne Harrigan, and my stand partner, Bo Li, they were really nice and they helped me to grow into my music a lot. They gave me a different point of view on how I played music - how I phrase my part. I liked working with adults who are professionals and who have been out in the music world for a while. They gave me an idea of what it was like to be a musician."

Why did she choose cello? She was a violin player, but switched to cello five years ago. "My private teacher [is] Baichi Chen, and I had a lot of fun with her. It kind of made me want to play more."

What are her favorite kinds of music? "I try to listen to classical music ... pieces I'm working on right now." She likes cello soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma, but she also listens to popular music.