Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Just a few months shy of February graduation during the pandemic and the start of a fifth-year master’s program, senior Jeana Choi realized that she had never taught a class during the January Independent Activities Period (IAP). “I thought, wow, I can’t end my college experience like this,” she says. An electrical engineering and computer science major who minored in music, Choi, a violinist, became excited by the prospect of teaching about something she loved: classical music.
The result of this moment of inspiration? “Classical Music in the Social Media Generation,” an IAP class featuring renowned performers Yo-Yo Ma, Hilary Hahn, Drew Forde, and Nahre Sol. Notable for their use of digital platforms to communicate directly with fans, they all make their music accessible to casual listeners and build new audiences. “They are literally world experts on the topic of connecting with people virtually,” says Choi.