To Ava Soto, music isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifelong passion that has shaped her high school experience and will continue to define her future. A senior at Sahuaro High School, Ava is not your typical student. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, she plays the cello, banjo, and piano, and has held the title of first chair cellist in the school’s orchestra for four years straight.
“I’ve been playing for six years, and I plan to continue playing in orchestra for the rest of my life,” Ava explained. Her dedication to music has opened doors to incredible experiences, like performing at regionals, where she built lasting friendships with fellow musicians from schools across the region. As president of the orchestra club, Ava has also taken on a leadership role, fostering a sense of community and creativity among her peers.
Her favorite high school memory reflects her love for music and the friendships it’s helped her forge: an orchestra trip to Knott’s Berry Farm that included two musical clinics during freshman year. “It was such a fun and bonding experience,” Ava says. Those early moments solidified her commitment to music, and she’s continued to grow not only as a musician but also as a person.
Though Ava is deeply rooted in the arts, her goals extend beyond the concert hall. She plans to attend the University of Arizona, where she will major in environmental science or wildlife conservation while minoring in music.
When she’s not playing music or studying, Ava is busy in other ways. She’s president of the orchestra club and a proud member of the book club. In her freshman year, she even played on the girls’ tennis team. Her broad range of interests reflects her curiosity and enthusiasm for life.
Ava’s talents don’t end with music and science — she’s also a visual artist and an animal lover, sharing her home with two cats, a dog, and a ball python. She comes from a close-knit family and has one sibling who also graduated from Sahuaro.
As graduation approaches, Ava feels a mix of excitement and nostalgia. “I’ll miss my friends the most,” she says, especially those who aren’t graduating yet or won’t be joining her at the University of Arizona. But with her cello by her side and a passion for science in her heart, Ava is ready to take on the next chapter of her life.
Whether she’s performing on stage or exploring the world, Ava Soto is a true testament to what it means to be both a scholar and an artist!
