Emma Greenberg ’18

For Nick Attkiss ’18, his two greatest passions are music and mathematics. Although thought to be polar opposites, both are actually closely related, Attkiss explains.

Attkiss first began casually playing piano in third grade where he studied under Myra Garvett. Garvett remained his teacher up until last year because according to Attkiss, she began to get a ringing in her ear and she felt as though she could no longer train him to the best of her abilities. Garvett then recommended piano teacher Yoshi Akimoto to Attkiss so he could continue his lessons.

Since studying under Akimoto, Attkiss claims that his piano skills have increased tremendously. He now has a much more rigorous practice schedule, taking lessons twice a week for 3 hours total, as opposed to his hourly weekly lesson he took with Garvett. Attkiss says he’s “honor[ed] to study with her.” Speaking with nothing but praise for his new teacher, Attkiss says many people dub her a “prodigy maker. ” He said he plans to take a gap year next year in order to study under her. “She’s changed my life. It’s unbelievable what she’s done [for me].”

“Nick works really hard and you can tell so just by the way he talks about what he loves,” Luke Sauer ’18, Attkiss’ friend, said. “He’s so adamant about practicing his music while also keeping up with school.”

Outside of piano, Attkiss said he focuses a lot of his attention on academics, and hopes to do a dual major in music and math in college after taking his gap year. Although academics are of high importance to Attkiss, he stresses that piano comes first, then academics.

“One thing that I admire a lot about him is how devoted to his work he is,” Sophie Attkiss ’19, Nick’s sister, said. “He does really well in school and is really good at piano and that’s because he puts in a lot of effort.”

Even though much of his time is spent on academics and music, Attkiss claims he still has time to “actually be a teenager.” He enjoy watching many T.V. shows as he says music can be really exhausting and he sometimes just needs a break. His favorite shows include “Curb your enthusiasm,” “Master of None” and “The Office”.

“He’s really just a good guy though and is incredibly kind,” Sauer said. “He’s just a big jokester.”

In the future Attkiss hopes to either have a professional music career or become a math professor.