Name/Title
Katya Sonina (Russia)Entry/Object ID
TNA.19Description
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be an American. I grew up in Moscow and lived all over Europe. My parents always said, stay in Europe, but I said America. They said, of course you can go to America, but they didn't mean it, not seriously. I'm a concert pianist. One day I auditioned for Juilliard. I got in! That's how I came to America.
I started at Juilliard two weeks before 9/11. It was a very traumatic time because I was so happy to be at Juilliard and in America, but there was this horrible tragedy. But what I saw in New York was people coming together. I saw love breaking down walls and healing grief. I saw that and I felt like this is my country. This is a country that gives people a chance. You can be who you are here without apologizing for it. That's freedom. I could not do that in Russia. You say the wrong thing in Russia and you could go to prison for the rest of your life.Collection
Sam Comen