In addition to holding down a rigorous academic schedule, 18-year old Theodora Mautz plays piano and sings with the Pacific Youth Choir. She tells us that she makes room in her life for music because she seeks a feeling of “zal” – that’s a Polish word Chopin used for his music which explains that soaring, aching feeling –goosebumps— that you might get while listening to a particularly beautiful piece of music. In this episode of On Deck we’ll hear more about “zal” as it pertains to Theodora.
Theodora is a pole-vaulter and loves Peter Pan. She attributes her deep love of music to her Chinese-born mother, and also credits her teachers Mia Hall Miller, Angela Niederloh and Paula Watt.
This past Fall, the Oregonian featured an article about Theodora’s perfect SAT and ACT test scores.
Theodora is also involved with Mission: Citizen, a free citizenship education program to legal residents living in the Portland Metropolitan area.
