I’m not a naturally gifted musician,
but someone who has built my sound note by note through persistence.
You might find it hard to believe, but Jessica Loo—the stage violinist performing confidently before you today—was once a shy girl who couldn’t look up when speaking, always silent among crowds.
I was an extremely introverted, sensitive, and insecure child. While others thrived in the bustling daylight, I preferred to retreat into my own quiet corner, shielding myself with silence and stillness. Back then, I never imagined I’d one day step onto a stage.
Then, at the age of 22, through divine guidance, I encountered the violin. Many say it was too late to start, but for me, the violin was my awakening—a calling from God. For the first time, I realized that voice didn’t have to be spoken; it could flow through melody and touch the soul. From my first lesson to my first stage performance, I wasn’t a prodigy—I was someone who built every note through relentless perseverance.
In four years, I earned my ATCL violin performance diploma from Trinity College of London, and later achieved the LTCL diploma. This journey held no miracles—only countless late nights battling my own doubts. The hardest part wasn’t mastering technique, but learning how to step forward—something terrifying for someone who once feared being seen.
I practiced not just my skills, but my courage. From a girl who couldn’t speak up, I progressed to performing on stage at major brand award ceremonies. From someone who shut herself off, I challenged my limits by playing the violin while paragliding—earning the title of Malaysia’s first person to accomplish this feat. I finally understood: the stage doesn’t belong only to those born to shine. It also belongs to those willing to change, to transform, to rise.
Today, I continue to grow. But I now have a clear purpose—to become Malaysia’s most influential stage violinist.
Not just for myself, but to inspire more women through music, stories, and action—especially that “her” who once felt as insecure and afraid as I did.
We don’t begin by shining.
But as long as we dare to walk forward, we can become the light.