In my 12 years of experience as an instrumentalist, I have performed pieces ranging from classical and theatrical to simple vocal accompaniment.

In my most recent project, I composed an original piano score for Terry Ngo’s film “Ofrenda,” screened at film festivals and the National Museum of Folk Art.

This song, this film, and their meanings are very dear to my heart. Ofrenda is a narrative film that follows the story of two boys—one of Vietnamese descent and one of Mexican descent—who bond through the shared loss of their grandfathers. The film beautifully explores the universal culture of honoring loved ones, blending the identities of its characters through its themes and music. 

While at first, I was hesitant to compose for a filmmaker who had only simply watched me play the piano with emotion, I was quickly convinced by her passion and vision. As I called her and she explained the background of the film—how she recently lost her father, and had coped with her loss by creating Mexican altars from the free Ofrenda-making kits her library offered—I was struck with the bright simplicity and strong personal meaning the film possessed. Her story resonated deeply with me, as I had recently lost my aunt to ovarian cancer. This shared sense of grief and healing became the foundation of my work on Rumi.

Through this composition, I hoped to capture the poignant emotions of the film: the weight of loss, the beauty of cultural traditions, and connections that can transcend differences. Rumi is a minimalistic piano score, weaving two distinctly delicate melodies with subtle harmonies to reflect the film’s themes of unity and remembrance. I took inspiration from Vietnamese cultural music and instruments, blending it with more modern piano influences. The piece plays when the two boys enter the library and discover how to create their own Ofrendas while honoring their grandfathers in the process. I named Rumi after my aunt, who brought everyone around her closer together.