This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 13, 2011 - Music is a lifestyle for the Myers family, seen in the form of notes on the lampshades, trapped in frames on the wall and stacked two-feet high on their piano inside their Clayton home.
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians Tim and Dana Myers, their two sons Peter, 25, and Henry, 17, have added another member into this world: Nomin Zolzaya.
For Nomin, an exceptionally talented 17-year-old cellist from Mongolia, music was worth moving around the world. And here, after just five months in the United States, Nomin has found the people who can answer her questions about the cello, something that was not possible in her native land.
The Myers say that if Nomin would have stayed and studied in Mongolia, her opportunities would have been limited, as she surpassed every cello teacher in her country.
"I think that she was really needing to have someone talk to her about certain aspects about the way you play cello, the very basics. I think at first she was a little frustrated, but I think she's learning a lot," Tim Myers said.
Nomin is coached by fellow St. Louis Symphony Orchestra cellist Ken Kulosa, just as her American "brothers," Peter and Henry Myers, were. And in addition to studying under Kulosa, Nomin received a scholarship to the preparatory program at The Community Music School at Webster University. She also attends English language classes five days a week.
Just one week after arriving in the United States, Nomin auditioned for the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and was selected as a member cellist. There she is under the close eye of Henry Myers, who is not only a fellow cellist, but co-principal of the youth orchestra.
"As her English improves -- most of the kids she knows from The Community Music School also play in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra -- she feels more accepted and they feel more accepted," by her, Dana Myers said.
Dana said her older son had the idea of Nomin coming to the United States to expand her knowledge.
"Peter played cello in Mongolia with Midori, a world renowned musician. They played all the embassies in Ulan Batar and they played at all the schools in and around the outskirts with a translator," Dana Myers said.
Peter first heard Nomin when Peter's group coached a student quartet.
"He called us up and said, 'She is very talented. Could she come live with you, and study from my old teacher?'" Dana Myers said. "We thought about it and it didn't take us long to decide, because if Peter thought that this was worthy, then that meant that this was a good thing to do."
On Aug. 31, after the visa was set and paperwork was complete, Nomin arrived in the United States, but she came empty handed.
"Because at the time she spoke such little English, we had trouble figuring out exactly why neither her cello nor her luggage came," Dana said. "Everything was still in Beijing. It arrived two days later, and everyone was greatly relieved."
Nomin said when she was introduced to music she had two instruments to choose from.
"First, I chose piano, but in my class there were many, many pianists. So it's harder. Next choice was violin, but my mom didn't want me to play violin, so it was, 'OK, what else?'" she said. "My mom said I should play the cello. It's a very beautiful instrument; and also the range is so warm and the tenor is very different from others."
Nomin said she taught herself to play cello by listening to CDs and watching tapes.
"My teacher in Mongolia was 75 and Russian, and she would just sit back and say, 'Oh, good,' to everything I played. I am young, so I have pretty much taught myself," Nomin said.
Nomin compared living in the United States to living in Mongolia as "day and night."
"Very different. It is like, just, day and night different," she said. "In Mongolia, you have to go and fetch water, here you just turn (the handle) and it comes (out). Everyday, everybody uses buses, and here we have cars."
Dana Myers said the family has had so much support from everyone, especially their neighborhood.
"So many people are just instant aunts who just want to help," she said.
In November, Nomin made her St. Louis debut when she played a benefit concert in the home of Larry and Cheryl Katzenstein to support her personal educational expenses. The goal of the evening was to raise $8,300
"I went to Chicago for Christmas, lots of snow, lots of wind. So cold," Nomin said as she covered up her ears signifying the temperature. For Nomin, though, a winter in Chicago is like child's play, Dana Myers said. A typical winter night in Mongolia could reach as low as negative 40 degrees.
Even as Nomin's English improves, hand signals and a plethora of adjectives are needed to help communication.
For fun, just like any other teenage girl, Nomin likes to read and said reading children's books had helped her tremendously with her English.
"Sometimes I like to read books; sometimes I like to listen to music; sometimes we watch the TV," Nomin said as she wrapped her right arm around Dana.
"This is the first time I so miss Mongolia," Nomin said.
She said she uses Skype, Facebook and Yahoo! Messenger to communicate with her friends and family.
Nomin said her visa is for one year, but she would like to stay for a long time. The Myers, too, see a future for Nomin in the United States.
"She is thriving here. Everyone loves her, and she is getting a lot of support. We hope she'll be able to extend the visa throughout next fall. I'm hoping then ... she'll apply to the really fine conservatories because they're great here," Dana said. "We're hoping she'll win a scholarship, so hopefully next fall she'll be getting ready to take auditions.
More Information
Dana is a member of the first violin section of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and has appeared with the SLSO several times as soloist after attending The Juilliard School. Dana joined the SLSO in 1980.
Tim has held the Mr. and Mrs. William R. Orthwein Principal trombone chair of the SLSO since 1997. He has been a member of the symphony since 1983; he attended Northwestern University.
Leah Randazzo, a senior at Missouri State University, is a Beacon intern.