Since I can remember, American bluegrass music has held a special place in my heart. As the lone banjo-mandolin player in my high school who happened to be Asian, I felt a deep connection to the genre's soulful rhythms and spirited melodies. Fuelled by a desire to defy stereotypes, I began collecting folk instruments, two of my cherished favorites being my Florentine-style mandolin and Irish-style banjo. For me, bluegrass music embodies liberation—a means of breaking free from the confines of societal expectations. Wherever I find myself, one corner of my room will always be adorned with a collection of instruments, serving as a tangible reminder of my passion for music and the freedom it represents.

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-William Pan