Hi, I’m Jay, and I’ve been playing the violin since I was 4, learning through the Suzuki method. I’m a member of the New Haven Youth Orchestra and train weekly with a senior faculty member in strings at Yale. For the past two summers, I’ve attended an audition-based music intensive overnight camp, which has helped me grow as a musician and performer.

The first time I played at a funeral was for my great-grandmother, June Castaldo. After the service, the funeral director asked if I had any business cards. That’s when I realized how many families would benefit from a cost-effective way to have beautiful, live music at their loved one’s service.

Through Paying it Bach, I honor the stories of the people we’ve lost while giving back — every performance is donation-based, and families choose the charity that matters most to them. Playing for others has taught me the power of music to comfort, connect, and create meaning. I hope that by sharing these moments, I can make a difference in people’s lives while shaping my own journey as a musician and as a person.