Branden: Finding Hope and Harmony at The Door

When 22-year-old Branden first walked through The Door, he was looking for a place to play his violin, but what he found was so much more. 

“The Door feels like a tight-knit community of people from really diverse backgrounds,” Branden says. “We come together, create, collaborate, and support each other. It’s honestly beautiful.” 

Before finding The Door, Branden taught himself to play violin using YouTube tutorials. He remembers buying his first instrument, a $50 broken violin from a pawn shop, and spending countless hours learning online. “Music education is expensive,” he explains. “I was lucky my parents could even afford that violin. I had to put in an enormous amount of work, work no one should have to do just to learn music.” 

That determination carried him to New York City, where he connected with The Door’s music program through an introduction from Megan Kemple, one of The Door’s arts staff. “I performed at Little Island with The Door,” he recalls. “And once I saw everything The Door offers, from medical care to counseling to the food pantry, I realized this is where I wanted to be.” 

Branden quickly became a fixture in the music room, where he now mentors others who want to learn instruments. “I’ve helped a few people get their own violins through donations,” he says. “Some of them had never even seen one up close before.” 

For Branden, The Door represents more than artistic opportunity; it’s a space of belonging and healing. When he came to The Door, he was struggling with depression. Through The Door’s free counseling services, he found support and community. “I was really at a low point, but The Door helped me through it,” he shares. “They helped me accept who I am, not just as an artist, but as a person.” 

Now, Branden hopes to continue spreading accessibility and inclusion in the arts. “Classical music should be for everyone,” he says. “There are still so few Black and Brown people in the industry. That needs to change, and I want to be part of that change.” 

Whether he’s performing at The Door, teaching peers, or simply hanging out in the cafeteria, Branden brings his signature warmth and energy to every space he enters. “This place feels like home,” he smiles. “When I walk in, people check in, make sure I’ve eaten, and make sure I’m good. I don’t know where I’d be without The Door.” 

And his message to others? 
“Keep showing up. Keep spreading the music, and the love.”