Her Music Speaks For Itself

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Listen to Xiaoli Magary play the violin, and you know she has talent. Some may even call her a prodigy though she is too modest to agree. But take a closer look, at her appearance and her previous experiences, and you will find that there is a lot more to her story.
Xiaoli was severely burned when she was only five months old. How exactly it happened is still a mystery. But afterwards, she was put in an orphanage because her parents couldn’t take care of her in her condition. At the age of two, she was adopted by Ruth Magary.
Over the years, Xiaoli has had various surgeries and skin grafts for her burns. After her arrival in America, the biggest complication was her eyelids – she had none. Without anything to remove the particles that landed on her eyes, they become irritated and dry. She has had 10 procedures in all, some of the major ones including having her scalp expanded and reconstructing a nose. And until recently, Xiaoli had to drive for hours to get to Cincinnati even for a simple 10 minute check-up. But now she is enjoying the advantages of more time as a result of a telemedicine partnership between Cincinnati’s Shriners Hospital for Children and the University of Southern Indiana. USI has set up telemedicine equipment allowing a physician to view the patient through high-resolution video. While the doctor directs the check-up, the nurse carries through with the assessment. “It saves a lot of time, travel and, of course, expense,” said Hadi Shrine Telemedicine Coordinator Frank Nolte.
Although the surgeries certainly didn’t fix everything, the scars still didn’t keep her from continuing to play the violin. “It’s tough for a girl, I know, especially for a girl going into teenage years. But she’s always…been so accepting of herself,” says Ruth. “It’s never slowed her down. Not one day.” She also finds joy in the fact that her passion brings happiness to others.
Xiaoli takes her violin lessons at the University of Evansville (UE) Suzuki Talent Education Program facility. Xiaoli and her sister get 45 minutes each with their instructor, Maria Mastropaolo. Xiaoli has been playing with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. When she starts high school this fall, she will also join the Signature School’s orchestra.
Xiaoli is the epitome of what we should all strive to be. She has gone through so much in her short lifetime, yet she seems unphased by anything life throws at her. She says “…people would give me odd looks, but it’s nothing personal…it’s just the way I look.” She strives to be better even when she knows more hardships are in her future. Xiaoli’s story inspires me especially because I also play the violin. But you don’t need a connection to be able to learn through her example. Pursue your dreams and devote yourself to your passion. Let nothing and no one stop you.