From grocery store flyer to conservatory full-ride: How one moment defined this violinist’s future
(PRUnderground) August 5th, 2026
A simple flyer marked the beginning of Ezekiel “Zeke” Sokoloff’s music journey — a chance discovery that led to years of training with the Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music in Salt Lake City, and ultimately, a full-ride scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Today, the Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music, formerly known as the Gifted Music School, proudly celebrates the accomplishments of this alumnus, whose musical foundation began in the school’s halls and has grown into a remarkable career.
Sokoloff started playing violin at the age of five after being introduced to it by his mother who played in high school. Shortly after, outside the grocery store, she saw a poster for the Peterson School of Music and called the school to enroll him there. Zeke shares that it was inspiring to him to see how much the older students had excelled, encouraging him to pursue music seriously.
“Music teaches you discipline, work ethic, and communication skills,” he said. “The group experience really helped me in not feeling isolated. Between group classes, studio performances, and working on the Suzuki method, there was a big emphasis on shared learning among young musicians. It was part of my daily life and it was how I made friends and how I connected to other people. I realized if I kept doing it, I would continue to have that community. From that, I became passionate about it.”
Zeke took piano and violin lessons through the school, and said his instructors pushed him to be his best self, which prepared him for his college experience at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
At just 20 years old, Zeke has built a long list of impressive accomplishments, including performing with the Utah, Seattle, and Vancouver symphonies, as well as the Chicago Arts Orchestra and the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra. He’s been the recipient of several awards, with first-place finishes in prestigious competitions, such as the International Young Artist Concerto Competition, the Ronald Sachs International Music Competition, the MTNA National Junior String Competition, the Vancouver Symphony Young Artist Competition, and the Seattle Symphony Young Artist Competition.
Zeke has performed in venues such as the New World Symphony, Carnegie Hall, and the Konzerthaus in Vienna. In addition to his studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he is also a cofounder of ArtIs, an interdisciplinary arts organization based in the Bay Area. Going forward, he plans on continuing to pursue professional performance. For his family, what began as an extracurricular activity became something much bigger.
“We had no plan that our son would go into the arts. We just thought it would be a good learning tool,” shared Scott Epstein, Zeke’s father and a board member for the Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music. “But he excelled and he loved it. He just always wanted to keep playing and practicing, so we supported him. Now he’s a full scholarship student at San Francisco Conservatory, which is amazing.”
Scott spoke to the high caliber of the school’s teaching methods, saying he’s seen how it not only provides high-quality music education, but that it prepares students to excel in other areas of their lives as well.
Zeke’s story reflects a pattern of student success at the Peterson School of Music and its mission of helping young musicians develop both artistically and personally. Over the past four years, the school has achieved 100% college matriculation for graduating seniors, with students receiving more than $3.3 million total in scholarship offers and continuing their studies at leading institutions such as the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Juilliard, Stanford University, the Royal College of Music, Brigham Young University, and the University of Cincinnati, among others. Recently, two students were accepted to the prestigious Colburn Academy.
Through individualized instruction, ensemble performance and a supportive community, the Peterson School of Music continues to prepare students for success both on stage and beyond. Zeke’s story is one of many that reflects the lasting impact of the school’s education on graduates as they carry skills and values they develop through music into their future careers and communities.
About Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music:
The Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music, formerly the Gifted Music School, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation committed to providing the highest level of music education. Based in Salt Lake City, the school launched in 2008 with the mission to provide a comprehensive pathway to world-class music education, with an expansive curriculum and distinguished faculty. Through its full-scholarship GRIT program, it ensures access to high-quality instruction for students of all backgrounds. The school stands as a beacon of musical excellence and education, shaping the young musicians of tomorrow. Visit petersonschoolofmusic.org for more information.
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