H-F's Hoag is in tune

Homewood-Flossmoor senior Katelyn Hoag is one of the top golfers on the H-F girls golf team, but Hoag is equally successful with a bow in one hand and a viola in the other.

Hoag is a vioist and performs at private events and with the Homewood-Flosmsoor orchestra. She is also in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and has performed in Millennium Park.

"It was great to play out there in front of a lot of people," Hoag said. "It really fired me up because I was doing something I love."

She wants to be an orchestra major in college and is looking at Indiana University and the University of Michigan.

"If I could be in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra one day, that would be great," Hoag said. "I know I will not be able to play college golf because music will take up a lot of my time.

"If I want to be a professional musician, I have to practice because it is really competitive."

The viola is the middle voice of the string family, between the violin and cello.

Hoag said she is busy with performances at private functions as well as school events.

"Sometimes I get out of practice or a meet and it is on the fly," Hoag said. "I get dressed for my performance and go and perform."

H-F coach Rick Pavinato is impressed how Hoag, who is No. 2 in her class, with how she excels in the classroom, on the golf course and in music.

"Katelyn's main focus is music and it is amazing how she balances school, music and still has a complete social network of friends," Pavinato said. "She is a great team leader as well as a great sportsman. At all times she is a team player. She has worked hard and is determined to make it down state."

Her love of the stringed instrument started when she was in the fourth grade at Western Avenue School.

"I wanted to try it and just fell in love with it," Hoag said. "I kept practicing and working at it."

Just like she has on the course and in the classroom. She is a National Honor Society member and also sings in the school's choir. As a team captain in golf, she said her role is not only shooting a low score.

"We organize and get the team snacks ready and I really like that," Hoag said. "It's also working with the younger kids and just making sure everything is in order."