February 12th, 2026
Freshman Year with Viktor Ivanov
Viktor Ivanov (VI), a student at the Berklee College of Music, recently sat down with Kevin Small Jr. (KSJ), Founder & President of SNAKE Magazine, to discuss his background in music, early experiences in the City of Boston, and the role he believes music has in building a better world.
KSJ: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.
VI: I started playing the violin at the age of three and transitioned into the saxophone at age five. And then I took on the flute, which was my main instrument until now. I took drums and bass as well, which were an addition to my adaptability to different instruments. One of the most important things is my tours around Europe and Asia. I went to Kuching, Taipei, Vienna, Switzerland and Bulgaria. I co-organized the Switzerland trip with my mom where we managed the different locations, the budgets, the money, all of the funds. Performing in these places where musical tradition is deeply embedded, I learned how different cultures respond to music and how we can combine cultures to create awareness and bring people together. One of my most meaningful chapters was a yearly charity performance series for raising funds for children's hospitals and social service organizations such as SCC Hospice, ARC Children's Centre, and Singapore Children's Society. All these events were attended by Singapore's Prime Minister. And later on, we were given the Volunteerism and Philanthropic Award by the President for all our impacts. This all showed me firsthand how music can create a social impact and we can all work together to raise funds for a good cause.
KSJ: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ATTENDING THE BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE SCHOOL THE MOST?
VI: I'm in my second semester at Berklee and what really makes me fond of this school is how it encourages students to connect with each other and gives us opportunities not just in class but also outside. I’m very proud to be involved in a sound design club where I'm currently working on sound effects and audio assets for a game being developed by students at the University of Southern California. Collaborating with other schools is something I never thought would happen, and Berklee made this possible.
KSJ: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSTRUMENT AND WHY?
VI: My favorite instrument is the flute, because it reflects who I am. It's very adaptable, and it has different forms such as the piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute, which also reflects me growing up with this instrument. So it's very close to me, and it shares the same identity as myself.
KSJ: WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU THINK MUSIC HAS IN BUILDING A BETTER WORLD?
VI: I think music builds connections with different people. It builds understanding, because music is a language that everybody speaks and it breaks barriers. Through all of my concerts and charity works, I saw that happen firsthand. And it's literally how people communicate when they don't know each other's language–it's the language of the world. So that's one thing music can do, and everybody can collaborate and do that together, which is beautiful in my opinion.