By Chloe Dawson (Whetstone Staff Writer)

When Wesley Dessesow combined his singing and piano during this year’s Variety Show, it became the highlight of his musical career.

“I never put singing and playing the piano together before,” he said. “When I did, it made it feel like a full production.”

His family came to support him.

“They were screaming in the audience,” said Dessesow, a sophomore.

Some of his musical experience came from helping his mother with music for anything from weddings to funerals.

When he was younger, Dessesow’s father would walk him to school every day, and each day they would sing a different Temptations song.

“My dad had every Temptation record possible,” he said.

From there, he began to sing in church and joined his school’s choir, which performed in Baltimore, Dessesow’s hometown.

From that point on, he realized he wanted to pursue music.

Dessesow graduated from the Baltimore School of the Arts, where he was a vocal major.

He was also required to learn to play the keyboard.

But it’s not all he does.

He is the resident assistant on the first floor of William’s Hall.

“You can go to him for anything,” said freshman Deontray Lee.

Although Dessesow enjoys having the dorm room to himself, he still feels it is important to get to know the students who live on his floor and to make an impact on their lives.

“He is a very down to earth person,” said junior Marvin Bond.

When he graduates, Dessesow wants to continue to revolve his life around music, and eventually do something with artist management.

He tries to balance out his R.A. position, school, and enjoying music, but sometimes it’s easier said than done.

“I don’t balance it out, I just know in my mind school work always has to come first,” Dessesow said.