Today we’d like to introduce you to Minji Nam Atticus Mellor-Goldman.
Hi Minji Nam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My husband Atticus and I met at a small school in Georgia, where he was studying cello at a school of 25 students– a strings only conservatory called the McDuffie Center for Strings. I came to the school to work as a staff pianist and we met while he was in his last year of undergrad. Our first meeting and in depth interaction was actually playing chamber music together- Brahms’ piano quintet. We started dating on Halloween, and our relationship progressed very quickly– I got a job as a collaborative pianist at the Yale School of Music and he chose to do his Masters there as well, so we moved to New Haven/Yale together. Most of our time at Yale was actually during the worst of the COVID epidemic, and we went through a lot of ups and downs trying to find our future together. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in spring of 2020 and underwent 22 rounds of chemotherapy and surgery while working at Yale, pretty much at the same time COVID was just starting in the US. Our relationship had many ups and downs but music was and remains a central part of our lives, relationship, and passion. My treatment was very successful and I was ultimately declared cancer free after the final surgery.
Right before Atticus graduated from his Master’s program, he won a job in the U.S. Air Force Band, and moved to Washington, D.C. after finishing his studies. I worked at Yale for one more year before we decided that long distance wasn’t going to work, and I moved to D.C. to be with him. Atticus won the audition for the “President’s Own” Marine Chamber Orchestra in 2024, and is currently performing with them. We also teach a wonderful music studio of kids and adults from our home in Fairfax, where we host studio classes and recitals. We have been performing in the DMV area as “Duo BUBU” since 2023, mainly performing private recitals, salon-style house concerts, and benefit concerts. We have raised over $7,000 for different causes through our concerts, and we plan to work more in collaboration with different organizations and hospitals in the U.S. to create concerts and programs for cancer patients undergoing treatment or who are in the early stages of recovery.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey through my cancer treatment and recovery has been a really amazing and difficult process, and I think the mental health side of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery is not talked about as much as it should be. I’ve felt for many years after my treatment was completely finished that I was still in recovery for many different reasons, and it got really difficult sometimes when I would think about how lucky I was to have such a successful treatment and to simply still be alive, but still also be wondering why I was still struggling in many other ways.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love performing, and I particularly love working on duo and other chamber music for recitals; me and Atticus perform all the time around the area and we really enjoy the whole experience of learning and presenting concerts together. I have also grown to love teaching just as much since opening my music studio in Northern Virginia. It’s always so much fun for me to give my love and spend my energy with my different students, whether they’re 6 years old or 50!
What were you like growing up?
I’m sure when I was younger other kids my age probably thought I was too intense, but I was and have always put a lot of effort and heart into what my goals are, whether it’s winning math and science competitions, practicing 10 hours a day, or taking care of the people I love most. I have definitely changed a lot since moving to the U.S., and I think meeting Atticus has also softened some of the sharper parts of my personality.
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