About

In 2009, I picked up the trumpet. I was always excited to be placed in band class and relished the opportunity when it came. I clearly remember the sense of fulfillment I felt when I improved on my instrument. Since then, I have constantly sought opportunities to play, grow, and demonstrate artistry. I have consistently been a firm believer that I should set the standard for my future students. I have always thought: “How can I expect my students to perform at a high level, if I cannot?” This ideology motivated me every step of the way. In addition to dedicating time to my instrument, I sought opportunities to hone my practices in music education and conducting.

I remember the day I discovered I wanted to take the podium. I was in the ninth grade and my band director invited me to watch the Miami Wind Symphony concert. They were performing the Firebird Suite at the new South Dade Cultural Arts Center. I remember my mom dropping me off and finding my way up to the cold and dark third floor. What I experienced the next two hours, was nothing short of pure joy and happiness. The vast expanse of emotions I felt watching that performance inspired me to be a conductor. After this, I remember begging my band director every year to let me take the podium. It wasn’t until my senior year that he finally agreed. I will never forget being able to conduct Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo by Malcom Arnold. This profound experience sparked my interest in conducting.

My passion for music encouraged me to pursue higher education at Miami Dade College. I became the conducting assistant to the orchestra director, Alberto Bade, who I had the opportunity to take lessons with. In this position, I conducted the Symphony Orchestra in the professor’s absence. After my time at Miami Dade College, I spent a year at New World School of the Arts where I took lessons under the orchestral director, Alfred Gershfeld. I then transferred to Florida International University where I studied under Director of Bands, Dr. Brent Alston. This conglomerate of teachers has provided me with a vast foundation of musical vocabulary. While at FIU, I decided to expand my conducting opportunities by creating my own ensembles. This inspired the creation of the Miami Community Brass Choir which continues to rehearse weekly. In the summer of 2022, I completed a Conducting Fellowship for the Brass Institutes of America “Fred Brass” where I received instruction from Dr. Timothy Shade.

From 2020-2023 , I have assumed the position of Band Director at Homestead Senior High School. This was immensely difficult work. I treated this position as a daily training ground for my conducting skills. Whether it is beginning band or advanced band, I take every opportunity possible to hone my skill with my baton. This near-daily podium time has allowed for immense growth with increased vocabulary. Although I have made memories and endured one of the toughest and finest periods of my life, I feel that it is time for me to spread my reach and advance to the next level of life.

It is my desire to expand my knowledge on conducting while demonstrating artistry through the implementation of my newly acquired techniques. I seek to intensely focus on building myself as a conductor. I want to inspire the next generation of musicians to be great just as the many influences in my life have inspired me. There is nothing I want more than to be able to explore this facet of my life and step into the next phase of my musical journey. I am willing to work as hard as I need to, to achieve my goals over the next two years. All these stories are all just pieces of a puzzle. A puzzle, that once complete, will lead me to the next stage. My plan to produce high-level artistry can come true in a myriad of ways and only time will tell my true destination, but the closer I can steer the direction in my favor, the closer I am to achieving my dreams.