Tuba Autobiography

Physically, I was on the smaller side than my peers, which is why I picked up the tuba in middle school. It was large and heavy and I was determined to prove a point— size doesn’t stop you. Also, the tuba carries the rhythm of the band, the bass is strong, and without its proper lead, the band loses cohesion. The reflection of this shiny instrument reflects my own growth and has allowed me to shine ever since. Although at first I never imagined playing an instrument twice my size, the tuba has helped me inspire people to defy peer pressure and follow their ambitions. Before I knew it, a simple hobby became a passion—a passion that I would carry for the rest of my life.

As I continued to practice the tuba more and more each day, my devotion

I can remember the adrenaline that I felt as I sat on the stage playing a solo in front of a sold out crowd. This experience had a great impact on my musical perspective, challenging me to up my game when the degree of incredible talent was exposed to me for the first time. Hearing the jaw-dropping music coming from the instruments of other musicians surrounding me motivated me to turn my engines on and get to work immediately. Following that experience, I have practiced my butt off to be the best tuba player around, and I mean around the

I had to consider playing this out when a once in a lifetime opportunity fell at my feet. Not professionally, but many generations of my family play musical instruments and sing. I didn’t think much of it until my own singing talents emerged. I clearly remember the day I saw propaganda of Simon Cowell announcing his new show, “La Banda”— A show intended to establish the next Latin American Boyband by combining five young artists. The advertisement had not even finished when I already had my phone in my hand signing up. I had to undergo an immensely arduous process; competing with more than 10,000 people nationwide for merely eighty spots. Thankfully, my rigorous training paid off until the culmination of my participation amongst top forty competitors, allowing me to sing on international television and in front of Ricky Martin. This experience helped me acknowledge my own talens, bringing to light a passion for music that was previously caged within