Marching and Music Experience

I started my Music experience in elementary school with the violin in 2007-2009. I was accepted in the Ernesto Ramos Antonini to study in a Fine Arts School in Yauco, PR Iin 2009 to curse my Middle school 2009-2012 and high school 2012-2015 in there with a specialization in Music and Alto saxophone. I was a member of the concert band since 2009-2015 playing alto saxophone and Baritone saxophone. I perform with the stage bands from the school 2012-2015. I did Saxophone Recitals in my high school senior year.I was accepted in the Police Academy Band for Summer Camp in 2015 playing the Baritone Saxophone. I am studying Music Education in the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in San Germán with a major in Alto Saxophone and this is my 4th year in college. I am a member of the Saxophone Quartet of my University, the Concert Band and the University Choir (2015-2019). Recently I did my Saxophone Recital in my college. I started my marching experience with the Banda Escolar de Guayanilla in Puerto Rico 2013-2019 playing the Baritone saxophone, Flute, Piccolo and Colorguard. I have participated in activities such as Cancer, Individuals and other benefit fundraisings parades 2013-2019. I participated in Vivace Production Workshop summer camp at the West Chester University in Pennsylvania: 2016 in the Drum Major Academy George N. Parks/ Leadership camp with Dr.Tim and Colorguard summer camp 2017. I participated in Band Summer Camps like a member and like staff 2013-2017 with the Banda Escolar de Guayanilla. I realize two Colorguard Clinics in two differents Colorguard College Team 2018-2019. I performed in the Rose Parade 2019 “The Melody of Life”representing Puerto Rico with the Banda Escolar de Guayanilla, also we performe in the Disneyland parade and in the Band fest like colorguard and playing piccolo. I participated in DSI Showcase Performer I&E 2018 with my alto saxophone and I won the second place making history for my Island Puerto Rico because I was the first Puerto Rican in participating in this event. I start my Drum Corps Experience with Music City Drum Corp in 2018 like Colorguard and this summer I will perform with them for second and last time because is my AGEOUT for this Puerto Rican guy!

Why should you win this scholarship

My name is Carlos, I am 21 years old and I am from Guanica, Puerto Rico. I am a young man who comes from a family with limited economic resources and although I do not have the privilege of having the necessary financial resources, I have been able to be a fighter and I have not had limits to achieve everything I have done in my life. I always fought for everything what I need and for everything that I have proposed in life with much sacrifice. Nothing prevented me from reaching each of my dreams and goals, not even Hurricane Maria, which even now I am recovering from the damage that Hurricane Maria left in my home and in my family. Everything I have achieved, I do it through sales, letters of sponsorship and fundraising activities to make each of my goals and each of my dreams … This path has been very sacrificial and hardworking for all this time, but the desire to continue fighting for a better future is what helps me and motivates me to move forward. I never lost my faith and hope because the good rewards come only by the difficult road. I have many people who have inspired me a lot in life and in my professional career that have helped me to be the person that they know today. One of those people who has meant everything to me and has given me everything in my life, has been supporting me in all my events and has given me a dignified education is my mom who has been a warrior, a fighter and a very hardworking woman who serves food every day in schools to help their children financially so they can attend college and be the future of a better country. I consider myself a very committed, hardworking, talented, responsable, charismatic, humble, leader, passionate of Marching Bands and Colorguard, a great example of overcoming and inspiration for many people who have had the opportunity to get to know me in where I live and outside of Puerto Rico. I understand that my life and in the music field have given me the experiences, the character and the knowledge to be wordy of this scholarship. Merit is a word that is defined as “deserve or be wordy reward” even though I have not done everything in my checklist to be received merit, I believe I have done my best representing my island Puerto Rico and my hometown with excellence because my greatest drive is passion for what I do. I am a great and awesome musician and I want to build professionals, future musicians as well. I want to succeed as a music teacher and I want to make a better world. Many people do things because they have too, but I do this because I am pasioned about it and it has change my life. I am more confident of myself, I no longer fear to approach people and make new friends and I feel a great sense of accomplishment in my life. I know there is other people deserving of this scholarship but I know I deserve it too. All effort of my mother and sister that not many people see would be rewarded if I get this scholarship, because this effort has been mine and of my family. This opportunity would help me complete my college courses more effectively, facilitating the acquisition of materials and other tools pertinent to my culmination of my bachelor’s degree in Music Education, seeing as this bachelor requires so much of my own material output. The acquisition of this scholarship would change my life by effectively providing for these diverse needs and preparing me competitively in my particular professional setting.

Why do you want to be a Marching Arts Educator?

I want to be an educator of Marching Arts because I am passionate, I enjoy every moment, whether participating as a musician or Colorguard, and everything I do with my heart and pride. I am very charismatic and disciplined, but I have the passion and initiative to do what I like and I also have the knowledge and experience to be a Marching Art Educator. I am studying music education because I want to be an agent of change, an example to follow and a leader for my students, since they, like me, are the future of our society. I want to give them the education I never had and which I always wanted to have. I have always loved sharing and returning the joys that music has given to those around me. I am always so caring and generous to everyone. I love making people happy, they smile and happy to be close to me. I get up when times get tough. I turn sadness and difficulties into looking at the positive side of things and opportunities. I am seeing how much time and effort I put into the projects for my students. I love finding different and exciting ways to help them find the joy that music brings to life. I know that in the future I will inspire and enrich my students as all my instructors have done with me and in those moments I will know that all this effort that I have achieved and worked so hard will be worth it. In some future as a teacher, I wish with all my heart to see my students grow in their talents and one day be encouraged to follow in the footsteps of their master in music and art in motion. One of my goals as a future educator is to help my students grow as talented, educated, intelligent and professional people by creating a society of great respect and values. As a future educator I want my students to remember all the steps I will take in their lives in the student to teacher course and also for all those memories and special moments that we will create together. I visualize myself as an excellent music teacher because I have the vocation, the passion, the knowledge and the necessary experiences to be a great teacher without any doubt.