I'm a freshman at Texas A&M University in Commerce. I'm majoring in Vocal Music Performance, Piano Music Performance, and Musical Theory and Composition. I don't have much free time any more, but during the rare times I get to have a break, I like to write music. I usually write my own lyrics, but on occasion I do also enjoy setting texts written by my friends or other poets. I write mostly in the classical style, but I often venture out and have fun with arranging famous classical pieces in ways that would make the original Composers spin in their graves (like writing Fur Elise in the style of Scott Joplin for instance). I write my music for myself and when I write something it always expresses how I feel at that particular time, whether that be solemn, liturgical, playful, or just plain goofy, I write for me. Fortunately for me however, most people tend to like what I write. Hopefully that trend continues as I grow as a musician and find my own unique voice as a composer.
Influences
I've done some arrangements on Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Pachelbel, and even written in the styles of Eric Whitacre, Scott Joplin, and Antonio Vivaldi, but mainly I don't have any influences. I just write how I feel at a given point in time. If I had to name any particular composers I aspire to be like, I'd have to say Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Eric Whitacre, John Williams and John Rutter are some big names to try to live up to.
Sounds Like
Generally Classical feel, but often times I like to make jokes, and play around with preexisting works and make them sound somehow different than they were ever intended. So far I've made arrangements of Beethoven's Fur Elise in rag time, Pachelbel's Canon in techno, Mozart's Turkish March in a samba, Happy Birthday for Orchestra, and even managed to turn Carol of the Bells and Axle F into a double fugue. My roommate called me the young Peter Schickele (PDQ Bach). My best friend just calls me a musical smart ass. I guess you'll have to decide.
"Penso che una vita per la musica sia una vita spesa bene ed è a questo che mi sono dedicato."
"I think that a life for music is a life well spent, and it is to this that I have devoted myself."
-- Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007)
"Music expresses that which can't be said, but which is impossible to be kept silent."
-- Victor Hugo
I was born on February 21, 1989 at 9:32 AM in Rowlett, Texas in the house that my parents still live in. I was a cute little thing when I was born, but somewhere along the line, something happened and the cuteness wore off. *sigh* Oh well.
When I was in the 5th grade my voice started changing... actually that doesn't quite tell it correctly. My voice changed in the sixth grade. Quite literally in the middle of a sentence. *high pitch squeeky voice* Hey Mom, can I *change* help you with the dishes? Just like that, BOOM, changed and never went back. I went to class the next day and I didn't talk at all. About halfway through the day my teacher called me out on it and she asked me, "Why aren't you saying anything?" I looked at her and I asked in my new bass voice, "What do you want me to say?" and I got sent to the principal, because she thought I was screwing with her. Great way to start your life as a Bass isn't it?
I took my first music class in the sixth grade from a horrible teacher named, Ms Virginia Moore. To put it nicely, this woman was hell on wheels. I was 12 years old and she actually told me not to sing in her choir cause my voice wasn't that good, Instead I should lip sing. That almost ended my music career right there.
But thanks to the coercing of my mother I decided to give it another shot in the 7th grade.
In the 7th grade I got an amazing teacher, who to this day is still my dear friend: Mrs Nancy Ferrel. She actually realized that I had more talent than I had been given credit for and she took it upon herself to give me voice lessons so that my voice would sound better and better work with the rest of my peers. Then in the 8th grade, the bottom fell out and I became *strikes a pose* MEGABASS (duh dadadah!!) Bassically my low range just went crazy and I now have one of the lowest voices that I personally have ever heard. Fortunately though, there were other "lower"(Barely-tone) voices in the choir at that time so I didn't stand out so much. Before I went off to the 9th grade, my teacher asked the choral director at the High school to audition me to sing in the show choir. Mrs. Shelba Gorham came and auditioned me and guess what... I made it!! I was the only freshman in Rockwall High School history to ever be admitted into the show choir. So ends my 8th grade year and starts my High School years.
Up until this point I had been in both Choir and Gymnastics. But in my sophomore year I had to choose between Show Choir and Varsity Gymnastics. I thank God every day that I picked Show Choir. I had an amazing teacher in 10th grade, Mr Albert Torres. He's the one who, for lack of a better way of putting it, opened my eyes to the world of music, and turned music from a hobby into a career for me.
My 11th and 12th grade years I had Mrs Karen Thomas as my High School Choral Director, Mr. Ken Frerichs as an accompanist and Piano Teacher, and Mr. David Bush as the director of Lakeside Civic Chorus. If it hadn't been for Mrs. Thomas, I'm not sure I would have gotten as many breaks as I have in my musical carrear. Thanks are also due to Ken because he actually came out of retirement to give me piano lessons. Between Ken and David, they recruited me into the LCC, and they were the first to ever premier one of my pieces. It is due to these three people that I became a composer, because of their constant encouragement of me to be the best musician I can be and always helping me with my works. I graduated from Rockwall High in 2007 and Mrs. Thomas even asked me to lead the choir in our benediction at graduation.
I am now at Texas A&M University Commerce, under the Direction of Dr. William Witwer and Dr. Chris White. They both are inspiring me to reach my full potential as a musician.
What would I do without you? You are one of a kind, and a truly amazing supporter. Whoever said that was very right--you ARE going to make some lucky woman an awesome husband. :) Thanks for being a great friend, Alex.
Like I said, it's just sprite. Look at the cup, foggy is non-alcoholic, clear is alcoholic! I was a good big sister, plus she doesn't like to drink. LOL! So I can'l!
Hey, I lost my phone...Seriously, I had it one second, and it's nowhere to be found the next. Anyway, I have to work 1-5 this week....I don't know if I'll be able to make it to S.A.
In which ways? You listen to me and genuinely care. You make time to talk to me. You fill whatever role I need--friend, counsellor, big brother, listener . . . I can tell you anything without worrying about you telling anyone or judging me. I can be myself with you without feeling pressured to be anyone or anything else. You tell me what is best for me, even if it isn't my favorite answer. You never use unclean language when you speak to me. You compliment me in ways that make me feel special. When I talk to you, I feel safe and protected.
You are an AWESOME friend, and I appreciate and value you and your friendship greatly! :)
