Since I was a child, I have always had dreams and goals to fulfill. At first, I dreamed of being a scientist; then I wanted to be a firefighter. But I never imagined the potential we have within us when we truly focus on what we want and work until we achieve it. Over the years, my goals have changed, just as my path has. A few years ago, my greatest desire was to play in the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, but life circumstances led my aspirations to evolve without changing their direction. Without realizing it, I had always been patiently longing to be in an orchestra. Since I began studying music, I have sought to contribute to my community by giving small concerts at my school and church to share what I was learning. When I arrived in the United States, my involvement as a violinist expanded even further. Thanks to various programs and the support of my school, I became part of the Michigan State University Community Music School in Detroit, where I started making my way as a musician and performed at different community concerts. Standing before an audience as a Latino and Colombian representative and proudly raising my instrument to share music has been one of my greatest satisfactions. Now, here in Detroit, that goal of being in an orchestra was still in my mind, though I didn’t know how to achieve it. After much searching and with some help, I managed to join CYE, the youth program of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where I now play in the Civic Philharmonic Orchestra alongside talented young musicians from different schools. Each of us brings a part of our culture and talent and creates a diverse and enriching ensemble. Throughout my journey in the United States, I have had the opportunity to perform at my school, where the Latino community is strongly represented. I have shared my talent at school events such as parent-teacher meetings and celebrations like Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, being a musician is not just about playing in front of an audience; it is about committing to conveying a message and an emotion that people can understand and feel. Looking ahead, my main goal is to get into university, study a career as a violinist, and continue growing as a musician. I could say my dream is to be a solo violinist in any orchestra in the world, and I don’t rule that out, but my aspirations go beyond what anyone might imagine. I dream with my eyes open, placing my goals in God, believing, and working toward what I set out to achieve. I want to be a musician who inspires other Latino and immigrant children and other generations who dream just as I do. I dream of playing for film scores, of paving the way for new ideas, and of carrying Colombian culture across the world. I want to support others, just as others have supported me, and create programs that bring musical experiences to those who lack access to them. I bring my art to those who want to listen, to those who believe in me, and to those who need encouragement to believe in themselves. In every performance, I express my passion and dedication, connecting with different audiences and bringing emotion to each event. Since high school, I have grown as a musician, sharing my art with more people both inside and outside my community. One of the reasons I cherish performing is seeing the excitement on people’s faces and realizing the impact my music has on bringing people together.

Since I was young, I dreamed of being a scientist, and as I grew, I would say I wanted to be a firefighter. I have always had goals and dreams to fulfill. As a child, I didn’t imagine the potential we have within us when we truly focus on doing what we want and plan until we achieve it. My goals have changed over the years, as well as my path. A few years ago, my goal was to be able to play in the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, but due to life circumstances, my goals had to change, though not their direction. Without realizing it, I was patiently longing to be in an orchestra. Now, here in Detroit, that goal was still on my mind, but I didn’t know how to achieve it. After many searches and with some help, I managed to play in CYE, the youth program of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Well, that’s just one of the things I’ve set out to do and have accomplished through effort. For my future, my main goal is to enter university, study a career as a violinist, and expand as a musician. I could say my goal is to be a solo violinist in any orchestra in the world, and I don’t rule that option out, but my ideas and dreams go beyond what anyone might imagine. I dream with my eyes open, with my goals placed in God, believing and acting to achieve what I set out to do. I dream of being a violinist, of being that Colombian musician who inspires other Latino and immigrant children, and other generations who also dream like I do. I dream of being a musician who works playing music for movies, I dream of being a musician who paves the way for new ideas, taking Colombian culture through the world. I want to be a support for others, just as others have been for me. I want to create programs that provide musical experiences to people who don’t have the means to achieve them. I dream of big things, things I don’t know how to achieve right now, and I know that over the years my goals may change. Still, I am certain that my focus will remain, and no matter what adversity comes my way, God will always guide my path.

Since I was a child, I have always had dreams and goals to fulfill. At first, I dreamed of being a scientist; then I wanted to be a firefighter. But I never imagined the potential we have within us when we truly focus on what we want and work until we achieve it. Over the years, my goals have changed, just as my path has. A few years ago, my greatest desire was to play in the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, but life circumstances led my aspirations to evolve without changing their direction. Without realizing it, I had always been patiently longing to be in an orchestra. Since I began studying music, I have sought to contribute to my community by giving small concerts at my school and church to share what I was learning. When I arrived in the United States, my involvement as a violinist expanded even further. Thanks to various programs and the support of my school, I became part of the Michigan State University Community Music School in Detroit, where I started making my way as a musician and performed at different community concerts. Now, here in Detroit, that goal of being in an orchestra was still in my mind, though I didn’t know how to achieve it. After much searching and with some help, I managed to join CYE, the youth program of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where I now play in the Civic Philharmonic Orchestra alongside talented young musicians from different schools. Each of us brings a part of our culture and talent and creates a diverse and enriching ensemble. Throughout my journey in the United States, I have had the opportunity to perform at my school, where the Latino community is strongly represented. I have shared my talent at school events such as parent-teacher meetings and celebrations like Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, being a musician is not just about playing in front of an audience; it is about committing to conveying a message and an emotion that people can understand and feel. Looking ahead, my main goal is to get into university, study a career as a violinist. I could say my dream is to be a solo violinist in any orchestra in the world, and I don’t rule that out, but my aspirations go beyond what anyone might imagine. I dream with my eyes open, placing my goals in God, believing, and working toward what I set out to achieve. I want to be a musician who inspires other Latino and immigrant children and other generations who dream just as I do. I dream of playing for film scores, of paving the way for new ideas, and of carrying Colombian culture across the world. I want to support others, just as others have supported me, and create programs that bring musical experiences to those who lack access to them. I bring my art to those who want to listen, to those who believe in me, and to those who need encouragement to believe in themselves. In every performance, I express my passion and dedication, connecting with different audiences and bringing emotion to each event. One of the reasons I cherish performing is seeing the excitement on people’s faces and realizing the impact my music has on bringing people together. I know these experiences will continue to motivate me while also opening doors for me to contribute to my community and my future university. No matter how my goals evolve, I am certain that my focus will remain the same, and no matter what challenges arise, God will always guide my way.

Since I was a child, I have always had dreams and goals to fulfill. At first, I dreamed of being a scientist, then I wanted to be a firefighter. But I never imagined the potential we have within us when we truly focus on what we want and work until we achieve it. Over the years, my goals have changed, just as my path has. A few years ago, my greatest desire was to play in the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, but life circumstances led my aspirations to evolve without changing their direction. Without realizing it, I had always been patiently longing to be in an orchestra. Since I began studying music, I have sought to contribute to my community by giving small concerts at my school and church to share what I was learning. When I arrived in the United States, my involvement as a violinist expanded even further. Thanks to various programs and the support of my school, I became part of the Michigan State University Community Music School in Detroit, where I started making my way as a musician and performed at different community concerts. Standing before an audience as a Latino and Colombian representative and proudly raising my instrument to share music has been one of my greatest satisfactions. Now, here in Detroit, that goal of being in an orchestra was still in my mind, though I didn’t know how to achieve it. After much searching and with some help, I managed to join CYE, the youth program of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where I now play in the Civic Philharmonic Orchestra alongside talented young musicians from different schools. Each of us brings a part of our culture and talent and creates a diverse and enriching ensemble. Throughout my journey in the United States, I have had the opportunity to perform at my school, where the Latino community is strongly represented. I have shared my talent at school events such as parent-teacher meetings and celebrations like Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, being a musician is not just about playing in front of an audience; it is about committing to conveying a message and an emotion that people can understand and feel. Looking ahead, my main goal is to get into university, study a career as a violinist, and continue growing as a musician. I could say my dream is to be a solo violinist in any orchestra in the world, and I don’t rule that out, but my aspirations go beyond what anyone might imagine. I dream with my eyes open, placing my goals in God, believing, and working toward what I set out to achieve. I want to be a musician who inspires other Latino and immigrant children and other generations who dream just as I do. I dream of playing for film scores, of paving the way for new ideas, and of carrying Colombian culture across the world. I want to support others, just as others have supported me, and create programs that bring musical experiences to those who lack access to them. I bring my art to those who want to listen, to those who believe in me, and to those who need encouragement to believe in themselves. In every performance, I express my passion and dedication, connecting with different audiences and bringing emotion to each event. Since high school, I have grown as a musician, sharing my art with more people both inside and outside my community. One of the reasons I cherish performing is seeing the excitement on people’s faces and realizing the impact my music has on bringing people together.

Since I began studying music, I began contributing to my community by giving small concerts at my school and church to show what I had learned. Since I arrived in the United States, my participation as a violinist has grown within my community. Thanks to different programs and my school's support, I was able to be part of the music program at Michigan State University at the Community Music School in Detroit, where I began to make my way as a musician, making myself known in various community concerts. Likewise, being able to stand in front of all of them as a Latin and Colombian representative, proudly raising my instrument to share music, has been one of my greatest satisfactions. I am also part of the Civic Youth Ensembles program of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where together with young people from other schools we form the Civic Philharmonic Orchestra. Each of us contributes a touch of their culture and talent, creating a diverse and enriching ensemble. On my journey in the United States, I have had the opportunity to play at my school, where the Latin community is very well represented. I share my talent at school events such as parent-teacher meetings, as well as special celebrations such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, being a musician is not simply playing in front of an audience; it is engaging with the public to convey a message and an emotion that they can understand and feel. I am a violinist, I am Latino, and in each performance I want to show that it is possible, that music can change lives and that there is always a way to achieve our goals. I aspire to be an inspiration to the children and new generations who see me, and I do not only wish to play for the world, but also to carry a message that everyone can understand. Through music, I want to open doors, as I have done by studying in different places. I bring my art to those who want to listen to me, to those who believe in me, and to those who need a boost to believe in themselves. In each performance I was able to express my passion and commitment to music, connecting with different audiences and bringing emotion to each event. Since high school, I have grown as a musician and had the opportunity to share my art with more people inside and outside my community. One of the reasons I value playing for them is being able to see their excited faces and realize the impact my music has in bringing people together at special moments. I know that these experiences will continue to motivate me to achieve my goals, while also opening up avenues for me to contribute to my community and my future university, bringing passion and talent to every event I participate in.