My academic and career goals are directly reflected in how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor's degree in music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also for how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. A couple of years ago, I mentored a student into becoming the best musician he can. When I realized that my friend’s younger brother, Ryan Miranda, had the drive to be great but needed a bit of guidance to get there, I decided to step in. I began teaching him trumpet at no cost, driven by the belief that a student’s determination should be the most important factor in their success. We spent countless hours breaking down the fundamentals focusing on breath support, refining his embouchure, and mastering what is needed to be successful. Because there was no money involved, the pressure was replaced by a pure, shared ambition to get better. Our goal was to ensure that he was the best musician in the room. Teaching him taught me how to actually translate my own thoughts into advice that Ryan could use. The true test of our work came during the Region 29 auditions. The competition in our region is famously challenging, featuring some of the most skillful trumpet players in the district. When the results were finally posted, the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. Ryan Miranda didn't just make the honor band, he earned the first chair in the region. Seeing his name at the very top of the trumpet list was a defining moment for me. It was a clear representation of his hard work and a reminder that when we remove barriers for others, they can achieve incredible things. By helping Ryan achieve his dream, I realized that the most valuable thing I could offer wasn’t my money or my own performance, but my time. This scholarship is important to me because it provides the financial stability necessary for me to focus solely on these goals and work towards them. The high cost of tuition makes pursuing a degree in music a significant financial challenge, given that my family struggles financially but does their best to make this dream a reality for me. This award would significantly relieve the stress and burden of student loans, which would allow me to put in much more time into my craft without the constant worry of financial strain. It represents an investment in my future as a future educator and performer, a recognition of the value that music education holds in our society, and how life changing it really can be. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to fully commit to my education and begin my career with the focus and dedication necessary to make a meaningful impact on my students and my community.

"Failure isn't the opposite of success, it's often a stepping stone on the path to achieving your goals"- George Elliot. In my junior year of high school, I had a very ambiguous goal of making the YOSA Philharmonic as a high school trumpet player. On the audition day, I went in with my music prepared then sat in the chair provided and played my audition repertoire. A couple of weeks later, on the way to a beach trip with my family, I got an email from YOSA, stating that I did not make the Philharmonic. I knew at that moment that I had to keep working if I ever wanted to have another shot of making it in the future. In September of that same year, I auditioned for the TMEA All-Region Jazz band where I not only failed to make it but got the same placement I got in the year prior. The combination of these two sets of news was devastating. A couple of months later, the TMEA All-Region auditions came up and I went into the audition room thinking that this might be like last time. Results came out and I not only made the All-Region Band and the All-Region Orchestra, but I was also made a contender for the TMEA All-State Band. My audition date for YOSA came later that year and a couple of weeks later I got an email from YOSA about the results stating that I officially made the YOSA Philharmonic as a trumpet player. With all of the failures during my journey, if I quit, I would not have the opportunities and experiences I have had up until this moment and I am so excited to be able to continue my journey in college and beyond to achieve even more success in the future. In the world of competitive music, the gap between a good player and a great one is often filled by expensive private lessons and a determination like no other. When I realized that my friend’s younger brother, Ryan Miranda, had the drive to be great but needed a bit of guidance to get there. I began teaching him trumpet at no cost, driven by the belief that a student’s determination should be the most important factor in their success. As a 12th grader, I’ve learned that the trumpet is a demanding instrument that requires both physical strength and mental resilience. I watched Ryan develop both. I pushed him to treat every practice session like a performance. Teaching him taught me how to actually translate my own thoughts into advice that Ryan could use. The true test of our work came during the Region 29 auditions. The competition in our region is famously challenging, featuring some of the most skillful trumpet players in the district. When the results were finally posted, the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. Ryan Miranda didn't just make the honor band, he earned the first chair in the region. Seeing his name at the very top of the room was a clear representation of his hard work and a reminder that when we remove barriers for others, they can achieve incredible things. Making a positive impact doesn't require a professional title or a paycheck. It simply requires the willingness to share what you know with someone who is eager and driven to learn. By helping Ryan achieve his dream, I realized that the most valuable thing I could offer wasn’t my money or my own performance, but my time which is what I plan to do in my future as a high school band director.

The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community.

Background Experience: -Brass Captain - 8 hrs/week (2025-2026) Leader for the entire brass section, overseeing the musical pedagogy, uniformity, and disciplined execution of music and visuals to ensure the Brennan Band maintains a successful competitive standing. -Section Leader - 8 hrs/week (2023-2025) Ensuring musical and disciplined development of my peers every day leading to technical execution and fostering a culture of success and excellence through teaching and guiding the section. -YOSA Philharmonic Orchestra Trumpet Player - 3 hrs/week (2025-2026) Performed at venues like the Tobin Center performing music at the highest level. -Composer - 1 hr/week (2025-Current) Composed various works like brass ensembles, solos and duets. -Section Manager/Principal Trumpet for William J. Brennan High School 5 hrs/week (2024-Current) Served as the student leader/teacher for the trumpet section. -Private Lesson Teacher - 1 hr/week (2023 - Current) Individualized instruction to students, developing their skills and understanding in a specific subject or activity. -Master Class Teacher - 1 hr/week (2025-Current) I translate my musical expertise into engaging clinics for my peers, breaking down complex concepts like pedagogy and performance technique to elevate our section’s overall sound and confidence in their abilities. The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community.

My twin brother and I were born in Pensacola, FL and we have two older siblings. Our family moved to San Antonio around the age of 2. My sister is in nursing school in Baton Rouge and my older brother lives in Pensacola, FL. My father is from London, and still has his British accent, and my mother is from Kentucky. Over the last 7 years I have developed a love for music and a passion for teaching. My goal is to continue progressing on the trumpet and obtain a bachelor's degree in music education and plan to continue on to obtain a Masters and Doctorate degree. The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said, "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a bachelor's degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community. My role in helping finance my education will be to get a part time job and continue applying for scholarships each year. My family will be helping as much as they can but in the Fall 2026, our family will have 3 kids enrolled in college at the same time, including myself and my twin. The recent FAFSA changes no longer reflect the number of students in college in the aid calculation, which significantly impacts our family's ability to pay. In addition, my mom has been unemployed since August 2025 due to being laid off, resulting in a reduction in our household income. In September, my dad had a heart attack resulting in loss of income and out of pocket medical bills. I respectfully request that these circumstances be considered when reviewing our financial aid eligibility.

My academic and career goals are directly reflected in how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor's degree in music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. Academically, my focus will be on pedagogical techniques, music theory, and music history. I am particularly interested in understanding how music can enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills that we need in everyday life. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also for how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. This scholarship is important to me because it provides the financial stability necessary for me to focus solely on these goals and work towards them. The high cost of tuition makes pursuing a degree in music a significant financial challenge, given that my family struggles financially but does their best to make this dream a reality for me. This award would significantly relieve the stress and burden of student loans, which would allow me to put in much more time into my craft without the constant worry of financial strain. It represents an investment in my future as a future educator and performer, a recognition of the value that music education holds in our society, and how life-changing it really can be. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to fully commit to my education and begin my career with the focus and dedication necessary to make a meaningful impact on my students and my community. My role in helping finance my education will be to get a part time job and continue applying for scholarships each year. My family will be helping as much as they can but in the Fall 2026, our family will have 3 kids enrolled in college at the same time, including myself and my twin. The recent FAFSA changes no longer reflect the number of students in college in the aid calculation, which significantly impacts our family's ability to pay. In addition, my mom has been unemployed since August 2025 due to being laid off, resulting in a reduction in our household income. In September, my dad had a heart attack resulting in loss of income and out of pocket medical bills. I respectfully request that these circumstances be considered when reviewing our financial aid eligibility.

I have given back to my community in many different ways but the one that holds a special place in my heart is when I mentored my student into becoming the best musician he can. In the world of competitive music, the gap between a good player and a great one is often filled by expensive private lessons and a determination like no other. When I realized that my friend’s younger brother, Ryan Miranda, had the drive to be great but needed a bit of guidance to get there, I decided to step in. I began teaching him trumpet at no cost, driven by the belief that a student’s determination should be the most important factor in their success. What started as a simple gesture of giving back eventually became a masterclass in the power of mentorship and the true meaning of a positive impact. We spent countless hours breaking down the fundamentals focusing on breath support, refining his embouchure, and mastering what is needed to be successful. We focused immensely on the Region 29 audition etudes, breaking down every single little detail in preparation for this major audition. Because there was no financial transaction involved, the pressure was replaced by a pure, shared ambition. Our goal wasn't to survive the audition. Our goal was to ensure that he was the best musician in the room. As a 12th grader, I’ve learned that the trumpet is a demanding instrument that requires both physical strength and mental resilience. I watched Ryan develop both. I pushed him to treat every practice session like a performance. Teaching him taught me how to articulate complex musical concepts in a way that was accessible and encouraging, which in turn heightened my own understanding of the instrument. The true test of our work came during the Region 29 auditions. The competition in our region is famously challenging, featuring some of the most skillful trumpet players in the district. When the results were finally posted, the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. Ryan Miranda didn't just place into a band; he earned first chair in the region. Seeing his name at the very top of the trumpet list was a defining moment for me. It was a clear representation of his hard work and a reminder that when we remove barriers for others, they can achieve incredible things. Making a positive impact doesn't require a professional title or a paycheck. It simply requires the willingness to share what you know with someone who is eager and driven to learn. By helping Ryan achieve his dream, I realized that the most valuable thing I could offer wasn’t my money or my own performance, but my time. Ryan’s success in Region 29 is an achievement we now share, proving that when you invest in people, the return is a sense of pride and a stronger community.

As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community. The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. The high cost of tuition makes pursuing a degree in music a significant financial challenge given that my family struggles financially due to my mom becoming unemployed and my dad suffering a heart attack thus receiving significant medical debt this past fall but given the circumstances they do their best to make this dream a reality for me.

The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community. The high cost of tuition makes pursuing a degree in music a significant financial challenge given that my family struggles financially due to my mom becoming unemployed and my dad suffering a heart attack thus receiving significant medical debt this past fall but given the circumstances, they do their best to make this dream a reality for me.

My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community.

The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community.

The thing that influenced my aspiration to keep doing music and pursue it is the reactions I see from people reacting to the music that others and/or I produce. This past year, I had a duet in my marching show and after every rep people would come up say how amazing it sounded but there was one notable moment when I was at the mall and a lady from the crowd came up to me and said "your sound is so healing." That moment was when I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My future goals are directly reflected on how I would like to express myself through music performance and be able to guide others on their musical journey through music education. I plan to pursue a Bachelor degree for music education and music performance, a path I believe is essential for keeping the art of music appreciation alive for the future. This journey is driven by my own experiences, where music provided me a very great way to express myself and build a sense of community, an experience I am eager to help others discover. My goal is to showcase very diverse musical genres to engage a wide range of students and help them find that love that I have for the activity. I aim to graduate with a bachelor's degree and pursue a master's degree shortly after to further refine my skills as both a musician and an educator. My immediate goal upon graduation is to become a public high school band director. I want to build a program that is not only known for its success but also how it is portrayed as a very respectful and motivated band. I also plan to maintain an active performance schedule outside of teaching high school band so that I can continue to express myself, understanding that continuing my growth as a performer is crucial to my success as an educator. As a 12th grader looking toward a career in music education, I see my future role, a music educator, as a way to provide students with the same emotional and academic stability that my mentors gave me. My perspective is that giving back isn't just about teaching someone how to play an instrument but rather using music as a tool to build a student's character, resilience, and sense of community.