Awards/Competitions
UNCSA/Winston Salem Symphony Orchestral Strings Fellowship, 2024; Winner, 2024 Young Performer Series Competition
Appearances
Sa’ Oaxaca Strings International Music Festival, Mexico, 2026; Winston Salem Symphony, North Carolina, substitute, 2024–26; Virginia Symphony Orchestra, substitute, 2026; Greensboro Symphony, North Carolina, substitute, 2026; Colombian Youth Philharmonic, 2021–25; Orchestra de la Francophonie, Canada, 2023; Bogotá Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Colombia, 2022–24; Bogotá Youth Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Colombia, 2021
What is your earliest memory of classical music?
I come from a family of musicians. When I was little, my parents ran a music academy for children, so my earliest memories of classical music are closely connected to the academy. I remember all the children coming to learn music, and everything felt like a game as we explored and learned music together.
Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?
There are two teachers who have been really important to me. One is Iván León, who was my main cello teacher in Colombia, and I studied with him for many years. He helped me grow a lot as a cellist, and he was also there for many of my first auditions for different orchestras. I feel like he was a big part of my development, not only as a musician but also during some really important moments in my career.
The other one is Brooks Whitehouse, my cello teacher at UNCSA. I learned so much from him and he also gave me a lot of support while I was living in a different country for the first time, which made his guidance even more meaningful to me.
What made you decide to become a musician? Was there a particular performance or person that influenced your decision?
I went to a music conservatory for high school, so I was always surrounded by music and musicians. Every day I had a mix of academic classes like math and biology, but also music classes and rehearsals. Because music was such a big part of my everyday life, it never really felt like a difficult decision to become a musician. It was just something that had always been there for me and that I really enjoyed.
How did you hear about TŌN? What inspired you to apply?
I first heard about TŌN through its partnership with the Colombian Youth Philharmonic. Since I was a member of the orchestra, I learned about TŌN and its orchestral program through that connection. I also had several friends from Colombia who had already studied here, so I had really good references and heard great things about the program. That definitely made me interested in applying.
What is the most memorable performance you ever had?
One of the most memorable performances I’ve had was in 2024, when I had the opportunity to give a cello recital at the Luis Ángel Arango Concert Hall in Bogotá. I got to perform a piece with my sisters that was specially composed for that concert and for the three of us to play together. That made it really special for me, but what made it even more meaningful was having my parents in the audience.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
I also really enjoy drawing and painting, so I think I would probably be doing something related to design.
What is the biggest challenge and/or surprise about playing in an orchestra?
With the Colombian Youth Philharmonic, we sometimes perform concerts with choreography that connects to the music we are playing, so we have to learn the movements and know exactly when to do them while playing.
I remember doing this with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, and it was a really special experience. The third movement was especially memorable because at that point in the concert, all the lights were turned off and we lit little candles. We had to play the entire movement from memory, which made the experience feel very different and really beautiful.