Joaquin Lopez, a senior at Veterans Memorial High School and a talented trombone player has achieved a significant milestone by earning a spot in the Honors Symphony Orchestra. He will perform at Carnegie Hall, one of the world’s most prestigious venues, in February.
Tony Jaramillo “I had opened up my phone and saw the notification, and it was just happiness. Happiness that I got in,” Lopez said.
Lopez’s band director, Marco Mellone, emphasized how rare this achievement is. “Having a student come from Texas is not common. It’s truly a special event for the student to make that kind of journey,” Mellone said.
The Honors Ensembles feature only the highest-rated young performers from around the globe, and Lopez will hold the second chair in the trombone section. Despite his success, Lopez credits hard work and the influence of those around him for his achievements.
“In middle school, I wasn’t really a hard worker. I’ll just say that,” Lopez admitted. “But once I got into high school, I noticed that I had to actually start working, and I noticed I actually liked music.”