Dressed in her concert black attire, flute in hand, she entered the stage, composed. Standing tall, she addressed her audience, “Hello my name is Daisy Garcia. In the face of a nerve racking performance, she mentally recites a Hannah Montana lyric: “By day, I play the part in every way of simple, sweet, calm and collected.” Glancing at her accompanist, nodding for her cue, she lifts her flute to playing position. Taking a deep breath, senior Daisy Garcia plays her first of many notes.
“Music is so broad! It’s just like, wow, you know: there’s just so much out there waiting for me to play. It’s so exciting to know that I get to play all of these songs, and feel all of these emotions. It’s perfect,” Garcia said .
The immense devotion and warmth Garcia has for music has not always been the same. Her music career first began when her parents pushed her to join the band class in sixth grade. Initially hesitant, Garcia admitted she worried she would turn into the stereotypical “band kid” and even planned on quitting after middle school. It wasn’t until her parents surprised her with her first flute in ninth grade that Garcia grew to love the opportunities music gave her, embracing the “band kid” custom, and thanking her parents for their encouragement.
“My parents pushed me to continue music because they saw every opportunity as a way for me to succeed. Being new to the country, they saw every opportunity as one worth grabbing. That’s how I grew up, you know, there weren’t as many opportunities offered for them (in Mexico) when they were my age. That’s why I knew I had to take this one (opportunity),” Garcia said .
Now, the 17 year old performs in PRHS Marching Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. Outside of school, Garcia plays in the SLO County Honor Band and Jazz Band along with solo flute performances and her church choir at the San Miguel Mission. While juggling practices and jazz combos, Garcia says a majority of her life is spent on music. Within one week Garcia estimates that she spends at least 20 hours dedicated to her craft, including private flute lessons, at-home practice for solo classical pieces, fundamentals on jazz soloing, and reading music for group performances.
“I’m not that good with words, but I know the emotion conveyed with music,” Garcia said .
After graduation Garcia will attend Cal Poly SLO, majoring in Wine and Viticulture to pursue agriculture while minoring in Music. Taking after her father who is a vineyard manager, Garcia grew to love nature and plans to commit her life to pursue sustainability and to help what she loves the most. Garcia hopes to continue performing for many audiences to come and contribute her actions to the restoration of the environment.
“Anything you want is at the grasp of your fingertips. Anything can be yours. Without self confidence a dream is just a dream,” Garcia said .
In June, wearing a crimson cap and gown, diploma in hand, Garcia will walk across the stage at graduation. She will once more recite Hannah Montana in her head, and take her final bow as a Bearcat.
