My first memory was at our beach house and me pretending to be a waitress for my mother serving her tea! I was born and bred in Caracas and had a happy childhood, full of music, pets, climbing trees and in front of the sea.
My father was a survivor of the Spanish Civil War and World War II, told me a lot about the different ideologies that coexist in the world. He read a lot and had lived a lot and shared his experiences with me.
My parents took me to see Tosca when I was young and I spent the entire opera watching the conductor. Since then I became fascinated with conducting. Then, when I started to play the Oboe, went to my first rehearsal and performed my first concert, I knew I wanted to be a musician.
The Film ‘Pay It Forward’ had a big influence on me. It made me reflect a lot on the consequences of acts of abuse of power and bullying.
I started in El Sistema as an oboist when I was 15 years old. Maestro Abreu gave me the opportunity to attend different conducting trainings in Venezuela and around the world. El Sistema financed my Undergraduate education as part of its outreach schemes. It was already an amazing experience for everyone involved but when I moved to the UK, I understood the impact and importance of the programme and realised that I was part of something very special.
I won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, something that I wanted to do since I started to study music. I cannot exactly tell you why I wanted to move here. When I was young I had images of Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard, it was always my life dream and it became true!
I want to have the same impact on young people that music in general and El Sistema had on me. I am now a passionate advocate for orchestral music education. Music changes lives and makes me feel happy. Therefore I want people to feel the same happiness!
We Venezuelans put passion and rhythm into everything we do. My music education in Venezuela sowed the idea in me of the orchestra as a tool for social change. My music teachers were very encouraging, and they always pushed me to strive for excellence. But the Royal College of Music opened the doors for my development as a conductor.
The most useful piece of advice I’ve been given was from the famous English conductor Sir Colin Davis who told me: “Smile at the musicians, they are the ones who play.”
My Latin heritage shows in the way I conduct. I am a dancing conductor. The way we gesticulate when we speak, the way we walk with a certain rhythm shows in my conducting technique too.
It was funny working with David Soul in the final episode of BBC Maestro. I walked around with him and everyone passing by talked to me because they wanted to meet him!
I once saw The Queen whilst waiting for the bus. She was in her car and I caught a glimpse at her.
My perfect Sunday in London is with friends having a nice Sunday roast. My favourite spots are Kew Gardens, Covent Garden and Leicester Square
I still struggle with the lack of sunny days in England. When I think of Venezuela I think The sun and the sea! When I miss it I try the nearest coast
My favourite word in English is flibbertigibbet
The word I most dislike is focus. I cant pronounce it properly without sounding rude
