My Bio

For the concerto competition, they publish a bio of each winner in the program for the Major/Minor concert, when we perform. So my mom wrote my bio and here it is!

Rachel Furtado, 18, is a senior at Barron Collier High School. She began playing the flute at age 10; she has studied with Suzanne de Clercq for the past 7 years.

Rachel has received Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble at the District and State levels. After several years in the All County Honor Band, she played in the All State Symphonic Band in her senior year. She has also performed with the Gulf Coast Youth Winds; this is her third year with the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Her summer music studies include: Florida Flute Workshop at FL Southern College and Stetson University; the Bower School of Music Wind & Percussion Camp; Camp Encore-Coda in Sweden, ME; and Summer Youth Music School at University of NH.

Rachel has also played piccolo in her high school marching band as well as bagpipes in the Scottish Unit. She has been in the high school JROTC program for 4 years. She will major in Astronomy & Astrophysics at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, where she will also continue her music performance.

Music

I had to write this for a scholarship application. "Please tell us why you want music in your life." Great prompt, huh? But I like what I came up with, it's really 'me' :)

Music is something that I wouldn't be able to live a day without. Besides being a source of entertainment and fun, music is an expressive outlet for my creative side. Wherever I am, if I'm not playing my instrument, I'm listening to music. And if I for some reason I can't be listening to music, chances are I am following a song in my head. Discovering music is a hobby for me. I love finding new, talented, original artists to listen to. I also like learning other instruments. In school I learned piccolo, and even bagpipes. I also tried teaching myself trumpet and keyboard, and I took some lessons in guitar at a music camp. But I love to play my flute most. Never in my music career have I been reluctant to practice. When I began flute, my mom would have to tell me when to stop, because I would practice too much. I'm not very good at drawing, painting, or any other art, so music is my way to express my creativity. It's good to have a way to release that energy and have the opportunity to be involved in the arts. My life would be very dull without music, and I hope to keep it in my life forever.