Striving higher: Leonel Garza

 of Mercedes prefers giving to others than receiving during the holiday season.
And on Friday, Garza, 19, helped give the gift of music with his violin.
Garza, a member of The University of Texas at Brownsville’s Symphony Orchestra, is part of one of the groups that performed at the “Heralding in the Holidays” concert at The Arts Center. Also performing were the university’s Master Chorale, the Rio Bravo Wind Symphony, the Guitar Ensemble and the One O’Clock Jazz Band.
“It’s rare that we all get to put on this kind of concert,” said Garza, a University Scorpion Scholar.
Money raised from the concert will go toward music scholarships.
“Scholarships help ease the general college student’s burden,” said Garza, a junior music education.
This semester Garza is taking 11 classes, performing in three university musical ensembles and working 20 hours a week in the Department of Music’s office. He also practices the violin up to three hours a day.
“A lot of people don’t realize music majors are some of the busiest students at a university,” he said. “I’m challenged with time and making sure my sanity is kept.”
Garza is looking forward to the university’s month-long holiday break beginning in mid-December.
His plans during the time off from classes?
“Sleep,” he said. “It’s also great to take advantage of the time off to practice.”
Garza has played the violin since he was 8 years old. He attended Mercedes High School and graduated with 32 dual and concurrent enrollment and Advanced Placement credits and performed in the school’s Mariachi Nuevo Sendero.
“I realized I didn’t have that kind of violin perception going through Mercedes,” said Garza. “Coming here, it opened my eyes. The violin is one of the few instruments that sound like the human voice. It’s a great instrument, very different.”
Garza stays active in music outside the classroom.
He is a member of the Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church Choir in Mercedes and performs with Harlingen-based Mariachi Ville Real.
After graduation he wants to go to graduate school to study music.
“I definitely want to go higher in my education,” he said. “I want to strive for the highest.”
Daniel Perry is an informational writer at The University of Texas at Brownsville. For more information, log on to www.utb.edu.