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Ismael AlvarezPalmer Trinity School senior Ismael Alvarez is passionate about music. So much so that when he was in tenth grade, he created a music class for Breakthrough Miami.
“I teach music and music theory and how to play piano,” he says. “I really love music and I’m glad I can share that with underprivileged kids. I love seeing their faces light up when I’m teaching them.”
Alvarez started playing piano from an early age.
“My grandmother was a music teacher back in Cuba,” he says. “I remember every week she would come over and we’d sit at the piano and play the notes and the scales until I started learning by myself.”
Alvarez creates the lesson plans and leads the class every other Saturday.
He started playing drums in second grade. Now he plays percussion at Palmer Trinity in the orchestra.
Last year, for Veteran’s Day, Alvarez interviewed three veterans at the Palace in Homestead. One who served in World War II, one who served in Korea and one who was in Vietnam.
“To document their stories and preserve them,” he says. “I showed it at the school’s Veteran’s Day Convocation and published it (on YouTube) with their permission.”
He wanted to honor the veterans by sharing their stories.
“The veterans of this country, who have given so much, there is not enough we can do for them,” he says. “Their sacrifices keep us free.”
At school, Alvarez is heavily involved in Model United Nations.
“I’ve been a part of that since ninth grade.” he says. “I was Secretariat in tenth grade and this year I’m on the executive committee.”
Through Model UN, he’s traveled to China for a conference. He’s also gone to the Stanford United Nations Conference in California.
Palmer Trinity Model UN students are deep into planning the MIAMUN conference they host every year.
“It’s extremely fun to plan it and organize it,” he says. “Last year it was only Palmer Trinity students but this year we hope to involve other schools if possible.”
In the meantime, they have been attending virtual conferences this year.
Alvarez is a peer counselor at Palmer Trinity. This is his second year, but this year it’s more active since everyone’s attending school in person.
“A big part of being a peer counselor is talking to new students to see how they are adapting to the new environment,” he says. “We talked to the incoming class. Are they getting used to Palmer, how it’s going for them? If they had any questions, we would answer them.”
He’s also a Student Ambassador. Student Ambassadors escort prospective students and their families on tours around the school, answer questions and talk to them about what Palmer Trinity has to offer.
Alvarez is the treasurer of Executive SGA. At Palmer Trinity, the Executive SGA is in charge of planning homecoming.
“Currently, the main thing we’re all talking about now is homecoming,” he says. “We’re trying to make homecoming the most fun possible.”
He’s a member of the French Honor Society, Tri-M, Mu Alpha Theta and the National Honor Society.
Along with band, Alvarez has been on the cross-country team since sixth grade, Cross-country meets began in August. The season ends with states in early November. Last year the team qualified for states.
“This year there is an amazing varsity team,” he says.
Alvarez’s college list includes Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, and West Point. His major is still undecided but he’s fairly certain he wants to become a doctor, either a cardiothoracic surgeon or neurosurgeon.
Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld
