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Miami Palmetto High School senior Ysabela Fernandez works for the Pinecrest City Music Project teaching cello to Pinecrest Elementary and Southwood Middle School students.
“I like to say I instill a passion in them,” she says. “Normally I work with individual students. We work with solo pieces and try to improve techniques. I try to build a connection and friendship with these students. It’s very important to keep the music alive in their lives.”
Fernandez started playing cello at 12. Her first instrument was the ukulele at age six and violin at age eight.
She’s played cello in the Advanced Orchestra since starting at Palmetto her freshman year.
She started playing on her own, but later hired a tutor. She says the tutor impacted her and pushed her to go as far as she could go.
She tries to teach in a way similar to how her tutor taught her.
“She was very firm and instructive, yet kind, and she never become frustrated,” Fernandez says. “They are still learning. It’s important to keep in mind they are still kids, and you have to be patient with them.”
Outside of music she volunteers with the organization Medicine Encompassed, a student run non-profit.
“Students interested in medical professions teach each other through power points and research papers,” she says. “This is all remote. I’ve been a part of this for almost a year now.”
She discovered the program while searching for student internships and jobs.
“I thought it would be fun,” she says.
She’s a resource creator for the trauma committee and editor for the cardiology committee.
“I create power points of certain medical topics so others can study off of them,” she says.
They share the information online through the organization’s website.
“Students interested in medicine and students studying to become medical professionals use this,” she says.
Participation in the organization sparked her passion for helping others.
At school she’s the Vice-President of the Music Honors Society and the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Secretary. She recently joined the Chess Club.
“I started playing chess at a really young age in New York City,” she says. “I was in a chess club at my elementary school in Brooklyn and a member of the chess club at my other elementary school in Virginia.”
For her music, she’s been participating in Solo and Ensemble since elementary school. It’s an individual exam where you get graded by a professional.
“You play a piece for them, and they tell you if received a superior, the highest rating,” she says.
She’s received superiors since 2013.
“A big goal of mine is to go to NYU and major in music education,” she says. “I think it would be a great experience to go back home. I also hope to become a certified Suzuki Teacher.”
Last year, she went to Florida Atlantic University, where she played side-by-side in the orchestra with college students.
“I was able to become principle section leader,” she says. “It was students from all over Florida.”
It changed her and made music even more important.
“We were students from all different schools,” she says. “We played the music together like we had been playing for such a long time. It was such a thrilling experience.”
For college, Fernandez has already been accepted to Florida International University and Miami-Dade College. She’s also applied to John Jay College of Criminal Justice through the Macaulay Honors Program, George Mason Honors College, and the University of Miami.
Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld
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