Music provides consolation

This is part of a week-long series in celebration of “Music in Our Schools Week” at Clovis Municipal Schools.

Music has always been a big part of my life.

There have been many times in my life when music was the only consolation. It was one of the few ways I could express myself freely and show my true passion when I was little.

I started with music at La Casita Elementary School doing Folklorico dancing and honor choir for Christy Van Hoose and playing alto saxophone for Lynn Needham. As a result, I got hooked on music.

I moved up to Yucca Junior High, where Virginia Morrison, a wonderful director and friend, showed me there was more to singing than just opening your mouth and matching pitch.

I learned a lot from her and my band directors.

With their help I became a leader and earned many division one ratings at solo and ensemble festivals.

As friends and teachers, they helped me to advance to Clovis High School, where I had to choose between band and choir. I chose choir and met the most wonderful people — Harvey and Peggy Brady, Wayne and Becky Anderson, and Brian and Jude Uerling, who until this day are helping me through the toughest of my times.

Their unceasing support, kindness and musical knowledge buoy me with hope and

happiness and ease my mind of my problems.

Thanks to them, I have knowledge of music and for it I received a great honor at the 2007 high school all-state convention, where I was one of four students to direct the 2007 high school all-state mixed chorus for a few minutes. The time I spent was so perfect and grand that it is indescribable. I now know that I want to be a music educator.

Javier Portillo is a senior at Clovis High School.