JUNIOR

However, even with nerves and anxiety, School of Rock has allowed Victoria’s vibrant personality to shine on and off the stage.

Victoria’s parents, Andres and Laura, and her brother, Nicholas, have been her biggest supporters throughout her musical journey.

“My brother [Nicholas] was the one who kind of inspired me to start music because he played guitar, and I thought it was really cool. I would go to his shows, and I was like ‘Oh, I want to do that,’” Victoria said. “Also, my parents have always encouraged me a lot. If I ever felt discouraged, they reminded me that everyone is learning [and that] it is a process.”

Along with being Victoria’s main supporters, her parents are the owners of School of Rock Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and Doral. School of Rock is a worldwide musical education program that offers individual instrument, songwriting and singing lessons for students of any skill level using their own performance-based “School of Rock Method.” The program’s main goal is to get all its students to perform on stage, and it achieves this through group rehearsals and live performances at real music venues. By owning three School of Rock locations, Victoria’s parents hope to bring music to the lives of kids and teens throughout South Florida.

As for her role in School of Rock, Victoria serves as the HouseBand Singer and spreads her talent throughout the South Miami community.

“Music has always helped me express my emotions in a way that sometimes words cannot. It has also helped me meet a lot of people and make a lot of really meaningful relationships,” Victoria said.

Knowing music is a constant in her life has also provided her

“The best part of this for me is seeing her confidence. I love seeing her on stage because I am kind of an introvert, so seeing her have such a good stage presence and be so confident to perform in front of hundreds of people, it is really amazing and I think that is something that can translate into other areas of her life,” Laura said.

Victoria and her rock band’s talents have not only been showcased locally, but have gone international, performing in the world-renowned Rock Festival “Rock in Rio” in Lisbon, Portugal, in the Summer of 2022. At the festival, Sintes performed alongside artists such as Muse, Black Eyed Peas and Ellie Goulding.

Throughout the glamor and excitement, Victoria still faces hardships as a full-time student.

“I mostly just make sure to keep school a priority,” Victoria said. “If I am ever feeling overwhelmed, everybody is really understanding.”

Another struggle Victoria faced was the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a halt to School of Rock for a period of time. However, the break only solidified Victoria’s love for music.

“While it was really hard, it did encourage me more, because when I went back I was really determined to make the most of what I had,” Victoria said.

School of Rock not only impacted her upbringing as a teenager but has paved a way for Victoria’s future.

“Before this, I was not really sure what I wanted to do, and now I know what I really want to do is pursue music, even if it is hard. I think it is something I definitely want to keep chasing after because this is what makes me really happy,” Victoria said.

Isabella Hewitt Contents Editor i.hewitt.thepanther@gmail.com

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