2021 Express the Music Contest Winners

2020/2021

Express the Music Contest: Creative Writing

Express the Music Contest

FIRST PLACE Jairo Cabrera 12th grade Evita Vasquez Reyes 10th grade

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THE 2020-2021 Express the Music Contest A contest designed to capture the impact of music and the arts, as perceived by Trenton Central High School students.

SINCE 2019, the Neighborhood Music Project has offered Trenton Central High School students a way to harness their creative talents in engaging with music and the arts through an annual contest. The 2020-2021 contest, limited to writing entries only, asked participants to respond to the prompt: “WHAT HAVE THE ARTS MEANT TO YOU DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?” This year’s judges were Marna Seltzer, Director of Princeton University Concerts; Dasha Koltunyuk, Marketing & Outreach Manager for Princeton

University Concerts; and Lou Chen, Program Manager for Trenton Arts at Princeton.

Inspired by conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s residency during Princeton University Concerts’ 2018-2019 season, the Neighborhood Music Project aims to reinforce Maestro Dudamel’s commitment to music as a force for uniting communities, empowering young people, and promoting positive social change.

The Neighborhood Music Project is a collaboration between Princeton University Concerts and Trenton Arts at Princeton.

Sponsored by the Neighborhood Music Project

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2020-2021 Express the Music Contest

LIGHT IN DARKNESS • Jairo Cabrera 12th grade, Trenton Central High School

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

back for the first time in person, with all the safety procedures,

This creative nonfiction essay was inspired by the song “Don’t Stop Me

brought back something within me, though I didn’t know what

Now” by the British rock band Queen.

it was.

The coronavirus outbreak will forever change our lives. But in

As we went on to the new school year, my school orchestra

the midst of it all, we stayed strong. We leaned on those who

prepared to record our first song. After hearing the end results,

would help us get through and on the things that would keep us

I finally realized what I had felt when I returned to church: new

calm through it all. This could be playing video games with our

hope. Hearing and seeing the video that we created was like being

friends online or even learning new things that we never thought

together. It showed me that we should keep going, no matter the

we could do. For me, the one thing that I could lean on was music.

obstacles. We will always face them, but not even a pandemic will stop us from shedding light in darkness.

The pandemic has led to the shutdown of schools, malls, arenas, and churches, to make sure we would stay safe in quarantine.

Legendary singer and icon Freddie Mercury, from the band Queen,

I, for one, did not enjoy it, as I had multiple concerts coming up

has a song named “Don’t Stop Me Now” with a positive message

with my school orchestra that were canceled. While my fellow

that we should do anything to feel like we are on top of the world.

bandmates and I were not together anymore making beautiful

Nothing and no one will pull us down; even if we are failing at

sounds, harmonies, and rhythms, it didn’t stop us from keeping

staying up, we should shoot farther up “at the speed of light.”

the feeling of music alive. With the at-home safety rules, we had more time to practice, which gave me a chance to not just play the

During a devastating time, music kept me going. I would never

music but also feel the music on a deeper, more meaningful level.

trade it for anything. Amaj (A major) situation like this may bring us down, but we must stay # (sharp). It may be a tough task, but

Things improved slightly during the summer, which was when

playing music for others will hit the sweet spot in their soul.

churches started opening back up. For me, church is my escape

One day, this nightmare will pass, and light will shine upon us

from the world, as I also play piano for the youth ministry. Going

once again.

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Filter • Evita Vasquez Reyes 10th grade, Trenton Central High School

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

there, simply existing, and I couldn’t do anything about it. Like somehow I had lost the person I used to be.

This creative nonfiction essay is accompanied by an original drawing by the author.

Months passed and I began to accept what was happening. I began to accept that I was changing and told myself

Art is a very important part of my life. I’ve always loved drawing, but my interest really grew in fifth grade. I

that it was just a part of growing up. I decided to not beat myself up about not drawing or playing music like I used

remember drawing little comics with my best friend. They were silly things, but we had so much fun making

to, and to just take a break. I thought that maybe if I didn’t force myself to do the things I used to like, I would one

them. After that, I found a few other friends who also had an interest in drawing. Because the people around

day find the motivation again.

me enjoyed this hobby too, I began to draw more often, and I’ve been drawing ever since. Before this whole pandemic thing happened, I drew at least one drawing every week. I even made an Instagram account to

Though I am still going through a slump, I found out that my theory was sort of correct. After months of not doing

post my drawings because of how much I loved doing it.

any of my previous hobbies, I saw an announcement for a week-long event for one of my favorite comics. Every day we would be given a topic, and we could create something related to that topic, such as a story or fanart. I decided

Then the pandemic hit. This was the beginning of a great change in my life. Many good things happened

that maybe I should participate for one day and draw something simple. It was a fairly small event since the comic

during this time, and just as many not-so-great things happened. At the beginning of the pandemic, I liked

was on hiatus, and it was being held by a couple of fans that I knew of. I am a big fan of the comic, so it felt like a

that I could draw more often. I even had time for a few other things, like playing my instruments every day.

betrayal if I didn’t at least do something.

But after a while, just like eating the same food every day, life began to feel tiresome and repetitive. Every day was the same. And since every day was the same, I didn’t look forward to anything. The motivation that

On the first day, I ended up receiving a lot of positive feedback on a simple drawing that had taken me no longer

used to spark at random times suddenly stopped coming to me. My piano became covered in dust, and my

than 20 minutes. I even told myself, “I won’t do the rest of the week’s topics, but I should at least do one day,”

violin never left the closet. My sketchbook was tucked away on the shelf with all the other books that were

before posting it. A week later, I have seven drawings done, one for each topic. I participated every day, and the

left untouched. My life felt like it had a monochromatic filter on it, and I missed the color that it once seemed

most surprising thing to me was that it didn’t feel like a drag. I didn’t feel forced or unmotivated. I wanted to draw.

to have.

I can’t really say exactly where this small step will lead me, since the event ended just a few days ago. But I want

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I went through some hard times trying to figure out what was happening to me. I questioned who I was

to continue getting that small color in my life back. Of course, I know it won’t go back exactly like it was before.

becoming, and if it was really a good thing. In the end, I didn’t like how distant I was becoming from the

If I had to explain it, I would say that it would be a colorful life but with a different color palette. I love art, and I

things I used to enjoy. I tried many times to start a productive life, to turn my life around, but it never seemed

don’t ever plan to change that fact. The pandemic, in a way, showed me that sometimes, when I feel like something

to last more than two days. I tried forcing myself to draw, to play music, to organize my life, but I kept getting

important to me is distancing itself, I should just wait and not force myself to chase after it. If it truly is important

a sick feeling. It felt like when you’re full but you continue to force yourself to eat. It felt like I was just kind of

to me, it will come back.

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STUDENT BIOS

Filter • Evita Vasquez Reyes

Jairo Cabrera

Evita Vasquez Reyes

Jairo Cabrera is a senior in the Visual and Performing Arts

Evita Vasquez Reyes is a sophomore in the STEM small

small learning community at Trenton Central High School,

learning community at Trenton Central High School. Enthusi-

and will attend Dartmouth College this fall. An avid musician,

astic about many art forms, she plays multiple instruments

he plays clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, piano, and

(clarinet, guitar, piano, and violin), draws, and writes short

violin—and sings a little, too! Confronted with the challenges of

stories. She entered this year’s contest because she wanted

the pandemic, he entered this year’s contest to spread positivity

to do something that wasn’t “just doing homework and chores

and hope, and to encourage others that it is possible to “create

everyday,” and because it gave her an excuse to write and

something good out of the bad.” One of Jairo’s favorite parts of

draw. “The pandemic was and still is a pretty tough time for

writing his essay was listening to a variety of uplifting songs.

me,” she shares, “but if I hadn’t participated in the contest, I

He ended up choosing Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” as the

probably wouldn’t have realized how important art was to me.

inspiration for his essay because he wanted a song that “starts

Realizing that, makes these tough times just a bit better.” For

a groove while also having lyrics that could put a smile on

Evita, art serves as a source of both respite and inspiration.

anyone’s face.” Jairo enjoys creative writing because it allows

As long as she has her imagination, she feels like her world

him to express himself on a deeper level. He also loves the

is infinite. Aside from art, Evita has an abiding passion for

martial arts, and has a second-degree black belt.

science, especially botany.

While my fellow bandmates and I were not together anymore making

I love art, and I don’t ever plan to change that fact. The pandemic, in a

beautiful sounds, harmonies, and rhythms, it didn’t stop us from

way, showed me that sometimes, when I feel like something important

keeping the feeling of music alive. With the at-home safety rules, we

to me is distancing itself, I should just wait and not force myself to

had more time to practice, which gave me a chance to not just play the

chase after it. If it truly is important to me, it will come back.”

music but also feel the music on a deeper, more meaningful level.”

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2020-2021 Express the Music Contest

SPONSORS

SINCE 1894, the music of history’s most revered composers has been performed by the world’s most celebrated artists at Princeton University. In its 127-year history, the series has presented many of the classical music world’s most important musicians. Today, an extraordinary roster of musicians make their Princeton debuts each season and join this pantheon. Among them are some of the most highly regarded artists of our time — young musicians on the cusp of sensational careers, and riveting performers pioneering new forms of expression.

TRENTON ARTS AT PRINCETON is the University’s coordinator of co-curricular arts outreach activities in the Greater Trenton area. Our mission is to build a multi-disciplinary community of artists across Princeton and Trenton through youth programming, student leadership opportunities, community performances, and more. TAP is a collaboration between the Department of Music, Lewis Center for the Arts, and Pace Center for Civic Engagement.

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