Arts, Etc.Music

Castellanos’ recital marks his return

With 14 years of guitar experience behind him, Gabe Castellanos performs his senior recital Saturday, March 6 in the University Chapel at 6 p.m. Castellanos returned to ULV last semester after a five year absence. / photo by Juan Garcia
With 14 years of guitar experience behind him, Gabe Castellanos performs his senior recital Saturday, March 6 in the University Chapel at 6 p.m. Castellanos returned to ULV last semester after a five year absence. / photo by Juan Garcia

by Michael Anklin
Staff Writer

Some good things take longer to be completed than others, but they will eventually come to those who wait.

Senior Gabe Castellanos’ patience, practice and determination to get a degree will pay off this Saturday. The music major is performing his senior recital on a classical guitar in the Chapel at 6 p.m.

Castellanos left the University of La Verne in 1993, when he was a senior for financial reasons. However, without playing the recital he has been unable to attain his diploma.

With just a few years on hiatus, Castellanos is on his way to completing his senior recital and being an official graduate of the University. His memories, though, have remained clear through these past years.

“I had a good time when I went to ULV,” he said. Among his ambitions at ULV, he admitted that he was “trying to be a rock star” as a student.

As a college student, Castellanos led a different lifestyle. “Now that I’m getting older,” he said, “I just want to get that degree, and I’m just trying to have a career.”

He is currently working in the entertainment industry, where he is involved in post-production editing.

His future plans are to continue working in that field and to write music for movies.

His solo performance will contain various classical pieces, among them will be “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” by Francisco Tarrega.

Castellanos usually practices between one and two hours every day, but has recently increased his practicing time to three hours a day in order to prepare for the performance.

His advice to other aspiring artists is to “try to play whenever you can and try to make as many connections as possible.”

Castellanos said he hopes that the audience will come “to listen to some nice entertaining music.”

Michael Anklin
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Juan Garcia
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