On the way back from a very rainy day nature walk at The Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch, I heard on NPR’s show Symphony Cast, the name Alondra De la Parra? Did I hear that right? YES!

This segment was one of the coolest segments, and if you have never seen orchestras Ms de la Parra has directed- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

Camila de la Parra I still brag about today, every chance I get. Thanks to her patience, we started Repentino. in Mexico City and it still exists this day, morphing into one of the greatest representations of Mexican student ingenuity and expression I have imagined. It is amazing to see something continue and symbolize so much – and be a conduit for so much talent. That is Camila in a nutshell.

Yet, when I had met Ms Alondra de La Parra and Mane de la Parra thanks to a graduation invite in the home, I was mystified. So much talent in one room and they were there, IN THE FLESH! LOL. Camila was worried at the time of being her own person. She never had to worry. She has always been her creative, talented self as well as has been her brother Mane, sister Alondra, and her father Manelick de la Parra. It is amazing to see some much unique creativity in family but they always taught me a lesson, there is NEVER a “too late” to delve into something you are unfamiliar with and make your own.

The night I attended Ms Alondra de la Parra’s concert, she had West Side Story on the screen behind the orchestra, during the film, it was MAGICAL. The portion following the show, where she played music and had everyone in the audience dancing in the aisles and front of the orchestra pit, Magical.

Despite the ugh of 2021 and the ugh that tries to present itself in 2022, we have moments to allow creativity and possibility to survive and exist. Thank you for teaching me that lesson over and over Camila, Mane, Alondra, and Manelick de la Parra 🙂 Happy New Year!