Music in Our Schools Month | #FeatureFriday Mr. Osvaldo Quezada

For today's #FeatureFriday we are showing our appreciation to Mr. Osvaldo Quezada for being a teacher, conductor, and mentor to young students in the Central Florida community. Mr. Quezada's main instruments are classical and jazz saxophone and double bass. Mr. Quezada is the Orchestra Director and Piano Instructor for Edgewater High School where he teaches orchestra, piano, and guitar to students in ninth through twelfth grade.

We asked Mr. Quezada why he enjoys teaching and he said, "With the understanding that I have taught most of my fourteen-year career, in title one schools with many underprivileged and disadvantaged students. I do not take it lightly when I say; I teach to make a difference. Students at these schools deserve a quality education from a qualified and certified teacher that cares about the overall quality of education including the fine arts."

Mr. Quezada realized he wanted to become a teacher when he was in the seventh grade at Nautilus Junior High in Miami, FL. This was after he migrated to the United States from Panama City, Panama to be a part of the band program. His music teacher Raymond Modia was instrumental in shaping his passion for music. While attending Miami Beach Senior High School under the direction of Reginald Nicholson his class was tutored by members of the New World Symphony and were given various opportunities to perform with the North Miami Community Band.

After he graduated high school Mr. Quezada went on to Bethune Cookman University to get an undergraduate degree in music and is now currently a Master's of Music Education Candidate at Florida State University where he will be studying abroad this summer in London, England. He will be studying conducting with Dr. Jimenez and will be conducting a chamber orchestra from the Royal School of Music.

Mr. Quezada is now finishing up his second year at Edgewater High School where they have already seen tremendous growth in their Orchestra program. His students are fascinated with the masterworks of composers such as Mozart, Bach, Holst, and Warlock. When asked why Mr. Quezada thinks music education is important he said, "Music education is important to the overall academic development of all human beings. Music is essential to all cultures, religions, and communities. I always tell my students that their life goals as true music fanatics, are to travel around the world and explore the culture of the music they performed in their perspective music ensembles". Mr. Quezada personally is looking forward to visiting the St. Paul School of Girls in London England this summer.