Rubidoux High School Senior Jonathan Flores, an accomplished musician and songwriter, had the incredible opportunity to perform during Grammy Week as part of the Grammy Student Showcase. Jonathan performed with his band, The Sneezers (including past and present Rubidoux High School students), and also gave a solo performance of his original song “Confessions” at a special event held at the Clive Davis Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 25.
The event was attended by music industry executives, family, friends, and RHS Instrumental Music Director Sarah Choi. Members of The Sneezers who performed with Jonathan include: Sherleen Hernandez, Ryan Frutis, and Randy Rodriguez.
“Being able to perform at the Grammy Student Showcase was a super fun experience and I'm grateful that I was able to be a part of it,” Jonathan said. “I got to watch a lot of amazing student artists and learn about what it's like to be on the inside of the music industry. We learned about all types of equipment for sound, lights, and even what it's like to manage musicians, and on top of this there was a panel of artists that gave us some great feedback about our performances. I was happy to see that everyone working there had a ton of respect and devotion for what they did. The students were all deeply passionate about the music they made and being able to share it with other people, and the staff were more than delighted to answer any question or even help me find a 9V battery when I needed it for my guitar. I think that most importantly everyone had a ton of fun and I was just happy to be able to play some music with my friends for people to enjoy.”
Ms. Choi encouraged Jonathan, who also plays tuba in the Rubidoux High band, to send in an audition video.
“She told me about the opportunity and I thought it was cool, so I did it,” Jonathan said during an interview at the Rubidoux High School Concert Hall. “I had to sit down on that stage over there and play some guitar…and we submitted it. Through rounds of emails, they told me I got accepted.”
“I am so proud of Jonathan,” Ms. Choi said. “His hard work matches his extraordinary talent, and then some.”
Jonathan started playing guitar when he was 8 after being given a guitar by his grandfather, also a musician. He now plays both acoustic and electric guitar. He is open to more opportunities in the future and hopes his Grammy Week experience will help him feel more comfortable performing in front of a large live audience.
For his career goal, though, Jonathan hopes to follow in the footsteps of his teacher and become a band director. He also wants to lead his own ensemble.
Ms. Choi said she is happy to show students like Jonathan the possibilities available to them.
“I think one of the most important things we can do as educators is create opportunities and give space for talents and passions to grow and develop while creating structures of accountability and self-discipline. But what is most important for us to do is encourage students to go for what is perceived as impossible for them to achieve. Students are more introverted and self-conscious than ever before, and the greatest service we can do for them as stable, reliable, caring adults in their lives is to believe in them when they are unsure of if they believe in themselves.”
You can learn more about Jonathan and the other Grammy Student Showcase performers at: https://grammymuseum.org/education/student-showcase/.
Grammy Museum pictures courtesy of Ms. Sarah Choi.