Graduating as a Music Education Major at VU- Featuring Calista Domingcil

Music is one of the most loved arts and hobbies of this generation. Whether it comes from pop singers at outdoor concerts or playing a Spotify playlist in the car, music tends to be an escape and beautiful art to many. Instead of seeking a performing career, students like Calista Domingcil, seek to pursue music as career and become inspired to teach the next generation the gift of music.

Calista, vocalist and student at VU, graduated last semester with a Bachelor’s in Music Education. She was inspired from a very young age to go into the music and education filed.

“My dad really inspired me to go into music education. Him and my mom are both educators, and I grew up being in their classrooms and extracurriculars that they were responsible for– seeing them pour into their students and inspiring them every day,” Calista recalls.

She began pursuing her Music Education Studies degree in 2018, and as she moves into alumna status, she not only looks back at her experiences at Vanguard, but the doors that have begun to open for her. She shares some of her favorite experiences and what she learned.

“I know it’s corny, but we truly are a family in the department, and each ensemble is a small family. The connections you make with those people are life long, and something that I cherish so deeply,” says Calista. She faced difficulties of staying inspired and believing she was good enough for the field to be an educator, but points out that having a professor like Dr. Prado helped her get through those difficulties.

Calista is currently pursuing a part-time Music Educator career in Yorba Linda teaching general music to TK-3^rd grade, such as piano, voice, guitar, and ukulele. She has grown a deeper love, not only for what she does, but the students she works with. Calista says, “Once there is passion, that changes the game. For me, it’s the look on my student’s face when they walk into my class and the ‘Hello Miss D, I love you!’ in the hallways.”

Calista performed in her senior recital where she performed a culmination of songs she learned during her time at VU. This showcase of growth as a musician is the capstone project as a senior music major.

“There’s so much anticipation going into it. You pour your blood, sweat, and tears into it, and it is such a rewarding feeling being on that stage in front of so many loved ones and showing them what you’ve been up to the last four years of life.”

Calista, as she reaches lots of final experiences as a music major at VU, leaves students with some encouraging words.

“College goes by so fast, so savor every single moment with the people around you. The people you meet are lifelong friends. The professors you have are lifelong connections, references, and friends. Savor every day in your college years because you really don’t get any experience like this again.”