麻豆传媒

Popular music industry major听补苍诲听honors听蝉迟耻诲别苍迟听Geissy听Yanel Quinteros听Hofkamp鈥檚听story at 麻豆传媒 (PBA)听started听five years ago听when she听boarded a plane听from听her home country, Argentina, to the United States.听

Quinteros听Hofkamp鈥檚听family听was thinking about starting a business in the United States when the coronavirus pandemic complicated their plans.听Initially, Quinteros听Hofkamp听was supposed to fly with her father听and return as soon as the business was听established, but听after eight months of lockdown in Argentina, her mother and three younger brothers decided to join them on the first available flight to the States.听

鈥淲e were scared that my dad听and I听were听going to get trapped here without being able to see my family,鈥� she explained. 鈥淲ithin a month, we packed everything we could and came over. We never said goodbye, we said see you later, and听now听it鈥檚听been five years and we听haven鈥檛听gone back.鈥�听

Starting a New Life听

Within six months of moving, Quinteros听Hofkamp鈥檚听father was hired as a pastor at a Family Church campus in South Florida, which gave the family the opportunity to extend their visas. Quinteros听Hofkamp听quickly learned English and听finished her last year of high school听with high scores on听her standardized tests.听As she prepared her college applications, her high听school听choir director suggested she audition for听PBA鈥檚听music program.听

鈥淚 thought about PBA because a bunch of people from my church go here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 applied to听business听school originally.听Coming to the States to do music? My parents would kill me,鈥� she joked.听

A scholarship for PBA鈥檚 music program听changed her mind and made it clear to her family that she was meant to study at PBA.听Since then,听she’s听made the choir听room听her home.听

鈥淚 grew up doing music in Argentina,鈥� she said, recalling her musical roots. 鈥淓very weekend, someone would pull up a guitar and sing.听It was so embedded in my life that I听didn鈥檛听think of it as a career because I was like, whatever I do, I know听I鈥檓听going to keep doing this.鈥�听

At least once a semester, though,听she鈥檇听get a听scare.听Visas had to听be听renewed regularly, throwing into question Quinteros听Hofkamp鈥檚听new livelihood in the United States. Sometimes renewal听wasn鈥檛听approved until the听very last minute,听and Quinteros听Hofkamp听had to keep moving on with life and exams听in faith that the Lord would work it out.听

Moving with the Music听

In her studies, Quinteros听Hofkamp听has discovered a passion for translating worship songs into Spanish and a career interest in music management. Eventually,听she鈥檇听like to听represent听an artist or听work at a music label. She got a taste of music management听earlier this听year when听the National Association for Music Merchants听awarded听the听听to her and two other PBA students, providing scholarships for them to听attend the organization鈥檚 annual听conference听in California.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 all music stands, basically, with the big brands for music like Yamaha, Nord,听[and]听anything you can imagine for guitars, pianos, equipment, everything,鈥� she enthused.听鈥淕oing there, you see听how big the industry is, but also how small it feels once听you鈥檙e听in it.听You start recognizing people and听do听some networking, and that was really inspiring to me听because听I [had] all these management ideas in my head and got to see that听it鈥檚听possible.听People do this.鈥�听

A Chorus of Opportunities听

While Quinteros听Hofkamp鈥檚听career interests lean into the administrative side,听she鈥檚听demonstrated听her own talent through PBA鈥檚 oratorio choir, concert choir, jazz vocal ensemble, pop rock ensemble, and worship ensemble.听She鈥檚听also听served as听a worship听and student听intern at Family Church听every summer semester since enrolling at PBA, which included working at a camp.听

鈥淟ast summer, I was in charge of the housing situation, so I听was听the听resident听advisor听for like 70 students,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat was terrifying, but I survived.鈥�听

She鈥檚听also served in Family Church鈥檚 spring and fall internships and听regularly leads听worship听for her dad’s congregation, which involves everything from choosing music to selecting musicians to organizing the services听鈥� everything she was learning in her classes, she says.听

鈥淚听don鈥檛听think听I听ever let an opportunity pass at PBA,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淚f there was something, I took it because I knew I wanted to experience everything.听I鈥檓听a person who learns by听seeing and doing听and imitating.鈥�听

Quinteros听Hofkamp听has听applied that philosophy to everything from musical and professional opportunities and campus events.听She says that moving from her home country to a completely different place has shaped her into the kind of person who听isn鈥檛听afraid of new things.听

鈥淚 think taking all the opportunities that were available to me really pushed me to know that I鈥檓 never walking alone,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚听God who goes with me and听He鈥檚听the one who places opportunities in front of me. I just听have to听follow.鈥�听

She also credits the support of her family and friends for helping her succeed听in college, especially those who offered places to stay or a ride to help with the long commute.听

One Final Flourish听

For her exceptional academic standing and accomplishments, Quinteros听Hofkamp听has been named the College of the Art鈥檚 Outstanding Graduate. With this recognition, she has been asked to give听a听speech听at commencement, which she sees as a final opportunity to challenge herself at PBA.听

鈥淗aving to stand in front of everyone is nerve-wracking,鈥� she said.听鈥淏ut at the same time, I am excited.听It鈥檚听a cool experience and a cool opportunity, so听I鈥檓听going to try to make the most out of it.鈥�听

Learn more about PBA鈥檚 music programs at听/academics/schools/college-of-the-arts/performing-arts/music/.