What does music give us?
For Soundscapes Performance Ensemble Coach Mateo Ayala, the answer is deeply personal.
Growing up in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, Mateo discovered music through a community that came together to build something that didn’t exist. There were no instruments, no music program and no dedicated music room. Students, families and teachers worked together to change that.
Today, Mateo sees that same power in his work with Soundscapes students.
In this conversation, Mateo shares what happens behind the scenes in the Performance Ensemble, how music becomes a foundation for communication, leadership and collaboration, and why one of his favorite moments is watching a student go from “I don’t know if I can do that” to “I did it.”
He also reflects on the adults who supported him along the way and what it means to now be that supporter for a new generation of young musicians.
For Mateo, music is more than something students learn. It is a way to build confidence, create community, and connect with other people.
And perhaps most importantly, it is something worth giving forward.
“Just always remember what music gave you, just try to give it forward to somebody else.”
