In her hands, Gabriela Sanchez holds the means to her achieving her dreams – literally. The viola that rests in her arms, that so often nestles on her shoulder, has already taken Gabriela places. And in her future, she hopes it will enable her to play as a professional violist in an orchestra – or maybe even with Circ de Soleil. Even as a sophomore, Gabriela Sanchez is on her way. This is her story thus far.

At age 8, Gabriela began learning to play the violin. Her teacher, the first of several important musical influences in her life, was the one to recommend a move from violin to the viola. It was a fateful decision. By Gabriela’s junior year at Grossmont High School in La Mesa, California, she was studying the viola with teacher Jane Frey and excelling in her high school orchestra.

During Gabriela’s junior year, Frey did a performance with PLNU’s Dr. Philip Tyler and learned that Point Loma’s orchestra was in need of a violist. And, of course, Frye knew of the perfect match. She recommended Gabriela at once, and Gabriela joined that same year. Dr. Tyler encouraged Gabriela to apply to PLNU when she graduated. Now, as a sophomore at Point Loma, she is in her fourth year with the orchestra. And she’s the first chair.

A music scholarship recipient, Gabriela is a music education major. Along with her dream of performing as a professional, she also has plans to share her love of music with others through teaching. It’s something she’s already begun.

Gabriela works for the Point Loma String Project, a laboratory school that allows PLNU music majors to serve as teacher apprentices to beginning string players, ages 7 to 11. She meets with her students twice a week after school, providing instruction and inspiration. Frey and Tyler actually run the String Project together, making the circle of musical networking sweetly complete.

Watching Gabriela play today, making the viola sing its full-bodied, mellow notes, all her dreams seem very close at hand indeed.