SOURCE: Ozarks First Articles
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Hispanic Heritage can be found all across the Ozarks, including within fine arts programs in the area. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra has two cellists who came to Springfield from Latin countries.
Adonis Garcia moved from Venezuela to Bolivia and then to Springfield, Missouri. Alejandro Garcia moved to the area from Colombia, and while he now lives in Kansas City, he still comes back to perform with the people he calls his family.
“You need to spend many, many hours a day practicing the cello,” Adonis Garcia said. “And this is a skill that takes many, many years.”
Adonis Garcia has played the cello since he was eight years old and is now a principal cellist in the Springfield Symphony. He moved to Springfield to study at Missouri State University after meeting Viola Professor Dr. Amy Muchnick, who offered to sponsor him to learn English and come to the United States.
“Leaving everything behind in Bolivia. Leaving your friends, your family and then coming here, starting a new language, a new career that was really, really difficult for me.” Adonis said.
Adonis has found a community of people from Springfield and from other Hispanic countries through the Springfield Symphony, something he says is important to feel like himself.
“It’s like my family,” said Alejandro Garcia. “I’ve been playing with them for a long time. I really love playing with the orchestra.”
Alejandro Garcia also studied at MSU before playing in the Springfield Symphony. He says Springfield is a welcoming community, but there is a misunderstanding about the Hispanic community immigrating to the U.S.
“We bring a lot of culture and a lot of assets to the United States,” Alejandro said. “Many of us, we are professionals. We come to contribute and we come to work and make this country better.”
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra plays at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall once a month, and their next performance is scheduled for Oct. 4. For more information about their upcoming performances, click here.
