Gregory-Portland High School senior Rufino Medado has been accepted to the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.
Medado was the only tuba player in the country and the only student from the Coastal Bend chosen to participate in the orchestra this year.
The Carnegie Music Hall's Weill Music Institute brings together young musicians ages 16-19 together every year through the orchestra. Musicians are chosen through a comprehensive audition process. If chosen, they are invited to a multi-week training residency with leading professional orchestra musicians and a summer performing tour of South America.
Last year, Corpus Christi bass trombonist Noah Urquidi was chosen for the orchestra. Medado said that seeing Urquidi participate last year inspired him to apply this year.
"When he made it, I thought, 'Wow, that's kind of serious,'" Medado said. "I thought about applying this year."
Medado submitted samples of his playing and a video essay highlighting a hobby of his outside of music, cooking.
"Most of my musical upbringing was hearing my dad play guitar," Medado said.
When he was in fifth grade, Medado and his parents lived in Taiwan. There, his father tried to teach him guitar, but Medado didn't care for the instrument.
But when the family moved to Gregory-Portland ISD in 2017 just before Medado started sixth grade, he was faced with the choice of band, art or choir for his elective class.
Medado chose band.
He initially thought about picking the saxophone as his instrument, but settled on the euphonium. A year later, he volunteered to switch to tuba when the band was missing a tuba player. He also plays the trombone.
"He's very diligent with practicing," Gregory-Portland High School head band director Chris Morrow said. "He's a perfect example of when hard work and talent come together."
Medado's family moved to Pennsylvania, where he continued participating in band and earned a spot in the all-state band. When he moved back to Gregory-Portland ISD, Medado became an all-state band student in Texas.
Medado plans to continue playing music after graduation.
Morrow said that he's not had student apply for and earn a spot in the National Youth Orchestra before.
"He's accomplished a lot and this is another accomplishment for him," Morrow said.
This summer, Medado will get to travel to perform in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
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