Graduate spotlight: Herman Luis Chavez to address 2022 undergraduate commencement ceremony
In a serendipitous encounter during a family visit to Bolivia, Herman Luis Chavez, a music student at Colorado State University, found his life's calling. The music of Atiliano Auza León, a little-known Bolivian composer, changed Chavez's trajectory, leading him to delve into the world of ethnomusicology and comparative literature.
Born to Bolivian immigrants in the United States, Chavez spent their childhood moving around before settling in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the Latino population was relatively small. Despite this, Chavez's discovery of Auza León's music sparked a curiosity that led them to connect with the ethnomusicology program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and work with Assistant Professor of Musicology, Cesar Favila.
While at UCLA, Chavez's interests in studying composers outside of the standard canon and bringing new voices into music education flourished. Under Favila's mentorship, Chavez discovered a violin sonata by Auza León, which became the subject of their UCLA honors thesis. This groundbreaking work resulted in Chavez winning two scholarships to support their undergraduate research, including the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
In 2019, Chavez's dedication to their studies was recognised when they were awarded the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. Only 41 scholars in the nation were chosen for the scholarship this year, allowing Chavez to spend two years in Great Britain to earn master's degrees in both musicology and global policy.
Chavez, who uses the pronouns he, they, and él, will graduate from UCLA on June 10 with a degree in ethnomusicology and comparative literature. After graduation, they will continue studying the subject as a Marshall Scholar at King's College in London.
Chavez's journey is a testament to the power of discovery and the importance of bringing new voices into the world of music and academia. As they embark on this new chapter, we eagerly await the contributions Chavez will make in the field of ethnomusicology.
Driven by his encounter with Atiliano Auza León's music, Herman Luis Chavez's academic journey in education-and-self-development led to personal-growth and learning opportunities. With a focused interest on studying lesser-known composers, Chavez's work in ethnomusicology and comparative literature has bolstered his goal of bringing new voices into music education and research, culminating in his achievements such as the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship and the prestigious Marshall Scholarship.
