Carlos and his violin: a story of passion and resolve

For the past eight years, Carlos has experienced an intense, passionate and complex relationship with his violin. He describes it as having been a psychological match with doubts, requests and questions. Should he play another instrument? Write music? Continue dedicating so much time and energy to the violin? But with the maturity of his twenty years, Carlos is at last at peace with his instrument. Being a violinist allows him to express himself and to show what he feels inside. Over the past four years, the violin has become “a part of himself”.

Carlos Salvador Useda Garcia began to study music and play the violin at the age of twelve. He lives with his family in San Carlos, a community more than two hours from Granada by bus. He began his musical studies in the Casa de Cultura of San Marcos before starting violin lessons at Casa Tres Mundos with Director Johannes Kranz in 2012. In addition to his violin studies, Carlos plays the piano, guitar and flute, accompanies choirs and teaches violin to children. Carlos plays traditional Nicaraguan music with 15 musicians of the Youth Orchestra of Masatepe and has given concerts in Managua, Esteli, Masatepe and Diramba. During a tour with the Youth Orchestra of Managua in 2013-2014, he traveled to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

When Carlos completed his secondary studies at the College Cristo Rey of San Marcos in 2014, he respected the wish of his family and began studies in medicine. While he did well academically, he had no time for music and the violin, and felt “miserable”. In desperation, he briefly left home. He was finally able to convince his parents that music was his passion and they accepted his decision to become a musician. Carlos abandoned Medicine and began the University music program in 2016 while continuing his studies with Casa Tres Mundos.

For Carlos, music is “something deep inside, not outside”. Music has given him opportunities to forge relationships, make friends, expand his universe and be part of something bigger than himself. He loves to share with other musicians and to know that his students and public can feel better and forget their problems thanks to his music. Music has helped him to mature, become more patient, to feel empathy, and to be generous and honest. Carlos insists on the power of music to generate positive feelings and to revitalize human beings. He says that he had “no life before music”.

For Carlos and many others, C3M is like a second family. He has grown up in the seven plus years he has studied at C3M. His violin teacher is like a father. He feels cared for by students and teachers and appreciates the friendships and feelings of mutual respect. He values the serious and responsible musical work of C3M. For Carlos, it is “not possible to live without C3M!”

Carlos is considering his future with an eye towards Costa Rica. The University of Costa Rica (UCR) offers a nationally recognized music program. Many of C3M students have studied there, including the C3M School Music Director Renya Somarriba. Carlos hopes to attend UCR in 2020. Once his studies are completed, he wants to come back to Nicaragua. His dream is to share his passion for music as a music teacher at C3M or by starting a music school like C3M in his home town of San Marcos.

Carlos’ resolve and dedication are impressive. He spends many hours of his life on the bus between San Carlos, Granada and Managua. He left a promising career in medicine, had to work through differences with his parents to pursue his passion, and is planning to leave his homeland to continue his studies. We wish him all the success and happiness he merits as a musician and music teacher, and to always have the opportunity to share his love and passion for music. This is clearly his purpose in life, and Casa Tres Mundos is proud to play a role in its fulfillment.

Odette Langlais, volunteer, Friends of Casa Tres Mundos, April 2019