I haven't felt grief in a long time, a real long time. But it hit today when news reached my that my highschool orchestra director passed away. I never thought it would be this soon, I seriously never though it would have been this soon. He was my mentor in my art playing the violin for 6 years. That's still over a quarter of my life that I have lived. He introduced me to many directions of where I could take my violin playing skills. From being privileged to play through The Carnival of The Animals to being able to play renditions of Led Zeppelin's Kasmire. He even took the orchestra to Mexico for a tour, and that was a trip to remember in both the good and the ugly, but we pulled through. I got the opportunity to play a the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, that is hallowed religious ground...And even had trips to see live performances of Mozart's Requiem (nothing beats that performance live) to even the Minnesota Orchestra playing from The Lord of the Rings original score. That man showed me that music is unlike any other art, and that it can even be pushed into new directions.

I really wanted to see him at my class reunion, tell him I still play. But I guess every time I pick up my violin, I'll be giving him a show no matter where he is. He'll be missed greatly. Here's to you buddy, and everything you taught me.

-Vanbael Cayosin
Bacon Lover, Musician, and writer.
Arctic fox out.