Q&A with Felix Padilla ’19 MM on Winning a Position with the West Point Band

Tell us about the position you recently accepted with the West Point Band.

The West Point Band is the oldest active Army Band and is the oldest unit at the United States Military Academy dating back to the American Revolutionary War. The band started as a very small unit made up of fifers and drummers and has evolved into one of the top Army Premier Bands. Historically, the band has been comprised of the most skillful and versatile professional musicians in the country.

The main mission of the West Point Band is to provide world-class musical support to inspire, educate, and train the Corps of Cadets. This includes performing public concerts, sporting events, radio and television broadcasts, in addition to military and patriotic ceremonies, to name just a few. Serving as musical ambassadors of the United States Military Academy, this organization fulfills all music-related requirements for West Point.

How did your experiences at NEC help prepare you for this new undertaking? What will you take with you from your time at NEC?

The experiences gained during my studies at NEC played a vital role in my growth as a musician and certainly helped me with this recent audition success.

First and foremost, my professor, James Markey, was very instrumental in helping me win the position with the West Point Band. Unquestionably, studying under his tutelage was key to my success. His musical expertise, pedagogy, and approach were exactly what I needed to grow as a musician. His unfaltering belief in me gave me the confidence to believe in myself and excel to the best of my ability. I feel so blessed to have studied with him.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the other members of the Boston Symphony low brass section. Having the opportunity to learn from the best faculty members exposed me to what it takes to be successful in the music world. Their high expectations of their students pushed us all to work hard in order to succeed. Furthermore, faculty members were meticulous with the finer points such as effective practice techniques, best methods for organizing an audition strategy, the most proper way to conduct yourself in a professional setting, and countless other things.

In addition, it was a privilege to play and learn alongside such talented and dedicated friends and colleagues within the NEC low brass studio. There is such a terrific atmosphere of camaraderie among the students.

For instance, fellow players frequently sought out one another for opportunities to make music and learn from one another. It was never difficult to find good and willing ears to listen and offer constructive criticism to help take your playing to the next level.

This environment prepared me to take on auditions and ultimately helped me win. My low brass colleagues at NEC were among the first to congratulate me, which is indicative of the kind of support we have for one another.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I am really looking forward to this new venture. The West Point Band is an extremely talented group of musicians and I am very excited about working with them. I feel honored to be starting my musical career with this organization!