SBHS freshman Erika Rodriguez Alvarez, 14, has always had a passion for music. She has been playing the trumpet since she was 10 years old. 

Alvarez says that being part of the marching band has helped her make more connections with people who enjoy music. 

“I think band is just a big community that changes the way you see things,“ said Alvarez. “It changes things from being very embarrassing to just being more extroverted.”

Her family is somewhat musical. Her dad plays the guitar and her grandmother used to perform in the theaters.

“My dad likes to listen to music a lot and he transferred a lot of his music taste to me so musically he inspires me to follow music more deeply,” she said. 

Alvarez taught herself how to play the trumpet. She likes the alto saxophone because of its “nice aesthetic look”. The French horn caught her attention. 

“I like it because of how elegant it sounds,” she said.

 This November, the marching band will participate in the Florida Blue Battle of the, a national marching band competition in Orlando featuring high school and college marching bands. South Broward was one of two high schools selected from Florida to compete.

“I feel a little nervous because I’m front and center so if I get put in the front again where there are so many people it would induce fear,” Alvarez said.

Although Alvarez doesn’t know what she wants to do in the future she would consider becoming a professional musician. 

“I decided to follow up a music career and decide to study music theory or if I want to become an educator,” she said.