Title: Choral director @ South Sioux City Community Schools

Volunteer:

New Stage Players
Global Leaf – nonprofit music program
El Proyector Dramático – Bilingual Theater Program
Nebraska Music Education Association
Sioux City Bandits
Sioux City Musketeers
Unity in Action
Sioux City Diversity
Midwest Chingona Fest
Vocalist & instrumentalist for Woodbury, Douglas, and Minnehaha County

What are you passionate about, and how do you use your voice/talent to make a difference?

I am passionate about music and use it as a guide in life. Music as a means of self-expression and therapy is deeply meaningful to me. I use music throughout my teachings and motivational talks about how it can guide and support people in various situations in life. Music can be a bridge that connects, heals, and empowers. I use my talent as a form of advocacy for self-expression and a therapeutic tool when I work with my students: children, teens, and adults in the community.

What is your vision for the future of Siouxland?

My vision for Siouxland is to voice the potential benefits of involving community members in music; it is both compelling and well-supported by research. Music’s power to influence emotions, foster cultural exchange, and promote social change underscores its significance in our lives. Music has a unique and profound ability to connect with people on an emotional level that other forms of communication cannot match. Some examples of that include but are not limited to creating emotional resonance, facilitating self-expression, building connections, addressing emotional needs, educational programs, building community bonds, harnessing music’s unique influence, feedback and adaptation, and celebrating music’s impact. There are so many benefits when it comes to music. Anyone and everyone can partake in a musical activity. It gives you a sense of belonging and unity. 

What are you doing to make that happen? 

I do everything I can to encourage participation in the arts, which can profoundly benefit individuals and communities. Leveraging Siouxland’s diversity to enrich the arts scene is a powerful approach. Sharing my personal journey and how music has helped me overcome challenges has been incredibly powerful and impactful. It highlights the transformative potential of music and helps me connect deeply with my audience on a human level. I will continue sharing my story and talents with others so they can have a profound impact, and I hope to inspire them.

How can people help you make that happen?

My number one commitment is representing my community and advocating for greater access to music education for people of color, which is so important to me. Here’s how anyone can effectively champion this cause and enhance opportunities for underrepresented musicians: 1. Advocacy and Representation, 2. Creating Opportunities, 3. Building Community Support, 4. Educational Initiatives, 5. Supportive Networks, 6. Access to Resources, 7. Promoting Inclusivity, and 8. Advancing Cultural Understanding. 

With the public’s help, I do an instrument donation drive every year in December. I started it last year and want to continue this drive for as long as I live. Donate your instruments if you have them lying around. Buy a cheap/playable instrument from a pawn shop. I encourage you to purchase a brand-new instrument or sponsor a child if you can. I grew up in a single-parent home. I was so fortunate to have loving, caring adults who supported me through music. Whether it was attending my concerts, paying for voice/instrument lessons, or gifting me an instrument. It made a difference in my life, and I want to be able to do the same for those children/adults in Siouxland. If you want to support this cause, my personal email is eslygraciela1@gmail.com , or my work email is esly.ovando@ssccards.org. 

What quote inspires you?

Be the change you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi