Meet the Student: Q&A with Bassoonist Diego Peña
Diego Peña, from Southlake, Texas, entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2022 and studies bassoon with Daniel Matsukawa, principal bassoon for the Philadelphia Orchestra. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Mr. Peña is a Curtis Institute of Music Fellow.
What was one of your first musical memories, and what led you to pursue a career as a bassoonist?
I remember when I was about four or five years old, one of my favorite shows to watch was Little Einsteins. I specifically remember loving the episode where they use themes from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. My parents then took me to see the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as they happened to be playing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. I was starstruck hearing the music used in one of my favorite shows being performed by a live orchestra.
My parents were the type of parents to have me partake in every outside-of-school activity imaginable. I did everything from football and swimming to fencing and competitive sailing. In my school, like most others, 6th grade is where you’re allowed to join band. Until this point, none of the extracurriculars I had were sticking, and since many of my friends were planning to do band, I decided, “why not?”. I showed up to the last thirty minutes of the last day of instrument trials. I remember wanting to play saxophone or trumpet because my two best friends were scheduled to play them in the coming year. But when I couldn’t make a sound on either, the director handed me a bassoon, and next thing you know, I was stuck with it.
The next year my lesson teacher, Ryan Morris, told me to apply to a summer program to get more opportunities at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. This is where my passion for music started to ignite. I was surrounded by many other passionate musicians my age, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to stay with the extracurricular I was doing.
I went to Interlochen for two more summers after that. In my final summer, I learned about the Interlochen Arts Academy, a high school that was exclusively dedicated to honing in on growing each student in their respective art. By the end of my third summer at Interlochen, I told my parents that I wanted to be an orchestral musician and that I wanted to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy for my senior year. I was able to spend my senior year at Interlochen studying with Dr. Eric Stomberg. I’m eternally grateful to my parents for believing in me and allowing me to do what I love.
Listen to “In Studio A with Diego Peña,” an interview through Interlochen Public Radio from January 21, 2022, HERE.
Could you tell us about some of the most interesting or surprising things that have happened to you since you came to Curtis?
Two big things surprised me coming to Curtis: the size of the school and the schedule. The student population of the schools I’ve been at has been dramatically different, from around 1,500 students at my public high school to five hundred at Interlochen to only about one hundred and fifty here at Curtis. It was very surprising to me seeing how close of a community Curtis is. Not only the students but the faculty and staff also add to the culture of being a student here at Curtis. It feels like one big family where everyone supports everyone else and wants what’s best for you both as a musician and as a person.
The schedule here at Curtis has also been a huge surprise. One week can consist of just your regular classes, and the next can have two orchestra rehearsals, three coaching sessions, a gig, and two performances, on top of your regular classes from the week before. It’s sometimes a bit chaotic, but we love chaos here at Curtis.
What has been your most memorable performance experience thus far?
It’s hard for me to choose only one performance experience. I would probably have to choose when NYO-USA performed Mahler’s 5th Symphony on a European tour this past summer. Getting to travel Europe with the best musicians your age as you perform in legendary halls, explore rich and diverse cultures, and make lifelong friendships along the way.
Who are your favorite composers and musical idols?
Again, hard to choose since I have so many. A very brief list would probably include Oscar Peterson, A Tribe Called Quest, 2Pac, Thelonious Monk, Clark Terry, Kendrick Lamar, Lou Rawls, Stevie Wonder, Tyler, The Creator, Bruno Mars, Raleigh Ritchie, The Notorious B.I.G., Selena, and José José.
Can you share some fun facts about yourself?
From my previous answer, you’ll notice a few jazz musicians in there. I actually picked up the saxophone in 8th grade and have been playing jazz music ever since. I primarily played baritone sax, but at Curtis right now, I have an alto. So sometimes, late at night, you’ll hear some jazz saxophone coming from a practice room here.
I also love jigsaw puzzles. I’ve been doing them for as long as I can remember. I’m currently working on a 3,000-piece puzzle. In Philadelphia, I enjoy exploring every possible food option around the city (my wallet hates me for it), going to the museums, exploring all the city’s different neighborhoods, and listening to the Philadelphia Orchestra every week.
