LOVE OF MUSIC

A Fulbright scholarship is giving jazz composer and pianist Lluís Capdevila, a native of Catalonia, Spain, the opportunity to study at Queens College in order to grow as a musician.
“My love [of] music made me decide to come,” Capdevila said of coming to the United States.
From a very young age, Capdevila became interested in music. He said the interest began to develop when he realized that music would be the best way for him to communicate with others and be creative.
“I started playing a little keyboard when I was six at kindergarten in a primary school,” he said. “Back then I realized that playing piano was my thing as I created melodies and played the song ‘Yesterday’ from The Beatles without previous study. It was fun and I never saw it as an effort.”
It was also at a young age that Capdevila began composing music, saying that he always had the ability to come up with something new.
Before coming to Queens College to pursue a master’s degree in jazz performance at the college’s Aaron Copland School of Music, Capdevila, 27, received a law degree. He said that, along with helping him to better understand society and meet new people, it also gave him skills that have benefited him in the arts field.
In 2003, Capdevila came to a summer jazz workshop in Vermont. He met professional jazz singer Sheila Jordan, who encouraged him to study in New York.
“The experience was very inspiring and it motivated me to come here and study further my music,” Capdevila said. “She supported my music from the very beginning.”
The experience also gave Capdevila, who is working on creating his own style of music, the motivation to apply for a Fulbright scholarship.
“When I received the official letter stating that I had been awarded a Fulbright grant to study jazz music in the United States, I realized that an opportunity had been given to me and I promised myself to use such a privilege in an efficient and responsible way,” he said. “I felt really happy as my dream had become a reality.”
Capdevila said that he selected the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College because of the reputation of its jazz program, in addition to the relaxed environment of the campus, proximity to Manhattan and affordability. He was also drawn by the fact that the campus is home to the Louis Armstrong Archive.
Now at the college for his third semester, Capdevila said that he has already seen an improvement in his music and hopes to see it continue to improve. He plans on graduating at the end of next semester and has yet to decide if after that he will stay in the United States or return to Spain.
“I try to bring out the best of me in my music and share it with the listeners,” Capdevila said. He also said, “I would like to share my personal experiences and knowledge through my music. I believe music can reach areas of human nature that other means can not.”