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April 19, 2024
"I found my voice in the saxophone" Camilo Bastidas represents ArtEZ at the Conservatory Talent Awards
The tenor saxophone
"When I first noticed the sound of the saxophone, I was immediately hooked. For a long time, I sang and played guitar in the church in Aruba, but due to the wrong way of using my voice, I lost some range and couldn't use it limitlessly anymore. In the sound of the saxophone, I heard exactly what I had begun to miss so much: those rolling tones and making music with bravado. One day, my father stood in front of me with an alto saxophone in his hand. An incredibly big gift. I had of course mentioned before that I found the sound of the saxophone so fascinating, but I hadn't thought that I had brought it across so convincingly. He said: 'do with it what you want'.
I looked at myself in the mirror and thought: I'm going to do this. I will make sure I get accepted. I had already taken the first step, there was no turning back."
The first thing I looked up on YouTube is how to play a C major scale. I thought that way I could transfer some of my guitar knowledge to the saxophone. Five frustrating months followed in which I just couldn't manage it, until I found out that it works differently on an alto saxophone. Looking back, through that struggle, I learned to listen incredibly well and unconsciously trained my ear. Once I got a grip on the different saxophones, I actually found my voice back in the tenor saxophone. Since then, I have cherished a great love for the instrument.
Music didn't play a big role within our family. In the culture of my birth country Colombia, it is not common for most people to pursue a professional career as an artist. I myself also always thought that I would become something else, like a veterinarian. When we moved to Aruba because of my parents' work, I ended up in the Dutch education system and attended HAVO. During my search for further education, I heard my friends say: Camillo, you shouldn't pursue the veterinary careerpath; you and that saxophone belong together. You belong on stage.
I had taught myself to play the saxophone via YouTube, I had no music theory knowledge at all, and therefore I didn't really see myself being accepted into a conservatory program. Through a friend, I came across ArtEZ and because I was already in the Dutch education system, I already had the right papers. I decided to give it a try but as expected, I failed during the first audition round because I lacked the right theoretical knowledge.
ArtEZ gave me the chance to try again two months later. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought: I'm going to do this. I will make sure I get accepted. I had already taken the first step, there was no turning back. I wanted this so badly that I put all my time and energy into mastering the theoretical skills such as being able to read and write music notation. I asked my musical friends: please help me! The retry went successfully, and I could move on to the next step: moving to the unfamiliar Netherlands to pursue the Jazz & Pop study here with my instrument.
A swinging audience
"During the first year of the Jazz & Pop program in Arnhem, I was placed in all kinds of bands and ensembles. I remember one of my first performances with a jazz orchestra very well. I was extremely nervous and looked anxiously at the audience. They looked back at me sternly and I thought that was how it should be. Then, in a similar setting later during a Latin concert, something clicked fortunately. This time, when I looked at the audience, I saw that their reaction was completely different: people were swaying and laughing. I thought: this is who I am. This is what I want to do. During the course, I developed as a jazz musician but also rediscovered my Colombian roots: Salsa and Latin music."
Conservatory Talent Awards
"The first years in the Netherlands were a bit cold and at the same time heartwarming for this South American. Within the walls of the conservatory, I quickly found friends, and for the past 4 years, I have spent almost every weekday here, from early morning until late at night. I seized all the opportunities I got to learn something. I have been able to play in all kinds of bands and groups, and I have learned a lot. My growth as an artist has even taken such big steps that I am now representing ArtEZ Academy of Music at the Conservatory Talent Awards. I get to do this with a self-written jazz composition. Something I am extremely proud of. I wouldn't have dared to dream of that 5 years ago.
ArtEZ finals
With some nostalgia, I think about the upcoming graduation and that my time at ArtEZ is almost over. I have found my extended family here and gained a lot of experience. I have gotten to know myself here. Yet it is time to move on. Before that happens, I am going to pull out all the stops for my final exam with an evening program full of dance and music at Musis. I will showcase both self-written songs and covers, accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra. I warmly invite everyone to join us on for this evening." You can find more information about Camilo's graduation show here.
