“My list, in order, was the clarinet, the oboe, and the euphonium, because I thought [the euphonium] sounded cool,” said Perez. “It’s weird to think that I could have played anything other than what I [do]. I play other instruments as well… but mostly use them more as tools of composition than anything else.”

In today’s confusion-riddled world, music, whether made himself or only listened to, has become a haven for Perez. The art form provides a gateway for emotions to be expressed.

“Music has helped me understand my emotional landscape better than any other art form or therapy,” Perez confessed. “Looking back on what music I’ve listened to and the chronology of it, it’s always been a reflection of me… I spew my guts on the paper to even begin to comprehend [the world]. What I struggle to describe in words, I describe through music, whether it be the good, the bad, or the ugly.”

From the dawn of his composition career, Perez has approached writing music as experimental and sporadic.

“I started by clicking note keys [on my software, Musescore],” explained Perez. “I found myself thinking ‘that almost sounds…cool.’ [The] step prior to that… being improvising random things on the piano before I knew where middle-C was on the keyboard. Looking back… I realize that I’ve been drawn to the same musical ideas and sounds since I first started. [I’ve grown] a lot better and have branched out since then.”

Once decided on a theme, typically one deeply personal, Perez is faced with his most formidable enemy: the blank page.

“A blank paper, as many composers would agree, is the most discouraging thing ever,” said Perez. “A philosophy I live by to combat the empty page, is picking a door and sticking with it. Take an idea, really any idea, and try to squeeze from it as much musicality as I can. Many works don’t make it past that, as sometimes it just doesn’t meet my standards. Any idea can work, but I’m not obligated to like every idea.”

After the threshold of his journey is crossed, Perez holds in his hands the first stage of his composition, the structure. 

“I begin blotting out where I want certain high and low points to be, where the intensity should be, and also start thinking about underlying symbolism,” described Perez. “[After that] I fill in the gaps. And filling those gaps leads to more ideas, which leads to gaps. By a certain point…I begin cutting. Sometimes [ideas] work independently, but not in the grand scheme of things. I start reorganizing, and polishing, and before long, it’s looking pretty good.”

Perez said he attributes his talent and growth as a musician to his friends in the band program.

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without [my] friends,” Perez said. “Many friends… have given me feedback on my playing and composition. One [of those friends is] Jack Craven. Without him, I would have never learned trombone and joined the Jazz Band, never joined the Tuba/Euphonium ensemble, and so many other things. [I] wouldn’t be here without him… It is the people that I see everyday or have at some point of my life seen every day that inspire me to be better.”

Classmates continuously described Perez as determined to a crazed extent, a quality which shines through in his music. 

“Gustavo is an extremely dedicated and hard working individual who always strives to be better at something he loves doing,” said junior Shayaan Sunesara, also a low brass player. “[He has] got talent and he continues to challenge himself daily with everything he does. He is unbelievable when it comes to music. [The] man can compose, he can play multiple instruments, he just sounds like a million bucks. I’ve tried to ask him questions here and there about stuff we do in band, and he’ll respond within seconds which just shows how much knowledge he has. Little acts like helping him tune [his instrument] in warm up also act as my support for him in what he does to help him maximize his potential.”

Perez’s deduction to his music ticks off another box on the road to a professional composer. 

“[Gustavo] works very hard every day and you can see it in his musicianship,” said senior bandmate, Logan Fox. “ I see him being a composer/arranger in the future… I’ve tried to engage him in as many musical activities as possible, such as [the] Tuba/Euphonium ensemble, as well as giving him some opportunities to teach… to exercise, sharing his knowledge on musical composition.  He is very passionate about music. He is definitely going places.”

In return for being inspired by musical composers Mahler, Bartok, Holst and Beethoven, Perez said he hopes to inspire others within the realm of music.

“All I want is for one, just one person to feel how I felt the summer of my freshman year, when I knew exactly what I wanted to do, where I wanted to be, what I wanted to be,” said Perez. “All I can hope for is that my work can amount to the inspiring of at least one person, and then I will know I have done a good job.”