Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an OCSA student? Have you ever been curious about what the day of an OCSA Production & Design stage manager looks like, compared to a dancer or visual artist? This year, we wanted to get an inside look at the daily lives of some of our incredible artist scholars.
Through the remainder of the school year, join us as we sit down with a student in each OCSA conservatory and program to learn more about their busy lives – from their academic study sessions to their exciting performance calendars.
Today we’ll explore the experiences of Hugo Nguyen, a junior in the Popular Music Conservatory (PM). Here is what he had to share about his day-to-day life as an OCSA student:
What does your average day look like?
“My average day starts around 7:15-7:30 a.m. We have school from 8:30 a.m. until 4:45 p.m., and maybe twice a week I will have an after-school rehearsal with MONTAGE! that lasts anywhere from two to three hours, sometimes more depending on the time of year. I’ll go get food with my friends before we start. Other times I will have a gig, but I will usually be home between 9-9:30 p.m. Once I get home, I shower and eat dinner before starting homework. I’m a junior, so I have a lot of AP Classes that take time, so a good day will see me finish anywhere between 1-2:30 a.m., before sleeping around 3 a.m.”
What’s your favorite part of the week?
“My favorite day of the week has got to be when I get to go to conservatory, namely for the ensemble classes, where we challenge ourselves with playing and creating new music on the spot in Small Ensemble, as well as preparing for our amazing shows in Rock Ensemble.”
What is the most rewarding part of your day?
"My most rewarding part of the day is MONTAGE! rehearsal and various events, as I can take what I’m learning from everywhere (rehearsal, conservatory, etc.) and apply it in a much higher-pressure and challenging environment that places us in various performance opportunities.”
How would you describe your experience of the academic portion of the day?
“My academic portion of the day is pretty rigorous. I always have my first class on the seventh floor of the Tower. For me, both Blue and Gold days start off with hard classes, before moving into more relaxing blocks after. I have AP Calculus and AP Physics, before I get to take a TA block with Ms. Cindy Peca, my MONTAGE! Director. I take AP Language and AP U.S. History, before taking AP Music Theory”
How would you describe your conservatory experience?
“My conservatory experience is unique, as I am provided the opportunity to create my own path within the conservatory. I love taking on work outside of class, such as arranging for our shows and performing in smaller conservatory groups like our Vocal Ensemble. We are also presented with the chance to take smaller classes that have more unique curriculums and topics. Overall, in PM you get out as much as you put in, and I put in a lot.”
What do you think makes your experience unique from a typical high school student experience?
“My experience is unique compared to that of a typical high school student because I am much less in an exploratory, experimental phase of figuring out what I want to do, and more in the place of prepping and honing the skills needed of a path that I have, for the most part, committed too. I also feel that all OCSA students, by attending this school, are committing to a lot of different things that would not be available to an average student, so our schedules are also generally more hectic and packed than that of an average high schooler.”
What do you think is unique about your experience in Popular Music?
“What’s unique about my experience in PM is that we’ve been allowed to discover that the music industry and world is so much more expansive and multi-faceted than just the performer or artist. We are able to learn about filling the many diverse and important roles within the music world, and the general skills that we learn are also essential in post-high school life. We don’t study the same music as any other conservatory and I think our unique dynamic and culture really sets us apart. As for me, I’m glad that my teachers provide me the chances to follow whatever ambitions or paths I may have within the context of music. While I entered the conservatory as a keyboardist and singer, I’m now seen as an arranger, music director, multi-instrumentalist, and artist. I’ve really learned to expand my horizons and become a more well-rounded musician.”
Do you have a favorite conservatory class?
“My favorite conservatory class is Rock Ensemble. It’s where we prepare for our big shows that we do a couple times every year. We get to work with each other in bands and play new songs, sometimes approaching classic music with new and exciting twists. I love trying new music that I haven’t necessarily played or listened to before; my music taste becomes more diverse with every show. We have our next two shows coming up soon, one in early February and one in late spring. Stay on the lookout!”
Do you often have additional rehearsals/practice/etc.?
“I have a lot of additional rehearsals. Outside of a traditional PM day, I also am in MONTAGE!, which has, at the very least, rehearsals twice a week after school, each lasting roughly two to three hours. We prepare for our various events year round, and it’s a very big but very fulfilling time commitment. I am also taking on a project with some of my old Classical Voice friends, where we are competing at the CS Music Convention in San Francisco in May, so rehearsals and preparations are already underway. I love arranging, and this is one of many opportunities I have to refine and apply my skills. I am also in PM’s Small Vocal Ensemble, where eight vocalists in our conservatory work on acapella and ensemble singing, sometimes performing outside of OCSA for the community as well.”
What is the best part of being an OCSA student?
“The best part of being an OCSA student is definitely the community. I have a lot of friends here who I love working with, and because of that the various resources that are provided to us as students merely from each other is nothing less than extensive and limitless. At its core, it’s really all about getting to share a special space with others who share similar interests and unique perspectives.”
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in high school so far?
“The biggest challenge so far has been junior year for sure. With my academics, conservatory commitments, and extracurriculars, it’s a lot to juggle with so little time. The pressure is on, too, with college applications and research looming. I have to stay on my A-game as frequently as possible.”
What advice would you give an incoming student in your conservatory?
“My first main piece of advice; don’t procrastinate. Spend your time wisely. It is very important to set priorities, and stay a productive and proactive person in order to be successful in whatever you do. At the same time, it’s high school, so have fun with your friends, go out, see a movie, eat food. There is an important balance to maintain. My second piece of advice applies to my conservatory, but also to everything else in general. My friend Josie said that ‘You only get as much out of something as you put into it.’ Work hard, reap the benefits and rewards.”
How do you balance your time?
“I balance my time by working hard for most of the week, sometimes trying to find small gaps to unwind and relax. On weekends, I continue working, but allow myself more time to enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I try my best to work efficiently and make the most out of my time. I try my best to make a schedule and stick to it.”
How different is your typical week now compared to your previous years as a PM conservatory student?
“I spent two years in Classical Voice, and three years in PM. The past couple of years have been a lot less rigorous due to the nature of middle school, as well as the transition to high school happening during the pandemic. Because of this, up until the last year or two, my typical week has been a lot easier than it is now. My commitments were a lot less demanding, whether that be academics, conservatory, or extracurriculars. While it may be no surprise, a typical week now involves consistent late nights, long assignments, and meticulous time management.”
Stay tuned to learn more about OCSA’s amazing students and their unique experiences as we continue this series, “A Day in the Life.”