Our March 2022 Member Spotlight is on Andrea Villa García. Andrea joins us from Spain! She’s currently studying at Embry-Riddle and has a bright future ahead. Our time with Andrea is limited, so we wanted to highlight this exceptionally talented and smart woman before her next big move. We are honored to be a part of her experience here in Volusia County!
Andrea Villa García
Soprano
I was born in a small town called Valladolid, in Spain. I moved to Madrid to get my Master in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnical University of Madrid. When I was getting my Bachelor, I moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for an exchange year.
I have focused my professional career in the air traffic control domain, and after some years working for a R&D Center became a civil servant for the Spanish Government. Before moving to Florida, I worked as Safety Inspector for the Spanish Safety and Security Agency.
I am passionate about human performance in complex systems, such as the aviation domain and I wanted to learn more about that. I got a Fulbright scholarship that brought me to Florida. I am currently enrolled in the Master of Human Factors at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. After getting my master, I will move to Oklahoma where I will have a professional internship in a Federal Aviation Administration facility.
– How did you hear about Daytona Beach Choral Society?
I used to sing in another choir in Madrid and I didn´t want to stop signing, so I googled and found DBCS even before moving to the area! My class schedule last Fall semester did not allow me to join the rehearsals, but now I am truly happy that I finally made it!
– Why did you want to sing with us?
I knew that I was going to miss Xenakis, my choral in Madrid, so I wanted to continue this activity. One of the goals as a Fulbright grant holder is also to know the local culture, so for me it was important to find a choir in my community and engage in it.
– Why do you love singing with the group?
I love the companionship and lovely people in the group! I think all of us enjoy a lot signing, and I love the shared feeling of joy.
– Being from Spain, do you recognize any of the songs we are working on?
Some of them yes, but there is a lot of new music for me here also. I am being able to discover new music styles that I have never sung before, which is awesome!
– What is your singing background (prior choirs, training, etc.)?
I was a violoncello student at the Conservatory of Music in Valladolid, where I took some singing courses. Some years later, I learned how to play the guitar and now I am learning to play the piano. In 2018, I joined Xenakis Choral Society in Madrid and I have been an active member of it until I moved to the USA.
– What other hobbies do you have?
I love dancing latin music such as salsa and bachata and playing padel. I also love travelling and I have visited more than 25 countries.
– Favorite Volusia County spots you’ve visited?
The area around Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and driving in the loop in Ormond.
Favorite trip outside of Volusia County while in America? Zion national Park. I took an amazing trip during Christmas break across the National Parks in Utah and Arizona.
– Who is your favorite singer/musical artist?
That is a difficult one…I love a female singer called Rosana, she is from Spain and has a wonderful voice and meaningful songs.
Daytona Beach Choral Society 