“Javier’s patience and presence on the podium are unmatched. As a leader and conductor, he is truly inspiring. His musicianship and boldness help create a streamlined method in his teaching ability, something that I have not seen before in these environments. Javier seeks new opportunities that will challenge him to rise above his comfort zone.”

“Javier is very personable and flexible with his conducting, and is very in-tune to what his sound is. He is great about focusing on specific parts and sections that need work rather than just running through. He also takes the time to explain how the music should sound and provide background information about the piece or composer, giving us a deeper appreciation for what he is conveying through his conducting style.”

“Javier is an amazing conductor whose passion for music shows every time he readies the orchestra. His knowledge and attention to detail are prevalent throughout every rehearsal, while his uplifting and positive essence remains even when the orchestra is having an off day. When I shared my concerns with him before a performance, his response met me with not just professionalism, but kindness and understanding. His kindness is something I will not forget.”

“Javier is a wonderful balance of focus and charisma. He had faith in the orchestra when we did not in ourselves and pushed us to play repertoire beyond what we thought was possible for our skill level. Even when a rehearsal was very challenging, Javier was always a ray of sunshine, making everything a little brighter and the environment more enjoyable.”

“Javier is so fun to work with! He helped us understand exactly how he wanted us to play with fun metaphors and lots of emotion. He’s very clear with nonverbal communication and easy to follow, while maintaining a fun but professional attitude. During rehearsal, one quick metaphor from Javier made the orchestra’s fortissimo exponentially better!”

“He was the best conductor that I got to work with at Penn State. He knows how to handle large groups, making sure no section is left sitting for too long. What sets him apart is his ability to spot exactly what measure and instrument is struggling as we are playing. His ability to listen very well to the instruments and give instruction and feedback to improve the overall sound quality is impressive.”

“Javier is very friendly and has many good analogies to help explain what he wants musically. He has excellent insights on how to be both expressive and technical, and he is a great leader for the entire orchestra. He is extraordinarily patient and helpful when working through difficult passages, and he never gives up on a section until we make progress.”

“Javier has immaculate attention to detail and cares about each musician. His cheerfulness creates a positive rehearsal environment, and he has a strong understanding of how the different sections blend together. He fills in the big picture by rehearsing what each section needs to hear and helping musicians listen to what the others are playing.”

“Javier is great at working in different settings and at guiding the changes an ensemble needs to make for different acoustic environments. He is great at understanding the tone he wants to set with his ensemble, and the people he conducts match his attitude day in and day out. His ability to work with every section of the orchestra demonstrates clear musicianship and talent with every instrument in the ensemble.”

“Javier is a fantastic conductor whose approach to music making is inviting and collaborative, with his knowledge and strong musicianship coming through in each gesture. He stands apart through his genuine excitement for music and the rapport he is able to build with his musicians. His smile is infectious, and his commitment to knowing each musician on an individual level makes them feel seen and appreciated."

“Javier is humble and kind, and approaches the orchestra with both professionalism and friendship. While he always brings the intensity and drive required from a conductor, he always does so with a smile. He knows what he would like to get out of the ensemble, while always being willing to listen to new ideas to try out. Even when unexpectedly leading multiple ensembles during the week, he performed strategically, maintained the workload, and always came in with a smile.”

“Javier is a creative conductor who encourages the ensemble to be musical through humor, mutual understanding, and gesture. He is exceptionally witty and imaginative when it comes to engaging with the ensemble and the music, and conducts and rehearses in a way that makes the ensemble want to sing for him. His creative strategies keep an ensemble on its toes and open-minded, immediately changing the sound.”

“Javier is knowledgeable, witty, and kind, with a wonderful nuanced approach to both his conducting and his ensemble engagement. He is an incredibly calculated and steady conductor who always knows how a piece is supposed to flow and the path he wants the ensemble to take to get there. His light, yet clear approach is very helpful in guiding the ensemble’s musicality, and he is always easy to follow.”

“Javier is very easy to follow, both in his conducting and in understanding where emotions should lie in a piece. His energy and mentality immediately communicate what he wants through various facial expressions and hand movements—it would almost feel wrong not to react emotionally to his conducting. His creative analogies, such as envisioning touching a very hot stove, helped us stay enunciated and consistent.”

“Javier’s skills as a conductor are phenomenal, matched by his wonderful personality and unique passion for his craft. His passion overflows onto all those he works with, and his presence inspires us to work harder and really enjoy what we do. He is incredibly patient when working through complex pieces, helping the ensemble perform to the best of our ability while always having fun and being entertaining in rehearsal.”

“Javier is a conductor who is willing to meet ensemble members where they are at and guide them slowly into their best version of an ensemble. He is consistently kind and makes ensemble members feel excited to come to rehearsal. Rather than make sweeping suggestions, Javier works to adjust small pieces at a time, making for progress that builds and translates to improved musical skill. His dedication to the people he works with was evident even when he showed up for our concert the semester after he worked with us.”

“Javier brings a lot of energy and a very different perspective to rehearsals while staying true to the piece he is teaching. He has a refreshing balance between striving for excellent performance without setting expectations impossibly high, while building relationships with students. His hopeful and determined attitude can rejuvenate an ensemble, creating a sense of excitement and purpose. This is a skill I haven’t seen in many directors I’ve worked with, and what I think makes him stand out the most.”

“Javier is a fantastic conductor who is clearly passionate about the music and knows how to infuse that energy into his ensembles. The music comes to life in the way he moves while conducting; you can see it in his expression and his smile. He is attentive and kind to all of his students, making sure everyone understands and feels emotionally connected to the music. He truly wants every individual to care as much as he does and doesn’t leave anyone behind.”

“Javier brings life and energy to what he is conducting and finds creative ways to engage the choir. He pays unique attention to those he works with and adjusts his style to what the group needs. He also puts in effort to learn from his ensemble in a way that fosters community and honors the knowledge of individual musicians. During the school opera, he was always thinking of what the instrumentalists needed to succeed, noticing their struggles and advocating for changes that enabled them to play their best.”

“Javier is an exceptionally reliable and rigorous conductor who consistently demonstrates a high level of professionalism while remaining genuinely approachable and attentive to the musicians he works with. What sets him apart is his charisma and the enthusiasm he inspires. He has a remarkable ability to make musicians feel engaged and excited about music-making, while transforming something that may initially seem simple into something deeply meaningful and emotionally powerful.”

“Javier has the perfect combination of skill and positive energy that makes the musical experience with him both enjoyable and rigorous. He is set apart by his creativity in communicating what he is looking for in his musicians, his confidence to try new things, and his humility to accept others’ suggestions. Each rehearsal was unique, with new warmups and ways to prepare our instruments for the music ahead. We had fun each time!”