Luna Gonçalves

Luna is a Venezuelan Audiovisual Communication student at the University of Navarra. She has always had a deep passion for music and she plays the cello.

How did you become so passionate about music? When did you start playing?

Well, my mother had always wanted me to do something extracurricular when I was a little girl so at first I did a lot of things. I danced ballet for three years, I even danced in the Nutcracker in the Teresa Carreño theatre in Caracas. But, after a few years the world of ballet became something too turbulent for a 7-year-old girl, so I moved on to flamenco and arab dance. I wasn't too good in any of them. So then, the National Orchestra System of Venezuela appeared and I started taking musical initiation classes. I didn't like them too much, honestly, but I had to please my parents. Later I discovered the cello because they made me play the instrument in class and I fell completely in love with it. It is my passion and eight years later I'm in a different country and I'm still playing the instrument.

What is your favorite thing about playing the cello?

It's a distraction. It helps me forget about everything else. When I'm playing I'm not thinking about my problems, I'm not thinking about money, I'm not thinking about what others are thinking: it's just the instrument and the music.

How do you expect to combine university life with your instrument and your musical aspirations?

Thankfully, there are many things you can do with a degree in Audiovisual Communication and my idea with the cello is to keep playing it. I'm currently in the orchestra of the university and regarding my career, I'd like to combine both music and audiovisuals. I'd like to do soundtracks or even musical production aside from film production.

Thank you.