Brandon Vega
Throughout high school, Brandon Vega prepared for a future in medicine. He applied to universities as a biology major, volunteered at hospitals, and took challenging AP courses. But as he was waiting to find out if he was admitted, he began questioning whether that path was truly his own. “I realized that I wasn’t really confident in that life,” Brandon said.
What had always inspired him was music. Although he had never formally studied it, he decided to change direction and pursue what he genuinely loved. “I figured out I think I would rather major in music because it truly is what inspires me.”
Brandon chose LAVC and arrived with little formal musical experience. He had played casually on a keyboard given to him by a relative, but had never taken a music class and could not read music. “When I started Valley College, it was a fresh start,” he said. “I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t even know how to read music. I was completely new.”
Determined to catch up, Brandon immersed himself in learning piano, reading sheet music, and understanding music theory. A turning point came when he auditioned for LAVC’s Applied Music Program and was accepted to study piano with Professor Natalie Pang.
“She understood where I was at,” Brandon said. Professor Pang helped him develop everything from proper technique and posture to interpretation and performance. Brandon describes that individual instruction as one of the most meaningful experiences of his time at Valley.
His growth eventually led him to the LAVC orchestra, where he challenged himself to perform a piano concerto. Rehearsing alongside other musicians brought tremendous pressure, but Professor Pang encouraged him to focus not simply on the final performance, but on the work required to reach it.
On performance day, Brandon was nervous and made mistakes, but his definition of success had changed. “I was very content with my performance because I know that I gave my all.”
Now Brandon is looking toward transferring and continuing his musical education, potentially at a conservatory where he can maintain the close faculty relationships he developed at LAVC.