Meet Esme!

Guitar / Ukulele / Piano

Hi! My name is Esmeralda, and I go by “Esme.” Growing up, I enjoyed singing along to movie soundtracks and always knew that music moved my heart and would be part of my life. At a young age, I went with my parents to their worship team rehearsals and would be amazed at how different instruments came together creating one sound. At the age of thirteen, I got my first acoustic guitar. My dad began teaching me how to play and pulled up videos of songs that I could play along with. He was so excited that he had me play as soon as I could for church.

From there, I began to learn piano/keyboard as well and would play whichever instrument was needed for the church worship team each week. Then one day, I remember being at a church rehearsal, and the pastor showed up with a brand new Fender electric guitar seeking someone to learn it. I took hold of it, and from the first strum I was hooked on electric guitar. I began learning small leads to implement and grew to understand my new role in the band as an electric guitarist. Over the next few years, I increased in skill in both guitar and piano.

When I became an adult, I was privileged to be accepted into Nelson University’s music program to pursue my BA in music, and I quickly realized there was still so much more that I didn’t know. I threw myself into taking professional guitar lessons, studying music theory, learning to read sheet music, improving my piano knowledge and skills, adding bass guitar to the list of instruments I can play, and so much more. I even joined the Guitar Ensemble, which had been a dream of mine after I first visited the university and saw that a girl was the electric guitarist on the team. In the ensemble, we performed all styles of music from blues, to jazz, to contemporary, to classic songs from the Beatles, Snarky Puppy, etc. Also at Nelson, I joined the chapel worship teams that both played on campus and traveled to multiple youth camps and conferences to lead worship.

After graduating with my music degree, I began teaching private lessons in piano and guitar. From watching my own previous instructors to now being a music teacher myself, I understand the responsibility and joy that it is to teach! My goal is to lead students on the path of their musical journey and help them become solid musicians. I am excited to teach at En Route Academy of the Arts, helping students grow in their abilities and find a passion in their instruments!