An Oro Valley musician is one of only 16 percussionists from around the world selected to participate in a program at The Juilliard School in New York City.
Trevor Barroero, 17, will take part in a two-week Summer Percussion Seminar in July at the renowned performing arts conservatory.
To pay tuition and travel costs, Barroero has organized a "Juilliard or Bust" fundraising concert Sunday at St. Philip's Plaza, which is at North Campbell Avenue and East River Road. Barroero will accept donations at the event, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
"It's going to be a fun experience and I think something a lot different than anything else our community has seen," he said.
Tuition and other costs related to the trip will run about $3,000.
Barroero didn't want to ask his mother for the money so he thought up the concert.
"This is my thanks to her. The performance is a thanks to the community and all the supporters I've had," he said. "But even if people just come out here and don't donate and just donate their time to listen to how I've grown as a musician, that would be great."
Sunday's concert will feature Barroero on the marimba and other percussion instruments as well as performances by a jazz band and string quartet.
Other local percussionists will join Barroero for ensemble performances.
Barroero also will perform a special tribute to his father, Mark, who died when Barroero was in the fourth grade.
Mark Barroero, who was a singer and keyboard player, sent his two children to bed each night with a song.
No matter what time of year it was, the elder Barroero sung "The Christmas Song" to his children.
Trevor Barroero will perform the song, which is commonly referred to as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire," at his fundraising event.
"That song means a lot to our family," he said.
Barroero started playing the snare drum in the fifth grade under percussion instructor Brian J. Harris.
Over the years, he picked up other percussion instruments, but his main instrument is the marimba, "which is basically an oversized xylophone," he said.
"I've been amazed in the number of instruments and of the diversity within percussion itself," he said. "If you think about it, anything can be a percussion instrument."
Harris said Barroero is an attentive student who sees results because of his hard work.
Harris couldn't help but get behind Barroero's fundraising concert.
He will be one of the percussionists performing with Barroero.
"When you deal with Trevor, he totally shows you that there are still people out there that know how to take care of business and get things done," he said.
Barroero also excels outside of music.
He'll be a senior at Ironwood Ridge High School and has a schedule loaded with honors classes.
His final year will include a term as the student body president and he has plans to start a Spanish and Portuguese cultural club.
The well-rounded teenager has also earned a second-degree black belt in karate.
He wants to study percussion performance in college.
At the Juilliard seminar, he will study all the major percussion instruments through master classes, clinics, lectures, rehearsals and performances.
He had to submit a video audition to be considered for the seminar, which is July 17-29.
"The skills I will learn are going to be indispensable, especially when I'm approaching my college auditions next year," he said.
Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at arivera@azstarnet.com or 807-8430.
