Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paulo Gomes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Paulo, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I have been fortunate to earn a living as a full-time musician.

My journey began in Brazil as in a music school as a piano instructor for young children. As I pursued my undergraduate degree, I continued teaching K-12, as well as conducting community choirs and children’s choirs.

Eventually, I moved to Florida with only a suitcase and a carry on. To pay for my education, I worked at a souvenir store and a Timeshare business.

My next stop was Worcester, Massachusetts where I was hired as a music teacher at North High School, an underserved area, with high poverty. This was an intimidating job and yet I was happy to make music again after a long 14-month hiatus from music to pay for my education.

With my savings and a leave of absence from Worcester School District, I began working on my master’s degree at Boston University. After finishing my masters, I returned to North High School, Worcester State College, Clark University, and Packachoag Church. It was insanely busy, but my graduate school debt was paid off in one year!

My journey continued in Katy, Texas at Crosby High School. I’d wake up at 4:30 am to arrive in Crosby before 7:00 am. At the same time, I was accepted to the University of Houston and after working for a year, began my doctoral degree with a scholarship from U of H.

As in any career, time passes, and situations change. We mature and grow wiser with new experiences. In creative work, you want that to be fully true. Thank God for that. I do not think that was any other way to speed up what I had to go through because of my rough start. I have no regrets!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I began my music studies at 16 as a piano student. Yes, I was a very late bloomer. At 18, my widowed mother needed help to pay the bills and encouraged me to enroll in a boot camp with the Power Company to become an electrical worker. I did not get into the program, because I made sure I did not pass on the first test! I told her that I was going to be a piano teacher for young students at the music school. I was lucky that my piano teacher asked me to take the position under her supervision. I had my first job at 18 teaching music. My mother was not too happy and told me that I could teach until the following year when the camp reopened.

To really make my passion for music happen, I had to help at home paying bills.  So, to get to my first music job, I had to take two buses. However, to save money and make my mom happy, I walked three miles each way to my job, enabling me to take one bus instead of two. It was not easy as the summer and raining season arrived. However, I stayed true to my decision. During that teaching period I took a choral-conducting master class where I knew I’d found my passion. I fashioned my first baton from a cork and wooden skewer. My “magic wand”. The conductor at the music school, decided to offer me a conducting assistantship. Yes, now I can take two buses and still help to pay bills at home. What a blessing and the rest is history!

My current role is Director of Vocal Division and Choral Activities at Lone Star College CyFair. As a music educator, my goal is to enhance a student’s musicianship by expanding their aesthetic sensibilities whether musically or intellectually in a nurturing and unconditional environment, preparing them for a lifetime of professional careers, musical or non-musical. I am responsible for recruiting, advising, and organizing the Vocal Department.

In 2019, I accepted the role of Artistic Director and Conductor for the Houston Masterworks Chorus (HMC). In the Artistic Director position, I strive to providing rewarding performances throughout the Houston area, both individually and in partnership with other cultural/non-profit organizations. I have the opportunity to share my passion for music and to fulfill HMC performing art’s mission to inspire, uplift and educate. 

In 2012, to fulfill my University of Houston degree requirement I founded Houston Camerata. A choral ensemble bringing diverse music to H-Town.

I believe that every person has a mission to fulfill. Conductors often serve as psychologists, confidants, father figures, and role models, which can be a struggle because no one teaches us this in college. It is not a secret that I survived, by the grace of God, I survived Stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer. A mass reached from my brain down to the nasal cavity. When you confront mortality, you understand that life is precious and far too short to focus on self-importance and big ego. Of course, I want to be a respected musician and have an ensemble that perform perfect music; however, I do believe that music is a gift from God. I want to be God’s vessel sharing His grace through the beauty of music while touching people’s hearts and souls. 

I am very moved when comments like this comes to my attention: “Your music has fed my soul over this last two years of each performance. From the Christmas concert at All Saints Church, to the Tango concert, to the Vaughan Williams, Dona Nobis Pacem with the Walt Whitman poem. I loved your dedication to those suffering in Eastern Europe. They’ve all been a balm to my heart.” (from an audience member).

Or

“Dr. G, I want to give you something to remember me by, but I guess you’re going to have to wait until I’m famous! I owe a lot to you, Dr. G, when there were days I felt like giving up, you showed me just how beautiful making music is, and that single handedly kept me going! Making music with you is unforgettable! Until next time!!” (a former student)

As a musician I do not want to be set apart, I want to be part of the whole. I always want to have the honor of working with great musicians and artists. My passion for music, comes with a desire to work with diverse groups to bring musical scores to life. As a conductor I need hearts and souls to partner with me to fulfill the mission of music: change the lives of those who sing, listen, or play. It is not always easy, but I am a blessed man!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes. I once read the Allegory of the Cave, by Plato. The comparison between the effect of education and the lack of it on our nature, impacted my life significantly. I believe teaching is a privilege, offering the opportunity to inspire and empower others. As a music educator I aspire that my students become like philosopher-kings “…able to make distinctions between shadows, images, actual objects, and ideas, or the mental conceptions of things, that allow people to make use of objects and therefore shine”. I am committed to providing boundless enthusiasm and inspiring greatness, integrity, and respect in others.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I always had to work hard to further my higher education. I had to pay for all my tuitions at the university level in Brazil, and I did that with music jobs, teaching at all levels and conducting choirs. To have my masters degree in conducting, I applied for Indiana University in Bloomington, but I did not make the cut for scholarships. I could enroll, but I need to pay for everything, unfortunately I did not have the money. That was heartbreaking and really hard to endure. 

I decided to move to the United States anyway, since I did not have a good option for master’s in conducting in Brazil. It was not easy. As I landed in Florida, I realized that the path would be not as smooth as I thought. Again, I had to earn my tuition before applying to a master’s program. I was offered a job of selling Timeshares, as I spoke Portuguese, English, and a little Spanish. The money was not bad, but I cried every morning while getting ready for work. I would ask God, “My goal was to get a master in conducting. I gave up my career in Brazil to do that. What is going on?” Now I understand that God had another path in mind. As the saying goes, “What does not kill you, makes you stronger.” After making some money, I moved to Massachusetts and was able to teach music in a high school and then go to Boston University for my masters. From Massachusetts to Texas, another high school teaching at Crosby High School and then a scholarship for a Doctoral Program at the University of Houston. Go Coogs! Unexpectedly, cancer came my way. After two long years of fighting and recovering I was finally able to teach at the higher education level. The young Brazilian conductor who dared to follow his dream and fight to succeed has triumphed. I would not trade my conducting passion for anything; the journey was worthy!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.houstonmasterworks.org
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/maestropaulogomes/

Image Credits
Israel D Thompson.