We were lucky to catch up with Vince Dominguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Vince, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

On May 11, 2022, I had the opportunity to return to AZ for a very belated in-person commencement ceremony at Arizona State University. After two years out of school, this experience was cathartic, surreal, and it provided a sense of closure for this period of growth in my life. When I graduated in May 2020 with my doctorate of musical arts (DMA), the world had already stopped and I, like so many others finishing school had to quickly adapt and make the most of virtual celebrations. It was during this time that I also fully realized the severity of the pandemic and what that meant for me as a performer, a creator, and an artist. After so many years of school, rehearsals, practicing, performances, and refining my voice as a musician, I was left with virtually no options to do the thing that I had trained for my entire career. Like so many others, I had high hopes of pursuing orchestral auditions, applying for university teaching jobs, and freelancing. In the early months of the pandemic there were many times that I felt like I wanted to quit music all together. With no answers to be had and time moving slowly, the burnout was beginning to feel very real and I didn’t know what to do.

As the days turned into months, my motivation to keep creating was revived once I had the idea of mixing my experience as a professional musician with the art of drag. I figured no matter what, nightlife would bounce back quicker and I might be able to perform in a whole new way if the plans I originally had in mind were no longer possible. After a little research, I gathered that no one else in the drag world was meshing clarinet with what they did and vice-versa, so I decided this was going to be my thing. Once I brainstormed the idea, I began to imagine what my drag persona would be like–everything the style, to the branding, to *how* on earth I would incorporate LIVE clarinet performance in a packed nightclub, lol.

Fast forward to summer 2022, it’s safe to say that the pandemic is not *as* limiting as it once was, but jobs in the music industry are still as challenging as ever to pursue and win. While I’m still committed to conferencing/performing/teaching in the ways I used to in pre-pandemic times, I am so happy that I took a a risk to take chance on myself to try something new in uncertain times, hustle with intention, find a way to adapt, and ultimately, keep making music against all odds. As my alter ego, Claire Annette, I’ve been able to bond with an amazing, newfound drag family, connect with new audiences who otherwise wouldn’t engage with classical music, inspire queer youth to not give up, and most importantly, remind myself why I began making music in the first place so many years ago. And honestly: after over two decades of performing on stages around the world, nothing is more fun making people smile and shredding electric, amplified clarinet to all my favorite tracks in nightclubs across New England and beyond. (My childhood dream of being a rockstar finally came true!)

In many ways, I’m not sure if Claire Annette would exist if the pandemic had not happened and in some ways, I feel that I may have burned out from exhaustion otherwise. While my career in music may not be the evolving in the way I had hoped it was going to after grad school, I’m endlessly grateful to be here now, to be able to perform, and to be able to create art in a world that needs joy and reasons to keep going now more than ever. Never in my wildest dreams as a 10 year old growing up in Mesa, AZ did I think that the clarinet would lead me to this junction, but I can’t imagine quitting this fabulous new adventure any time soon.

To anyone reading this that is on the fence about taking a creative risk, I say do it. Push the envelope, carve space for yourself to thrive in this world, and make strides that you will thank yourself for later. If there is one thing that the pandemic taught me, it’s that time is priceless and nothing is guaranteed. You’ve got this! <3

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Dr. Vince Dominguez and I am a Mexican musician, educator, designer, photographer, and drag artist. Originally from El Paso, TX, I grew up in Mesa, AZ where I had my start in music at Hale Elementary. In my early years, music was an outlet for me to escape the world around me. I was often bullied, othered, and diminished for the color of my skin among other factors that were beyond my control. Being able to participate in band at an early age allowed me to feel empowered to create in a way that organized sports or other activities never provided me. Once I reached high school, my success in music was taking shape and I decided that I wanted to pursue music at the professional level, later earning a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in music by 2020. Going through grad school, I realized that I needed to diversify my skill set and find ways to make a living that were not exclusively performing or teaching due to a fluctuating job market. Fortunately, I was able to secure a paid internship as a graphic designer the summer after graduating in 2014. This gateway opportunity allowed me to try something new and helped me realize that I could do more than just play my instrument at a high level. In the years that followed, I worked as an arts administration marketeer in several non-profits alongside an active schedule of performing and teaching. I found that the more things I tried and the more creative risks I took, the more I was able to be a self-sustainable creative in an ever-changing professional landscape. Fast forward to the present day, I now run my own small business, Tonal Memories Creative, a consulting agency that is focused on amplifying the voices of my clients and creating world-class content. Outside of my small business, I maintain an ever-growing private teaching studio, freelance as a clarinetist with ensembles around the country, and most recently perform in nightlife as Claire Annette, my alter ego drag persona. When people ask me what I do, I often don’t know what to say because I don’t know any other independent artists who’s work quite matches mine. And while the road getting here has not been easy by any means, I feel endlessly proud to have been able to carve my own path in this world, stay true to my vision as a creator, and stay adaptable every step of the way to forge a career that is completely my own.

In 2022, I am proud to say that I am problem solver, a multidisciplinary creative, a working artist, and a story teller. I aim to inspire others to take creative risks and realize their own potential as an individual.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

If there is one thing that I wish I could do over, it would be to not let negativity have ‘free rent’ in my headspace. As a musician/artist/creator going through school and life, we are often met with the idea that it is us against the world–that our work is not good enough–that we must constantly compare ourselves to others–and that what we do is not going to amount to anything. Enduring constant rejection over the years, the theft of my instruments, and many life changing experiences, I was able to build hard-earned resilience, forge the drive to keep going, and the gain perspective to know that I have always been enough. I believe that a career as an artist is no easy path forward and no two careers are alike. I believe it is only through experiencing the good and the bad that we can have the strength to learn, adapt, know who we are, and what we stand for as a creative.

Most recently, working as a drag artist, this creative platform has serendipitously allowed me to realize that I have more strength than I ever realized. The confidence and strength that I feel when I perform as Claire Annette is always available to me as Vince–a revelation that has truly allowed me to make peace with much of the trauma I accumulated over the years.

All this to say, I believe that there is always going to be negativity in the world that it’s up to us to drown it out with good intentions. To me, this is one of the greatest lessons of being an artist: resilience.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

In the age of globalized technology and fast-paced living, I always savor the moments that I can connect with a client, student, or audience and instill an appreciation for creativity.

In particular, I’m always most inspired to know that I have made a positive impact on queer youth by way of my artistic endeavors. Growing up, I very rarely had role models or community icons to look up to so I have made it part of my personal mission to be that person for every kid out there who is looking for a reason to keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vincedominguez.com | www.claireannette.com | www.tonalmemories.com
• Instagram: @vince_dominguez | @drclaireannette
• Facebook: @vincent.dominguez | @drclaireannette
• Youtube: Vince Dominguez | Claire Annette Clarinetwerk