A typical six-year-old girl plays tag and tries to eat glue. Your typical 14-year-old teen hangs out at the mall with her friends. And a typical 16-year-old gossips with her friends, goes to parties, and occasionally does her homework. But “typical” has never described Junior Amanda Laborete.

Since she was three, Laborete has focused intensively on practicing, playing, and performing the classical works of great composers such as Tchaikovsky, Bach, and Dvorak. After watching her older brother play an instrument, she was inspired to take up the violin at the age of three. By age six, she started playing the cello; from that moment, she was inspired to pursue music as her passion, outlet, and eventual career.

Even when she was young, the cello played a huge role in Laborete’s life and gave her the sense of security she still has today.  “When I was younger, I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep without having my cello in my bedroom,” she explained.

Over the years, Laborete has studied with and played in orchestras led by prominent musicians, including Juilliard Graduate Charles Curtis and Frau Ostermann, a student of the renowned Spanish Cellist Pablo Casals (musicweb.ucsd.edu). Although studying under such experts has provided wonderful musical experience for her, the best part of playing music for Laborete is the feeling she gets when she plays. She said, “As cheesy as it sounds, I am overcome by a feeling of effortless happiness [when I play].”

Recently, Laborete was given the opportunity to perform in Europe, traveling to Germany, Austria, and France. For her, the trip was an eye-opening, scary, and beautiful experience. “In America I always felt a sense of competition with my other fellow musicians, like everyone played solely to be the best. However, in Germany, everyone played music simply because they loved it,” she explained. In addition to playing in outreach groups and traveling ensembles, Laborete is also Principal Cello in the highest ranked orchestral group of the San Diego Youth Symphony.

However, none of Laborete’s accomplishments have come without tremendous hard work and many sacrifices. She practices as much as she can, from as little as an hour a day to up to four hours. “I’ve had to give up a huge chunk of my free time to devote it to rehearsals, concerts, recitals, and competitions,” Laborete explained, “Which essentially leaves me with very little time to spend with friends.” Senior Shannon McElhaney, a close friend of Laborete’s, said, “Music is a huge part of her life. When I ask her if she wants to hang out, she’ll often say, ‘I have to practice,’ or ‘I have to go to rehearsal.’ But I went to a concert she played in, and she was right in front, and it was just so beautiful.” Laborete added, “In the end, music is worth it.”

Even with her prestigious record and incredible experiences, Laborete is only a junior in high school, and still has a musical future to look forward to. Being able to travel around the world playing music would be her dream. “When I’m older, I want to play in the top orchestras of the world, such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and London,” she said. She added, “My dream college for music would be Juilliard, as any other musician would wish, or Boston University, Royal College of Music, or the Richard Strauss Academy in Germany.”

Laborete’s amazing story is the result of unbelievably hard work, incredible drive and determination, and passion. Regardless of which direction she chooses to go after high school, music and her cello will most likely always be at the center of her life.