I’m Havyn Quintanilla, a Bowman County High School junior in Bowman, North Dakota. When I think of the word music, I think of many different things. I think of love, passion, and happiness, but I also think of hard work and dedication. Music has been a passion of mine for the longest time, and for me, it is more than just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle. Throughout my high school career, I’ve attended many North Dakota music festivals in various areas around the state, including Allstate, Minot Festival, Dickinson Festival, and Grand Forks Festival. I’ve also done many other performances, including regional and state solo and ensemble and other regional competitions. I’ve also had the pleasure of attending an International Music Camp at the International Peace Gardens for two years and traveling and performing in Europe through the Northern Musicians Abroad program. Throughout all these opportunities, I’ve received many awards, but music isn’t about the awards. It’s about how you feel and how you make the audience feel, so I encourage everyone to be more passionate about music, put in the hard work, and strive to move your audience.
Watch Havyn Nicole Quintanilla sing Voi, Che Sapete by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for the 2025 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.