Graduating Student Spotlight: Geissy Yanel Quinteros Hofkamp

Popular music industry major and honors student Geissy Yanel Quinteros Hofkamp's story at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) started five years ago when she boarded a plane from her home country, Argentina, to the United States.

Quinteros Hofkamp's family was thinking about starting a business in the United States when the coronavirus pandemic complicated their plans. Initially, Quinteros Hofkamp was supposed to fly with her father and return as soon as the business was established, but after eight months of lockdown in Argentina, her mother and three younger brothers decided to join them on the first available flight to the States.

"We were scared that my dad and I were going to get trapped here without being able to see my family," she explained. "Within a month, we packed everything we could and came over. We never said goodbye, we said see you later, and now it's been five years and we haven't gone back."

Starting a New Life

Within six months of moving, Quinteros Hofkamp's father was hired as a pastor at a Family Church campus in South Florida, which gave the family the opportunity to extend their visas. Quinteros Hofkamp quickly learned English and finished her last year of high school with high scores on her standardized tests. As she prepared her college applications, her high school choir director suggested she audition for PBA's music program.

"I thought about PBA because a bunch of people from my church go here," she said. "I applied to business school originally. Coming to the States to do music? My parents would kill me," she joked.

A scholarship for PBA's music program changed her mind and made it clear to her family that she was meant to study at PBA. Since then, she's made the choir room her home.

"I grew up doing music in Argentina," she said, recalling her musical roots. "Every weekend, someone would pull up a guitar and sing. It was so embedded in my life that I didn't think of it as a career because I was like, whatever I do, I know I'm going to keep doing this."

At least once a semester, though, she'd get a scare. Visas had to be renewed regularly, throwing into question Quinteros Hofkamp's new livelihood in the United States. Sometimes renewal wasn't approved until the very last minute, and Quinteros Hofkamp had to keep moving on with life and exams in faith that the Lord would work it out.

Moving with the Music

In her studies, Quinteros Hofkamp has discovered a passion for translating worship songs into Spanish and a career interest in music management. Eventually, she'd like to represent an artist or work at a music label. She got a taste of music management earlier this year when the National Association for Music Merchants awarded the Lamond GenNext Award to her and two other PBA students, providing scholarships for them to attend the organization's annual conference in California.

"It's all music stands, basically, with the big brands for music like Yamaha, Nord, [and] anything you can imagine for guitars, pianos, equipment, everything," she enthused. "Going there, you see how big the industry is, but also how small it feels once you're in it. You start recognizing people and do some networking, and that was really inspiring to me because I [had] all these management ideas in my head and got to see that it's possible. People do this."

A Chorus of Opportunities

While Quinteros Hofkamp's career interests lean into the administrative side, she's demonstrated her own talent through PBA's oratorio choir, concert choir, jazz vocal ensemble, pop rock ensemble, and worship ensemble. She's also served as a worship and student intern at Family Church every summer semester since enrolling at PBA, which included working at a camp.

"Last summer, I was in charge of the housing situation, so I was the resident advisor for like 70 students," she said. "That was terrifying, but I survived."

She's also served in Family Church's spring and fall internships and regularly leads worship for her dad's congregation, which involves everything from choosing music to selecting musicians to organizing the services - everything she was learning in her classes, she says.

"I don't think I ever let an opportunity pass at PBA," she reflected. "If there was something, I took it because I knew I wanted to experience everything. I'm a person who learns by seeing and doing and imitating."

Quinteros Hofkamp has applied that philosophy to everything from musical and professional opportunities and campus events. She says that moving from her home country to a completely different place has shaped her into the kind of person who isn't afraid of new things.

"I think taking all the opportunities that were available to me really pushed me to know that I'm never walking alone," she said. "It's God who goes with me and He's the one who places opportunities in front of me. I just have to follow."

She also credits the support of her family and friends for helping her succeed in college, especially those who offered places to stay or a ride to help with the long commute.

One Final Flourish

For her exceptional academic standing and accomplishments, Quinteros Hofkamp has been named the College of the Art's Outstanding Graduate. With this recognition, she has been asked to give a speech at commencement, which she sees as a final opportunity to challenge herself at PBA.

"Having to stand in front of everyone is nerve-wracking," she said. "But at the same time, I am excited. It's a cool experience and a cool opportunity, so I'm going to try to make the most out of it."

Learn more about PBA's music programs at https://www.pba.edu/academics/schools/college-of-the-arts/performing-arts/music/.