Meet Joshua Romo

We were lucky to catch up with Joshua Romo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
I have always been a pretty optimistic person when it comes to my work, even on tasks that tend not to be my favorite. Looking back, I would have to say that it largely stems from an enjoyment in challenge and defying odds, and my faith.

Growing up with brothers and my cousins, everything was a competition. I usually fell short, being younger and not the most athletic, For better or worse, I grew up with the mindset that less was expected of me. While at face value, that seems bad, it set up my mindset for when I found something that I really loved to do, and that was music. Music was my own thing that I was moderately good at, at leas starting out. I didn’t have to compare myself to anybody because it was entirely new ground for me. Though when I went to college, I found out just how big the world of music was. I was behind most of my peers my first year of college. I only took a few private lessons and didn’t have some of the classes in high school that they had. It was easy to get discouraged, but at the same time, this was not unfamiliar territory for me. Music was my own thing and I knew I had to work at it and get better. I took it as a challenge to prove to myself and others that I can catch up. When less is expected of you or you think you are behind, there is only one way you can go, and that is up. Having this mindset really encouraged me and allowed me not to place so many barriers on myself. Any improvements or work I did only put me closer to my goal. At the same time I have to say, “Ignorance is bliss.” The more we dive into our professions, it is so easy to get caught up in learning the things you can’t do. I was fortunate to seriously dive into the music world when I was older and I didn’t quite know my limitations. Everything I did was new and exciting, very few things actually felt like work. I was just grateful to be where I was, making music and learning so much. Not every project we do is going to succeed, and that is okay. Take all the external pressures of the world out, and you have an exciting jouney getting to where you want to be. If you don’t quite get there, you are at least closer than where you started. External pressures are always going to keep us in fear. You can either dwell in that fear or let it drive you. I have learned in my life that if you don’t do something, someone else will. There is no better person than you.

My faith plays a big part in my optimism as well. I know through my faith that I don’t have to prove my worth to anybody. Though rising above expectations always feels good, it is not where I get my self worth. I know God loves me if I succeed or I fail, and he won’t leave my side no matter the outcome. If I truly can, “do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13), then I shouldn’t worry about the outcome. I should enjoy the journey and the people that it brings.

 

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a choir conductor in the Southern California area. I primarily work with church and community choir. Currently, I am serving as Director of Music at First Congregational Church of Riverside, Founder and Artistic Director of my community group called the Rose Singers, and serve as Associate Conductor for the Elite vocal ensemble, Vocal Affinity in Utah. I have always loved the power that music has in building connections. My best friends have been those who I met making music. I believe that the strongest connections are built by those who are working on a common goal. Being part of a musical ensemble is the perfect place for that. One of the biggest joys I have in my profession is seeing my choir members grow. Some have sang with me for a few years when they were first studying music, and being able to see them develop into musicians and leaders is really special. The same thing goes for my church choir. I am a firm believer that anybody is capable of making quality choral music. I get to work with great people at my church who don’t consider themselves professional musicians, but we work hard. Every so often I get to see their faces light up when we “cut off” just right, or they hit a note they haven’t been able to sing for years. I feel church choirs have been neglected in recent times, and would like to start working in helping churches develop lasting choirs and find more ways they can be incorporated into the modern-day service.

Some of the church choir’s work can be found online on First Congregational Church of Riverside’s website. My community group, The Rose Singers recently found a home at Claremont United Church of Christ where we rehearse and will have our first performance in Claremont on December 14th 2024. Some of our past performances can be viewed on YouTube on my personal page or by looking up the Rose Singers.

 

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The ability to be flexible People skills
Optimism

Being a conductor, you are in charge of everything, and just like in every other aspect of life, things are not always going to go as planned. There are people counting on you to give them an experience worth their time. It is your responsibility to work through decisions. At the end of the day, we are nothing without the ensemble members. They don’t sing or play for us; we work for them. We need to be flexible, and we need to be able to understand that our ensemble members are human. We need to be able to connect with them on that human level. As a conductor, we are constantly analyzing what is wrong or how we can fix things. We are always looking for mistakes. It is important not to be dragged down by the constant overanalyzing to where we don’t take risks. We are the ensemble’s top motivator. We have to make them feel that they can succeed because they most definitely can.

 

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
So many creatives and leaders deal with imposter syndrome. Being younger and responsible for many people, it is so easy to fall into the thinking if I am the right person, or there are so many great people who could be in the position that I am in. At the same time, it is easy to think, “I shouldn’t be here.” I am supposed to be working a “regular job” and not fall into fantasies like I can have a career in music. It is a constant battle that so many people deal with, and it can be really disheartening. The best way I can overcome this thinking is to understand that this is a constant journey of learning and improving. There is always something to overcome, and everyone is on the same path, no matter how long they have been in the game. I also have great family and friends that I can lean on. I recommend everyone have a mentor. My conducting mentor David Torres has been a huge part of my conducting journey He has helped me in all aspects of the profession from the technical skills, to the people skills, and the business aspects. We need someone who has lived through what we are going through and can help us through every step of the way. It is also important to go out and be with family and friends. So often it can be lonely because the people around us might not fully understand what we are going through, but they don’t have to fully understand. Sometimes taking a step away and enjoying quality time with people can help.

 

 

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CJViewProductions Benjamin Quirk Alexander Anderson

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