MEET SYMPHONY MUSICIAN RAUL ORNELAS

What do you do for a living?
I'm a professor of music at Lamar University.
How long have you lived in Beaumont?
I came to Beaumont in 1965 to direct band in South Park School District.
What made you decide to be a musician?
My father was a musician. There was always music playing around the house. He taught students, and I wanted to do the same. I started trumpet in 4th grade.
How long have you played in the Symphony of Southeast Texas?
I played string bass starting in 1969 for three seasons. Then, I started teaching at Lamar in 1972, and started playing principal trumpet in the orchestra in 1974.
What instrument do you play in the orchestra?
Principal Trumpet.
What is/are your favorite classical work(s)?
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos, among many others.
What is your favorite piece that you have played with the Symphony of Southeast Texas?
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition.
What is your best Symphony of Southeast Texas memory?
When the Lamar Brass Quintet was featured with the orchestra on a Christmas Concert.
Do you play any other instruments?
Electric Bass.
What other musical genres/artists, besides orchestral, do you like?
Jazz, especially Bill Evans, John Coltrane, and Chick Corea.
Are you married?
Yes, to my lovely wife, Jean
Do you have any children?
One daughter, two stepdaughters.
Do you have any pets?
No.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Traveling. My favorite locations are Santa Fe, NM and New Orleans, LA.
Tell us one surprising/unusual thing about yourself.
I am not a mountain climber.