Paolo's Music Dream

Hello, my name is Paolo.
I am a 17 Italian, former exchange student in Joshua, Texas. I come from a really small town called Aosta, in the North West part of Italy. I grew up next to the highest mountains of Europe, enjoying the wonderfulness of the nature.

My mother was a piano player, so in my family we always had a big passion for the music. I used to spend my time banging on some kitchen items trying to imagine me playing a drumset. When I turned 9 I started attending music school in the Band of the town where I lived. After one year of music school, I joined the Band as a percussionist.
My section and I always watched videos of American high school marching bands, and we have always been dreaming about being part of one of these organizations.

On August 15, 2015 I started my exchange program in the United States, funded because of a scholarship.
12 days later I joined the Band of the school.
After exactly one week I had my first outdoor practice, and then finally Friday, September 4, my first football game.I realized my dream during that night in Mineral Wells. Then my first home football game, my first pep rally, the first marching band competition, Homecoming, the pink out game, UIL and then, senior night: my last time marching on our field.



The last game was an away game at Burleson High School. That was the end of marching season for everyone else, the end of marching band for me.

After that Concert season started and Winter Drumline too. I became First Chair in the Joshua High School Symphonic Band, official Drummer of the Jazz Band and I made Snareline in the indoor Drumline.





Also, the JHS Choir asked me to play for them at UIL competitions and concerts, making me their official percussionist.

In addition to that, in February 2016 we had Solo & Ensemble competition during which I obtained 2 First Division medals, qualifying for State with my ensemble and with a Solo perfomed on my own.




Being part of the Band is being part of a family.
And like in every family, you must do some sacrifices for make it going well. And when you do these sacrifices, than can be waking up at 5 a.m. for not being late, working for hours under the sun or studying your part of the show all the night, you know that you’re doing for your family.

Unfortunately, I had to leave this great family.
My exchange program finished on June 11, 2016, and because of some federal regulations, I could not come back to Joshua High School for my senior year.

Once I arrived in Italy, I passed the GED test,and I was awarded with a small scholarship from the band of Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas.

In August 2016 I came back to the United States and I started attending college as a music major.

At the same time, I started volounteering as Drumline Instructor at the High School in town, as well as going back to Joshua High School every weekend to help the band and the drumline during football games. competitions and rehearsals.

In my future, I am planning on transfering to a four-year university and taking a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, in order to become a teacher.

A percussion teacher helped me realize my dream and affected my life in a wonderful manner. I want to do the same.
I want to help people live the music as it is, made of passion, love, hard work and dedication.
I want to change people's life and maybe one day help someone realize their dream.



I have two older sisters,  both going to college. One of them isstudying to become a teacher, the other one is majoring in engineering.

Unfortunately, my family can't afford to pay all our tuitions at college, as well as the cost of a room, a meal plan, the books and all the fees.

This is why some friends told me to open this account, for hoping that some people with a good heart would donate part of what they have to help me follow my dream here, in the land of the opportunities.

Out of the 15,000$ that I need yearly, 12,500$ would go for the tuition ,the room and the fees, 1000$ for the plane ticket, 1000$ for the books and 1500$ for  the meal plan.

Thank you.

PS: The campaign shows that the money goes to Meredith Case. She is my host mom. I still don't have a bank account in the US so she helps me withdraw the campaign money.





This is a list of my accomplishments

-2015 Spirit of Joshua Marching Band Marimba & Snare
-2016 Joshua HS M'Pulse Drumline Snare
-2016-2017 Hillsboro High School Eagle Band Drumline Instructor & Percussion Assistant
-2016 Joshua HS Pep Band Snare & Tenor
-2016 Joshua HS Choir Auxiliary Percussion & Drum Set
-2015-2016 Joshua HS Symphonic Band 1st Chair
-2015-2016 Joshua HS Jazz Band Drum Set
-2016-2017 Hill College Concert Band 1st Chair
-2016-2017 Hill College Jazz Band Drum Set & Vibraphone
-2 Superior Ratings at Texas UIL Solo & Ensemble
-2 Excellent Ratings at Texas UIL State Solo & Ensemble
-2014-2016 Harmonie du Mont Blanc 1st Chair (oldest international band in Europe)
-2014-2016 Banda Municipale Courmayeur-La Salle 1st Chair
-2011-2016 Fanfara ANA Vda Center Snare
-2010-2016 Banda Municipale Aosta
-2016 DoubleSharp Brass Band Drum Set






http://bobine.tv/index.php/it/component/contushdvideoshare/player/16/3782

http://www.podcastjournal.net/Pour-que-le-coeur-de-Paolo-continue-de-battre-au-rythme-des-fanfares-americaines_a22275.html

http://theowlflight.org/1779/features/home-away-from-home/

http://www.aostasera.it/articoli/2016/05/21/40423/il-sogno-americano-di-paolo-bigiarini-in-lizza-per-il-texas-state-solo-ensemble-contest

http://www.bandevda.it/

http://www.bobine.tv/index.php/it/archivio-ita/archivio-articoli/13286-Percussionista-valdostano-accede-alle-finali-nazionali-del-Texas-State-Solo-Ensemble-Contest

http://www.aostanews24.it/paolo-bigiarini-al-texas-state-solo-ensemble-contest/