Maria Angelica Parra

Since I was little I always found myself interested in music. I always thought music played a very important role in the whole world, was like a worldwide phenomenon that definitely reached all people, no matter your personality, preferences, genre or age. But music didn´t only reached all people, but reached them in all circumstances, it has the ability to attract people, and make them identify with it, throughout their lyrics, or rhythm, no matter if you are sad, happy, nostalgic, euphoric music will always be there, in the majority of the moments throughout your life. Ever since I remember, my dream was to be part of this industry, more precisely I dreamt to be a professional singer, but things didn’t work out the way I wished, and that dream became more distant, as time passed and I realized I definitely dint have the voice to be a singer or the ability or passion to play an instrument, which I realized after being part of the Orquesta Sinfonica at Cartagena, where I lasted 5 years. All this experiences and admiration towards music, haven’t fade away, and the dream of being part of this incredible industry is always latent but in a different way. Now that I am more mature, and I know myself better, I realized that if one day I get to be part of this industry it would be as a manager or event planner, since most of the skills I have developed throughout time, are more related and identified with this type of job, as well as linked in a certain way to the career I chose. One of the reasons I decided to study government, is because I’m passionate towards helping most needed people, to help my country to be a better one, and working in the public sector will be very helpful. Now, taking into account that the music industry is very important worldwide, and that it generates around 140,000 direct jobs, without mentioning the indirect jobs that results from concerts, festivals etc. this is traduced as well as a way to help people. This industry is definitely a key tool towards this goal, not only because it generates lots of jobs, but because through it you can help to diffuse a positive image of your country, your culture, all the positive aspects, which traduces to development. On the other hand, being a manager or event planner goes hand by hand with most of my personal qualities. Being manager and event planner involves, planning concerts, festivals, international tours, establishing contact with music labels and investors, in other words, is the person responsible of the promotion and overall plans of the whole career of the artist, advising them towards the decisions that will be more convenient. This unquestionably requires of someone that is keen on establishing relationships with other people, that has key an important contacts, loves and believes in the industry, being creative, and having the will. With all the mentioned above I identify myself, but I also have to mention that I´ve been influenced by people around me, that work in this industry, mainly as singers or managers respectively, and the way they manage their work as well as their lives, results very interesting to me. Finally it’s very important to mention that Colombia is characterized because of the great talent of people, but in most cases, young and unknown artist don’t get to develop themselves because they do not work with the right people, so working in this area of the industry would clearly be of great help in the development of great talent that is found here in Colombia