BROWNSVILLE, Texas — 51ÁÔĆć (TSC) guitar and music professor JosĂ© Villarreal is never far from his guitar.

“I love my job,” said Villarreal. “I love what I do. Whether I’m teaching guitar, teaching music history or music theory, all that stuff is connected, but I really love doing what I do.”

Villarreal teaches students of all ages and skill levels. He takes pride in seeing his students develop their musical abilities.

“They’re performing at festivals, or they’re auditioning at universities, or they’re getting their own gigs as musicians,” Villarreal said. “Knowing you had played a role in their lives and the direction where their lives are going means a great deal.”

Currently in his second year at TSC, Villarreal helped a pair of his former TSC students continue their music education at four-year institutions.

“Coming here to TSC, starting with the program has for sure without a shadow of a doubt, helped them audition, and prepare themselves for a future career in music,” Villarreal said.

The TSC professor also loves to learn about music. He has a bachelor’s degree in classical guitar education from the University of Texas Brownsville, a master’s degree in contemporary music performance from the Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain, and he’s currently working on another master’s degree in classical guitar performance from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

“I love learning, I love studying, I love taking all that information in.” Villarreal said. “I know it makes me more well-rounded to teach students, regardless of what avenue they want to follow when they leave school. Whether it be jazz, rock or classical, I want to be prepared for any situation or any student that comes our way here at TSC.”

Villarreal was prepared when a unique opportunity presented itself last year. Grammy Award-winning rock band ManáĚýinvited fans to submit videos of themselves playing one of the group’s songs. The winner would get to share the stage with the group at a concert held at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

“That same evening, I went ahead and did that,” said Villarreal. “I love Maná, been playing their music since I was a kid, you know.”

Villarreal was selected as the winner the day before the concert.

“I was on my way to get breakfast,” Villarreal said. “I just kind of drove home to get my guitar and go to the airport. It happened so quick.”

He got to play one song during the concert with the group. He says it’s one of his most cherished musical memories.

“All day leading up to it I was terrified,” Villarreal said. “I was so nervous. Then, as soon as I got on stage, I don’t know what happened, it just all went away. I think it had to do with the fact that the guys from the band were just so chill, so welcoming.”

One of the passionate guitarist’s goals is to see more students enroll in the music program at TSC now that the school offers an Associate of Arts in Music degree.

“We have some of the finest instructors on piano, voice, mariachi, and trumpet,” he said. “We have really good instructors here and it’s a great environment here to get you going.”

ClickĚýhereĚýfor more information on the music program at TSC.