Meet Sheila del Bosque Fuentes | Flutist, Conductor and Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sheila del Bosque Fuentes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sheila, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since I was very little I always had a special love for art. I was in classes like ballet, theater, and painting. I felt all these worlds as unlimited paths of creativity and expression. When I was 10 years old I decided to start studying music professionally at an Elementary Music School. There I had my first contact with the flute, theory, music history, and a whole new world of sensations, colors, emotions, and communication beyond words.
Later on, I did the Conservatory, my first bachelor’s degree in Classical music performance, and then my second bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music with a dual major in Jazz performance and Film Scoring with a minor in Conducting. Sometimes I find myself doing so many musical things at the same time, and it’s just cause is hard to draw the line between what is personal or professional when it comes to something you are passionate about. My life is between studying my master at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, teaching at Wellesley College, having concerts with my band and conducting my orchestra based on creating spaces for minorities in classical music.
What was a 10 years old girl’s dream of pursuing a creative career became later a reality and an indispensable part of my life.
Music can heal, unify, and humanize us. Everyone should be allowed to experience those things.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My name is Sheila del Bosque and I’m a Cuban Flutist, Conductor, and Composer. I think every person and artist has a unique thing to share with the world. The hard part is to get the courage and patience to find it. If I think about something unique that sets me apart from others that’s my insatiable need to explore musical worlds.

My performance as a flutist features contemporary and traditional Afro-Cuban music with the influence of European, electronic, and jazz ingredients. I have been performing with orchestras such as the Orchestra of Lyceum Mozartiano from Havana adjunct to Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg, the National Orchestra of Cuba, and the Cuban European Youth Academy and Orchestra. Some of the festivals and stages I performed include the Kurhaus Wiesbaden at the Rheingau Festival in 2015, and the Konzerthaus Berlin at the Young Euro Classic Festival in 2017. I played the recorder, flute, and traverse baroque flute in all the major theaters and festivals in Cuba and South Korea, Mexico, Germany, and the USA. I also had the blessing of performing for influential personalities like Pope Francis, Jill Biden, Usher, Bon Jovi, and The Rolling Stones.

Awarded a full-tuition scholarship, I enrolled in January 2018 at Berklee College of Music, when I graduated from Performance and Film Scoring with a minor in Orchestral Conducting. At Berklee, I shared the stage with musicians such as Paquito d’Rivera, Omar Hakim, Danilo Perez, Berta Rojas, and Aida Cuevas. Sheila del Bosque quartet represented Berklee at the opening of the 49th annual Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey and recorded her original Si mi Isla fuese Niño and a Two Track concert for the Berklee YouTube Channel.

As a Conductor, I participated at the International Conductors Guild in Cincinnati and received masterclasses from renowned maestros like Anna Rakitina and Carlos Kalmar. Some of my roles include the assistant conductor of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra led by Dr. Julius P. Williams. In the Fall of 2022, I produced QUEENS, a concert to create and promote spaces for a new generation of women composers through high-quality performance, education, and community engagement.

Some of my awards include 1st prize at the NFA in the category of Jazz Artist, the Nick Caizza Award in performance, and the Tibor Pusztai Award in conducting.

If I think about what I’m most proud of is that I have always given myself the possibility of believing in my dreams and goals. I have allowed myself to create them and then carry them out. I have not understood “can’t” about things that depend on me.
Now, this wasn’t an easy path, but I wonder what things that carry quality are. I overcome challenges because the passion I have for what I do has made the entire universe conspire to achieve it. I feel that there is a whole wave of positivism and the law of attraction that seems incredible to me, but understand that without action, there can be no result. I worked on my thoughts, but also on my actions. I draw a clear plan of what to do to be closer to my goals every day. In my opinion, the key is enjoying all the processes: the ones you love and the ones that torment you. Each of them holds a profound teaching about ourselves.

Some of the deepest lessons I learned are:
-Watch every word you say to yourself. Be patient, and understand your processes and your times.
-Every door that closes is a door that opens for something new.
-Don’t let people discourage you from following your dreams
-The only person you need to compete with is your yesterday self.
-Do every action in your life with passion and love
-Don’t let people’s negative opinions affect your perspective on something. Try, experiment, and if it wasn’t your path, at least you leave with wisdom to apply to your life.

Something I want people to know about my art is how important it is for me to be honest with who I am without stereotypes, and how important it is to overcome social issues through music. We, as musicians and artists, have the superpower of music. The power of a force capable of changing mentalities, creating feelings, and uniting people from different cultures in a language beyond words.

I have seen people from all over the world, from the poorest places on earth to elite youth, play together in the same orchestra where their souls have spoken through sounds. I have seen elders crying when remembering a melody that has reminded them of a unique moment in their lives. I have seen what some drums do to the feet to start dancing, and how a dance leads to hugs, laughter, and songs, so necessary and so scarce these days.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to do this, so every time some friends are coming I’m happy to show them around. These are some of my favorite places in Boston:

-Charles River: The Charles River Esplanade is perfect for some biking and picnic during Summer. Cause I grew up on an Island the element of water is so important in my life that I just enjoy it every time I visit the Charles.

-Boston Common: One of the major attractions of Boston with beautiful gardens, lakes, concert events, skating areas, and much more.

-North End: Perfect to enjoy great Italian food! My favorite coffee in the world is at Caffe Vitoria, the first Italian cafe in Boston.

-Berklee College of Music: Of course I give a tour to my friends at my school, showing them the professional studios, practice rooms, classrooms, and other facilities at the Campus.

-Harvard Square and University: Harvard is a place you can’t miss when visiting Boston. Walking around the campus, going for a coffee or some bakery at Harvard Square, or enjoying some good Mexican food at Felipe’s Taqueria.

-Museum of Fine Arts: Amazing collection with great discounts for students and completely free with your Berklee ID

-Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club; Great live music from some of the best musicians in the Boston musical scene. Grab a drink and enjoy a cozy and fun place.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my parents Tania and Gustavo and my aunt and uncle Niurka and Mariano. To Yesi, Marbi, my grandfathers, and grandmother. To Nachi, I love you more than words can express.

To those who are with me, and those who look from above.

To my friends around the world, to Francisca.

To all my mentors, to the challenges that have made me grow, and all the people who trusted me, who gave me answers, words of wisdom, good advice, a push forward, a hug, and support.

To TIME, which I have recently learned to make peace with. For allowing me to learn, discover and undertake paths that I never imagined I could achieve.

A la Vida que me ha dado tanto…

Website: Sheiladelbosque.com

Instagram: @sheiladecuba

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-del-bosque-653803159

Twitter: @sheiladelbosque

Facebook: @sheialdelbsoquemusic

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCwZFsrQHYkOwizIodgRLhCw