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Q&A -- Telegraph Journal -- Saturday, January 9, 2016
Antonio Delgado is the musical director and conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra – a position he’s held since 2010. Delgado is also music director and conductor of the youth orchestra’s outreach program, Sistema NB, serving children and youth throughout New Brunswick in an after-school orchestral music program. On Sunday, Jan. 10, the NBYO will perform at 2 p.m. at the Saint John High School
Who were your heroes growing up?
My local baseball team in Venezuela: the Leones del Caracas. I grew up watching them and wishing to become one of them.
What do you treasure most about New Brunswick?
The people. That’s the biggest treasure of the province. It is one of the kindest places on earth and we should be proud of it.
Which living New Brunswicker do you admire most?
There are many: Larry Nelson, Carmelle Valotaire, David Hawkins, and of course, Ken MacLeod. For different reasons in each case, some of them for starting almost from scratch and being successful, and after that giving so much back to their communities.In other cases,they’re innovative and especially fearless when they had little support or when they were doing things nobody did here before.
Which deceased New Brunswicker do you admire most?
Difficult to say.
What’s the toughest job you’ve had? Driving a truck during a blizzard here in New Brunswick. I volunteered to help drive the truck with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra percussion instruments and other stuff we used after a concert in Saint John, and I think I’ve never driven so slow in my life. And it happened when I had not lived in New Brunswick for very long.
If you could go back in time, when would you go?
I wish I could go back to the “discovery times,” when the Europeans arrived to the New World. I would somehow try to change how everything happened after that.
Is there one particular place on Earth that you enjoy the most? Barcelona,Spain; the baseball park in Caracas; and any Caribbean beach.
How do you relax? Playing softball, reading, and going to the beach.
What’s your biggest disappointment? How humanity hasn’t learned that extremes are never good. Too many wars and too many unnecessary conflicts worldwide.
What trait do you admire most about yourself? This is another hard one. I don’t think there is something like a lesser job.Whatever I’m asked or whatever challenge I find in my lifetime,I’ll face it trying to do my best.
What trait do you despise most in others? People talking behind your back. Hypocrisy is something I can’t stand.
What bothers you most about New Brunswick?
Not having a real spring. The rest of the seasons can’t be more beautiful.
What’s your favourite food?
There are many, but overall Spanish food. Although there are many like cochinillo, gazpacho, tortilla de patatas, and chistorras, I would say my favourite is the “Asopado de mariscos” which is a kind of soupy seafood paella.
What is your favourite New Brunswick city: Fredericton, Saint John or Moncton?
Difficult so say; the three have special features and stories. I live and enjoy very much Moncton, its bilingualism and how it’s growing. Fredericton’s river and universities give it a special air. Saint John,with its beautiful old uptown and the fact that it was my first performance place as a New Brunswick resident, makes it special.
What’s the greatest misconception people have about you?
Either that as a classical musician, that’s all the music I listen to, or, as a Latin American, I should be a good dancer – not necessarily.
What’s your most embarrassing moment?
The first time I had to speak to a crowd in English. It was in Saint John, in October 2010.It was after the premier of Marco Polo the musical and I’ve never been comfortable speaking to crowds. After the performance, we were supposed to answer questions from the audience. I just managed to say few unconnected words, and even today I’m not sure what I meant.
What’s your happiest moment?
Getting married to my wife and the birth of my two boys.
When is it OK to tell a lie? There are not too many moments,unless you are protecting someone.
How would you like to be remembered? As someone who contributed something to society through his hard work and passion, as a good father and a happy person.
Please share a secret with us. I like any kind of movie. I used to go to European and independent film festivals; but also from time to time I enjoy watching extremely silly movies as a distraction.
