Silvana Gutierrez was first introduced to music through PCM’s outreach program, Young Musicians at Jefferson Elementary (now at Longfellow Elementary). She quickly developed a passion for music and later received a scholarship to study violin at PCM. Silvana continued her musical studies throughout high school with Rachel Fabulich and became an accomplished violinist.

“When I was learning how to play violin, I learned the importance of being detail-oriented – correct posture, intonation, etc. I also learned how important it was to see the whole picture… [Developing] these skills in music have helped me in my life: when I was preparing for college entrance exams, when I was interviewing for jobs, or giving speeches. I can trace everything back to my experiences at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.”

Upon graduating from high school, Silvana attended Georgetown University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in International Politics (concentration in Foreign Policy) and a Master of Business Administration (concentration in Finance). In business school, she learned the program was “basically chamber group and orchestra practice all over again. We have to practice those same teamwork, leadership, and communication skills.”

In 2022, Silvana joined the global consulting firm, Huron, as Strategy and Operations Consultant in Washington D.C. Silvana enjoys giving back to her community as a mentor and volunteer. She currently serves as an alumni mentor for the Georgetown Scholars Program, as well as a member of PCM’s Advisory Council and the Alumni Association Board for Alpha Phi Omega, Mu Alpha Chapter, in Washington, D.C.

When reflecting on what PCM meant to her Silvana shared, “When I moved to Washington, D.C. to attend Georgetown…one of the things I realized was the sense of loss of community that I was experiencing. PCM was not just an extracurricular activity, it was my community, much like Marshall Fundamental, my family, and my church. It was another home.”