Rihanna Scott: I heard you play the violin. Why did you pick the violin out of all instruments?

Daisy Torres: I picked the violin because it has many classical and challenges out of all the band instruments and it was said to be one of the hardest instruments and I wanted a challenge.

RS: If you could pick between the violin and accordion, which one would you say you enjoy playing more? Explain.

DT: Currently I enjoy playing the accordion because I’m barely learning and I like to get a challenge, but on the other hand, with the violin I have more experience.

RS: Do you feel like you have evolved in playing the violin from when you first started to play and why?

DT: I feel like I have. I’ve looked at videos from when I first started vs now and you can definitely see the improvement.

RS: What made you want to compete for Miss Cardinal? Why do you feel like you’re a good person to represent the school?

DT: I feel like I’m a good person because I’m a student input leader for the District and a student input leader on the mariachi program and music program, so I feel like I can represent the school in a good manner if I’m already doing what I’m doing.

RS: Do you feel like you want to be a professional violin player or you want to do something else and, if so, what else are you interested in?

DT: I wanna keep pursuing music because I feel like the more practice I have the better I can get and I know I can become professional some day.

RS: Can you pick up a tune just hearing it or do you have to  practice it to play the tune?

DT: I feel like it’s a mix of both. With just hearing it, I can pick up the initial notes, however, to play a full on melody, I would have to practice it for a while.

RS: What makes you feel comfortable enough to be  Miss Cardinal? And what makes you different from the other contestants?

DT: I feel like my initiative makes me different from other contestants because, like I said before, I’m taking part in a local education building option program where it helps students and gives input to the District and government on how funds will be allocated across student services. I also started the first and only mariachi here at SBCUSD, which is now becoming certified for the whole district mariachi and I see that as a way where I’m already representing students and providing input.

RS: How long do you tend to practice and how many times do you practice and what instruments do you mainly focus on?

DT: I practice over three hours every day ,and the main instruments I focus on right now are accordion and violin because those are the main instruments I use to perform.

RS: What do you hope to become with the music industry and how far are you trying to go?

DT: I’m trying to get the farthest I can and I hope to be professional someday. To be able to play and not have to worry about it.

RS: Do you have other family members that play instruments or do you just like music or is it a family tradition?

DT: No, I’m the first in my family. I’m the first generation and I’m also self taught on the accordion and the bass.

RS: How do you feel about other people’s thoughts on your playing? Do you take it in and try to fix it or do you ignore it and keep doing the same thing?

DT: I take it in and try to fix it because they notice things that I wouldn’t be able to notice in myself and I would want to improve on those things.

RS: What are the most important things about you that you would want other people to know for the Miss Cardinal pageant?

DT: One of the most important things I would want them to know is that I’m willing to take their criticism and input on how they would want me to represent them and things they would want me to do for them.