Student immerses himself in the performing arts
By Jonathan Kane
Wood River High School senior Jose Aguayo, carrying a 3.6 grade point average and a member of National Honor Society, moved to the Wood River Valley at the beginning of his junior year, from Chicago.
Aguayo now finds himself in love with the performing arts and, to hear him tell it, he never participated or even thought of participating until he arrived in Idaho.
“I guess the seeds were planted my sophomore year in Chicago,” Aguayo said. “A friend invited me to see a production of ‘West Side Story’ and I ended up being so inspired because everyone up on the stage had been a close friend since childhood. What moved me the most and really struck a chord was seeing shy kids up there singing and dancing.”
By his own account, despite his shyness, theater and music have become Aguayo’s passion in life.
“In a sense, I was antisocial and I didn’t talk much. I owe all my newfound confidence to the theater; otherwise, I’d be peeing in my pants doing this interview,” he said with a laugh.
Aguayo started by playing some guitar back in Chicago, but joined the choir and the B-Tones at WRHS upon enrolling.
“It was a long process getting comfortable. I’m pretty decent at singing and I’m a lot better than I was before. I just really enjoy it and I’ll continue even if I’m not good. I aspire to be the best singer ever. That’s my dream.”
Singing gives him a freedom that he can’t find anywhere else. “It allows you to be a true artist and allows you to share something that you enjoy and that other people like. I also want to inspire the next generation of kids like I was inspired that may want to do it and may not necessarily believe in themselves. That’s the same way that I felt.”
Aguayo recently watched a tape of himself singing a year ago and couldn’t believe how nervous he was and how awkward he was onstage.
“Today, it’s the best experience imaginable. At first, there is that rush of adrenaline and thrill, and then, once that passes, you feel you can take on any problems that the world throws at you. I found this out more as an actor. In the choir, you can rely on other people, while in acting, you are pretty much on your own.”
This is Aguayo’s second year taking performing arts classes.
“I’ve really grown as an actor these past two years.”
His first show was one of the most technically challenging, “Noises Off.”
“Getting a laugh is one of the most awesome experiences you can have. But I was really nervous, as I was the second male lead. It went really well, otherwise I wouldn’t be talking about it.”
It’s a promising career that’s just starting.