​Meet the Musicians!

Focus on Aurora Torres Cuevas

By Ellie McKinnon

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​Who hasn’t dreamed of taking a break from the pressures of life and escaping to a favorite get away—to a quiet cabin in the woods, a sunny spot on a beach, a scenic mountain top? For Idaho dreamers, that might take them to the heart of the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains. And that is exactly where Aurora Torres Cuevas has spent the past few months.

With a Master’s Degree in hand and a bright future unfolding, things were going well for Aurora.  She had earned positions in the Baroque Orchestra and the Boise Philharmonic and the Opera Idaho Orchestra.  In addition, she was working with two other musicians preparing to launch a string trio.  Then along came Covid-19, and the music died. The trio was put on hold, and orchestral performances were placed on ice.

​While this was not what she had planned, she saw an opportunity to step temporarily away from the strings that held her in the city.  She put aside her favorite composers--Beethoven for his capacity to evoke raw emotion and Stravinsky, equally raw and very mathematical.  Then she turned toward the mountains, and immersed herself in hiking, boating, and camping. For music, she tuned to Rap. To keep her financially afloat, she worked as a server at Stanley Idaho’s Mountain Village Resort.  She acted on a principle that guides her. She feels it’s important to “…make sure that what you are doing in your life makes you happy.”  Aurora seems able to be happy were wherever she lands.

 And music has made her happy—she started playing the violin in 6th grade but switched to the viola because the school needed that voice.  Her family was supportive.  Her parents drove her to every rehearsal and attended each concert. They were wise. They did not continually ask her to practice. And because they did not insist, she did practice.

By the time she reached college age, she and her viola had caught the attention of the College of Idaho, and they offered her a music scholarship. She accepted and kept right on playing.  Other types of music also interested her—especially hip hop, and electronic pop music that made her itch to dance.  Other subjects intrigued her too, especially astronomy and botany.

So, what is she looking forward to when wintery weather brings this current season to its finale?  She has kept in contact with the two members of the anticipated string trio. They may soon make music together.  She says that she is looking forward to living in her Boise apartment where she’s able to cook using a gas range that actually works. Whether cooking up a storm, exploring the Sawtooths or drawing music from her instruments, Aurora is likely to be happy, creating her own brand of joy.