This was previously published in the 2026 senior issue.
As Diego Chavolla plays the final measure of his high school career, he begins the first note of his future at the University of British Columbia. Due to his variety of advanced math, science, and engineering courses, he will be majoring in mechanical engineering.
Participating in multiple choir ensembles as well as participating in this year’s musical, Chavolla is the vice president of the choral department and president of the Tri-M Music Honor society. Chavolla has a passion for music that he carries with him into his next chapter.
Stinger: Do you have a favorite music artist or a favorite band?
Chavolla: My favorite band, I’d say, is probably Queen. They’re the first band I ever listened to, and I know all their songs by heart. My favorite singer would probably be Ethel Cain.
Stinger: Why are those your favorites?
Chavolla: Queen, because every member is super talented. Everybody talks about Freddy, but I feel like the other members are also some of the best in the field. Brian May’s probably my favorite guitarist ever. And Ethel Cain is because she’s amazing at writing stories around her music, and I like how she records everything by herself. She sounds like a full band playing when it’s just her recording all the instruments. I just find it really impressive.
Stinger: Do you play any instruments?
Chavolla: I’ve been playing piano since I was little, and now I’m a teacher. I can play the drum kit, the guitar, bass guitar, and ukulele. I’ve played a bunch of instruments. I’ve produced music in the past for my band. I help write music as well, and sometimes I accompany the choir concert.
Stinger: Do you feel like you have a similar personal connection to your music?
Chavolla: Well, everything I write is personal, like even if it doesn’t make sense to other people. If it makes sense in my head, I’ll write it. I’ve written so many songs on piano, but I don’t even write them down sometimes or record them, because I just do it for me.
Stinger: What do you think your freshman self would think of you now?
Chavolla: Surprised that I haven’t given up on a lot of things, I really pushed myself hard into places I didn’t think I was capable of going. I took so many hard classes I didn’t think I’d take. I didn’t expect to get into the musical, and I did. I didn’t expect to continue doing choir, and I went to districts twice. I didn’t expect myself to be this involved. I thought I would just take the easy way out, but I’m surprised, and I’m happy that I did all of this because I’ve gotten a lot out of it.
