The final chord is not always heard. Sometimes it remains suspended in the air, trapped within the memories of those who were there when it rang out for the very last time.
In Tampa, several children and young people perhaps did not fully grasp what was happening when their music teachers began to say their goodbyes. Some promised to stay in touch. Others simply embraced the mentors who, for years, had taught them to find their voice, to master an instrument, or to discover that art could serve as a sanctuary.
“The teachers left the country; they felt pressured by the entire immigration situation. They were told there was no solution regarding their applications. These were teachers of exceptional quality and high renown — impeccable individuals with an impressive body of work and an unblemished record of morality and ethics.”
These are the words of Francisco Díaz, president and musical director of the Sunstate Orchestral Program in Tampa, who recounted to CENTRO Tampa what befell the classical music teachers Juan Carlos Pineda, Rubén Arocha, and Samael Jaimes.
“The procedural avenues began to close off for them — and for the immigrant community as a whole,” he said. “Their Temporary Protected Status was revoked, and on top of that came changes to asylum policies; consequently, they decided not to pursue any further legal processes and chose to return home.”
Jaimes served as the choral director; Arocha headed the piano department; and Maestro Juan Carlos Pineda dedicated himself to fusing percussion and guitar ensembles, in addition to directing the “cuatro” (Venezuelan four-string guitar) project within this orchestra, which operates as a nonprofit foundation.
Yet, behind those farewells lay a far more complex reality: the immigration-related uncertainty that has compelled countless Venezuelans to leave the United States and abandon the lives they had built there.
One of them was Jaimes. A musician, vocal coach, and mentor to young talent, he arrived in Tampa in 2019 with the conviction that music could transform lives. He shared his story with CENTRO, now speaking from Venezuela.
“Knowing that, due to specifically immigration-related reasons — and under circumstances where I, and we, have absolutely no control — our work in the United States of America must come to an end fills me with profound pain and a sense of helplessness,” he said. “That is exactly what happened in my case. I proceeded step by step, organizing my documentation in hopes of having my professional degree officially recognized; however, the path ahead kept shifting.”
As he recounts, the onset of the pandemic, the shifting immigration policies regarding the TPS status that had provided him protection, and a decline in his family’s health ultimately led him to make the difficult decision to return to his home country.
“COVID affected so many of us and caused further delays in my entire process — and not just mine, but that of many of my colleagues as well. There were also personal circumstances to consider — particularly health issues affecting my wife, my daughter, and myself.”
Maestro Samael Jaimes served as the choral director for the Sunstate Orchestral Program, a role that entailed conducting a multicultural adult choir — comprising members from the United States, Central America, and South America.
“He also directed the children’s choir and the pre-junior choir, and was instrumental in developing curricula, lesson plans, and strategies designed to maximize the impact of the teaching model we are currently championing,” explained Díaz, the orchestra’s director.
However, the moment eventually arrived when Jaimes had to pack up — gathering not only his material possessions but also a significant chapter of his life story. His decision to voluntarily leave the country was shaped by the pervasive uncertainty faced by thousands of Venezuelans affected by the changes in immigration policy regarding TPS.
For Jaimes, his students represent a truly special chapter.
“I had approximately 19 children under my tutelage,” he said. “I remember that when I first took them on, they were at a ‘zero’ or absolute beginner level. Well, I gradually guided them toward performing and developing a classical repertoire suited to their skill level; to have to leave them behind now, after having invested so much in their training, is incredibly difficult.”
Student withdrawals
Díaz recounted that several parents asked him about the replacements for each of the now-vacant positions across the various sections.
To this, he replied: “Look, how can I possibly give you an answer to that within this immigrant community — which is quite complex? Right now, someone might want to leave, be on the verge of leaving, or simply must leave. They arrived here because of their talents, and the very nature of music brings us people like them; that is how it has always been. It is difficult to know who is coming next.”
He explained that, ultimately, many of those parents — approximately 30 families — also decided not to continue with their musical endeavors. He asserted that the psychological impact on the children, stemming from the news regarding the teachers’ departure, was severe.
“Building something and then not finishing it just isn’t good; it doesn’t look right. The proper thing to do is to finish what you start — especially something achieved with such great effort, and which was progressing in such a positive direction,” Jaimes Orejarena said. “So, to have it end this way simply isn’t right, and it has stirred up all sorts of emotions. Nevertheless, I also want to thank the United States for the opportunity it offered—not only to me, but to my family as well. And I also want to offer a voice of support to my colleagues who, due to these same circumstances, have had to return.”
For his part, Rubén Arocha — who served as a piano instructor for the Sunstate Orchestral Program — left Tampa in the same manner, due to the expiration of his TPS status.
Speaking to us from Venezuela, Arocha expressed his deep regret at having to leave behind the children he had been teaching piano since they were practically babies — children who are now between 7 and 8 years old.
“All of them were nurtured through my piano instruction; it hurts me deeply to leave them behind — and, of course, to leave my entire project in Tampa,” Arocha said. “I am grateful for your interest in sharing our story, and from here in my home country of Venezuela, I want to send a warm embrace across the distance to the children I taught, as well as to their parents.”
Both Arocha and Jaimes felt a profound sense of gratitude for the tribute paid to them by the orchestra directed by Díaz — a demonstration of just how important they were to both the Hispanic and American communities in Tampa.
On April 4, 350 people gathered to bid a fond farewell to the three teachers.
“It was quite a lengthy event — a recognition of each of the specific disciplines they were overseeing,” Díaz said. “Once again, their talent resonated before a large and appreciative audience. Furthermore, the orchestra performed in their honor; it was a deeply moving and sincere tribute.”
The departure of these instructors was felt keenly by more than just entire families. It was not merely a matter of losing a few instructors; it was a matter of losing mentors — guides who had already become deeply embedded in the Hispanic community and whose work had earned them widespread recognition.
“All of them played a pivotal role in shaping these children — children who, after all, represent the promises of the future. They are the virtuoso musicians of tomorrow,” Díaz said. “We believe — and are certain — that what they have accomplished constitutes a cultural contribution to the city of Tampa; they are an integral part of our city’s cultural tapestry.”
This sentiment was expressed by León Granado, president of the Venezuela USA Foundation, another nonprofit organization that presented the musicians with awards on behalf of the Venezuelan diaspora in Tampa, in recognition of the work they carried out here in the bay area over the past seven years.
“Upon learning that these teachers had to leave the country, we wanted to pay tribute to them and honor them with awards that would demonstrate the appreciation and respect we feel for them and for the work they performed; thus, we made sure to be present at their farewell,” Granado said.