Most musicians practice their instrument in Capistrano Hall, but one student found his comfort zone just outside of the Riverfront Center.

Senior academic religious studies major Antonio Esmael said he enjoys playing the violin at no cost to express himself and enjoy what he loves more than anything: music.

“When people stop to listen, I take it as the greatest compliment I could ever get,” he said.

He said he plays on campus during his breaks, in between classes, or whenever he has a chance.

Esmael has been playing the violin for four and a half years and said he is the first in his family to play the instrument.

“Being able to express all of your emotions without words and having people feeling your emotion and not knowing that it’s your emotion?that’s one of the greatest joys of music,” he said.

He said when he is not playing on campus, he practices at home for three to 18 hours a day.

When asked if he wants to pursue a career as a violinist, he said he was not sure.

“I don’t want to wake up in the morning and say, ‘I have to play today?’ I want to wake up and say ‘I get to play today,’ he said. “(Pursuing this as a career) detracts from the love I have (for music.)”

Esmael composed several of his own pieces and is currently working on a full orchestra piece.

He said his favorite type of music to play and listen to is classical. He also enjoys gypsy and folk music. Some of many violinists he is inspired by are Yasha Heifetz and Niccolo Paganini.

Evelyn Bigelyaizen can be reached at [email protected].