Rising Stars: Meet Antonio Duran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Duran. 

Hi Antonio, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Southern California , and grew up in Riverside. Music was always my passion no matter what else I was involved in. After trying college for a semester, I decided to drop out and pursue my dream and perform in the surrounding areas with hopes of “making it”. After a year and some progress, I realized that I really did need an education in music if I wanted to continue in the industry. I ended up going back to community college for about 5 years while still performing in my hometown and Los Angeles. During that time, I was able to get opportunities working as a studio musician, getting hired by producers and writers all while teaching my own private lessons on the side. Once I graduated community college, I moved to Indiana to do a Bachelors degree in performance at Indiana State University. Idecided to put my head down and work on my craft further while making ends meet in a new state. I spent two years there and got to perform in surrounding states, which led to my completion of a Master’s degree and Graduate Assistantship at West Virginia University. During those formative years, I was able to work with artists such as Yandel, LEYO, De La Ghetto, as well as be a part of other projects for Netflix and a project for Dolly Parton. Currently, I am working in Sandusky, Ohio as an affiliate of D and G Entertainment / Cedar Point where I am part of a Jazz Quartet that plays daily at the Sawmill Creek Resort.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been long and at times unbearable, but those are the moments that have inspired me the most. There have been times where stress forced me to work on mental health, learning how to be independent from being away from family, and times where I had no money and the only way out was to problem solve. My biggest hurdle came one year ago during my Master’s degree when I suddenly lost my mother to COVID. I was given the option to forego a semester, but instead, I decided to use my work as a way to heal. Challenges have also helped me pave my own way, and many times I would have never expected to be where I am. By taking chances and asking questions, I have been able to connect myself to different circles of people that lead to the next big thing in my life. This constantly lets me change my dream and goals, and sets my sights on heading to the top of my game.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in guitar but also in composition and songwriting, which allows me to use my diversity and skill to mold myself into any genre that I am currently a part of. Another large part of my work is based on teaching, and I teach lessons in music theory, guitar, and jazz theory that are adaptable for any instrument. Some of my recording work has involved projects for songwriters Valentina, Dolly Parton, De La Ghetto, Yandel, and others. I have a Latin band based in Los Angeles named ILKA and singer Ilka Cortes and I team up on songwriting projects together. I am currently focused on working in musicals, and some of that experience was being a Music Director for a production of RENT, and playing in pits for Sweet Charity, and Godspell. I’m all of this, I also work on my own solo music which can be found on any streaming platform under “Anthony Duran”, with a new jazz album coming out in the near future.

We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking?
If you do not take risks, then you will not reach the dream. In every step that I have taken, there has been major risk, starting with leaving my home city to continue my dream across the country alone. The greatest reward is always on the other side of fear, so in that, I have been able to relocate myself a few times in different states and restart from ground zero but be filled with happiness and wonder just like when I was a kid. Big opportunities present themselves only once, and I have had big opportunities slip away that could have changed my life. But what we can do to fight that is realize that everything is an opportunity, and you never know who is listening.

Pricing:

• Private lessons = $50 for one hour, included with pdf’s

Contact Info:

• Instagram: antonio_duran_official
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE262FZBHApGPhKdGXn8W3g

Image Credits
Victor Duran Photography