He began studying piano as a second grader, but as Roy Mendiola graduates with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, he does so with dreams that combine his musicianship and the person he is.
“I especially want to impart to younger people a passion to search for more than what is in front of them,” Mendiola said. “With a private music studio for instrumental, compositional and music production lessons, I aim to continue the appreciation of the arts as a vehicle for a culture of great thinkers, innovators and collaborators. That is how and where I began my journey as a curious person eager to serve.”
His primary teacher, Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies and Music Theory Sarah Chan, raves not only about his artistry, but also his character.
“Roy is one of the most modest, kind, respectful, genuine, giving and generous students I know,” Chan said. “He is always willing and ready to help others, giving above and beyond to support others’ growth, development and flourishing, and often at the expense of his own time and convenience. He shares his heart, time, knowledge and skills with an authentic love for people as much as he has for his own growth and for the study of interesting subject matter.
“Time and time again, I have witnessed the smile emanating from Roy’s face and heart when he sees a peer growing — whether in seeing someone making a step of progress in grasping the understanding of a concept or in appreciating the beauty of a work that someone else has created of music or writing.
“Roy’s example illuminates a love for life and for people that engages at the heart and soul of what the arts, humanity and sciences embrace — the love of study, examination and application. He does so with understanding, insight, skill and vision. He approaches his work with sensitivity, love, compassion and courage that engages others with authenticity of leadership and example.”
Mendiola, in return, credits Chan for her passionate teaching style that allowed him to be the student he wanted to be.
“The best part about college is the permission to experiment, make mistakes and try again,” Mendiola said. “It’s an opportunity to develop passion. Passion in academic studies is no different than passion for life. It has to be cultivated through exploration and protected through critically thinking about everything you encounter.”
Being a music major allowed Mendiola to be the type of student he wanted to be.
“Some things have to be experienced,” he said.
That which he demonstrated in gaining his college education impressed Chan.
“Not only has Roy’s musical and academic performance been outstanding and steadfastly excellent throughout the years in every single class that he has had with me across academic subdisciplines (Applied Piano, Piano Literature, Collaborative Piano/Accompanying, Piano Pedagogy, Musical Form and Analysis, 18th-c. Counterpoint and Orchestration), but Roy’s musicianship and academic pursuit are remarkable in and of their own merits,” Chan said. “Roy’s curiosity, creativity, and critical and creative thinking is alive in all that he does personally, musically and scholastically.
“Roy is open to new musical languages and modes of exploration, including the intersections of cross-disciplinary study that engage diverse perspectives of learning and approach that further his understanding with breadth and depth in the engagement of the arts and sciences, all while managing the comprehensiveness of the journey with integrity and authenticity
From embracing new musical languages and exploratory approaches, to interweaving cross-disciplinary studies and diverse perspectives into his studies, Chan said Mendiola always set an example as a scholar who leads with integrity and authenticity.
“As a musician,” Chan said, “Roy shows a remarkable versatility to artistic science and style that regards integrity of sound and timing in many expressions of personal creativity, both as a soloist and collaborative musician. Roy commands musical excellence whether as a solo classical pianist, collaborative jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, writer, mixed-media music technologist or creator through other means and expressions.
“Roy’s musicianship stands as singularly unique and dynamically special with compositional insight, interpretive voice and dynamic dimensionality.”
Sharing those talents with others is a possibility for Mendiola, who has many dreams.
“I want to be creative through any means that are personally gratifying and financially viable,” Mendiola said. “Whether writing, composing or teaching, I am open to however it may look and change with time. But one day, I want to say that I’ve dabbled in film soundtracks, released an extensive body of original music and collaborated with great artists.”
#StanGrad File
Name
Roy Mendiola
Hometown
Waterford, CA
Degree/Credential
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
What memories stand out most from your time at Stanislaus State?
“Stanislaus State was a time for change. I got my driver’s license, moved out of my parents’ home for the first time and married my wife during my time here. The joy and excitement that permeated my studies spurred me on to push and explore beyond what I knew. Before then, I did not know what it felt like to believe that anything was possible. Yet, along with these significant life choices came my first true introduction to the growing pains of change. In many ways, Stanislaus State was where I began to walk on my own.”
Which faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you, and why?
“Since my musical education from the second grade, I had never felt such inspiration for life and art from an educator like Sarah Chan, the coordinator of keyboard studies in the Department of Music. An embodiment of expansive joy from a simple love for music, it effortlessly overflowed into her students, stirring individual passion that fueled a strong sense of shared creativity for our community. Weekly piano lessons with her blurred the lines between life and art. More than a great teacher, she was a great person, fearless of honesty and self-expression.”
What advice would you give to current and future students?
“It is easier to get a good grade than it is to learn. Learning requires personal investment, vulnerability and commitment to find and say aloud what you truly think so your ideas can be tested and further refined. Yet, as humorously ironic as life can be, a good grade comes most easily with an honest attempt to learn.”
Note: This article is part of the StanGrad series highlighting Stanislaus State students who are part of the Class of 2025. Read more StanGrad profiles.
