Communication Student Hits All the Right Notes

Communication Student Hits All the Right Notes

By Audrey Sperry

Andrew Minjares, a communication student, sings in the barbershop quartet Rest Assured, which achieved a top 20 national ranking last summer. Photo by Miguel Mota

Most people give up when they're faced with rejection.

Andrew Minjares stayed persistent toward his goals after many setbacks, and that has earned him a gold medal.

Minjares' barbershop quartet, Rest Assured, placed in the top 20 in the nationlast summer. In addition, the a cappella group he's a member of - internationally renowned The Westminster Chorus in La Mirada - captured first in the nation and scored a perfect 100 in the 2024 BHS International Chorus Championships.

Minjares is a fifth-year communication major on track to graduate this year.

"Never in barbershop conventions has a score of 100 been achieved," Minjares said. "It was a very surreal experience."

Minjares describes his high school singing experience as always being the one to win "the most improved" award in his chorus. Although this hurt his confidence, it never destroyed it. His many setbacks have led to an incredible comeback as a Cal State San Marcos student.

A barbershop quartet is four people singing a cappella and each adding certain elements to the song. A chorus is essentially a larger version of a barbershop quartet in that it can be 90 people singing the different positions.

Minjares' position in both is the melody, which he describes as "the lead and the storyteller."

Since Minjares joined his high school chorus, he dreamed of being a part of the Westminster Chorus.

"I never thought I'd ever be good enough to be in that chorus because they won Choir of the World in 2009, which is the most prestigious choir World Award that can be achieved," he said. "So, I thought, 'There's no way that I could ever be in that chorus. I'm not good enough to be in that chorus.' "

In his first audition for Westminster Chorus, he felt that familiar pang of rejection. He didn't earn a spot but instead received some much-needed criticism on what to work on for the next time he'd audition.

"They were testing my ability to be coached, to be persistent and to apply the concepts that they're telling me to," Minjares said. "The next week I came back and I auditioned, and I got in. It only took me two attempts."

Minjares' resilience and openness to being coached allowed him to get into the prestigious choir of his dreams.

Juggling school and his singing responsibilities have been a bit challenging at times.

Minjares stresses the importance of fitting the choir and quartet into his schedule, despite these challenges.

"I do homework in the car on the way there, and then I do homework on the way back," he said. "I've even taken some exams in the car. I've tried to fit this choir into my schedule because it's what I need for my self-fulfillment needs and my psychological needs. There are 90 guys up there, and we really have to battle the topic of toxic masculinity because we're all trying to be the best brothers we can be, the best fathers.

"How can I be the best version of myself?"

Despite the challenge of balancing his choir/quartet and his schoolwork, Minjares was on the Dean's List last spring and is on track to graduate this year. He is looking forward to finding a job in the communications field, while also prioritizing his barbershop quartet and chorus.

Minjares credits communication professor Robert Gutierrez with making him excited to show up to class.

"He made the subject matter interesting," Minjares said. "I could relate it to my life. Everything he said stayed in my memory, which is rare for me in my classes. I think this was due to the fact that it was very interactive."

Gutierrez not only worked with Minjares in class, he attended his performances.

It seems Minjares made an impact on his professor in more ways than one.

"I remember watching him perform on stage and being so proud of him," Gutierrez said. "As a student, Andrew always asked great questions and contributed to class conversations with meaningful personal narratives and impressive insights on the assigned readings. I always felt like Andrew and I shared a love for our Latino cultures and a love for the power of performance to transform lives.

"I am proud of his accomplishments, and I know that this is just the beginning for this bright star."

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