Diego Vásquez, who moved to a beautiful Southern Finger Lakes community in 2022 from Hartford, CT, is an interdisciplinary musician who loves to play the clarinet and twerk.
More specifically, he teaches clarinet at Ithaca College and plays music, both new and old, in a variety of concert formats.
Diego wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the area when he arrived, having done his undergrad at IC and loving the lifestyle here. “I got the professor job at IC and was happy to return,” he said.
Before moving back to the area, Diego expressed excitement about the landscape, the music culture between Cornell and IC, and the wine and farmers’ market. But he still had some reservations. “I have spent most of my life living in big cities, so I was concerned about the isolation.”
Now that he is building a life here, he says he has found ways to not feel so isolated through his work, exploration of art around the area, and travel. “My professional life keeps me busy and driving around the region for concerts,” he said, adding, “The proximity to a few airports makes things easier.”
Diego found the relocation process simple and discovered a great place to live in a pretty, quiet area.
Additionally, Diego has found that his career has flourished here. To listen to Diego play – and we were completely mesmerized by him when we did – you can follow his performances at Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Syracuse Orchestra, Binghamton Philharmonic, TriCities Opera, Orchestra of the Southern Fingerlakes, perform recitals, and more!
And Diego has found a life balance here that he has really enjoyed and thinks is too often underrated. “Most of my time is spent playing, teaching, or listening to music. I love to jog outside on the trails near Seneca Lake, where I live,” Diego said.
“It’s a beautiful place. I wish there were a train to NYC. The isolation from denser populated cities can be a bit taxing, but there is a lot to do and interesting people to meet!”
Thank you, Diego, for sharing your story! Read more SoFLX stories to learn about life, work, and play in the Southern Finger Lakes.