Ever since elementary school, Toby Fernandez ’24 has immersed himself in the art of music composition. “I realized that there was no other answer for me besides music production,” he said. “In no other field of academic study have I exhibited such an immense level of interest as music.”
At only eight years old, Fernandez began experimenting with free music software on the computer and mobile apps, including Garageband and Smule, out of curiosity. In middle school, he learned to use digital audio workstation software, using it to compose arrangements.
His early exposure to music production influenced his decision to enroll in Studio Production 1 during his freshman year at Deerfield. Fernandez said, “Despite only lasting five weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this course really was the catalyst for my interest in music production.”
Ever since then, Fernandez continued to teach himself new skills by working with students on campus for both recreational and academic projects.
Fernandez expressed his gratitude toward other Deerfield artists like Donald Hutchinson ’23 and Levi Tipton ’24, who he said “have been my rocks when it came to my musical journey, always offering their feedback and collaborating with me in my musical endeavors.” Fernandez also noted that Bronson Branch ’25 and Alice Wu ’25 made significant contributions to his tracks by being featured in several of them.
Fernandez expressed further gratitude towards his friends and family back home, “for they have seen my growth since the beginning of my music production journey that has brought a sense of fulfillment into my life that I would not have been able to pursue without Deerfield’s support.”
As senior year approached and the question of what Fernandez was planning to pursue in college became more relevant, he started taking music production more seriously. During his junior year, Fernandez “began researching colleges with exceptional music production/technology programs and degrees, most of which required auditions or portfolios.” Over the summer, Fernandez began to envision an art portfolio for music—one that he said would “exhibit my skills, my artistic vision, my commitment, and my versatility.” Fernandez added, “I even wrote my Common App essay about the parallels between producing music and learning a new language.” Fernandez affirmed that he is “determined to pursue hands-on experiences in the studio and will continue to take the steps necessary to walk down that path after Deerfield.”
Inspiration for new projects comes from both online and offline sources for Fernandez. When using social media, Fernandez encounters videos of other producers showing their projects or giving tips, which often gives him the motivation to make pieces of his own. Additionally, when hanging out with friends or even just doing day-to-day activities, Fernandez said, “I seek inspiration from the sounds I hear every single day, or even sounds that appear in my imagination.” Sometimes, Fernandez said, “I try to emulate the styles of artists, producers, or genres that might land outside of my comfort zone.” His trap song, Strings of My Very Being, which was presented during school meeting, serves as an example of his willingness to explore diverse musical styles.
Strings of My Very Being features four current Deerfield students: Isaiah Ruffin ’24, Tyler Christopher Long ’26, Cairon Harrison ’25, and Janis Zempare ’26. Since the beginning of the fall term, Fernandez was told by Dr. Pfitzer that the final project for the Lyrics and Poetry course would be to write song lyrics. Although recording a musical backing to the lyrics was not mandatory, Fernandez said, “It was a perfect opportunity to embrace my passion for music and utilize the production techniques that I developed in Honors Music Composition and Analysis.” After writing his own lyrics for the assignment, he gathered different students on campus in order to get different voices for each part of the song. Fernandez said, “Having a plethora of diverse voices on the track helps further convey the song’s core themes that everyone has lows in their life and they make us who we are; therefore, we should embrace life’s struggles in order to overcome them.”
Long praised Fernandez for his dedication towards the piece, saying, “Toby was very particular about the sound he wanted and had a clear vision of how he wanted the song to be.” Long was especially surprised by how “Toby was also very respectful towards the featured students of how he wanted the song to be.” Fernandez was able to lead the team in a well-organized manner in an uplifting atmosphere, as Long said, “My experience working with him made me want to create more music with him.”
Director of Music and Honors Music Composition and Analysis Teacher Thomas Bergeron also praises his exemplary work ethic, saying, “His success in music is the result of his thirst for learning, his commitment to constant growth, and his exemplary work ethics, all of which stem from a genuine love for the art of music.”
As Fernandez readies for his post-Deerfield journey in the world of music composition, his story illustrates how passion, dedication, and a genuine love for the art of music can play a role in shaping and defining one’s character.