Alumni Spotlight: Gabriel Evangelista Finding His Purpose in Music

The Moody Campus Orchestra in Greece.

When Gabriel Evangelista first began studying cello with Brian Hoffman in 2011, neither of them could have predicted just how far music would carry Gabriel. From lessons in a small music studio to stages across Greece, Gabriel’s musical journey is an example of the power of passion, perseverance, and purpose.

A 2015 high school graduate, Gabriel attended Harper College, where he earned his Associate’s Degree in Science in 2019 and played in the Harper College Symphony Orchestra for an impressive ten years. He later completed a Bachelor's degree in Health Science at Roosevelt University in 2021, balancing his scientific interests with a deepening connection to music.

Today, Gabriel is pursuing graduate studies in music ministry at Moody Theological Seminary. As a member of the Moody Campus Orchestra, he continues to perform regularly while also preparing for a future of service through music. For Gabriel, music ministry offers something profound: “Music ministry helps people feel God’s presence in a real way. Music brings people together. It connects us. It’s amazing to see how many people are being blessed through it.”

His connection to music and community doesn’t stop there. Gabriel serves part-time as the Director of Youth & Young Adults at Trinity Gospel Church of Chicagoland in Elk Grove Village and even tutors cello students from his church. “Teaching is different from performing,” he shares. “It takes a lot of patience.”

This past March Gabriel went on a two-week performance tour in Greece with the Moody Campus Orchestra. Traveling through Athens, Corfu, and other cities, the group performed a blend of church and classical music in venues ranging from churches to music schools. They rehearsed, set up, performed, and packed up as a team each evening. It was an intense yet bonding experience. “There was a lot of camaraderie,” Gabriel says. 

“Music is a big part of Greek culture, especially vocal music like chanting and choral singing. We saw a local orchestra perform in Corfu, and everywhere we went, people were incredibly warm and welcoming. After one of our concerts, the mayor of the city even gave us a personal nighttime tour and took photos with us. The whole experience reminded me how music can build connections, even when you don’t speak the same language. “Food is a way to connect with people, but you relate with music. Even with a language barrier, you can communicate with music,” he noted.

Recently, Brian Hoffman invited Gabriel to return to the Summer Chamber Music Camp as part of an alumni cello quartet. He hadn’t participated in the camp since he was a student back in 2015. “It was a blessing to reunite with Brian. It was surreal playing alongside him. It was a very cool experience,” Gabriel recalls. He notes that chamber music brings unique challenges: “You have to know who you’re playing with. It’s about communication.”

Director and cello teacher Brian Hoffman is enjoying the reunion with Gabriel. He sums it up this way, "Reuniting with cellist Gabriel Evangelista this year has been a full-circle moment for me as a teacher (maybe the kind that only teachers of a certain age get to experience?!). Gabriel was one of my very first students at Midwest Conservatory nearly 15 years ago. I remember us having some tough talks about daily practice and personal accountability, but I better remember the joy of watching him make his own discoveries, culminating in his mastery of one of Haydn’s difficult Cello Concertos.

"Now he’s back, still playing beautifully at an almost professional level, and a teacher himself. When I needed a fourth for our adult cello quartet this summer, I immediately thought of Gabriel. He said yes without hesitation, and playing together again has been a true joy. Thank you, Gabriel, this reunion has been an unexpected and inspiring gift. It means so much to me."

From cello lessons to international tours, Gabriel Evangelista is living proof that music can inspire, heal, and connect across borders. Whether he's teaching, performing, or leading ministry, Gabriel continues to use music to build bridges and bless others along the way.

Brian Hoffman and Gabriel Evangelista at the Summer Chamber Music Camp concert.