Student Spotlight: UF tuba player Raquel Steiert marches to her own beat, balancing music and nursing studies
Raquel Steiert is used to shouldering a heavy load. As a member of the University of Florida Fightin’ Gator Marching Band, she hefts a 30-pound tuba across the field in the blazing Gainesville heat. As a student pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree from the College of Nursing, she carries a full load of classes at one of the nation’s most demanding undergraduate programs.
Originally from Palm Beach County, Florida, the 20-year-old Steiert began her musical journey reluctantly at age 11. Her parents signed her up for band in sixth grade, insisting it would help her academically. She remembers resisting at first.
“I really didn’t want to do it,” Steiert said. “But they said it would be good for me.”
It was. The discipline of learning an instrument helped Steiert juggle her demanding college schedule, which is jam-packed with band practices, performances and academics.
Over the years, Steiert’s tuba, officially known as a sousaphone, has become more than just an instrument. She started on a small beginner tuba, progressed to a larger concert model in middle school and, by high school, she was lugging the large sousaphone around in parades and football games.