Ana Marquez-Greene
Ana Marquez-Greene was born in Hartford, CT on April 4th to two loving parents, James S. Greene Jr. and Nelba Amaro-Marquez.
Ana who is African American, Puerto Rican, Canadian, and part Irish, had a strong passion for music. Her love for singing has always been evident even before she was able to talk. She got her love for music from her father who was a jazz musician. They would often sing and dance together throughout the house. Sometimes while her brother played the piano her daddy would play the saxophone and she would sing and dance. She never went anywhere without dancing. She also developed a love for God and even learned to read the Bible by age 6. Her early rhythmic and reading abilities helped her to be very successful in school. All the students and teachers loved her and she was a joy to have in her classes.
One day at school something happened that would change her life forever. One Friday morning as Ana was on her way to music class, her school went into lockdown and all her classmates were rushed into their classroom. Within fifteen minutes Ana and her classmates saw a man with a gun moving down the hallway. Her music teacher made sure all the students were out of sight in the class and quiet, just as the gunman fired some stray shots and barged into the classroom. The music teacher tried to take down the gunman but was tragically shot several times. While trying to go reload his gun, the resource officer at Ana’s school shot the gunman in the shoulder and was able to disarm him until additional law enforcement arrived. The music teacher died on the scene, yet he was able to save the lives of all the students in that classroom; including Ana.
Ever since that day, when Ana lost her beloved music teacher, she was inspired to further her musical career. At the age of 17 Ana and her brother went on America’s Got Talent; she was singing and her brother was playing the piano. She went on to win the competition and upon recording her first album, received a Grammy nomination. She began to cry during an interview about her successful debut album as she remembered her childhood music teacher who lost his life trying save hers. Ana’s family is so proud of her accomplishments. She always showed a strong love for music and her hard work, dedication, and ability to keep her eyes on her dreams, never giving up has paid off; inspiring us all.
Ana who is African American, Puerto Rican, Canadian, and part Irish, had a strong passion for music. Her love for singing has always been evident even before she was able to talk. She got her love for music from her father who was a jazz musician. They would often sing and dance together throughout the house. Sometimes while her brother played the piano her daddy would play the saxophone and she would sing and dance. She never went anywhere without dancing. She also developed a love for God and even learned to read the Bible by age 6. Her early rhythmic and reading abilities helped her to be very successful in school. All the students and teachers loved her and she was a joy to have in her classes.
One day at school something happened that would change her life forever. One Friday morning as Ana was on her way to music class, her school went into lockdown and all her classmates were rushed into their classroom. Within fifteen minutes Ana and her classmates saw a man with a gun moving down the hallway. Her music teacher made sure all the students were out of sight in the class and quiet, just as the gunman fired some stray shots and barged into the classroom. The music teacher tried to take down the gunman but was tragically shot several times. While trying to go reload his gun, the resource officer at Ana’s school shot the gunman in the shoulder and was able to disarm him until additional law enforcement arrived. The music teacher died on the scene, yet he was able to save the lives of all the students in that classroom; including Ana.
Ever since that day, when Ana lost her beloved music teacher, she was inspired to further her musical career. At the age of 17 Ana and her brother went on America’s Got Talent; she was singing and her brother was playing the piano. She went on to win the competition and upon recording her first album, received a Grammy nomination. She began to cry during an interview about her successful debut album as she remembered her childhood music teacher who lost his life trying save hers. Ana’s family is so proud of her accomplishments. She always showed a strong love for music and her hard work, dedication, and ability to keep her eyes on her dreams, never giving up has paid off; inspiring us all.