Las Vegas, N.M. – The Highlands University Department of Music presents its Original Music Concert May 3 at7 p.m. in the university’s historic Ilfeld Auditorium at 900 University Ave.
Highlands music professor Edward Harrington directs the both the Music Technology Program and the concert, which features original works written and produced by Highlands University music students in the Music Technology Program. The performance includes a special guest musician from the Las Vegas community, Steve Leger, on trumpet.
“Steve has been studying the arrangements of Richie Cole and is writing his own arrangement based on Cole’s techniques for a seven-piece jazz group,” Harrington said.
General admission tickets are $5 for the concert. Admission is free for Highlands University students, faculty and staff with valid ID.
“Our music students spend many hours each week honing their recordings to perfection at Highlands’ recording studio and music lab,” Harrington said. “The May 3 concert will feature recordings and live performances of approximately 20 music students. Three of the featured students are graduating music seniors Donaciano Vigil, Cassidy Kear and Alfredo Aragon.”
Harrington said Donaciano Vigil writes and produces music in electronic dance music and hip-hop styles where he sings along with synthesizers and drums. Vigil also plays drums with the Highlands Jazz Ensemble and studies voice with music professor Andre García-Nuthmann.
Harrington said Cassidy Kear writes and produces Christian contemporary music with her own vocals, lyrics and arrangements. She uses pianos and strings, and adds background vocals to her productions. She has completed an arrangement of one of her original pieces for choir, to be performed this semester.
Harrington said Alfredo Mondragon writes and produces hip-hop and metal musical styles.
Other Highlands students performing in the Original Music Concert include:
- Reyes Montoya, who writes and produces Spanish music based on the Northern New Mexico style. He is releasing a CD album that he produced this semester at his family’s home studio.
- Susan Martínez, who has composed several scores for piano and small-instrument ensembles in modern styles.
- Martin Neddo-Roaque, who writes music suitable for movie scores. He produced a choral score and a full score for the Highlands Jazz Ensemble this semester.
- Maria Valdez, who has produced several singer-songwriter tracks this year, featuring herself on guitar and vocals.
- Chris Soveranez produces rhythm and blues style hip-hop tracks, featuring his voice and the voice of music student Oksana Herrera in main and background vocals.
- Mighty Williams composes original piano works based on improvisations. He studies piano with Highlands’ new music professor Edwin Aybar.
- John Ray Tafoya, Danielle Cartee, Rachel McCork, Kathryn Kear, Santana Martínez, Kayleen Roybal, Jovina Sandoval, and Marcus Romero are building collections of original works that express their own creative voices.
Music technology students study songwriting, composition, recording, arranging, mastering, and digital-audio editing.