** 2024 Commencement Updates **

** 2024 Commencement Updates **

Madrigal Choir Concert November 5 in Ilfeld

Las Vegas, N.M. – The Highlands University Madrigal Choir presents a concert, Come Fly With Me, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. in the university’s historic Ilfeld Auditorium, 900 University Ave.

The musical selections include popular jazz choral works ranging from “A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square by Manhattan Transfer to “Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendez and “Come Fly With Me” by Sammy Cahn.

“There will be both familiar American jazz choral works as well as traditional Latino jazz numbers,” said Andre García-Nuthmann, Highlands’ choral and vocal program director. There are also unexpected pieces like the jazz version of the Australian folk song ‘Waltzing Mathildaand a jazz version of a Japanese folksong called ‘Sakura.’”

García-Nuthmann said the Madrigal Choir is well-versed in the diverse musical selection and will shine brightly in the concert. He is the musical director.

Highlands University music faculty members Linda King is the pianist and Edward Harrington accompanies on bass. Other accompanists include Michael Campbell on percussion and Bruce Holmes on alto saxophone.

Cierra Gómez, an alto and vocal performance freshman, is the soloist for “The Boy from New York City,” “ Mas Que Nada,” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

“Cierra is one of the rising talents we have in the Department of Music. She has a very expressive quality in her voice, singing with emotion. Cierra also has a versatile range and can sing from classical music to pop and jazz,” García-Nuthmann said.

Community members who are soloists include include Betty Thompson, a soprano, improvising in various selections, and Joe Cooney, a bass, in “Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop.”

Soprano vocalists include Elena Chávez, Jaylene García, Oksana Herrera, Meg Loehr, and Betty Thompson.

Alto vocalists include Victoria Evans, Cierra Gómez, and Chris Jordan.

Tenor vocalists include Christopher Barela, Mike Hatlee, Mark Gillingham, Em Krall, and Cassius Simpson.

Bass vocalists include John Liddil, Richard Lindeborg, Joe Cooney, and David Ludwig.

Other works on the program include “Birdland,” “Lullaby of the Leaves,” “Let’s Dance! – the Songs of Irving Berlin,” “Everybody Loves my Baby,” “En la Macarenita,” and “The House of the Rising Sun.”

Ticket prices are $5 general admission. Highlands University students with valid IDs are free along with other students with IDs.