November December 2023 College News

International Mariachi Conference. As a result of these awards, they performed on the final Spectacular Concert, which also featured two top professional groups, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán and Mariachi Cobre. Members of MNG and Mariachi Lince de Oro (MLO) enjoyed working with and learning from these professional mariachis during the conference. [5] A recording made by the Texas State Wind Symphony in partnership with a local middle school has captured attention in Latin America. In Spring 2022, the Sycamore Springs Middle School Band [Dripping Springs ISD] commissioned Justin Williams to compose music in honor of Andrew Sauerwein, son of the band’s saxophone teacher, Steve Sauerwein, who had recently passed away. Along with living a robust life of musical, social, and athletic activities, Andrew had been an avid participant in the Special Olympics. The composition, “Champion,” was written to honor and reflect Andrew’s joy and enthusiasm and was premiered by the SSMS Wind Ensemble in May 2022. That fall, the TXST Wind Symphony was asked to provide an official recording that Mr. Sauerwein could have and promote to Special Olympics in Texas and nationally for use as ceremonial music. The recording was recently used by Special Olympics Latin America for their 2023 Annual Report video. Mr. Marko Mislov, Communications and Marketing Director for Special Olympics Latin America, stated, “After the hardship of the pandemic years and how much they affected our work and the population we serve, 2023 has definitely felt like a ‘resurgence’—evident in the joy, resilience and commitment from our athletes, families, partners, and staff across Latin America. I thought that ‘Champion’ really embodied this optimism and was a perfect fit for our video.” ALUMNI ACCOLADES Andres Avila is stationed with the 11th Airborne Division Band on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK. Constituted on January 7, 1944 as the 236th Army Band, it was later re-designated on May 17, 1947 as the 9th Army Band. It was assigned to Fort Richardson, AK, in 1951, inactivated on September 1 at Ladd Air Force Base and then re-activated on November 16, 1995 at Fort Wainwright. On October 13, 2016, the 9th Army Band was moved to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK. Nicholas Fitch is pursuing graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music with William Short, principal bassoon of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. [6] Andrew McNair founded the Purgatory Creek Chorale, a professional nonprofit community organization based in San Marcos, comprising an Early Music Ensemble and Masterworks Chorus. Hector Telles serves as head band director at Francis Scobee Middle School in San Antonio. Telles and the Tiger Band were spotlighted in an episode of Beyond the Arches, which features student stories and activities at Southwest Independent School District. College of Fine Arts and Communication | 173 Vanguel Tangarov is an associate professor of clarinet at Texas State University and an artistic director and founder of the annual international clarinet event Texas State Clarinet Fiesta. Vanguel Tangarov performs as a principal clarinetist for the Austin Opera, Mid-Texas Symphony, and Victoria Symphony orchestras. Tangarov previously served as principal clarinet of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgaria, Academia Chigiana Symphony Orchestra, Italy, Jeunesses Musicales World Symphony Orchestra, Germany and the Monterrey Symphony Orchestra (OSUANL) in Mexico. He has appeared as a soloist with the Mid- Texas Symphony in USA, the Plovdiv Philharmonic, the Rousse Philharmonic, the Varna Philharmonic and the Sofia Philharmonic orchestras in Bulgaria, and the Constanta Philharmonic in Romania. #FACULTY SPOTGHLGHT Vanguel Tangarov conducted a clarinet workshop, captivating the musical minds of over twenty clarinet students from Northside ISD. Hosted by his former student, Steven Gres, the assistant band director at Brandeis High School in San Antonio, the workshop was an enriching experience for all attendees. Tangarov took the stage as a guest soloist with the TXST Symphony Orchestra, directed by Dr. Jacob Harrison. One of the highlights of the evening was Tangarov’s captivating rendition of Artie Shaw's iconic clarinet concerto, which earned him a well- deserved standing ovation. The musical journey continued with an encore, featuring Tangarov's masterful interpretation of Clarinettologia, a virtuoso solo clarinet piece composed by the renowned Italian clarinetist Gaspare Tirincanti. The audience was left in awe, creating a lasting memory of a night filled with passion, skill, and musical brilliance. STUDENT ACCOLADES Garrett Douglas , supervised by Nico Schüler , presented a paper on “Rediscovering Three Texas Women Composers: Zulema Garcia, Julia Owen, and Stella Kaiser” at the American Musicological Society Southwest Chapter Conference. Tomas Hinojosa was selected to participate in the Texas State University Study Abroad Program at Nagoya University in Nagoya, Japan. [4] The following TXST music students were selected winners (alphabetical) of the 2023-2024 TXST Symphony Concerto and Aria Competition. Seventeen undergraduate and graduate students competed for this honor. Jordan Brockwell , mezzo-soprano; Bobby Harris , oboe; Nolan Hopkins on the alto saxophone. These three outstanding musicians will perform as soloists with the TXST Symphony Orchestra on its annual Concert of Soloists, which will take place in February 2024. Mariachi Nueva Generación (MNG) won Top Mariachi and Elma Garcia received the Gastelum Vocal Scholarship at the 30th Las Cruces Tomas Hinojosa was selected to partcipate in the Texas State University Study Abroad Program 16 | November and December 2023 | College News 4 5 6 Nicholas Fitch will be studying under the Principal Bassoon of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Mariachi Nueva Generación won Top Marachi at the 30th Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference