September 2023 College News

pop-funk band Cake in a Bowl. Katie Bulen was recognized by the Texas State University Office of Educator Preparation as one of two Star Student Teachers. In late May, Texas State Mariachi Nuevo Generación performed for a full house at the premiere of Sam Pfiester’s recent film Ten in Texas . Led by Mariachi director Miguel Guzman , MNG captivated the audience from the moment they entered the Paramount Theatre to their last very last note. Ryan Halbert was selected via audition to rehearse and perform a national tour this summer as Drum Major for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps based in Denver. The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is a world-class competitive junior drum and bugle and a member corps, of Drum Corps International (DCI). [8] Garrett Iler was elected vice president for the Texas State Chapter of Collegiate Texas Music Educators Association. Martin Kesuma has been selected a finalist in the Vancouver International Piano Competition and Naumburg International Piano Competition. Both competitions will take place in October. A native of Jarkarta, Kesuma received a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Texas State University, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He is currently pursuing a performance certificate at Texas State University. Jaelen Miah Lopez , known by the stage name Jae Miah, released original music, opened for rapper and singer Tink, and was featured in a GrammyU playlist, as featured in the June 6, 2023, edition of The University Star . Jenna Stone represented Texas State University at the prestigious VIMA International Festival in Myrtle Beach, SC. She received a VIMA scholarship and participated in the production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro as second clarinetist, sitting next to her teacher, Dr. Vanguel Tangarov. ALUMNI ACCOLADES Lyanne Alvarado has announced her appointment as Philanthropy Officer of Corporate Partnerships at Houston Grand Opera. Her previous positions include Artists Services Coordinator for Houston Grand Opera, Artistic Administration Apprentice, coordinating all aspects of the Young Artists Program for the Glimmerglass Festival, and Administration Fellow at the Opera Theater of St. Louis. Steve Chadie received his second Grammy award for his work on Willie Nelson’s seventy-second solo studio album, A Beautiful Time . [9] Brent Ferguson tallied several recent accomplishments. He accepted a faculty position as Lecturer in Games Sound and Music at Brunel University London. As a member of the MIENT DUO with Michael Averett, he released the album souls like birds . . . on Centaur Records, currently available on all streaming services. He published three articles in the field of ludomusicology with fellow alum T.J. Laws-Nicola over the past two years: “Harmonic Chains” in Journal of Sound and Music in Games , “Playing Music Videos” in the edited collection Nostalgia in Videogame Music , and “Who in This World Is Carmen Sandiego” in the edited collection The Intersection of Animation, Video Games, and Music . Finally, Dr. Ferguson recently released the RPG Maker DLC— ”Chiptune Metal Music Pack.” San Antonio Northside ISD named Alejandro Moncivais , a teacher at Anson Jones Middle School, the 2022 First-Year Educator of the Year. Daniel Pardo , was featured in several events at the National Flute Assoc. Convention in August. In the opening gala concert, Pardo performed Improvisation on gaita (Colombian flute), then as soloist with Coro Latino (ensemble of Latin flute players), then at a late-night cabaret, “Jazz & Latin All Stars.” He also presented his own thirty-minute composition "Mystic Tales" and gave a junior masterclass with flutists chosen by audition. Marble Falls ISD recognized Jonathan Pawelka , the art and music teacher at Spicewood Elementary College of Fine Arts and Communication | 213