Ten talented students from The University of New Mexico Department of Music recently had the opportunity to showcase their skills at the Southwestern Regional Intercollegiate Band in Kansas City. Among them were saxophone players Daniel Slencsak, Alejandro Alva, Parker Head, and Taylor Gilman. UNM band director Emily Moss expressed pride in her students' performance, stating, “Our students did an exceptional job representing UNM in this Intercollegiate Honor Band. They performed at an extremely high level and gained valuable experience.”
One of the undergraduate students, Jon Bull, shared his excitement about being selected for the conference, saying, “I feel honored to be selected for the opportunity to travel and play across the country. I'm glad to represent UNM in this capacity.” Another student, Parker Head, described his experience at the conference, highlighting the chance to collaborate with students from different schools and work with guest conductor Dr. John P. Lynch.
Mauricio Fortuna Vazquez, a graduate student specializing in bass trombone, expressed his gratitude for the supportive community and dedicated teachers at UNM, emphasizing his growth as an artist and individual. International student Alejandro Alva, pursuing a master’s degree in Music Performance, shared how studying at UNM has broadened his perspectives and allowed him to explore new horizons.
Gabrielle Abbott, a graduate student focusing on Music Performance, reflected on the honor of being chosen for the Kansas City Honor Band and the opportunity to share her passion with fellow musicians. Terrence Perrier, a graduate student in horn performance, credited his professional success to the education and leadership opportunities provided by UNM faculty.
Ricardo Zamora, a trombone performance major graduate student, was also part of the group that represented UNM at the conference. The students' dedication and talent were evident as they performed alongside their peers from other southwest region states, showcasing the excellence of UNM's music program.
