CMP End of Semester Shows

Posted by Charli Renken in Music

Senior Contemporary Musician, Blythe Brooks. Photo by Sasha Hill

The Contemporary Music Program wraps up this semester with several shows from senior musicians and ensembles both on and off-campus.

At 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the El Meson Restaurant and Tapas Bar, several SFUAD students and faculty will perform a jazz show, including Josh Buchignani, Justin Bransford, John Rangel, Garvin, and Suessbrich-Joaquim. This event is the program’s only off-campus event celebrating the end of this semester and promises to be a fun event for a cold winter’s day.

Suessbrich-Joaquim’s recital features a combination of different styles including jazz, classical and original acoustic pieces, which will be accompanied by Melissa Schoonfield and Mimi Diallo. Suessbrich-Joaquim has focussed primarily on jazz during her time at SFUAD under the guidance of vocal teacher Mirabai Daniels. “She has consistently pushed me and guided me towards who I am and what I can do with my voice,” Suessbrich-Joaquim says. After graduation, Suessbrich-Joaquim plans to move to Los Angeles and focus on pop music. Her recital is 2:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in the O’Shaughnessy Performance Space.

Brooks plays a variety of instruments including trumpet and African and Middle Eastern drums. She is also an accomplished vocalist. Her show is a combination of various different genres including Eastern European and Arabic music. “It’s basically a journey my focusses in CMP which has been… music from the Balkans and Middle East,” she says. Brooks has spent her degree studying music from other cultures. After graduation, Brooks plans on studying ethnomusicology in graduate school. Her recital is 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and will be followed by Callahan’s recital. Neither Callahan nor Garvin could be reached for comment about their recitals.

CMP Lead Faculty Scott Jarrett. Photo by Sasha Hill

Lastly, CMP will present “A Musical Christmas” Dec. 10 featuring a “mini choir” singing some lesser heard renaissance Christmas music as well as typical holiday songs. “It’s kind of an improvised thing,” CMP lead faculty member Scott Jarrett says. The event will also have light refreshments and starts at 8 p.m. in the O’Shaughnessy Performance Space.

Come out to these free events to support the graduating CMP seniors and listen to some incredible music that is four years in the making. For more information contact Scott Jarrett at Scott.Jarrett@santafeuniversity.edu.