Don’t miss bands from near and far at the 2015 Quadstock, held at SFUAD May 2-3, 2015.

CMP seniors talk about their upcoming (and past) performances.

At SFUAD’s “Manhattan” job fair, students had the opportunity to learn from professionals about what it will take to move ahead in their careers.

SFUAD hosts concert to celebrate Billie Holiday.

With the music turned up so loud the bass reverberates and in the lights flashing in spectrums of orange and blue, the O’Shaughnessy Performance Space looked like a hot music scene for the newest and brightest bands. On March 26, SFUAD student band Get Safe promoted the recording of its new song “Murphy’s Law,” and opened for a touring band, The Boxers. Get Safe formed in 2013 and has been working on playing gigs and recording songs. When asked about its name, Trevor Snow, the guitar player, simply states, “It’s good advice.” When describing its genre, Colton Liberatore, a drum player who recently joined Get Safe, admits that he doesn’t know how to define the band’s sound. The members of Get Safe pitch in genres to describe the genre. “We play instrumental Rock, Indie Rock, and alternative rock,” said Kevin Johnson, the Get Safe bass player. “Groovy alternative,” added Snow. “We aim to spread good vibes and positivity,” Liberatore said. Their main inspirations come from people they’ve previously played with such as Mothercoat—a Japanese band, and Chipper Jones. Snow added that the latter inspired the band’s newest song “Murphy’s Law,” which fans could download for free using a code given out at the concert. The Boxers, on the other hand, are a four-piece rock band from Chicago, which plays Basement Rock—its self described genre. Get Safe band members explained that though they and The Boxers hadn’t previously heard each other’s music and only met at the event, they were introduced through a mutual friend who suggested they perform together. Johnson added that getting a first impression from a live performance was definitely preferable. “It’s more raw and organic this way,” he said. Snow commented after the show that jamming with The Boxers was fun. He said...

Starting in freshman orientation, SFUAD students are told who to contact in case of emergencies and constantly reminded afterward. They are given stickers with security’s contact information and shown where their offices are. After a while, the guards become recognizable and familiar. They offer to walk students back to their dorms after late night classes, jump start cars and even help change tires. Several weeks ago, Rio Finnegan, a film major at SFUAD, got to test just how helpful the security could be, when his wheelchair broke down near Carl’s Jr. “One of the cords that helped operate my chair died on me,” Finnegan explained “Nothing worked. Luckily, I was pretty close to the school.” When none of the passerby responded, he called security. That’s when Michael Valencia and Matt Montoya, both relatively new security guards, drove over and gave Finnegan a ride back to campus on the security vehicle. “If I could have gotten him a new chair I would have,” said Valencia. Thankfully the technical problem was resolved in time. Both him and Montoya not only responded immediately, but also did their best to get Finnegan’s chair back by unlocking the breaks and helping him contact the mechanic. “It was so awesome of them,” said Finnegan. I was grateful to both of those guys. But, being such an independent person, it was also a very humbling experience as well.” Valencia urges other students to call security if they run into any trouble or need help. “We’re here to make sure you feel comfortable, to keep the campus safe.” Finnegan called security and received the assistance he needed. Days later, Valencia and Montoya were glad to see him back out on the quad. Valencia urges other students to call security if they run into...

On March 1, Contemporary Music Faculty Scott Jarrett performed on campus along with Chairman Horace Alexander Young, and fellow faculty members Paul Brown and Tom Adler.

On Feb. 21 in O’Shaugnessy Performance Space, Contemporary Music Program Chairman Horace Young, faculty members Steve Paxton, Melinda Russial and Deborah Ungar, along with Career Services Director Joanie Spain discussed career choices and master’s degrees in music entertainment and education.

The weekend workshop was more of a roundtable with questions and answers on qualification, making the right choices and the availability of options. Music department faculty and advisors exchanged information and anecdotes about their own graduate school experiences.

On Feb. 20, SFUAD musicians unite with other Santa Fe bands for an anti-competition event at Warehouse 21.

Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose and Konor Hunter-Crump discuss their new duo Zickey and the Condor.

In an office hidden in the twists and turns of Benildus, the walls are covered with posters, awards and articles. They include an autographed poster of Whitney Houston, a Gold Record commemorating a million copies sold by Regina Belle and several promotional posters of performances from around the globe. It takes a while to notice, but every single one is addressed to or features Horace Young, the new chairman of the Contemporary Music Program. “My parents weren’t musicians but they believed it was essential, they knew its worth,” Young says about his beginnings. “My two elder sisters played the piano so I got to take classes too. I cheated at practicing. I memorized the melody from the way my sisters played and watched the way their fingers moved on the keys. I didn’t know it then but this was a clear sign of having a high aptitude. Now I am able to tell a kid to get involved in music because I can see the signs I experienced myself.” Young had different plans for his future, though, hoping to become a sports journalist as a springboard into writing. He ended up playing the saxophone on a whim and turning it into a career. This return to music led him to collaborate with numerous acclaimed artists such as B.B. King and Nancy Williams. In 1993 he conducted the National Symphony of South Africa; the first person of African descent to do so. “I started as an adult musician not being able to read music,” Young says. “I learned to celebrate my limitations in being able to overcome them.” His role conducting the National Symphony of South Africa was broadcasted on national television. As a teacher, Young encourages the exploration of various skills and jobs in the...