WELCOME A LETTER FROM THE DEAN
THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC
MEET THE FACULTY ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
ROADRUNNER SCHOLAR
FACULTY BRIEF
IN THE HALL
CONTRIBUTORS:
Rolando Ramon - Marketing Coordinator
Mariah Martinez - PR Assistant/Editor
Joey Flowers - Graphic Designer
Micah Rosenstein - Graphic Designer
I am filled with joy as I welcome you to the first issue of Cadenza for the 2022-2023 academic year! Today marks a very special turning point, as we celebrate becoming a School of Music in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. Along with the School of Art, we are thrilled to be pursuing a new vision for arts education at UTSA and in San Antonio. We look forward to welcoming you to UTSA’s Main Campus – and several other exciting venues throughout the year – for a wonderful season of performances!
We are hitting the ground running this season with our first faculty concert on Sept. 6th, which features San Antonio’s poet laureate, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, and a faculty chamber music trio of flute, clarinet, and piano. Read ahead for information about all upcoming September concerts. Our Alumni Spotlight features one of our brightest stars rising in the opera world, tenor Rafael Moras. And we welcome several new faculty to our school in this issue, as well.
We are inspired to begin a new era as the UTSA School of Music, and we are grateful for all of you who support the work we do to learn and share music with those around us. As we begin this new concert season, we look forward to warmly welcoming you to celebrate with us all that the arts bring to our lives!
Tracy Cowden
Roland K. Blumberg Endowed Professor in Music and Director
Dear Colleagues and Friends of Music at UTSA,
Dear Colleagues and Friends of Music at UTSA,
This is an extraordinary time for music at UTSA and in San Antonio! Today we unveil a new name for our music education and performance enterprise. Today we turn the page on the Department of Music and usher in UTSA’s newest School – the School of Music. This renaming of the music education and performance enterprise places us on a level playing field with our peers in the state and the nation while signaling our continuing commitment to developing musicianship and dance of the highest quality. The School of Music at UTSA will be the only such entity in the city. Thus, it will continue its leadership role among our higher education partners and the local music community.
This is an extraordinary time for music at UTSA and in San Antonio! Today we unveil a new name for our music education and performance enterprise. Today we turn the page on the Department of Music and usher in UTSA’s newest School – the School of Music. This renaming of the music education and performance enterprise places us on a level playing field with our peers in the state and the nation while signaling our continuing commitment to developing musicianship and dance of the highest quality. The School of Music at UTSA will be the only such entity in the city Thus, it will continue its leadership role among our higher education partners and the local music community.
The change from a Department of Music to a School of Music both recognizes our veritable past and projects into the future as we assume our position as the city’s premiere music education and performance enterprise nested in its only tier one public research university. It recognizes the efforts of previous generations of musicians who gave their careers to the formation of a top-notch music program for San Antonio and the South Texas region. It acknowledges our colleagues' foresight in nurturing essential programs of distinction, including band, music theory, vocal pedagogy, guitar, choral activities, and music technology It grounds our key contribution to the city’s critical community-based music organizations, including the San Antonio Children’s Chorus, the San Antonio Mastersingers, the San Antonio Chamber Choir, the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio, the San Antonio Wind Symphony, and the newly reconstituted San Antonio Philharmonic. The School of Music has indeed been a long time coming. I am incredibly proud of the labor of love that got us to this point. But the change from a Department of Music to a School of Music is much more than a recognition of our past accomplishments. It also projects forward to our collective future.
The change from a Department of Music to a School of Music both recognizes our veritable past and projects into the future as we assume our position as the city’s premiere music education and performance enterprise nested in its only tier one public research university. It recognizes the efforts of previous generations of musicians who gave their careers to the formation of a top-notch music program for San Antonio and the South Texas region. It acknowledges our colleagues' foresight in nurturing essential programs of distinction, including band, music theory, vocal pedagogy, guitar, choral activities, and music technology It grounds our key contribution to the city’s critical community-based music organizations, including the San Antonio Children’s Chorus, the San Antonio Mastersingers, the San Antonio Chamber Choir, the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio, the San Antonio Wind Symphony, and the newly reconstituted San Antonio Philharmonic. The School of Music has indeed been a long time coming. I am incredibly proud of the labor of love that got us to this point. But the change from a Department of Music to a School of Music is much more than a recognition of our past accomplishments. It also projects forward to our collective future.
The School of Music at UTSA will continue to pursue the highest order of excellence in music education, performance, composition, and theory. This year we will develop and launch a unique new major in commercial music to expand our appeal to students with multiple and diverse musical interests. We will also recommit substantively to our ensembles, including our Mariachi Los Paisanos, our Spirit of San Antonio Band, our Lyric Theater, our Jazz Ensemble and Combos, our Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and University Chorus, our Trombone Choir, our Orchestra and our Chamber Music ensembles in percussion, flute, and guitar. We will seek out new venues for performance throughout the city and bring our artistry to new audiences. We will launch a new vision for lyric theater that is grounded in the stories of San Antonio, and we will build on our strengths in guitar, jazz studies, and vocal pedagogy to develop new performance tracks focused on the contemporary music of South Texas, Mexico, and Latin America.
The School of Music at UTSA will continue to pursue the highest order of excellence in music education, performance, composition, and theory. This year we will develop and launch a unique new major in commercial music to expand our appeal to students with multiple and diverse musical interests. We will also recommit substantively to our ensembles, including our Mariachi Los Paisanos, our Spirit of San Antonio Band, our Lyric Theater, our Jazz Ensemble and Combos, our Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and University Chorus, our Trombone Choir, our Orchestra and our Chamber Music ensembles in percussion, flute, and guitar. We will seek out new venues for performance throughout the city and bring our artistry to new audiences. We will launch a new vision for lyric theater that is grounded in the stories of San Antonio, and we will build on our strengths in guitar, jazz studies, and vocal pedagogy to develop new performance tracks focused on the contemporary music of South Texas, Mexico, and Latin America.
Colleagues and friends, this is indeed a great day for music at UTSA and San Antonio. I encourage you to take pride in all that you have accomplished together and to celebrate one another. My confidence in the resounding success of the School of Music in the future is unflinching. This confidence is rooted in my actively working with and interacting with each of you over the past year, my observation of the high level of musicianship and dance that I have witnessed at each performance that I have attended, and my knowledge of your unwavering focus on mission, your consistent professionalism, and the unanimous community support that you have earned. I hope that you share this confidence and look forward to our onward journey of living into the UTSA School of Music.
Colleagues and friends, this is indeed a great day for music at UTSA and San Antonio. I encourage you to take pride in all that you have accomplished together and to celebrate one another. My confidence in the resounding success of the School of Music in the future is unflinching. This confidence is rooted in my actively working with and interacting with each of you over the past year, my observation of the high level of musicianship and dance that I have witnessed at each performance that I have attended, and my knowledge of your unwavering focus on mission, your consistent professionalism, and the unanimous community support that you have earned. I hope that you share this confidence and look forward to our onward journey of living into the UTSA School of Music.
Con gran respeto y admiración,
Con gran respeto y admiración, Glenn Martinez, PhD MPH
Glenn Martinez, PhD MPH
In a move by the College of Liberal and Fine Arts to usher in a new era of academic excellence, its fine and performing arts programs have undergone significant branding changes.
The University of Texas at San Antonio announced the establishment of the School of Music, a new school within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) created due to recent efforts to contemporize and elevate the college through the Tactical Visioning exercise that began in 2021. The School of Music will supersede and continue the efforts of the Department of Music, with 62 faculty members serving over 300 music majors and dance minors, as well as hundreds of additional students from across the university who participate in music and dance courses.
The motion to move forward with the naming of the new school had been gaining traction among faculty and staff members within the School of Music before being proposed in the Spring of 2022. The shift
into a School of Music presents a more accurate representation of how the program has evolved thanks to the work of countless since its founding in 1974.
“The change from a Department of Music to a School of Music both recognizes our veritable past and projects into the future as the city’s premier music education and performance enterprise nested in tits only tier one public research university,” A Dean Glenn Martínez. “It recognizes the efforts of previous generations of musicians who devoted their careers to notch music program for San Antonio and
Roland K. Blumberg Endowed Professor Tracy Cowden has been named founding director of the school. Cowden joined been chair of the Department of Music
"While I will be initiating efforts for the School of Music, we faculty moving into leadership roles within the school to better serve academic and community engagement,"
"We look forward to Distinguished Teaching who will serve as Acting Director of the School of Music later this year, and Professor Kasandra Keeling, o will take on the role of Acting Associate Director."
faculty, the name change is more than a matter of rebranding; it is an exclamation of UTSA’s pledge to provide world-class music education while at the same time
enriching the culture of San Antonio’s fine arts community. Director of Instrumental Ensembles and Recruiting Coordinator John Zarco says the strategic shift from a Department of Music into a School of Music brings the university in greater parity with other top music schools in the nation.
“This puts us in a class with other institutions that also have significant music programs, both in Texas and nationally,’ said Zarco. “It is an indication that the university is serious about the arts. There is a certain prestige attached to the name, and I think it will help inspire future students and our community to see UTSA as an artistic, musical, and cultural center.”
Faculty anticipate the transition into the School of Music to positively impact recruitment. With comprehensive coursework offered in traditional areas such as performance, pedagogy, composition, and conducting, as well as modern industry-driven paths such as music marketing and audio technology, the school provides many possibilities for aspiring students looking to develop their talents into a career. Coupled with an extensive roster of successful alums who have made names for themselves, such as Jennifer Black and David Portillo, this makes UTSA a prime destination for a degree in music.
Other ways the school is building its reputation include expanded marketing efforts, public outreach concerts, SOSA Marching Band and other ensembles’ participation in local to high-profile events, and plans for a faculty artist concert series
involving performances in venues around the city. A large selection of different subjects in music, a solid commitment to artistic and technical development, quality facilities, and a high employment rate for alumni have also helped put UTSA in the eyes of more talented music recruits.
Students currently attending UTSA have expressed feelings of pride and excitement towards the prospect of being associated with a school of music in Texas, as many feel it gives proper recognition to the effort put into their studies as well as the musical skills and accomplishments of their peers and mentors.
“The thing that makes me the most grateful to be a part of UTSA music program is how many opportunities our professors give, not just within campus, but everywhere across San Antonio I am particularly excited about the name change because I feel like it gives UTSA Music the recognition it deserves,” said Alex Valles, a junior Composition major student, and active cellist.
Alex participates in the school’s activities through the UTSA Orchestra and UTSA String Project while also keeping active in the San Antonio music scene through her work with the non-profit music organization Conjunto Heritage Taller and other musical projects.
“Students from the school are all over San Antonio performing in national competitions, international music festivals, teaching at public schools, organizing concerts, helping other local organizations and nonprofits it’s very exciting to tell others that I’m a part of the UTSA School of Music,” said Valles.
From an experiential learning standpoint, the university encourages its student musicians to take advantage of the many opportunities in San Antonio for hands-on experience in their field.
As a cultural arts center for San Antonio, the school also promotes education to the city’s community. One of these offerings is the UTSA String Project, a program founded by the school as part of the National String Project Consortium to promote string music education in public schools. Here, music education majors develop skills needed to become successful artistteachers by providing beginning through advanced level music instruction to children and young adolescents in the community. Meanwhile, the school's concert programming, which ranges from the early baroque period lesser-known contemporary works, is open to the general public to observe in the recital hall.
As UTSA moves forward to continue innovation in research and academic excellence, one can expect to see the School of Music continue future expansion efforts. The program has come a long way from its beginnings on the premise of cultivating student musicianship and artistry, as well as being a significant component and contributing member of San Antonio’s multicultural community. The School of Music looks forward to furthering advancements as it continues its mission and rises through the ranks of music institutions for higher learning in the nation.
“For nearly 50 years, we have fostered the development of outstanding musicians, teachers, scholars, and multimedia artists, and our graduates have made a tremendous impact on their communities,” said Dr. Tracy Cowden. “Becoming a School of Music communicates our program’s excellence but also reflects the passion and dedication of faculty and students over the history of our program, as well as a tremendous amount of optimism and excitement about what is yet to come."
With the new name also comes an exciting addition of brand-new professors for the School of Music. UTSA proudly welcomes our latest faculty!
A Virtu Foundation scholar, Mr. Gjoni was a visiting cello faculty at The Boston Conservatory (2011-2014), where a sold-out audience enthusiastically received his “Cello Physics” master class. He has been invited to teach and perform at Vianden International Music Festival (Luxembourg), Saarburg International Music Festival (Germany), University of Northern Colorado, University of Denver, and the University of Arts in Tirana (Albania). Mr. Gjoni served as a teaching assistant at the Juilliard School and Assistant Director of Young Artist Program at the Cactus Pear Music Festival. Mr. Gjoni joined the cello section of the San Antonio Symphony in September 2015 and is a Lecturer in Cello Performance at the University of Texas in San Antonio, as well as Adjunct Professor of Cello, Founder and Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Series at St. Mary’s University.
Holgen Gjoni holds degrees from New England Conservatory, the Juilliard School, Boston Conservatory, and the iversity of Music in Bucharest, having studied with Paul Katz (cellist of the Cleveland String Quartet), Bonnie Hampton (disciple of Pablo Casals and Zara Nelsova), Andrew Mark and Marin Cazacu. He was selected to play in Starker, Natalia Gutman, Franz Helmerson, Radu Aldulescu and has extensively worked with chamber music experts such as Joel Smirnoff, Samuel Rhodes, and Joel Krosnick of the Juilliard String Quartet, Donald Weilerstein and Martha Katz of the Cleveland String Quartet, Michael Tree of the Guarneri String Quartet, Norman Fisher and Mark Sokol of the Concord String Quartet and Pamela Frank, to name a few.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jack Stamps has devoted a lifetime to pursuing various musical outlets. He was a founding member of the perennial South Texas alt-rock band, The Robertsons. In 2001, he turned his attention to the study of composition and sought to synthesize a relationship between contemporary chamber music and his altpop background. He received his bachelors from The University of Texas at San Antonio and his master's and doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. He has written for various ensembles, and his works have been performed in the US, South America, and Europe. He has received commissions from such ensembles as SOLI Chamber Ensemble and The Tosca String Quartet, the resident quartet for pop icon David Byrne. Jack's work has been featured at numerous festivals and conferences. He has taught at Trinity University, Seton Hall University, and the University of Texas at Austin. He remains active as a songwriter and producer, streaming at the usual aggregates under the name MC Debris. He lives happily in San Antonio. He also enjoys trail running and graphic design.
Described by Soundboard Magazine as a "flawless musician, filled to the brim with polished technique,” GRAMMY™ nominated guitarist & arranger Alejandro Montiel enjoys a performing career that has taken him throughout the United States, Mexico, China, Central America, and Europe. He holds graduate degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Texas at Austin and is a founding member of the Texas Guitar Quartet.
Alejandro has premiered new works by Joseph V. Williams, Mark Cruz, Brian Herrington, and Trent Hannah. As a collaborative artist, highlights include the US premiere of Andy Pape's opera "Houdini The Great," a performance with acclaimed cellist Bion Tsang on a new score by Joseph Williams for the Alfred Hitchcock silent film "The Lodger," and the world premiere of Nico Muhly's 2015 work, “How Little You Are” for chamber choir and guitar ensemble.
Besides being a regularly invited artist, adjudicator, and clinician for guitar festivals throughout the US, Dr. Montiel leads two full-time guitar studios at Sam Houston State University and Lone Star College - Montgomery. Alejandro is also a sought-after chamber musician throughout Texas and has been featured on multiple recordings, including the Texas Guitar Quartet's critically acclaimed debut album "RED."
Jordan D. Boyd is the Assistant Director of Choral Activities at UTSA. He conducts the Concert Choir, University Chorus, and UTSA Lyric Theatre. He also teaches courses in music education and choral literature. Prof. Boyd is currently a candidate for the DMA in choral conducting at the University of North Texas. While at UNT, he conducted the UNT Chorale and taught undergraduate conducting. Additionally, he served as the Assistant Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Chorus from 2020–2022.
From 2015–2020, Boyd taught public school choirs outside of Charleston, South Carolina. As the Director of Choral Activities for the Berkeley Center for the Arts at Goose Creek High School, he led an award-winning choral in addition to conducting the annual musical productions. His choirs to perform at the conventions of the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association and the South Carolina Music Educators Association, along with invites to perform at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. In 2019, the Goose Creek Chamber Choir was a National Finalist for the American Prize in Choral Performance.
Boyd enjoys an active career outside of academia. Previous appointments include Associate Music Director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Associate Conductor of the Taylor Festival Choir, and Music Director for Holy City Opera. As a professional singer, Boyd is a roster member of the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Singers in Dallas, and Verdigris Ensemble in Dallas. As a soloist, he has performed with the Charleston Symphony Chamber Orchestra and taken to the stage in roles including Figaro in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Ko-Ko in Gilbert, and Sullivan’s The Mikado, and Marco in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.
Boyd holds an undergraduate degree in vocal performance and music theory/composition from the College of Charleston and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
An avid teacher and orchestral musician, Dr. Sarah Wildey-Richmond loves to bring her passion for performance to her students and help them find their voice through the bassoon. Dr. Wildey has performed in orchestras across the United States and Texas, including the Indianapolis Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, and San Antonio Symphony, and currently holds the contrabassoon chair with the Amarillo Symphony. As a chamber musician, she is the principal bassoonist of SA Harmonie and has played with them since their founding.
Before joining The University of Texas at San Antonio, Dr. Wildey taught at West Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University Kingsville and has a large studio of junior high and high school double reed students in San Antonio.
Originally from Upstate New York, Dr. Wildey received her DMA from The University of Iowa under the tutelage of Benjamin Coelho. She holds a MM from Indiana University, studying under William Ludwig, and a BS in Music Education from York College of Pennsylvania. During her master's, Dr. Wildey studied historical bassoon with Michael McCraw and oboe with Andrew Parker during her doctorate.
Outside of music, Dr. Wildey is passionate about animal rescue, loves baking and cooking, and enjoys knitting and other fiber arts. She currently lives in San Antonio with her husband, Will, and far too many foster animals.
Dedicated to performing a wide range of solo and chamber repertoire, pianist JeongEun Lee is Assistant Professor of Instruction in Collaborative Piano at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to joining UTSA, Lee taught at Indiana University as Visiting Assistant Professor and Postdoctoral Scholar and held collaborative pianist positions at the State University of New York at Geneseo and Riverside City College in
Eun Lee has served as a collaborative pianist and performance coach at the Aspen Music Festival, where she d instrumental and vocal fellowships. She attended Songfest in Los Angeles as a Professional Piano Fellow and played in masterclasses of Margo Garrett, Graham Johnson, Martin Katz and Roger Vignoles. Lee participated in festivals including the Amalfi Coast Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Collabfest, Kneisel Chamber Festival and Holland International Music Sessions.
Since her orchestral debut with the Skagit Valley Symphony, Lee has appeared as a soloist with orchestras around the United States including the Seattle Symphony, Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, and the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra. She has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA and in the Czech Republic, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Lee received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music, and the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance, from the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Jean Barr and Nelita True. As a student of Yoshikazu Nagai, she received the Master of Music degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music in Piano Performance. In addition to a concerto performance with the Riverside City College Symphony Orchestra, recent engagements include chamber concerts in the United States and South Korea.
Professional operatic tenor Rafael Moras is a distinguished alum of the Roadrunner Class of 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance with Highest Honors and International Distinction from UTSA. During his time as a student and since graduating, Rafael has received acclaim and many accolades for his talents as an opera vocalist. His growing resume includes appearances with the LA Philharmonic, Minnesota Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, among others.
tenor Moras a distinguished alum of the Roadrunner Class of He holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance UTSA. During his time as a student and since accolades for his talents vocalist. His resume appearances LA Philharmonic, Opera, Opera, among others
Texas is home to many excellent music programs, but what made you decide on UTSA for a bachelor’s degree?
“For me, wonderful voice teacher and mentor at the time, Dr. part taking voice lessons with her in high school, I to pursue as a career YoungArts a Arts, with her in college felt like the crucial given a to any Texas’
“For me, the choice hinged on a single factor: my wonderful voice teacher and mentor at the time, Dr. Diana Allan, was part of the faculty there. I’d begun taking voice lessons with her in high school, so once I chose to pursue singing as a career after being named a Winner in the National YoungArts Competition’s Classical Voice division and a United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts, continuing my training with her in college felt like the crucial next step given how vital having a good teacher is to any musician. I’d also been extremely active in Texas’ extremely competitive All-State Choir auditions, placing 1st chair statewide in my voice section all four years The UTSA All-State Choir camps I’d attend each summer in preparation for those multi-tiered audition processes had cemented in me that the UTSA Department of Music was full of excellent music instructors.”
1st my years. The UTSA All-State Choir camps I’d attend each summer in processes had cemented in me that the UTSA Department of Music was full of excellent music instructors.” at
What fond memory can you recall from your time at UTSA Music?
“Too many to honestly! met my future wife there, Opera of York’s Laffont Competition my first met a opera patron Walker, come to my UTSA possible) I numerous mentors,
“Too many to count, honestly! I met my future wife there, advanced to the Semi-Finals of the Metropolitan Opera of New York’s Laffont Competition my first time there, and met a wonderful opera patron couple by the name of Charles and Charlotte Walker, whom I’d later come to call my “American Opera Grandparents” (they helped make my studies at UTSA possible). I was blessed with numerous friendships, mentors, and
performance great An coming Outstanding surprise of serenade retirement.
performance great An coming surprise of serenade retirement. incredible, with UTSA. There was never moment didn’t feel on one to or ask question, and wouldn’t have without
incredible, nurturing mentors and teachers I was blessed with at UTSA. There was never a moment I didn’t feel I could knock on one of their doors to seek guidance or ask a question, and I wouldn’t have a career without them.”
What are your initial reactions to the significant identity transition to the UTSA School of Music?
transition to the UTSA School of Music?
“Joy “FINALLY!” my mind! student, I’d the (well-deserved) UTSA, as I “I Department given a deservedly giant leap forward like that?” It fills me a to see
I to see
There’s beautiful painting my mother (international that
“Joy and excitement the words “FINALLY!” came to my mind! As a student, I’d see the (well-deserved) excitement around newly erected, state-of-the-art buildings and developments in other areas of UTSA, such as Engineering and Biosciences. Still, I always thought, “I wonder when the Music Department will be given a deservedly giant leap forward like that?” It fills me with a lot of Roadrunner pride to see something like this happen, and I can’t wait to see what follows. There’s a beautiful painting my mother (international award-winning Impressionist oil painter Gladys Roldán-de-Moras) donated to the Music Department through the generosity of that couple who sponsored
me through my studies and gave much to the UTSA Voice Department and Lyric Theater (the great Charles and Charlotte Walker). It makes me happy to know it will finally be displayed inside a School of Music.”
Can you describe some challenges you faced on your journey after graduating from UTSA? More recently, how did you handle the pandemic shutdowns of 2020-2021?
“After graduating from UTSA, I obtained my Master's in Voice at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, sang in the Grand Finals of the Metropolitan Opera of New York’s Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition, and graduated from LA Opera’s Domingo Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program and the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program for Singers. In all these cases, I was fortunate to benefit from the wonderful support systems young artists and apprenticeship programs of this type offer young singers: continued training, coaching, classes, and curated performance and audition opportunities. But once I was outside of those systems, the realities of being a freelance opera singer set in, and I realized much of the support nets those programs offer would not be present in the professional world. But my time at UTSA solidified the idea that having good mentors was an essential part of a career, so once the pandemic lockdowns hit and inperson performances went largely dormant, I decided to focus as best as possible on honing my craft at home. I took virtual voice lessons from my voice teacher Dr. Stephen King and spent much time thinking deeply about what I wanted to change in myself once performances came back. In the long run, this meant coming back stronger, with a renewed sense of gratitude for having a career as a singer and a renewed sense
You’ve made appearances all over America with various productions and orchestras as a singer. What critical factors besides your skills as a tenor allowed you to stand out and begin building a prolific resume?
“I think the biggest thing I’ve enjoyed and cultivated that helped me stand out is my love of speaking with the audience in addition to singing. It’s essential to cultivate the musical, vocal, linguistic, acting, stagecraft, and performance skills one needs to be a tenor, but having a spontaneous, off-the-cuff conversation during a concert is something you don’t always get to experience in opera. It’s the part of performing I enjoy almost as much as the singing itself. One of the great joys of my life since graduating has been touring around the world as a guest opera singer soloist with Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, and the way he warmly converses and riffs with audiences is something I’ve learned a lot from and come to enjoy doing immensely. I also cultivated a love for this early on from my father, who is an excellent public speaker (with a career as a celebrated professor of Industrial Engineering at St. Mary’s University), and with whom I first learned to speak with audiences whenever he and I would give recitals together, him playing the keyboard accordion and piano and me singing.”
Is there any pre- or post-graduation advice you would offer to our performance majors who aspire to pursue music professionally after graduation?
“The most significant piece of advice I’d give is threefold and goes back to my time at UTSA: be yourself, hold onto the joy that brought you to performing in the first place, and seek out a support system (your family, closest friends, partner, voice teacher, coach, etc.) that you can go to with practically anything, no matter how a performance or rehearsal goes. My time at UTSA helped me discover and cultivate all three things (as my voice teacher Dr. Allan would often say whenever I felt nervous or overwhelmed: ‘Trust’), and I wouldn’t be where I am without them today. I’m proud and grateful to be a Roadrunner for life, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the UTSA School of Music!”
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The UTSA School of Music holds our faculty in high regard with good reason. Not only are many of our professors accomplished musicians, but they continue to innovate and excel in all aspects of their area within the school as teachers. We recognize our music faculty who distinguish themselves through their dedication and achievements.
Dr. Isaac Bustos has been teaching at the School of Music for three years and has made tremendous strides in the institution. The University has recognized Dr. Bustos's hard work and has offered to transition him to Assistant Professor of Guitar. This position is a tenure-track, meaning that Dr. Bustos has secured a passage to becoming an associate and professorship of the School of Music. This position is awarded to him for his outstanding performance in the Roadrunner community and beyond, teaching, performances, and organizing the Southwest Guitar Symposium, to name a few. Congratulations, Dr. Bustos!
Dr. Stacey Davis, Associate Chair of the School of Music, was awarded this Summer the honorific title of "Distinguished Teaching Professor" here at UTSA. Bestowed by the UTSA's Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars, a Distinguished Teaching Professor is awarded to a select group of faculty within the university that exemplifies excellence in teaching and promotes exceptional teachings and practices, along with being a positive and encouraging member of their colleagues. Since being inducted, Dr. Davis will remain in the Academy for the rest of her active faculty appointment.
In other news, Dr. Davis is also expected to take on the role of Interim Director of the School of Music later this school year. Congratulations, Dr. Davis!
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