03 04 08 12 17 CONTRIBUTORS:
THE SOUND OF SERVICE: HONORING VETERANS IN THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Joey Berrios - Chief Editor, Graphic Designer, Photographer
Alissa Esper - Assistant Coordinator, Photographer
Suzanna Bridges-Keese - PR Assistant, Editor
Sebastian Forestier - Graphic Designer
Welcome to
Welcome to
Welcome to the November issue of Cadenza! We have so many wonderful concerts planned this month, please flip through and mark your calendars! I also want to highlight four items for your attention:
• Two En Vivo guest artist concerts coming up next week: Abbie Conant and David Rose
• This month’s Alumni Spotlight features Daniel Campa, one of our outstanding alumni serving in the USMC
• We highlight Veterans within the School of Music for Veterans Day
• Our feature story shows the impact of music connections across generations and across the country
You can find more information on upcoming concerts on the School of Music homepage and in the COLFA calendar, where you can filter events by type. And please share Cadenza with your friends and family outside of San Antonio; they can check out the livestreams of our performances on our School of Music Facebook page!
Are you interested in having live music at your own event? You could hire a student group! Our Gig Service link is live on the School of Music website! And as always, we invite our alumni to submit your news and reconnect with your UTSA Music friends by sending an update to music@utsa.edu. We hope you are as excited as we are about all that is happening in the School of Music, and we look forward to seeing you soon for live music at UTSA!
Dr. Tracy Cowden
Roland K. Blumberg Endowed Professor in Music Director of the UTSA School of Music
Daniel Campa, USMC, 2023
November’s alumni spotlight welcomes an additional feature, highlighting Daniel Campa, a member of the Marine Corps. Campa went to UTSA and pursued a degree in Music. He describes his journey from being a music student to a Marine, performing in the premier ensemble for the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps as a mellophone bugler. Campa now stands as a testament to the discipline, artistry, and drive needed to perform with the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
“After calling former UTSA music student, Brendenn Tate, who was already in the ensemble, I decided to audition for this group,” Campa reflects.
“I expressed my interest in this opportunity to faculty members like Professor Ellis and Dr. Zarco, who encouraged and helped me submit my audition. Toward the end of that semester, I received a call informing me I had earned a spot in this premier ensemble. From there, I finished my music degree the following semester and shipped off to sunny San Diego to begin my path to Washington, D.C.” It was a pivotal moment that turned Campa’s dreams into reality, launching him on an inspiring new path.
Campa describes his time at UTSA where faculty would bring in military music ensembles and explain the opportunities these pathways could open for students. These early exposures to military music left a lasting impression, ultimately motivating Campa to explore this unique path. Through performances and class discussions, he gained insight into the opportunities available to musicians in the military, sparking a new ambition.
“Since I had marched Drum Corps for a few years, and we had a former student earn a spot in the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, Professor Ellis helped persuade me to learn more about this opportunity,” Campa describes. “Once I discovered the many benefits and opportunities available, I knew this was an option I wanted to pursue.”
He states that he had carried many traits of discipline and perseverance from his music education into the USMC, helping him to memorize pieces for the ensemble, maintain physical fitness, and continue to discipline himself in following customs. His time as a musician at UTSA had instilled a level of rigor that prepared him well for the structure and demands of the military.
“In my opinion, the perseverance that we as musicians must have to perfect our craft is very similar not only to my military music responsibilities but also to maintaining the military standards we are held to,” Campa states. “Throughout our courses at UTSA, like SOSA, musical ensembles, and other academic courses, we are given assignments and pieces to prepare and complete in order to reach our goals.”
A few mentors that had a huge impact on Campa’s journey were Professor Ellis, Dr. Zarco, and Professor Rubins. “They always pushed me to go above and beyond on all my tasks and to never give up,” Campa describes. “They consistently guided me in making the best, most informed decisions for my career.” The mentorship and guidance he received during his studies have been crucial to his journey, reminding him to strive for excellence.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree in Music Education at UTSA, Campa pursued a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Arkansas - Grantham.
“One of the biggest challenges I have faced and am still facing is time management. The military is a very demanding organization when it comes to time, so I must be diligent and disciplined to achieve this goal,” Campa reflects. “Unlike the regimented schedule dictated by the military, I now have to set aside time outside of my duties and responsibilities to complete my assignments. I have become more regimented in my personal time, carving out specific times in my busy schedule dedicated to studying and completing my work.”
Campa notes that through his education at UTSA, he developed skills and opportunities that shape him both as a person and a musician. His experiences at UTSA, coupled with the military, have allowed him to become more adaptable and focused, skills that he applies daily in both his music and military responsibilities. “Through my education, I’ve become a knowledgeable musician and Marine in terms of how I practice, study, and carry myself. I cannot thank UTSA enough for putting me on the path that has led to the opportunities I’ve experienced,” Campa states. “I’ve been able to travel to states like Arizona and North Dakota and even visit other countries like Norway. I attribute a lot of these experiences to the support from the faculty at UTSA, which set me on the career path I’m on today.”
This month’s veteran alum Daniel Campa, among many others, can inspire students, both military and non-military, to take a leap of faith and persevere to reach our goals. As we celebrate Veterans’ Day on November 11th, we thank Campa and those in uniform at UTSA for their service.
- Suzanna Bridges-Keese
This Fall, on September 26th, Professor Ron Ellis collaborated with his former high school band director, Mr. Roger Green, for an unforgettable performance with the UTSA Wind Symphony, which Ellis directs. It was a night full of fond moments and reconnection that inspired both the audience and musicians as they co-conducted. Professor Ellis is a professor of music and the director of the UTSA Bands, and Mr. Roger Green is a retired band director from Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. When asked how he felt reconnecting with his former band director in high school for this performance, Ellis noted the powerful impact he had on his students.
“Of course, it brought back a lot of memories, but what I wasn’t expecting was the impact it would have on our students. They probably saw a little bit of me in him, and that part was really overwhelming and cool,” Ellis reflects. Like many students, memorable teachers leave impressions that can last a lifetime. For Professor Ellis, these memories carry all the way from the seventh grade, in the band room.
“I remember the first time walking into the band room in seventh grade and hearing my music, rock and roll music, playing really loud,” Ellis remarks. “That moment stuck with me. It made me feel welcome and relaxed, and it was a gateway to following Mr. Green. To this day, we still play music for SOSA in rehearsals. It takes you away from everything else and gets you in the mood to play.”
The strong impression left by Mr. Green’s passion for music has shaped Professor Ellis’ approach to his students, both during and outside rehearsals. Ellis reflected on the importance of fostering community and the “family side” of music that Mr. Green demonstrated. “I think what I’ve carried from him is the passion for the music community, the seriousness, but also the family side of it. That’s the impact he had on me, and I hope that’s something I’m passing along to my students as well,” Ellis reflects. “His energy on the podium is something I’ll always remember… He walked in, and it was like nothing had changed. Hearing him give feedback brought back things I had forgotten to use in my own teaching. It was like a refresher.”
For the professor, the experience of co-conducting with someone who played a pivotal role in his early music education was enjoyable and relaxing, different from what Ellis first thought. “I was worried I’d be nervous, but once the band started playing, everything fell into place,” Ellis states. “I wish we had done it sooner, but the most important thing is that we got to do it.”
The joint performance was a dream for Professor Ellis, and came unexpectedly. When the moment arrived, it felt both serendipitous and deeply significant. “Working together for the first time, it was a moment I had dreamed of for a long time,” Ellis notes. “It was really meaningful to share the stage with him.”
The students’ reactions to this reunion were powerful, highlighting the emotional significance of everything. “The reaction from the students was overwhelming. Gabe brought in the whole marching band after rehearsal and told them we need to remember our mentors and thank them,” Ellis states. “It was totally unprompted, but it was powerful. So many students went up to Mr. Green and thanked him. That was pretty emotional.”
For current UTSA Music students, Professor Ellis has some heartfelt advice: reconnect with mentors sooner than later, and honor the relationship by continuing their legacy.
“Celebrate the things you love about your mentors,” Ellis recommends. “Do the good work they would want you to do. And don’t wait too long to reconnect with them.” Roger Green, Ellis’ childhood mentor and band director, was delighted to reunite with his former student on stage. “The experience of reuniting with Ronnie and being a part of the UTSA music program for a few days was beyond amazing. It will be an experience I will never forget,” Green reflects.
For Green, his first impression of Ellis was one of sincerity. The drive he possessed was apparent to his teacher, causing him to stand out among the rest. “My first impression of Ronnie as a young band student was someone you could instantly tell he was a sincere and dedicated young musician who wanted to be the best trombone player he could be,” Green fondly describes. “His spirit and personality seemed to set him apart from other young musicians and he had that special drive to excel that continues today.”
A memorable moment for the band director included Ellis writing the high school marching band drill show, not just once but twice.
“I was amazed that a high school student could already figure out the complexity of writing a drill show. Secondly, his trombone quartet which had been together since middle school made straight superiors at the district solo and ensemble music assortment then went on to the state level,” Green notes. “When the Adjudicator told them that the performance he just heard had to be the finest high school trombone quartet performance at the moment in the State of Florida!”
For Mr. Green directing the Wind Symphony performance alongside him was one of the highest honors he had over his 50 years as a music educator. For him, it was a sublime experience.
“Directing Ronnie’s Wind Symphony was one of the highest honors I have had during my career. Ronnie has always shown his sincere appreciation for how I have influenced his musical career, and I truly am impressed with all he has accomplished since graduating from Lakewood High School.”
Like students and all teachers alike, music education has changed as well. Green notes the development of band software programs, and the overall growing importance of incorporating different practices to improve teaching techniques.
“We as band directors and all teachers have to keep up with requirements set by the District/State. Choosing concert band literature has improved since we can now listen before we purchase,” Green states. “Knowing the personality of your band and their technical ability, we can more easily choose music to move them forward musically.”
To see students like Ellis come full circle in their careers, as an educator, brings Green great joy. He notes how important excellence is to him in not only music but in the personal lives of students. “I have had the joy and pleasure of numerous students reaching out to me and sharing what they are currently doing and how music influenced so much of who they are…I always tried to set a high standard, requiring discipline, dedication and personal drive…” Green reflects.
Like all mentors and educators, Green has his own advice to give to music educators and his opinion on the importance of cultivating relationships with former students beyond the classroom.
“Show the love and compassion you have for music,” Green states. “It can be contagious. When students know the sincerity of what you do, most students respond with the same enthusiasm to make a difference in what they do individually, not just in music but in their daily walk and journey throughout their life.”
- Suzanna Bridges-Keese
Victor Mendioa
Master Sergeant (E-8)
HONORING ALL WHO SERVED
Gary Poffenbarger
Master Sergeant (E-7)
U.S. Air Force
Maintenance Management Officer
Aviation Radio Technician 1969-1991
Karim Vazquez
Principal Tubist, US Air Force Academy Band Chief of Band Support, AF Public Affairs Agency 1991-2014
Airman First Class (E-3)
U.S. Air Force
Fatality Search and Rescue 2021-Present Operation Lone Star
Technical Sergeant (E-6)
U.S. Air Force
Aviation Comm./Nav.Craftsman
Mental Health Services Craftsman 2001-2016
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Provide Comfort
Petty Officer Third Class (E-4)
USS Truxtun/Rescue Swimmer
Combatant Craft Platoon 2011-2015
Veterans Day on November 11 honors all who served in the U.S. military, recognizing their contributions to national security.
At UTSA School of Music, we celebrate our veterans and the valuable skills they bring to our community.
November, 23rd | 7:30 p.m.
DECEMBER 3rd-5th, 2024
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