Invitation to the 2023 President's Honor Recital
Dear University Community,
When our Conservatory of Music was established more than a century ago as the School of Music, it was one of the first of its kind in California. Since then, it has been a vital part of our liberal arts tradition and a source of inspiration for many. Thanks to the Conservatory, we are privileged to have opportunities to enjoy performances by our talented students.
On Sunday, April 2, at 4 p.m., seven of our most accomplished students will perform at the 40th Annual President’s Honor Recital at the Memorial Chapel on the Redlands campus. These students are all winners of the 2022-2023 University of Redlands Conservatory of Music auditions held in December 2022 and January 2023.
The Honor Recital has, since 1983, provided a public showcase for the most outstanding performers in the University of Redlands Conservatory of Music. This diverse cohort of undergraduate and graduate students represents the best of our program.
- Joseph Candelaria ’22, from Lytle Creek, is a first-year graduate student working toward a Master of Music degree with a major in piano performance. A student of Louanne Long, he received his Bachelor of Music degree and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Redlands in 2022. Candelaria has both Native American and Latin American roots and often performs music by women or composers of color. Joseph’s current aspirations are to earn a doctorate in musicology and become an expert in Native American music.
- Hannah Gaugush ’23, is a senior working toward a Bachelor of Music in trumpet performance and a Bachelor of Arts in management. She studies with David Scott and is the principal trumpet in the University Orchestra and a student musician in the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. Hannah is grateful to be attending the University on the Director’s Award scholarship. She also performed in the President’s Honor Recital in 2022.
- Ernest Lopez ’25, is a second-year trombone performance major from the Coachella Valley. He has studied trombone with Isaac Leyva, Richard Harris, James Miller, and Phil Keen and has performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall as well as with the Pacific Symphony and its Youth Wind Ensemble.
- Jair Lopez ’24, is a junior from Fontana who was awarded the prestigious Director’s Award Scholarship and is studying flute with Sara Andon. He is a member of the University of Redlands Wind Ensemble, University Orchestra, University Flute Choir, and the Jazz Improvisation Ensemble and is a student substitute for the Redlands Symphony Orchestra.
- DaNece Lyman ’24, who received her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and master’s degree from Boise State University, is pursuing her artist diploma in violin performance at the University of Redlands. While at Boise State University, she played with the Boise Philharmonic, and she has performed in Italy and Slovenia, where she participated in the International Music Festival of the Adriatic in 2015 and 2022.
- Elena Mejico ’06, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands and is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy. She has a private studio in Redlands, teaching voice and piano, and she teaches at Mariposa, Franklin, and Crafton elementary schools in the Redlands Unified School District.
- Matt Tashima ’24, who is pursuing a degree in percussion performance, has performed in most of the university’s ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, University Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Percussion Ensemble. He has premiered several works for percussion by student composer Noah Parady and ensemble works by student composer Paul Dempsey, and he is a member of the experimental music group Khakis.
It is my privilege and honor to invite you to hear these remarkable students perform on Sunday. Admission is free, and the recital is open to the public. No tickets are required to attend.
Sincerely,
Krista Newkirk
President
