The variety of musicianship at this performance reflected the dedication and hard work the Texas Wesleyan Music Department puts in on a daily basis! As the day started dreary and rainy on Saturday, Oct. 28, the music shined bright through this department’s performances. This was the 27th year showcasing the music department at the Modern Art Museum, while being coordinated and accompanied by Professor Keith Critcher — and it did not disappoint!

The ensembles and soloists who performed this year were top notch. Starting the concert was the String Ensemble consisting of Anna Lang, Brandon Lee Mountjo and Lance Smith on violin; Erica Fraire on cello; Matt Harvey and Elijah Cox on double bass; and directed by Professor Joni Baczewski.

Following the strings were soloists Elyssa Williams, mezzo-soprano vocalist and Mark E. Davis on piano.

The Wesleyan Singers, directed by Professor Critcher, performed two beautiful pieces: "In the Middle" by Barbara Crooker and "Ain’t Got Time to Die" by Hal Johnson.

This year’s music alumni showcase was awarded to Luis Calderón on the horn as he performed "Cantecor "by Paul Henri Büsser.

As a part of showcasing the guitar studio, the music department chose two new incoming students solo on guitar: Alexis Ahuyon and Jacob Johnson, while senior percussion student Sun Park showed off her skills on the xylophone accompanied by Professor Critcher.

Dressed in their beautiful blue and gold trajes, Texas Wesleyan Mariachi Oro Azul performed "De Colores" arranged by Jeff Nevin and "Feria de Las Flores" arranged by Nadia Elmandoust.

If one thought the concert couldn’t get any better, chair of the music department and head of the piano program Dr. Ilka Araújo alongside Professor Keji Sanchez transported the audience to a piano dreamland as they played "Fiestravaganza" by Shaun Choo.

Flute soloist, Alex Garcia, and tenor vocalist, Darion Chilton showed off their solo pieces while the Wesleyan Jazz Combo swooned us to the finish Line performing "Summertime" by Georg Gershwin, with soloist Abraham Hernandez, and "Blue Monk" by Thelonious Monk. No matter what your music preference is, this concert surely had something for everyone. 'Til next year, Modern!