NMSU Research and Creativity Week includes Music Department performances, Feb. 21-24

Latin band Nosotros, which originated in Las Cruces in 1994, and Native American musician Randy Granger of Las Cruces will join the New Mexico State University Music Department for performances during NMSU’s Feb. 21-24 Research and Creativity Week, Music Department Head Fred Bugbee said.

 All performances are on the NMSU campus and are free and open to the public, Bugbee said.

• 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21: Nosotros, whose members include some of Bugbee’s first music students at NMSU. (He joined the NMSU Music Department in 1994.)

“We’re excited to have them,” Bugbee said.

• 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22: quartet featuring Jim Shear, Celeste Shear and Laura Spitzer.

“This concert represents both new and old research undertaken by NMSU Regents Professor Jim Shearer and colleagues over a number of years,” Bugbee said. “Most recent is a new work for tuba and piano from noted composer Alvin Singleton titled ‘Topless,’ for which Dr. Shearer served as the lead commissioner. This marks Mr. Singleton’s first solo work created for tuba, and it was premiered as part of the Chatter concert series in Albuquerque and Santa Fe in January. The work will be recorded soon with NMSU piano faculty member Dr. Laura Spitzer for release on Summit Records.

“Also featured in the concert will be a solo piano work by Mr. Singleton titled In ‘My Own Skin,’” Bugbee said. “In addition, Dr. Shearer and Dr. Spitzer will be joined by horn player Celeste Shearer for the works ‘Two Lovers Dream’ by Memphis composer Tom Clary (commissioned by the Shearers) and ‘Haunted America Suite’ by noted Hollywood film composer and NMSU alumni Justin Raines.

• 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23: The NMSU Jazz Band will perform, with soloists Mike Sedillo, Chadd James and Ziggy Garcia of Nosotros. The 20-piece Jazz Band is directed by Jacob Dalager, Ph.D., professor of trumpet and jazz at NMSU.

“I’m really excited for our students to get to work with the soloists from Nosotros,” Bugbee said.

• 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24: Las Cruces musician Randy Granger.

“Randy is always so generous with his time,” Bugbee said. “I think he does so much for the community.”

Bugbee thanked NMSU Vice President for Research Luis Cifuentes, who “wanted music to be a part of it (Research and Creativity Week). He was adamant about it,” Bugbee said.