with
BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC, RICE UNIVERSITY SHEPHERD SCHOOL OF MUSIC,
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MOORES  SCHOOL OF MUSIC & THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS BUTLER SCHOOL OF MUSIC.

featuring a special presentation
by Berklee College of Music & Mayde Creek High School Orchestra Alumnus Roman Soto

FRIDAY, MAY 26TH
6:30 PM - 8:30PM

Mayde Creek High School Performing Arts Center
19202 Groeschke Rd., Houston, TX 77084 / Event Map
Early entry for RSVP/Ticket holders at 6pm / General seating at 6:15pm
RVSP for your FREE TICKETS!
Join us for an evening of original music and guest panelists from Berklee, Rice, UofH, UT and professionals in the industry!

Mayde Creek High School Orchestra is proud to host this special, free event,  open to high school fine arts students and musicians. There will be a special gift presentation of music by former MCHS orchestra alumnus Roman Soto, to his program and district, followed by a panel discussion of  local, state, national music program representatives,  industry professionals and give-aways! Following the event, guests can drop by the lobby for a variety of helpful music resources. If you are planning on continuing music in college, and or looking for a career in music, you don't want to miss this! 
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. "
- Pablo Picasso

THE EVENT

  • MUSIC GIFT & PRESENTATION
  • PERFORMANCE I
  • PERFORMANCE II
  • PANEL DISCUSSION and Q&A
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Music is a gift that many possess, one that's meant to be passed on. A universal language that loves, heals, brings people together and inspires...music speaks where words fail. The Gift of Music is a heartfelt thanks to the educational, inspirational foundation of where one musician's journey began. As he prepares for the next journey, with the hope of music continuing to inspire future students, former Mayde Creek High School cellist/alumnus, Roman Soto ('12) presents The Gift of Music to his former program, director and district - a musical package of 8 original compositions for their music libraries. Celebrate in this heartfelt gift of thanks to the past, present and future educators, music instructors, musicians, and district that taught, supported and inspired this cellist's gift each and every day, along with 2 performances of Soto's original compositions.  
For more see his bio below and visit Soto's Soundcloud.
Sunrise for String Orchestra (Roman Soto)
featuring
The Mayde Creek High School Sinfonia
under the direction of
Roman Soto
Sonata No. 1 in C Major for Cello and Piano (Roman Soto)
featuring Roman Soto
accompanied by
Yilin Zhao
Preparing for college is often met with an overwhelming, confusing amount of information. Student musicians, both trained and self-taught, are often unsure, have questions and seek direction. Parents also often have fears or concerns about music degrees and careers. Most information gathered usually comes from educators, private lesson instructors and fellow musicians, but is quite often learned through trial and error. Music panels and discussions are a great source of information, but often held at conferences for professionals etc...those already working the industry. Any conducted for music students, are typically found at the college level. This unique, one-of-a-kind event, takes things a step back to present important information to music students at the high school level, where they need it, now. This discussion will present the music program perspective, as well as the college student, graduate, professional and parent perspective. Whether you're in band, choir, orchestra, theater; a high school musician or recent graduate looking to prepare;  these programs, educators, college students, graduates, parents and industry professionals will discuss key topics that music students and parents, like you, need to know.

VIDEOS

Some highlights from the evenings event

THE PANEL

Click on image for more info on panelist
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About Colleen Glenney
Colleen E. Glenney has established a successful career out of her mutual loves for music and education. Following her 2001 graduation on a full-tuition scholarship from Berklee College of Music, she was a cast member (trombone) in the Tony and Emmy Award-winning show, Blast!, at both Disney World in Orlando, FL, and Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. In 2003 she moved to Florida permanently, where she taught high school and middle school music for five years while obtaining her masters degree from the University of South Florida in Educational Leadership. From 2007-2011, Colleen served on the leadership team as the Visual & Performing Arts Magnet Programs Coordinator at Booker High School and Booker Middle School in Sarasota, FL. During this time, she felt the pull to return to Boston and Berklee, and so made the move to return to her musical home in 2011. For two years she worked as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Berklee, recruiting students from around the country and serving as a member of the Board of Admissions. In 2013 she was promoted to the Admissions management team, where she now serves as Associate Director of Recruitment after two years of managing the Alumni Rep and Student Ambassador programs.
COLLEEN GLENNEY
Assoc. Director of Recruitment
Berklee College of Music
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About Phyllis Smith
Phyllis Smith has been working music admissions for over a decade, first with Peabody Conservatory at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and currently with the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.

She trained as a music therapist and chamber musician at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia where her primary instrument was piano. She received both a Bachelor in Music Therapy and a Master of Music Education. After her internship in Pineville, Louisiana, her music therapy work took her to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Denver, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia and Ames, Iowa working with the elderly. For several years, she taught piano lessons and then joined the amazing world of helping young musicians and their parents land at their perfect college or conservatory training ground. This is her 8th year with the Shepherd School of Music at Rice.

In her spare time, she enjoys biking – especially at Bear Creek Park – and runs a creative business with her own website and Etsy shop.
PHYLLIS SMITH
Music Admissions
Shepherd School of Music
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KELLY IBARRA
Kelly Ibarra, who coordinates Undergraduate and Graduate admissions for the College of the Arts at the University of Houston, is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance, and her Masters of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Musicology at Baylor University. After graduation, she worked in the Office of Admissions at the University of Houston for four years. She transferred to Admissions in the Moores School of Music, where she could help others achieve their dreams of becoming musicians. Now, in the College of the Arts, Kelly enjoys working with prospective students in all areas of Performing and Visual Arts.
KELLY IBARRA
Admissions & Recruitment
Moores School of Music
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About Sarah Borshard
Sarah Borshard, a native Wisconsinite, was raised in Appleton, Wisconsin and New Milford, Connecticut. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, where she was principal clarinetist with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Eau Clarinet Quartet. At UWEC, Sarah served as the first President of the first collegiate chapter of the National Band Association and Vice President of the National Association for Music Education student chapter. Sarah is a member of the the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Following student teaching at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England, Sarah taught band, choir and general music at Canyon Day Junior High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona for two years before earning a Certificate in Band Instrument Repair Technology from Renton Technical College in Renton, Washington.

Sarah has been with the Butler School of Music since 2008, serving as an Admissions Counselor, Admissions Coordinator and now Assistant Director. Teaching and music have always been deep passions of hers, which is why joining UT Austin over eight years ago in the heart of the “Live Music Capital of the World” was a natural transition.
SARAH BORSHARD
Assist. Director, Admissions
Butler School of Music
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About Barry Coffing
Barry Coffing is a Music Business Entrepreneur who grew up in Houston and graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After short stints at HBU and The University of Houston he began his professional music career in Houston. For six years he was not only performing in bands locally but he was a top Jingle Singer, Music Producer and Composer. It was then that his talents were discovered by Steve Tyrell & Barry Mann and he was invited to Los Angels. After several trips and two of his songs being placed in movies he decided to join the company and move to LA.

Over the next 17 years he amassed a great deal of credits and awards with over 200 tracks placed in movies and TV, BMI Songwriting Awards, Multiple #1 hits and an Emmy nomination. He continued to be the voice behind the scenes in movies like Moulin Rouge, The Brady Bunch Movie & Winnie The Pooh's Grand Adventure, He wrote TV themes for California Dreams, The Pyramid (Staring Donny Osmond) & The Heights. His song "How Do You Talk To An Angel" went on to become a number one hit and sell over 500,000 copies worldwide.

Currently he is Music Business Entrepreneur who represents over 13,000 record labels and publishers for film and TV licensing. His company, Music Supervisor Inc. places hundreds of songs each year in Films, TV and Advertising. Every major Film Company and TV network uses their software and services.
BARRY COFFING
Founder/CEO
Music Supervisor
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About Lovie Smith-Wright
Lovie Smith-Wright is President of Local 65-699 of the American Federation of Musicians, Houston Texas, Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Conference of the American Federation of Musicians, Chair of the American Federation of Musicians’ Diversity Committee, and was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the American Federation of Musicians Employer’s Pension Fund where she served from May 2006 until August 31, 2010,

In addition to being President of Local 65-699, she has been on the faculty at the University of St. Thomas since the fall 1980, and has been the Principal Percussionist for Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas since 1984. As an active free-lance musician, she performs with various musical organizations including the Broadway Across America Series Orchestra, Houston Choral Society, Texas Master Chorale, and The Houston Latin American Philharmonic, where she also serves as orchestra contractor. Lovie was a member of the Wichita Symphony for seven years, Principal Percussionist with the Houston Ballet Orchestra for five years and percussionist with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra for twelve years.

Lovie earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Percussion Performance from the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University. She was a full-tuition scholarship student at the Aspen Music Festival from 1977 to 1982 and the Grand Teton Music Festival in 1983 & 84.

World premiere performances include: “Sophia” by Ann K. Gebuhr in January 1994 and the 1981 Houston Ballet world premiere of Just By Chance choreographed by Daniel Jamison to the “Concertino for Marimba” by Paul Creston. She has toured and performed with such artists as Roger Williams (including the 1992 Autumn Leaves Tour), Tommy Tune, Sandy Duncan, Johnny Carson, Liberace, Lena Horne and many others. She has toured with and premiered various Broadway shows including “Mame” (starring Juliet Prowse), Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Yeston & Koplitt’s “Phantom,” “Jekyll & Hyde,” and many more.

Her solo appearances include the 1989 Soirees Musicales with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra in Wichita, Kansas, October 26, 1986 with the Clear Lake Symphony, Houston, Texas, the 1982 Peter Nero Pops concert in Chicago, and the Houston Symphony Orchestra in July 1977. In 1977, she tied for first prize in the Ima Hogg National Young Artist Concerto Competition sponsored by the Houston Symphony Society and won first prize in the percussion division of the Music Teachers National Association Concerto Competition.
LOVIE SMITH-WRIGHT
President Local 65-699
Houston's Prof. Musician's Assoc.
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About Arianna Soto
Arianna Soto's established an impressive lineup of  industry experience, currently working as the Music Settlement Coordinator for Paradigm Talent Agency in New York, and their large music roster,  overseeing the Monterey, L.A., Austin and Nashville offices.
A Berklee College of Music Alumna and Music Business major ('14), she was previously the contracts administrator and assistant at Paradigm, and  an artist management intern at Fenway Recordings working with bands MGMT, Joywave, Guards, Doves and others. Soto was the talent buyer & talent buyer supervisor for Berklee's, The Red Room, and worked with Sony Music Entertainments Red Music, Stache' Media,  BIRN radio (DJ), NT Entertainment, Our Vinyl.T.V and West Side Recording Studio,
Arianna got her start as manager for several artists including the alternative Boston rock band, The Rare Occasions, featured in  USA Today College  and the winner of the John Lennon Songwriting contest in 2015.
She was an active college music business board member/leader and a top award recipient. Her drive to pursue a career in music landed her the street team captain position for the California band Rooney at the age of 14. Arianna is a Mayde Creek HS and orchestra alumna ('10) and was a student of KISD's   Logic Pro training classes at Miller Career & Technology Ctr. under industry audio master and KISD instructor John Bertram. She is a musician with over 18 yrs. playing piano, violin and guitar.
ARIANNA SOTO
Settlement Coordinator
Paradigm Talent Agency, NYC
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About Roman Soto
Soto is a Berklee College of Music Performance & CWP (Contemporary Writing & Production) dual major ('17). A cellist, composer, arranger and producer, he's composed works from classical, jazz to contemporary, and serves as the music director/composer for his bands - The Teros String Quartet and CGC (Chamber Groove Co.). CGC's first jazz album "Enigma",  composed, produced, mixed and mastered by Soto was released in 2016. His most recent collaboration, producing the self titled album debut for Canadian pop artist Spencer Nicholson, released this past winter.
Soto is a former principal cellist for the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra,  Neapolitan Orchestra, and former member of the Berklee World Strings. He's had the privilege to write and record with  industry musicians, including legendary saxophonist/educator George Garzone and playing the Beantown Jazz Festival. He works with classical cellist Patrice Jackson-Tilghman of the Mark O'Connor String Quartet and most recently with Marty Walsh one of L.A.'s esteemed and well known session guitarists.  A member of TMEA, Soto's taught private cello lessons since 2011, with one of his students becoming the  first chair for the UT symphony.  He's performed and taught master jazz/contemporary/improvisation classes at the Valdres Sommersymfoni in Norway and has studied under Eugene Friesen (Paul Winter Consort), Mike Block  (YoYoMa's Silk Road Ensemble), Patrice Jackson (Mark O'Connor String Quartet), Natalie Haas, Myron Yomplisky (Washington Conservatory) and Misha Quint (Mann School of Music).
In his formative years Soto served as co-principal/5 year member of the  chamber orchestra the Virtuosi of Houston, under the direction of Andrzej Grabiec and Franz Krager (UofH Moores School of Music) and studied under Xiao Wong of the Houston Symphony. A Mayde Creek HS alumnus ('12) and 4 year principal cellist his high school years, Soto placed in region, All-State and was awarded the states highest UIL honor of music excellence twice - the Outstanding Music Performer Award. Soto is an accomplished artist/illustrator, studying art for many years, his work continually featured  and contracted by many educators and music artists today.
ROMAN SOTO
Cellist, Composer, Producer
Berklee Alumus '17
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About Alma Soto
Alma Soto is a professional multidisciplinary graphic designer, photographer, artist,  consultant and coach based in Houston, Tx. Owner of Mamasoto Design & Media, she earned her Bachelors in Graphic Design from The Art Institute and has a background in photography, writing and journalism. She is a former manager for EDM artists DJ Nine Three and Audio Runner/Gerritt Tisdale, a Berklee Online graduate. Soto works a variety of local and national design clients from small business start ups, to corporate, non-profit, medical, education, including working design & development for musicians. A long-time music parent, leader and volunteer of the arts and education, she  works to help mentor and prepare fine arts students across design, photography, art and music, coaching them on their brand identity, social media footprint, website & portfolio prior to college, auditions and college graduation for job placement.
ALMA SOTO
Designer, Consultant & Coach
Mamasoto Design & Media
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    QUESTIONS FOR THE PANEL

    Pre-submit your question to the panel. Questions will be answered during the Q&A on May 26th. Q&A will be available online after the event!
Pre-submit your questions now for the May 26th event! Q&A will also be posted online after the event.
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TOPICS discussed

•Steps you should be taking before college

•How to prepare for auditions

•What music schools look for

•Music degree options (it's not just music education anymore)

•Can you really make a career out of music?

•Preparing for a music industry career
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who is this event good for?

•Fine arts students majoring in music/career

•Studied or self-taught musicians

•Students needing help/unsure about degree options

•Students looking for music program info & resources

•Parents with questions/concerns about music study

•Those looking to network with similar students/parents
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#BETHELEGACY   #GIFTOFMUSIC
Hosted by The Mayde Creek High School Orchestra
The Gift of Music is a collaboration between Berklee College of Music, its alumni and Mayde Creek High School Orchestra Boosters.