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New Mexico Music Commission’s Student Musician Spotlight

Featured Student: Jordyn Tatum ~ Albuquerque

Jordyn Tatum is the February 2018 featured student in the New Mexico Music Commission’s Student Musician Spotlight series.

Jordyn has been a chorister at the Cathedral of St. John for ten years and is currently a member of the Cathedral Choir. As a Senior Chorister she is a role model and mentor to the younger members of the program. She admires the demanding work and dedication of the choir director and Director of Cathedral Music, Dr. Maxine Thevenot and assistant organist Mr. Edmund Connolly. She is currently the Cathedral’s Jr. Choral Scholar.

The Cathedral Choir tours nationally and internationally and Jordyn has had the opportunity to sing with the choir and as a soloist at Westminster Abbey and Winchester Cathedral (U.K), the Washington National Cathedral (Washington D.C.) and in churches in New York City. She will be singing at Wells Cathedral, U.K. this summer with the Cathedral Choir. Over the past 3 years, Jordyn has attended the prestigious week-long Saint Thomas Girl Chorister course in New York City.

The love for music and learning is evident in Jordyn’s passion for all types of music. She has met many composers and has been a featured soloist in the Cathedral commissioned works by Andrew Carter and Aaron David Miller and on the Cathedral Choirs recent recordings In Dulci Jubilo (2015) and Tell of His Love (2017).

Jordyn is a Sophomore at Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School. She studies voice with Edmund Connolly and has been selected several times to the All State Mixed Choir. She also plays the piano and is interested in learning to play the ukulele.

Around Albuquerque, Jordyn has participated and been a prizewinner in the Vocal Artistry Art Song Festival, Albuquerque’s Got Talent, Kirtland’s Got Talent, The Albuquerque Little Theater, Landmark Musicals and the Santa Fe Opera. She was selected to sing the National Anthem for the Wounded Warrior event at Kirtland Air Force Base.

Jordyn was nominated by Dr. Maxine Thevenot, Director of Music at the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque. Maxine says of Jordyn, “Over her years as a young Chorister and now as a stipendiary Junior Choral Scholar in the Cathedral Choir, Jordyn has consistently been a dedicated, not to mention talented choir member. She arrived as a promising six year old chorister, and she has worked especially hard to hone her craft and skills in recent years whilst maintaining her complete humility.”

Jordyn is extremely humbled by this recognition and is grateful to all those who have supported her throughout the years.

Congratulations, Jordyn, for being selected as the Music Commission’s February 2018 student musician! In addition to being inducted into the student spotlight, Jordyn will be featured on the Music Commission’s Facebook page and will receive an official certificate of recognition from the State.

Click here for information about the Student Musician Spotlight.

above: Jordyn Tatum sings Pie Jesu from Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, conducted by Dr. Maxine Thevenot, organist Edmund Connolly, recorded Saturday, November 11, 2017 at The Cathedral of St. John.

note: Jordyn’s biographical information, image, and video are used with permission of her parents.

New Mexico Music Commission’s Student Musician Spotlight

Featured Student: Haven Hall ~ Santa Fe

Haven Hall is the January 2018 featured student in the New Mexico Music Commission’s Student Musician Spotlight series.

Haven was born drumming.  It has always been instinctual for him.  He started drumming with his hands and anything he could get a hold of as soon as he could move.  He got his first drum kit when he was 3 years old and naturally began playing his own original poly rhythms.

At the age of 6, he met the wonderful staff at the Candyman Strings & Things in Santa Fe one day when he joined a group of older kids, adults and instructors to play “All Along the Watchtower” for 15 minutes straight.   The owners of the store, Cindy and Rand Cook, took Haven in as family and have supported him wholeheartedly ever since. He’s participated in the Candyman’s Rock Band Camp for 5 years, recording songs in a local studio and performing live. Haven has been taking weekly drum lessons at the Candyman with his mentor, Andy Primm, since he was 8.

At the age of 9, Haven and two friends formed a band called Peach Fuzz, after enjoying a box of fresh peaches harvested from a tree in Haven’s yard.  They’ve rehearsed weekly without any instruction.  Their first performance was in 2016 on the Skylight stage, debuting an original knockout tune, “The Man Behind the Fuzz”. At the same show, Haven sang lead vocals for the first time, on “House of Gold”, by 21 Pilots.  Since, they have performed several times at the Candyman, at the SF Brewing Company for a Feeding Santa Fe fundraiser, and most recently, opening for Ralph’s World on the grand stage at the Lensic Theater.

Haven can’t help but play his drums, and he practices every day.  He aspires to be a professional drummer in a rock band when he’s older.  His parents have always thoroughly supported his drumming and have enjoyed watching his talent develop. He is very grateful to Cindy Cook for nominating him and to the NM Music Commission for selecting him, and he is deeply honored to receive the Student Spotlight Award.

Haven was nominated by Cindy Cook, co-owner of The Candyman Strings & Things music store in Santa Fe. In her nomination, Cindy writes, “Haven’s personal strengths are as impressive as his musical accomplishments. He’s a quiet calm and acts as a sort of ‘anchor’ in group settings. He has a wonderful sense of humor and doesn’t seem to engage in unnecessary quarrels or disputes. He is sensitive to the feelings of others while guarding his own, and is aware of his environment, understands how he fits in, and acts appropriately. His calm and pleasant nature and openness to feedback reflects that he’s always learning and growing – an impressive strength that will continue to serve him well in school and in life.”

Congratulations, Haven, for being selected as the Music Commission’s January 2018 student musician! In addition to being inducted into the student spotlight, Haven will be featured on the Music Commission’s Facebook page and will receive an official certificate of recognition from the State.

Click here for information about the Student Musician Spotlight.

above: Haven Hall jamming on New Year’s Eve Day, 2017.

note: Haven’s biographical information, image, and video are used with permission of his parents.

New Mexico Music Commission’s Student Musician Spotlight

Featured Student: Atticus Wolf ~ Albuquerque

Atticus Wolf is the first student to be featured in the New Mexico Music Commission’s new Student Spotlight series.

Atticus started learning piano at age four. His instructor, Donna Mickey, is also his Grandmother and has been teaching piano in the family for over 42 years. Atticus takes weekly lessons from his Grandma and tries to get in at least one practice a week on his own. Atticus plans to continue studying piano with his Grandma for many years to come.

He has always had a great ear for music. At the early age of three, he learned the words of a few songs from the Beetle’s popular album and animated film, Yellow Submarine. One song in particular was his favorite, getting played many times on the way to pre-school. That song, “Hey Bulldog” is one of the few Beatles’ songs based on a piano riff.  Another favorite piano song is “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John. Atticus has learned how to play this song on piano.

Atticus is in 2^nd grade as a member of the New Mexico Association of the Gifted and attends Lew Wallace Elementary School in Albuquerque NM. He is a member of the Lew Wallace Chess Club and enjoys playing chess any chance he can. He is very interested in and explores many topics relating to physical science, chemistry and mathematics. During his free time, Atticus builds elaborate structures out of Lego, Erector Set, wood and clay. Atticus states that when he grows up, he wants to be a scientist, however in the meantime he dreams of someday playing piano on America’s Got Talent.

He was nominated by his father, Jason Wolf, who is a professional musician and owner of Tripl3Tone Studios in Albuquerque. In his son’s nomination, Jason writes, “As a lifelong musician, I understand the importance of music to me and have seen the applications of a music discipline be applied to other areas of my life. This is why I offered the gift of learning music to my son. I was very happy to see Atticus embrace and enjoy learning how to read sheet music and play the piano.”

Congratulations, Atticus, for being selected as the Music Commission’s December 2017 student musician! In addition to being inducted into the student spotlight, Atticus will be featured on the Music Commission’s Facebook page and will receive an official certificate of recognition from the State.

Click here for information about the Student Musician Spotlight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuoYMk0aQVs

above: Atticus Wolf performing for his family, November 2017

note: Atticus’ biographical information, image, and video are used with permission of his parents