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 paid homage to civil rights leaders C茅sar Ch谩vez and Rosa Parks during the bands鈥� fall, 2022 concert. Led by 笔补肠颈蹿颈肠鈥檚 Professor Vu Nguyen and composer and conductor in residence Giovanni Santos, Pacific students performed an intentionally diverse range of compositions that centered societal struggles, celebrated cultures, and focused upon historic and ongoing social inequity. That experience resonated with students.

The Concert Program

The centerpiece of the concert was the world premiere of 鈥淐h谩vez, 1927鈥� written by Santos in honor of American Farmworkers Union co-founder, C茅sar Ch谩vez. Professor Nguyen paired 鈥淐h谩vez, 1927鈥� with 鈥淎 Movement for Rosa,鈥� named for civil rights leader Rosa Parks, to honor the life and work of two civil rights icons.

Students also performed 鈥淟amento Cubano,鈥� a movement from Santos鈥� 鈥淭hree Latin American Dances,鈥� that highlights Santos鈥� deep emotional bond with his Cuban Grandmother, and by extension his family鈥檚 heritage.

鈥淭here was so much that Giovanni shared in rehearsal and in performance with our students that connected them to the deeper meaning behind the music,鈥� shared Professor Nguyen.

The History Behind Music

Student performers shared that learning the stories behind the music had a profound impact. Understanding the history portrayed in these works informed their musicianship.

鈥淧laying a piece that was for a cause so much bigger than myself was a really special experience, I am glad I was involved,鈥� said flutist and music therapy major Kalea Bringas 鈥�23.

Several members of 笔补肠颈蹿颈肠鈥檚 Wind Bands are current music education majors who said exploring these stories through music will influence their careers as future educators. 

鈥淐h谩vez鈥檚 and Rosa Parks鈥� struggles for civil rights speaks to me as an educator. It's important to program works that honor these histories,鈥� said Ryan Abdelmalek, who is pursuing master鈥檚 in music education and performed as a guest conductor and trumpeter in the concert.

Emotional Impact

Through a focus on civil rights movements in the Americas, the concert showcased the considerable strengths of 笔补肠颈蹿颈肠鈥檚 Wind Bands.

鈥淒r. Nguyen took time to teach us more about the meaning of the [civil rights] movement and the sacrifices made throughout the process,鈥� said clarinetist and music education major Maggie Juarez 鈥�24. 鈥淟earning this history through the world premiere of `Ch谩vez, 1927鈥� was an exceptional way to honor the movement of the National Farm Workers Association.鈥�

Santos dedicated 鈥淟amento Cubano鈥� to his departed grandmother. 鈥淎s we worked with Professor Santos, he not only explained the reason for this dedication, but also described how and why his family left Cuba,鈥� said hornist, music education and music performance double major Braydon Ross 鈥�23. "How the resulting extended separation affected their family and how many other families experienced similar challenges. Hearing this story brought the music to a deeper level as a performer as I had these stories and emotions to draw upon while playing the piece.鈥�

Community Collaboration

50 partner ensembles co-commissioned Santos鈥檚 鈥淐h谩vez, 1927鈥� alongside Pacific, including Stockton鈥檚 C茅sar Ch谩vez High School and Lincoln High School. Pacific 鈥榮 Conservatory of Music was the lead commissioner. 

The event included Mart铆n Camps鈥� reading of 鈥淣o ceses, C茅sar Ch谩vez,鈥� a poem written in collaboration with his friend Emilio Martinez who worked in the fields and saw Ch谩vez march in 1966. Camps is director of 笔补肠颈蹿颈肠鈥檚 Latin American Studies program. Images and quotes highlighting C茅sar Ch谩vez accompanied 笔补肠颈蹿颈肠鈥檚 performance of the work in Ch谩vez鈥檚 honor. Lisa Cooperman, assistant professor and university curator, compiled the visual montage.

笔补肠颈蹿颈肠鈥檚 Conservatory of Music and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sponsored the concert.