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Posted: 5/07/19

TAMIU’s Music Program Shows Steady Growth, Close to 100 Students Enrolled

 

Dr. James Moyer
Dr. James Moyer  

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) music program is growing in size and talent and close to 100 music students are enrolled, said Dr. James Moyer, TAMIU assistant professor of music and chair of the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of Fine and Performing Arts.

“This year, we achieved three milestones in our music program,” he said, “We have the most music students in TAMIU’s history at 96 enrolled. We also have the most students, or four, to transfer from other schools into our program, and we have the most music students, four seniors, accepted into high quality graduate programs in one year.”

The program has grown 15 percent in the past five years, with most students attending from the Laredo area, but with an increased interest from the Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Moyer said.

“In music programs, faculty must recruit weekly in order to sustain growth,” he said, “We have stepped up the recruiting with new faculty and have added a major recruiting event on campus in September.”

Among students attending graduate school in the Fall is Rene Herrera, a music major (guitar), who was accepted into the graduate music program in guitar at Texas State University, Dr. Moyer said.

Sarah Romero Chong, a music major (piano), will start graduate studies, also at Texas State University, he said.

Kevin González was the highest ranked percussion student in the graduate auditions at Texas Tech University, and has been awarded a  graduate assistantship as he pursues a Masters of Music degree.

José Aguilar was also ranked the highest in percussion when auditioning for the graduate program at The University of Texas in Austin to pursue a Masters of Music degree.

 All four students begin their graduate studies in the Fall.

TAMIU’s music graduates are also teaching in public schools throughout Texas, many in Laredo, Dr. Moyer observed.

Moyer said that the music program has increased its recruitment presence since 2016.

“This included the first-ever TAMIU music ensembles invited to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), the largest music education convention in the nation,” he said, “We have increased our presence in the Rio Grande Valley, added on-campus recruiting events like the Texas All-State audition clinics, which drew 265 students to campus in its first year. Finally, we are advertising in the state music education journal to keep us in the minds of music teachers.”

Also, this month, TAMIU’s 5th International Mariachi Festival attracted more than 500 high school students from 21 high schools throughout Texas. Some of the participants also utilized the opportunity to audition for TAMIU’s music program.

TAMIU offers three undergraduate degrees in music, plus a minor. They include a Bachelor of Music with All-level Certification, Bachelor of Music in Performance, Bachelor of Arts in Music with Double Major and a Music Minor. All are housed in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, which offers both performance and rehearsal space.

“TAMIU’s music program offers a gifted faculty, all highly respected in their field, in an affordable, professional environment with small class sizes. Our students get the individual attention critical for a successful college career,” Moyer concluded.

TAMIU music majors also have the opportunity to join several ensembles. They include the Symphonic Band, Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Singers, Mariachi Internacional, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Band.

For more information about TAMIU’s music program, art, theatre and dance programs, please contact Dr. Moyer at 956.326.2640, email james.moyer@tamiu.edu or visit https://www.tamiu.edu/coas/fpa

A dedicated Facebook page for the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts can also be found at: https://www.facebook.com/TAMIUCFPA/