University of Redlands Scholarship Recipient

Sunday, May 14, 2006 5:00 PM
Carriage House, Prospect Park, Redlands

The Redlands Branch of the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) is sponsoring a Scholarship Winner's Recital on Sunday, May 14th at 5:00 PM at the Redlands Prospect Park Carriage House, 1352 Prospect Dr., Redlands, CA. This recital will feature Saxophonist Joshua Alvarez, the winner of the Redlands Branch MTAC's second annual University of Redlands Scholarship. Mr. Alvarez will be joined by Kentaro Kameyama at the piano.

The concert program will include masterworks of the classical Saxophone Repertory. Glazunov, Von Koch, and Husa are just a few of the composers to be featured at this concert.

The MTAC Redlands Branch Scholarship Award is given to an outstanding University of Redlands Bachelor of Music Performance major at the end of their sophomore year. Award winners are chosen through a two-step process. The University of Redlands first recommends up to four applicants for consideration. Then, applicants perform an audition at which a winner and alternate are selected. Mr. Alvarez is the second recipient of this new award, which in addition to a financial scholarship includes a sponsored concert in the Redlands community. Portions of the proceeds of the event will benefit the MTAC Redlands Scholarship Fund, which, in addition to the University of Redlands award, annually provides scholarship assistance to graduating high school seniors planning to major or minor in music.

Joshua Alvarez is a currently a junior at the University of Redlands, pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Education. He is currently studying saxophone under Dr. Eddie Smith.
Mr. Alvarez, born and raised in the Coachella Valley, has been studying music since the sixth grade. Although he never received private instruction until college, his determination and passion to perform has motivated and pushed him to the level of musicianship he is currently at and is the same force that will push him further. It was this same determination that allowed him to graduate as the number one ranked student in high school, receiving a principals and high honors award in 2003. Since then, he has been commended with high honors for his grades at the University of Redlands and additionally received the School of Music Director’s Award in 2005.
He is actively involved in the music education department as President of the Redlands Chapter of the California Music Educators Association. Additionally, Mr. Alvarez is heavily involved with his church in his hometown of Mecca where he is the Sunday School Superintendent as well as the Youth Treasure, Choir Director, Musician and occasionally the Master of Ceremonies during church services. He is also a musician for the Interior District of California Youth Choir and has, and continues to perform, at camps and district services.

He has served his community in several occasions by performing as a saxophonist in the Coachella Valley High School productions of Grease, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, and Salute to the Troops! and has worked with elementary and middle school students during summer band programs. He is currently providing private instruction to three students in the Coachella Valley as well as seven students in the Riverside County School District at King High School. He hopes to return to his community in the Coachella Valley where he might teach the middle or high school level.

The cost per ticket is only $10 general and $5 student/senior. For information on purchasing tickets or to make a donation to the MTAC Redlands Branch Scholarship Fund, please contact info@redlandsmtac.com