October Update
A Team, A Schedule, A Theme
The Team
John Andretsos
Performing Vibraphone on ‘Raindrops’; A Constant Force of Joy
John Andretsos is a third year music education major at Colorado State University, where he studies percussion with Dr. Eric Hollenbeck and Professor Shilo Stroman. John is from Highlands Ranch, Colorado where in fifth grade he started playing the violin under his future orchestra director. He came into the percussion scene in high school through marching band, indoor percussion, and symphonic wind ensembles At CSU John has participated in marching band, wind ensembles, orchestras, and various chamber ensembles. He has also performed at many concerts at CSU, CMEA in Colorado Springs, and PASIC in Indianapolis.
Musical performance all started for John when he was five, dancing at the Denver Greek Festival, and learning to play along his family in the Greek Band Etho Ellas later on. His Greek heritage brings many new and exciting musical opportunities. Ever since early childhood, John knew he wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until high school he pursued music education.
As a student, John works across Colorado learning and experiencing from different music teachers to grow as a future teacher. Using his percussive and string background has proved valuable in exploring the different avenues of music and education. He is excited for his final years at CSU to grow and learn from his professors, colleagues, and friends. Working with students is his passion, and is excited to get out into the field soon!
Andrew Findley
Composer of ‘Raindrops’; The Best of Buddies
Andrew Findley is a 21 year old electronic and classical composer based in Denver with his cat, Bee. He enjoys building expressive themes and dreamy landscapes in his writing where his influences vary from progressive metal to EDM. As a performer Findley plays with local groups ranging from funk, to alternative, to grunge. He is an expressive, multi-talented musician who primarily focuses on drum set. Aside from his life in music, he loves camping, hiking, building, baking, and hanging out with friends and family.
Findley met Andrew Dutch in the 7th grade at Century Middle School where they became fast friends. Attending Thornton High School together, they became inseparable both in music and in friendship. Together, they raised the bar of musicianship in school with Findley premiering works with the band and Dutch leading locally acclaimed chamber groups. Their paths diverged post-high school where Dutch went on to pursue a degree in Music Education at Colorado State University, and Findley delved into the local, Denver music scene becoming a successful performer and composer in his own right. While they both have taken different paths, they still like to reconnect for occasional jam sessions and hikes to continue their lifelong bond of friendship.
Picture: Andrew Findley (left) and Andrew Dutch (right) at the Midwest Conference in Chicago, IL - 2018.
Michael Chaney
Software Engineer for ‘The Simulacrum’; A Playful Intellectual and Kind Soul
Michael Chaney is a senior Computer Science major at Colorado State University. While his major is in the sciences, he was also an eager band student in high school which continued into college where he played the alto saxophone in the CSU Marching Band for three years. His love for computers and software was developed in high school where he took an independent study in computer science with his beloved teacher, Mr. Tank.
Since then, Michael has worked various jobs and internships in his field and is currently working as an intern at the Intel corporate office in Longmont. He likes to often gather his friends and have project nights where they tackle a particular concept and build a piece of software to include in their portfolios. His primary fields passion include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Mixed Reality (MR) development to solve issues in the real-world context.
A Schedule
This is a look into the organization behind a weekly practice routine. Practice times were found in between my class and teaching schedule. I share it with you all now as a way both holding myself accountable and a way to give you a glimpse into the work that is done. We all live busy lives and I find it helps me when I write out and quantify the work and projects that take long periods of time to complete.
Photo by Paul Gilmore on Unsplash
A Theme
Malakhi. The word ‘malakhi’ takes its roots from the Hebrew language meaning ‘messenger’. It specifically is in reference to the biblical angels who carried down truth. Its usage today in this project is neither biblical nor in reference to angelic beings but is instead symbolizing the intrinsic, deeply personal nature of music. Art, be it through prose, poetry, music, dance, or any other medium, is an outward expression of ourselves for the interpretation of others. This project, by extension, is my opportunity to share myself with those who view it. The portfolio is the 'malakhi’ — the messenger — of my own truth to the outside world.
The crux of this analogy, though, is that for art to do work, it must be interpreted by a viewer. You are my viewer. You will experience my truth in the form of music, mull it over, and walk away thinking whatever you’d like — perhaps you enjoyed the pieces or something particularly resonated with you, perhaps you did not enjoy them. Either are perfectly acceptable, but the point is that you took the time to consider the message as you heard it through the music.
All people express their own truths through their own malakhi. Some write, some perform, some protest peacefully, some paint, some orate, some serve others, some teach, some lead, some compete, some debate. We may not understand one another’s truth nor agree with it. However, we can all take the time to — at the very least — listen and consider; to honor one another’s truths and take the time hear them.
Coming in November.
October is a big month. First drafts will be made. Terrible recordings discarded. Digital Audio Workstations fumbled through. Next month, I hope to share some of these frustrations, successes, and milestones with some audio/video/photography.
Thank you for your support in my life and in this project. See you November 1st.