Music Technology program carries on depsite low-funding

The Fullerton College Music Technology Program, in conjunction with the Music Business students will host the final concert in a student run-series tomorrow night in the Wilshire Auditorium.

The concert will be divided into two halves. One half of the concert will feature jazz vocalist Sherry Williams. Performing with Williams are renowned bassist Bob Magnusson, former Bill Evans drummer Joe La Barbera, and FC professors Joe Jewell and Jim Linahon on guitar and Trumpet respectively.

Head of Music Technology and FC professor Markus Burger will also play five songs with the group. William's half of the concert will also feature FC students Fransisco Torres and Dan Michael-Reyes, both pianists. They will each play one song with the group. The concert will also be a fundraiser for the Music Technology department.

The other half the concert will feature FC professor Andrew Maz, who will perform selections from his new album "Shelter". 

Maz said that this music is brand new and has never been performed live before. He also said it will be first time he has performed his music live in almost six years.

Maz's band will consist entirely of students from the Recording Certificate Program. It will consist of Maz (Vocals, Piano), Lindsay Aldana (Keyboard, Vocals), Charlene Gibbs (Keyboard, Vocals), Carlos Morales (Guitar), Eric Deluca (Bass) and Trevor Storey (Drums).

"It is an absolute honor and joy to work with these extremely talented musicians. They have put their hearts into this project and it shows in every rehearsal," Maz said. "I expect the concert to be a fantastic experience for them and I can't thank them enough for participating and helping me put this together."

Maz's album will be for sale at the concert, and all of the proceeds will benefit the Music Technology program.

Besides the proceeds from Maz's album, the ticket sales from this concert will be the only money that the Music Technology program will have for next year. Burger hopes that enough people show up to the concert to fill up the auditorium. The money raised will be a big help.

According to Burger, the Music Technology program relied heavily on Vocational and Technical Education Act grant money. The VTEA grant provides funding to support career technical education programs through 2012.

Burger also mentioned that the college and the music department does not yet have a maintenance plan in place that will guarantee updates and maintenance of technology.

While he may not receive funding next year, Burger will still do what he can to help out the program. He said he will volunteer a lot of his time with his fellow members in the music technology department to try and get donations of technology wherever he can.

Also, Burger does have some help on his side. According to Burger, Bob Jensen, dean of the fine arts division has some ideas on how to pursue money for running expenses. And Ann Hovey, dean of the business/CIS division has offered her assistance in finding new possibilities for funding.

The fundraising concerts have been very successful in the past, according to Burger. At the last concert, the stadium had 320 people out of a possible 400 seats filled.