MUSIC FROM THE AMERICAS CONCERT SERIES Presents
VERSUS 8 Percussion Ensemble
Percussion music in the Americas is one of the most exotic, visually attractive, and antique forms of expression since pre-hispanic times. Preserving, promoting and creating music for the percussion family of instruments is at the core of Versus 8’s mission through international collaboration with composers, performers, students, and cultural centers that contribute with their resources to the cycle of music, namely: creation, performance, and listening..
Versus 8 Percussion Ensemble offers a fresh perspective on modern and traditional percussion music. In its 16th anniversary Versus 8 has performed in numerous stages around Mexico and internationally in countries such as Paraguay, Cuba, and Luxembourg, USA and Spain.
Travesías is the title of Versus 8’s latest show, which is well-balanced in terms of form, style, and aesthetics of contemporary percussion music, including some of the most symbolic sounds of the beautiful traditional Mexican marimba.
PHOBIA I – BUATUCATTA (2015) Hugo Morales (1979)
THE EXERTING FORCES OF THEIA AND GAIA (2018) José-Luis Hurtado (Mexico, 1975)
DANZA ISORRÍTMICA (1996) Mario Lavista (Mexico, 1943)
RHYTHMIC STRUCTURE OF THE WIND IV (2007) Raúl Tudón (Mexico, 1965)
SON BULERÍAS (2002) Miguel Cruz (Mexico, 1976)
VERSUS 8
Carlos Barrón Valadez Andrés Gómez Jaimes Enrique Eldon Sterling García
Pedro Salvador Velasco artistic director
Christian M. Newman Published a New Music History and Music Appreciation eBook
Christian M. Newman, a lifelong New Mexican composer, historian, and college course designer, has published the eBook, Music Essentials from the Western Classical Tradition: Middle Ages to the Present (First Edition) with Cognella Academic Publications, ©2027. Newman developed and authored this work as a music lecturer with the University of New Mexico’s department of music, and department of theatre & dance between 2016 and 2026.
UNM strings faculty sign historic agreement with Chinese Conservatory
University of New Mexico string faculty members Carmelo de los Santos, professor of violin and Christoph Wagner, assistant professor of cello and head of strings, traveled to China recently to formalize a landmark international partnership between the UNM College of Fine Arts and the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music (ZJCM), one of China’s leading institutions for higher music education.
UNM’s Abe Franck String Quartet completes first residency at China’s Zhejiang Conservatory
A new exchange program has been solidified that opens doors for all College of Fine Arts students