Stories from the HeART of Music in New Mexico
The latest from the Department of Music Music Newsletter Summer 2024Music Newsletter Winter 2024
UNM to Host “Organ Plus” Concert in Partnership with American Guild of Organists
The University of New Mexico Department of Music will partner with the American Guild of Organists, Albuquerque Chapter, to present Organ Plus, a special concert event at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in Keller Hall at the UNM Center for the Arts. The...
A major new operatic work by Peter Gilbert has made its international debut
A major new operatic work by University of New Mexico Department of Music Professor Peter Gilbert has made its international debut at the renowned Schwetzingen Festspiele. Malina, composed by Gilbert with his wife Karola Obermüller (a former UNM faculty member),...
Student Perspective: UNM Athletic Bands
A UNM music student shares an insider look at performing with the Soundpack at the Mountain West basketball tournament, highlighting the energy, community, and traditions that define athletic bands. From fan events to game-day performances, the experience showcases how music unites fans, players, and performers. Ultimately, it reflects the pride and lasting connections built through being part of UNM Athletics.
UNM Department of Music Presents Multimedia Premiere Honoring New Mexican WWII Legacy
The University of New Mexico Department of Music will present a powerful new multimedia performance, El Sendero del Abuelo, a deeply personal and historically resonant work by UNM Mariachi faculty member Robert L. Lucero Jr. The production transforms a New Mexican...
UNM Alum Rafael Videira Named Executive Director of the International Suzuki Association
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — University of New Mexico alum Rafael Videira, DMA, has been named Executive Director of the International Suzuki Association (ISA), marking a major milestone in a career devoted to music education, performance, and international collaboration. A...
Professor Ana Alonso-Minutti Receives Ovation Award
Dr. Ana Alonso-Minutti, Professor of Musicology, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 OVPR Ovation Award for Research and Scholarship. This prestigious recognition, presented by the Office of the Vice President for Research at The University of New Mexico,...
Dr. Peter Gilbert Honored with UNM Research and Creative Works Leadership Award
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Dr. Dr. Peter Gilbert, Associate Professor of Theory & Composition in the UNM Department of Music, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Research and Creative Works Leadership Award at the University of New Mexico. The award recognizes recently promoted faculty who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in research and creative work. Nominees are selected by the provost following a rigorous external review of their scholarly and artistic contributions.
Dr. Michael Hix Selected for Prestigious UNM LIFT Leadership Program
Albuquerque, NM — Dr. Michael Hix, Professor of Voice and Chair of the Department of Music at the University of New Mexico, has been selected to participate in the 2026 cohort of the Leadership Innovation for Faculty Transformation (LIFT) program, a competitive...
A Luminous Journey in Sound: Star Trail, New CD by José Luis Hurtado
Star Trail, the newest CD by composer and pianist José Luis Hurtado, invites listeners into a vibrant universe of sound, one that shimmers, expands, and unfolds like light moving through space. Released on the Kairos label, the album presents a collection of works that transform listening into an immersive, almost physical experience.
UNM Musicology Celebrates 10 Years
By Melissa Ríos, UNM Musicology Graduate Student & Musicology Research Assistant April 2025 April 17th marked the celebration of a decade of musicology at UNM. To celebrate the occasion, Dr. Heidi Jensen, who was the first graduate of the revamped program in 2015,...