Today, military musicians, though used less often in combat, are just as integral to the armed forces 鈥� their presence signifying a national sense of identity and increasing public trust in times of warfare and uncertainty. Such a dignified profession commands not only extraordinary skill but versatility in one鈥檚 craft.

Preparing musicians to adapt to different musical environments is the primary focus of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Percussion Studio. Through a comprehensive curriculum and studying with world-renowned faculty, students learn to master a variety of percussion instruments in an immersive learning environment. The 麻豆原创 Percussion Ensemble, the primary performing ensemble within the Percussion Studio, also offers students real-world experience in all facets of ensemble playing, from orchestral to chamber music to concert bands.

鈥淥ur undergraduate program is designed to train well-rounded percussionists, with the idea that students are equipped to say yes to any opportunity 鈥� whether that鈥檚 teaching or performing,鈥� says Thad Anderson 鈥�04, associate professor of music at 麻豆原创 and coordinator of the percussion studies program.

Where some graduates have continued their studies to pursue teaching careers, others have gone the performing route, auditioning for prestigious gigs like playing with a military premier ensemble 鈥� a small group of elite bands responsible for promoting national interests and supporting official government ceremonies such as presidential inaugurations, foreign dignitary visits and funerals for service members.

Although premier ensembles may not carry the same cultural cachet as traditional orchestras, they are just as elite and competitive, with many musicians auditioning multiple times before winning a coveted spot. Still, they see the effort as worth it: They get to do what they love as a career while serving their country.

Here are five percussion alums who landed one of those rare seats in a premier ensemble. Read on to learn more about their journey from 麻豆原创 to the armed forces, and where they see their lives beyond the military.

Technical Sgt. Jacob Kight 鈥�15

Technical Sgt. Jacob Kight joined the United States Air Force Band in 2021 as a percussionist with the Ceremonial Brass at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. Kight received a bachelor鈥檚 in music from 麻豆原创 in 2015. He was awarded a master鈥檚 in music in 2017 and a doctorate in music degree in 2020 from Florida State University. Before joining the Air Force Band, Kight served as the director of percussion studies at the University of South Florida (USF)and principal percussionist for the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.聽One of his most recent high-profile performances includes playing percussion with the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard at Super Bowl 59 this year.

Main Mission: Enhance the image and culture of the U.S. Air Force through ceremonial performances, including funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, presidential inaugurations, flight arrivals for foreign dignitaries, presidential parades and more.

Musical Beginnings

I was raised in a musical household. Both of my parents have music degrees, and my mother was a music teacher, so I have been surrounded by music for as long as I can remember.

Going for It

When I graduated from Florida State, COVID-19 hit and pretty much all in-person auditions halted. That summer, I needed a job, so I applied everywhere, including Home Depot and Starbucks. Luckily, a position opened for percussion director at USF, and I took it.

In February 2021, when I saw auditions for military bands were open again, I flew to Washington, D.C, auditioned in the morning, flew back to Florida and was teaching the next day. A week later, I was notified that I got the job, and I told the department chair at USF that I wouldn鈥檛 be returning the following year.

A Knight鈥檚 Training

I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am now without having gone through the percussion program at 麻豆原创.聽I think the curriculum is one of the best out there, especially for musicians interested in military bands. We covered all major areas of percussion. Most percussionists in military bands are expected to perform in many different ensembles and styles of music, and studying at 麻豆原创 prepared me for that.

Looking Ahead

I would love to run a business as my retirement job. I want to create a one-stop shop for all things percussion: selling and servicing instruments, private lessons and an ensemble rehearsal studio for students. A lot of young people don鈥檛 have the ability to have percussion instruments at home, so it will be a place for students to come after school and practice their skills.

Staff Sgt. Steven Estes 鈥�20

Staff Sgt. Steven Estes holds a bachelor鈥檚 in music in percussion performance from 麻豆原创 and began a master鈥檚 in music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University before joining the United States Army Field Band in 2021. During his time at 麻豆原创, he performed in various ensembles, focusing on orchestral percussion and jazz. He was also a member of the Flying Horse Big Band, 麻豆原创鈥檚 premier jazz ensemble.

Main Mission: Perform for audiences nationwide and abroad, building public support for the armed forces and contributing to global diplomatic efforts.

Musical Beginnings

What got me into drumming was the marching band. I thought the drumline was really cool. I worked hard at drumming, and it started to feel like something I wanted to do. I didn鈥檛 see myself at a conventional job.

Going for It

I finished my first year in my master鈥檚 program at Indiana University and was accepted into the National Orchestral Institute聽that summer at the University of Maryland. A few weeks after the festival I had the Army Field Band audition and ended up getting it.

In the music field, you take every audition you can, so while I could have stayed at IU and finished my master鈥檚, I thought the experience was more valuable.

A Knight鈥檚 Training

麻豆原创 is really good at getting rid of your weaknesses. The music field is very competitive. A lot of percussionists who make the finals for an orchestra or a military band are good at playing multiple instruments. Then there鈥檚 that last little thing like drum set or sight-reading, and that鈥檚 where I think 麻豆原创 helped a lot. You become a more confident, well-rounded drum player, whereas if you specialize too soon, you miss out on that.

Looking Ahead

I can definitely see myself staying in the U.S. Army until I retire. I enjoy traveling, the benefits and the job stability. You also learn different skill sets. If I had a different performing job, that鈥檚 all I鈥檇 be doing. But here, you can take on different roles. You can be a producer for a show. You can put together a program. You can write the script for shows that have narration and videos. So being in a military band makes you a more marketable musician.

Staff Sgt. Mitchell Gribbroek 鈥�15

Staff Sgt. Mitchell Gribbroek earned a bachelor鈥檚 in music from 麻豆原创 and a master鈥檚 in music degree from Florida State University. While pursuing a graduate diploma from the New England Conservatory, he won a section position with the Virginia Symphony, where he performed until joining the Army Field Band in 2019. Gribbroek has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Virginia Opera, Orlando Philharmonic, Gulf Coast Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony and more.

Main Mission: Build positive connections with the public and foster support for the armed forces through compelling music performances.

Musical Beginnings

I鈥檝e been interested in drums since I was a little kid. I started drum set lessons when I was 8 and quit after a year or so, but picked it back up when I joined the band in middle school. I really liked the drumline in high school. A lot of my friends in the class ahead of me were majoring in music at 麻豆原创, so I knew it was a good program. 麻豆原创 was the only place I auditioned and the only place I wanted to go.

Going for It

My wife is also a percussionist, so we were looking for a job in the same area. But it鈥檚 rare for two percussionists to find full-time work in the same city. That鈥檚 what drew us to military bands. In Washington, D.C., there鈥檚 a big concentration of all these performance gigs in one place, so we thought our chances were probably best to try to go for a military band career. I think it took five tries before I finally got offered a position with the Army Field Band.

A Knight鈥檚 Training

麻豆原创 has a phenomenal percussion program. Having a well-rounded experience with all the different facets of percussion made me more marketable for my master鈥檚 program. For military bands, especially, drum set experience and world percussion can be a huge differentiator, and that was a big advantage I had from going to 麻豆原创.

Looking Ahead

I recently had two incredible opportunities with the Army. One was using the G.I. Bill to get my pilot license, so that鈥檚 something I am considering doing after I retire from the military band. I am also in the later stages of building our website as one of my auxiliary duties. Web design and coding are things I had no experience with. But the Army has paid for different certifications and trainings to help me develop this site 鈥� and those are additional marketable skills I have now, thanks to this job.

Technical Sgt. Christopher Baird 鈥�18

Technical Sgt. Christopher Baird is a percussionist with the Ceremonial Brass for the United States Air Force Band. Before joining the Air Force in 2023, he performed with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony and Sinfonia Gulf Coast, among others. Baird earned a bachelor鈥檚 in music in performance from 麻豆原创. He also earned a master鈥檚 in music in percussion performance and a doctorate in music from Florida State University.

Main Mission: Honor service members, inspire patriotism among the public and represent all airmen during various ceremonial events, including arrival of heads of state, state funerals and presidential inaugural parades.

Musical Beginnings

I played percussion in middle school because I thought it was one of the cooler instruments. It was always the thing I looked forward to. I was fortunate that I went to a strong high school music program. All the staff created a positive environment where students wanted to learn. That inspired me to pursue teaching as a potential career. I wanted to share that excitement with other students.

Going for It

While I was still in my doctorate program, the Air Force put out an ad for a fellowship that gives musicians the opportunity to know what it鈥檚 like to be in an Air Force band for a couple days. I loved the program and learned a lot about ceremonial bands.

When I returned to my doctorate program that fall, a friend gave me the heads-up that someone was going to be retiring in the Air Force Ceremonial Brass and there would be auditions soon. I auditioned, skipping the preliminary rounds, thanks to my fellowship, and got the job. From there, things moved quickly. I graduated with my doctorate on May 5, 2023, and left for basic training May 8, 2025. The fellowship program was really what motivated me to pursue the military band. Getting to rehearse with a professional band like that was a life-changing experience.

A Knight鈥檚 Training

麻豆原创 has a very structured curriculum where you鈥檙e studying different instruments each semester. All the different levels you learn in the curriculum are super applicable to auditions because they are all instruments that you have to know 鈥� and know how to play well. Had I not gone through the Percussion Studio and learned the fundamentals, there鈥檚 a chance I probably would not have gotten this job.

Looking Ahead

I definitely plan on staying in the military for a while. I would like to familiarize myself with different areas of administrative work, but I also want to continue playing and moving up the ranks. I was recently hired as a sponsor to help onboard new band members. And that鈥檚 something I鈥檓 really looking forward to 鈥� helping people get excited about being here but also helping them get through the scary parts of basic training.

Staff Sgt. Theodore Jackson 鈥�20

In 2020, Staff Sgt. Theodore Jackson earned his bachelor鈥檚 in music in percussion performance from 麻豆原创, where he was a two-time winner of the 麻豆原创 School of Performing Arts Excellence Competition. He went on to complete his master鈥檚 degree in percussion performance in 2022 at the Indiana University (IU) Jacobs School of Music. During his time at IU, he served as an associate instructor of percussion and regularly performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, Jackson became a percussionist with the West Point Band at the United States Military Academy.

Main Mission: Fulfill official musical requirements for the U.S. Military Academy, including military and patriotic ceremonies, public concerts, sporting events and social activities for the Corps of Cadets and the West Point community.

Musical Beginnings

I joined the drumline in high school, and that鈥檚 when I knew drumming would be my life.

What drew me to the 麻豆原创 Percussion Studio were the faculty and the curriculum. It鈥檚 a very regimented program. I knew by the time I finished I would be able to play all these different types of styles and instruments.

Going for It

Military bands sometimes use blind auditions, which help ensure anonymity and fairness. Throughout the audition you’re asked to play many different prepared pieces, as well as sight read music that you haven’t seen before. I had to do that four or five times for my auditions. You have to be versatile because in the military you wear a ton of different hats.

A Knight鈥檚 Training

麻豆原创 gave me the knowledge and skills to never say no to a gig. I also really appreciated how well 麻豆原创 prepared me for grad school. I had to show how well-rounded I was in my audition, and I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do that if it weren鈥檛 for the curriculum at 麻豆原创.

Looking Ahead

I have a gig that allows me to keep getting better and gives me the time to do that. That鈥檚 the best thing about this job. Percussion is such an intense, competitive field that you鈥檙e always focused on getting better. I can鈥檛 think of anything else I鈥檇 rather be doing than playing drums.

Really, that鈥檚 the name of the album 鈥� Good News! 鈥� and it has been in the top 50 on the three major jazz charts since it was released in July, even spending some time at No. 1 on the Roots Music Report鈥檚 chart. The band鈥檚 sixth album under Professor Jeff Rupert is charting higher than recordings by Van Morrison, Mike LeDonne and other notables.

The success of the band, made up of students in the university鈥檚 jazz studies program, is simple. 鈥淲e work at promoting good music and artistic endeavors,鈥� says Rupert, a tenor saxophonist.

Selections on the album include the works of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others. The Good News! title comes from one of the songs on the album, which was composed by one of Rupert鈥檚 former teachers 30 years ago, Bob Mintzer.

This is the band鈥檚 first recording collaboration with the 麻豆原创 Studio Orchestra, which joins on several songs. Other collaborations on the album are with The Jazz Professors (Rupert, Per Danielsson, Richard聽Drexler, Bobby Koelble and Marty Morell), and guest vocalist Jeff 鈥淭-Bone鈥� Gerard.

Rupert, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 jazz studies, also is conductor of the Florida Symphony Youth Jazz Orchestra and founder of Flying Horse Records.

All sales from the album benefit the jazz studies program. CDs are available from and CDBaby, digital downloads are available at retailers, and the album is available on streaming platforms.

The band鈥檚 previous album, The Bat Swings! (2018), hit the top three national jazz airplay charts, reaching No. 1 on both the Roots Music Report and the North American College and Community Radio chart, as well as No. 29 on JazzWeek.

The band also will have an album of Ray Charles songs coming out in January. Rupert has spent some time in New York producing the vocal component of the album.

鈥淣ow we have the top writers and musicians collaborating with the band,鈥� Rupert says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great time at 麻豆原创.鈥�

The fact that the 41 year old decided to pursue a degree in music performance and a career as a piano teacher is not all that out of the ordinary. She鈥檚 had the urge to play ever since she was a toddler who used to reach up to plunk on the keys of her mother鈥檚 piano in their Tennessee home.

What is unexpected about Cook鈥檚 story is that for the first three decades of her life, she had no exposure to most music genres and artists 鈥� from The Beatles to Duke Ellington to Dolly Parton to Metallica and nearly everything in between.

And then college happened.

鈥淲hen I started going to college, I was a very shy, withdrawn, anxious person. I had almost no confidence. My professors [at Valencia and 麻豆原创] believed in me. They helped me to learn to believe in myself,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I think back in a few years from now, I鈥檓 going to be really grateful that I had this experience.鈥�

Raised on Hymns and Classical Music

As the second oldest of six children, Cook says she had an ultraconservative upbringing and says the homeschool program her family subscribed to was very restrictive. Cook 鈥� who learned from her mother how to play the piano 鈥� was allowed to listen to hymns or classical music, but anything with a bassline was off limits.

鈥淚f you couldn鈥檛 listen to Christian music that has a drum, then you definitely were not going to be able to listen to most stuff,鈥� she says.

鈥淚f you couldn鈥檛 listen to Christian music that has a drum, then you definitely were not going to be able to listen to most stuff.鈥� 鈥� Melody Cook

She didn鈥檛 think early on that college was an option because, like her limited exposure to music, she was taught college was a place of destructive and damaging influences. Instead, she spent most of her 20s doing mission work in Moscow and Siberia before moving to Orlando in 2012.

She was making minimum wage in a kitchen, hardly clocking enough hours to support herself, when the realization hit her 鈥� she did not want to live the rest of her life this way.

鈥淚 knew that [restrictive] lifestyle wasn鈥檛 what I wanted and what I believed anymore. If I was going to pursue something that I really loved, then I felt I should get an education,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o I thought, what would I do if I could do anything?鈥�

The answer: art or music.

She enrolled at Valencia College with the goal of transferring to 麻豆原创 through the program and cried with joy when Valencia Professor Alan Gerber told her she had what it took to pursue music. To her, those tears were proof she had pinpointed her passion and future path.

As a result, her world has opened up exponentially.

An Introduction to Bon Jovi and Black Sabbath

Cook says she had a steep learning curve to try to catch up to her classmates. She took a jazz theory class at 麻豆原创 and spent hours listening to W麻豆原创 89.9 FM on car rides to train her ear to the new sounds.

She is enrolled in 麻豆原创鈥檚 analysis of hard rock and heavy metal course. She never knew M枚tley Cr眉e existed until a couple months ago. She says Black Sabbath is a little intense. She heard Bon Jovi鈥檚 Livin鈥� on a Prayer for the first time when her class discussed glam rock.

鈥淚鈥檓 really happy that I鈥檓 learning about it. At the same time, it鈥檚 really stressful. Every moment that I鈥檓 listening to it I have to say to myself, 鈥業t鈥檚 OK. You don鈥檛 have to feel guilty about listening to it,鈥� 鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love that I鈥檓 getting to listen to it myself and make my own opinion on which ones I like and which ones I don鈥檛 like.鈥�

鈥淚 love that I鈥檓 getting to listen to it myself and make my own opinion on which ones I like and which ones I don鈥檛 like.鈥� 鈥� Melody Cook

She says she doesn鈥檛 have any particular favorites. Because there鈥檚 so much she hasn鈥檛 heard, she tries to listen to something new every day.

鈥淪o far I haven鈥檛 found a whole lot that I don鈥檛 like,鈥� she says. 鈥淓ven Black Sabbath 鈥� even though it鈥檚 really out there and intense 鈥� I find it鈥檚 appropriate for certain emotions. If I was really mad or really stressed, it might be just the thing to listen to.鈥�

麻豆原创 Assistant Professor Alexander Burtzos, her current composition instructor, describes Cook as an ideal student. He says we all grow up in our own musical bubble to some extent, and all that really matters is whether we have the determination to break out of it.

鈥淢elody聽is a voracious listener who鈥檚 equally open to Renaissance polyphony, 20th century dodecaphony, speed metal 鈥� and everything in between.聽She quickly absorbs each new piece she hears, eventually incorporating it into her own singular musical language,鈥� he says. 鈥淢elody聽is interested in pushing boundaries. Her pieces are often built around strong central ideas. I have no idea what the future holds for her. But whatever it is, I know she鈥檒l be successful at it.鈥�

Learning Through Loss

In the immediate future, at least, she will have her senior recital April 21 when she will lead a performance of a compilation of her work, and she expects to graduate with honors in May.

Her recital will include the composition Loss, which she debuted and conducted at 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts on April 7.

She first composed Loss as a way to grieve the death of her grandmother, the last of her surviving grandparents. She was unable to attend the funerals of her other three grandparents, but she made it to this one and wrote the piece as a tribute to all four of them.

She continued to tinker with the piece 鈥� which does feature a drum kit 鈥� before she really got serious about polishing it after the opportunity arose to contribute something for the New Music Ensemble concert at 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts.

Burtzos says 尝辞蝉蝉听is composed in a style that is quite different from Cook鈥檚 usual aesthetic 鈥� it’s tonal, sorrowful, melodious, and to his ears, seems grounded in the folk music of Russia and Eastern Europe. He says he admires her ability and willingness to embrace different sounds and styles in her music.

As for Cook, she is pleased with the way the piece turned out and the journey it took to get it there. At one point, she had composed it in her head for a full orchestra, even though she had never experienced an orchestral performance. Knowing what she knows now from her studies, she says the balance would have been completely off and it would have sounded horrible.

“This is a chance for me to honor and remember my grandparents and to express those feelings that I have a hard time expressing.鈥� 鈥� Melody Cook

Ultimately, she is most pleased because she feels that the ones she wrote it for would appreciate her work.

鈥淚 think they would really like the piece. This is a chance for me to honor and remember my grandparents and to express those feelings that I have a hard time expressing,鈥� she says. 鈥淎ll of my grandparents were very artistic and creative and really valued creativity and art. My mother鈥檚 parents met in an art school. I think they would be really proud of me and pleased that I鈥檓 studying the arts and doing something with it.鈥�

After she graduates, Cook wants to continue to teach piano lessons, develop her music studio and write music she can share with the world. And now that college has opened the door to so many new experiences, she never wants to stop pursuing new challenges and opportunities for personal growth.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot about music, a lot about culture and society. In every area of life I feel like I鈥檝e really grown a lot,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no way that I could have done that without having come here. It wouldn鈥檛 have happened.鈥�

鈥淚 realized that music was the most effective way to channel my creativity,鈥� says Burtzos.

鈥淚 realized that music was the most effective way to channel my creativity.鈥�

After receiving his bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctorate all in composition, he went on to perform in concerts across four continents. He collaborated with some of the world鈥檚 leading contemporary music ensembles; founded ICEBERG New Music, a New York-based composer鈥檚 collective; and became conductor of the hip-hop/classical music orchestra ShoutHouse.

Hip-hop/classical music? Yes, you read that right. In his new endowed position at 麻豆原创, Burtzos will teach students how to push the limits of composition like he has.

鈥淥ur long-range goal is to make Central Florida a nationally-recognized center for music composition,鈥� says Steve Goldman, executive director of the National Young Composers Challenge and endower of Burtzos鈥� position. 鈥淲e are excited that Alex will be joining the Central Florida composition community and believe that his contributions will be key to achieving our goal.鈥�

Learn more about Burtzos, his inspiration for blending popular music with classical styles and his advice for aspiring musicians.

Your music often combines multiple genres. What鈥檚 your favorite genre to work with?

It鈥檚 impossible to pick just one, but I love classical music, rock-and-roll and hip-hop. I especially have a soft spot for songs that aspire to be 鈥渢he perfect pop song鈥� 鈥� something that is so tight and integral that you couldn鈥檛 take anything away without lessening the song鈥檚 impact.

What inspired you to pursue these intersections of popular and classical styles?

I think that popular music offers an emotional immediacy that concert music will never be able to match, while concert music offers a depth of expression and a mechanism for creating large, narrative structures. By fusing these two styles, you get the best of both worlds.

You鈥檙e the conductor of a hip-hop/classical music orchestra. How did you discover this interesting combination of genres?

I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 something you find so much as it鈥檚 something you give yourself freedom to do. For centuries there鈥檚 been a prescribed way to compose and only one acceptable style of art music that everyone was taught to work inside. Now, in the age of Spotify, there鈥檚 been a great democratization of style, and music-makers are freer than ever before to go wherever they want. ShoutHouse isn鈥檛 the first orchestra to be influenced by lots of different genres, but we might be the first whose academic training has left us unconstrained enough to explore these genres fully.

Who鈥檚 your favorite hip-hop artist?

Right now, I don鈥檛 think anyone is quite on the level of Kendrick Lamar. He definitely deserved the Pulitzer Prize in Music that he won last year.

鈥淲hen the music becomes a public communication as opposed to a private endeavor, that鈥檚 the best moment of music-making for me.鈥�

Do you have a favorite moment of your music career?

Rather than a single favorite moment, I have a favorite moment within the process of composing: when you are able to start interacting with other people. So often the process starts with you alone in a room, staring at notes or waveforms for a long time. But at some point, the music will leave that room, and you鈥檙e either going to share it with other musicians or with an audience. When the music becomes a public communication as opposed to a private endeavor, that鈥檚 the best moment of music-making for me. And I get to experience it over and over again.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role at 麻豆原创?

I鈥檓 looking forward to working with young composers. I was very fortunate when I was a student to have generous and gifted teachers that helped me succeed, and I鈥檓 grateful to have the opportunity to fulfill that same role in my own students鈥� careers.

And I鈥檓 excited about the National Young Composers Challenge! It presents an amazing opportunity for composers who are not yet at the collegiate level. It鈥檚 very rare for pre-collegiate composers to hear their work performed by a full orchestra, so it gives these young composers a tremendous leg-up. I鈥檒l be taking an active role in the administration of the competition.

What advice can you offer aspiring musicians?

Whether you鈥檙e a performer or composer, learn everything you can about everything and be flexible! To carve out a career in music, you鈥檒l end up doing a lot of different things, so the more you鈥檙e capable of, the more success you鈥檒l have.

And Thursday, Ramirez will graduate from 麻豆原创 with a master鈥檚 degree in music.

鈥淭hankfully, it鈥檚 a morning ceremony,鈥� Ramirez says. That same afternoon she鈥檒l host a birthday party for her oldest daughter. One day later, her youngest celebrates her fourth birthday.

Ramirez’s song,聽Isla del Cordero,聽has received international acclaim and more than 8,000 views on YouTube.

Busy?

鈥淣o, I鈥檓 blessed,鈥� says Ramirez, 43, who embodies the Puerto Rican spirit of blue skies on the horizon. It鈥檚 an outlook that was never more clear than it was in the days following Sept. 20, 2017.

To fully appreciate her song that has garnered more than 8,000 views on YouTube, first you should understand some of her background. Born and raised in Mayaguez on Puerto Rico鈥檚 west coast, she would sing and hum all day long. In church. On the beach. In the rain forest. With cousins, aunts and uncles. And with her mother before she died from a stroke when Ramirez was just 7.

鈥淢y passion for music came from her side of the family,鈥� says Ramirez, 鈥渁nd it has always kept us going through the toughest moments.鈥�

By the time Ramirez was 14, she was singing semi-professionally and writing songs. Her interests ranged from salsa to Skid Row, but eventually she fell in love with opera, and upon graduating from Interamerican University in Puerto Rico, took up teaching music at her alma mater.

鈥淎s I grew up, I noticed the impact I could make on people through music,鈥� she says.

At the age of 36, Ramirez and her family moved so she could pursue her master鈥檚 at 麻豆原创.

Life became busier鈥ore blessed.

鈥淲riting the song helped me so much … we thought maybe the song could help others.鈥�

Then, while training with Opera Orlando in September 2017, she watched the reports on TV as Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico from coast to coast, the island鈥檚 worst natural disaster on record. Mayaguez suffered some of the most extensive damage.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know anything about my family or community for 14 days,鈥� says Ramirez. 鈥淚t was very difficult not knowing if the island would ever be the same. By the second week, I decided to channel my emotion into a new song.鈥�

She sat at a piano and let it all pour out. The tears. The lyrics. The childhood memories.

鈥淲riting the song helped me so much,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s my husband and I were sending supplies to Puerto Rico, we thought maybe the song could help others.鈥�

The connections started. Ramirez contacted a music colleague, internationally known pianist Adlan Cruz, who was doing outreach work for The Hand Foundation in New Jersey, which itself had become active in relief efforts for Puerto Rico. Within a few weeks, Cruz and Ramirez had 25 Puerto Rican musicians, including singer and songwriter Ismael Miranda, gathered in a studio in Kissimmee to record her song, Isla del Cordero鈥� a combination of tropical rhythms, salsa and every emotion from deep concern to pure joy.

鈥淚t was very humbling,鈥� says Ramirez, 鈥渢o go from just the piano and me, to all of these amazing singers and musicians in a studio together.

鈥淲e literally had to stop recording at times so people could cry and pray together.鈥�

鈥淪ome of the artists you see in the music video had been displaced from the worst-hit areas of Puerto Rico. The flute player lost everything, I mean鈥�everything. We literally had to stop recording at times so people could cry and pray together.鈥�

The lyrics of the song include memories of running across mountains, of beautiful beaches and of a mother drinking coffee on a balcony. But as a woman of Christian faith, Ramirez wants everyone to know the overriding message of her song is not despair. Far from it.

Isla del Cordero means 鈥淚sland of the Lamb.鈥� A lamb is on the official seal of Puerto Rico, but it also has a spiritual meaning of a shepherd, of purpose, and of an unbreakable eternal promise.

鈥淲e know that even in the midst of tragedy,鈥� says Ramirez, 鈥渢hat we will be back on our feet. We have hope. We will rise again. We can dance and we can sing 鈥� because we are blessed.鈥�

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The music courses he will teach this fall at 麻豆原创.

Professor Tommy Harrison 鈥� who started playing guitar in his early teens, wrote his doctoral thesis on Van Halen, and signed with Atlantic Records last year 鈥� hopes to teach his students 鈥渢o be champions of good music, not music that can simply make money.鈥�

Harrison, 47, lived in Hawaii until after his first semester at the state university, but then moved to the mainland where he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music at the University of Denver, a teaching credential at California State University at Northridge, a master鈥檚 degree with an emphasis in arranging and composition at California State University at Los Angeles, and eventually a Ph.D. in musicology at the University of Salford near Manchester, England.

鈥淢y work on Van Halen focused on the group from 1978-1986, their stylistic development in songwriting approaches, and exploration of Edward Van Halen鈥檚 impact on the guitar industry through performance techniques and equipment design,鈥� he said.

Harrison was a visiting assistant professor at 麻豆原创 during the 2005-06 academic year teaching music technology before accepting an appointment at Jacksonville University, where he taught classes about the music business, arranging and technology until this past spring.聽For three of those years, he was also the chair of their music department.

He wanted to return to 麻豆原创 and the College of Arts & Humanities because it 鈥渋s a vibrant university with an upward trajectory towards exciting new concepts. I wanted to be a part of that atmosphere.聽The student body and culture is energizing鈥 longed to be part of a large learning environment again, with more, varied opportunities in collaboration.鈥�

He鈥檚 currently in three bands: Raven Cain, which he described as 鈥淪outhern Rock in the sense that it has a good country influence married with a hard rock mentality鈥�; Glutton, a metal group in the vein of Black Sabbath (his favorite group); and the Tommy Harrison Group, instrumental hard rock with jazz, funk and blues influences. A lot of his time the past several years, he said, also has been focused on his recording career.

鈥淚 grew up on 80s hard rock and metal.聽I love things from that era that range from Slayer to Skid Row. My main research interest is American hard rock of the 1980s,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am trained on classical and jazz guitar, and I have some country experience, enough to somewhat fake it. I played Hawaiian slack key briefly in college and聽I appreciate all types of rock and blues.聽I am a fan of 20th century concert hall music and I compose for the concert hall as well鈥 believe that musicians should have a good knowledge of varied styles of music.鈥�

He refers to himself as a 鈥渄aily鈥� metalhead, and listens to what he describes as classic metal by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, the 90s metal ranging from Pantera to Korn, and lately the French group Gojira and the progressive metal of Protest the Hero.

As part of 麻豆原创鈥檚 new collaborative Entertainment Management degree program, Harrison will teach Introduction to Music Technology at the College of Arts & Humanities on the main campus and Music Business and Industry at the university鈥檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Courses will include subjects such as recording, promotions, concert and artist management, music publishing, music for film and television, and copyright.

鈥淚 want students to be leaders that can help get the music business right on track,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want my music students to be able to create good music, and play music from beginning to end with passion. For music students who will eventually use music and recording technology to make recordings, I want their records to be sonically interesting that capture a magical performance, rather than a recording that has had all of the life edited out it.

鈥淢y biggest gripe with a lot of music now 鈥� in most genres considered popular 鈥� is how the computer has been abused to edit out any type of passion.聽Pop, country, rock, hip-hop, you name it, there are examples all across the board.鈥�

Teaching music is about being able to model and demonstrate the knowledge an instructor has learned and gained through experience, he said. He also always tries to stay on top of new developments and explains to students how he sees the new music ideas in the context of the old.

鈥淎ll good musicians practice their instruments with such reverence that it is as essential as eating or sleeping,鈥� he said. 鈥淢usic is not a casual practice for the professional.鈥�

Events for the month:

麻豆原创 Veterans Wall of Honor: Their Stories are Our Stories

On display in the John C.聽 Hitt Library during November, the Wall of Honor salutes 麻豆原创 student, faculty and staff veterans with 鈥淭heir Stories are Our Stories.鈥� The exhibit features individual profiles honoring the military experiences of our Knights. The display is presented by the 麻豆原创 Community Veterans History Project, the Veterans Academic Resource Center and the Student Veterans of America, 麻豆原创 chapter.

Wednesday, Nov. 2

A Veterans Career and Resource Fair will be open to all Central Florida veterans. More than 20 employers will be at the The Venue behind the CFE Arena from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information on local veteran鈥檚 organizations and resources also will be available. This event is sponsored by 麻豆原创 Career Services, Mission United, and the Orlando VA at Baldwin Park.

Thursday, Nov. 3

What鈥檚 your story? The Veterans Literary Workshop is a free session offering tools and creative ideas to help veterans put their experiences and thoughts into words. Morgridge International Reading Center, 麻豆原创 Main Campus, noon-2:30 p.m. Limited space is available. Contact Tiffany.Rivera@ucf.edu for more information.

Saturday, Nov. 5

Veterans are invited to take part in a kayaking trip. Hosted by 麻豆原创 Outdoor Adventure through the 麻豆原创 Recreation and Wellness Center, there are limited slots available for the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. trip. The fee is $15 and includes equipment, instruction, transportation, and a T-shirt. Contact outdoor@ucf.edu for more information.

Tuesday, Nov. 8

To honor 麻豆原创 student veterans, the Veterans Academic Resource Center will display American flags on Memory Mall. Each flag will represents a student veteran enrolled at 麻豆原创 this semester.

The 麻豆原创 Community Veterans History Project will interview local World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans to capture their experiences using oral history. The interviews will be at Westminster Towers in downtown Orlando from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 10

The Veterans Commemoration Ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the聽. The ceremony will feature the Air Force ROTC Color Guard, Army ROTC, 麻豆原创 Music Department and guest speakers. The event is open to the public. Come a few minutes early and write a thank you note that will be delivered to local veterans.

Saturday, Nov. 12

Several 麻豆原创 organizations and departments will participate in the Orlando Veterans Day Parade. Hosted by Mayor Buddy Dyer and his Veterans Advisory Council each year, the parade honors the courageous men and women of the armed forces. This year鈥檚 parade salutes post-9/11 veterans. The parade will start at the corner of Orange Avenue and Robinson Street in downtown Orlando at 11 a.m. For parking details and more information visit .

Wednesday, Nov. 16

The Office of Student Involvement will host a Veterans Game Night at the Veterans Academic Resource Center complete with food, refreshments, and door prizes. Come for the entire time or just a quick visit, 2-4 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 17

The 麻豆原创 Community Veterans History Project will interview local World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans to capture their experiences using oral history. The interviews will be at Watercrest Senior Living at Lake Nona from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Veterans who are 麻豆原创 students, faculty or staff are invited guests for Light Up 麻豆原创鈥檚 Veterans Night, 5-10 p.m. 聽The holiday event offers an 8,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink, rides, and holiday attractions. Interested attendees must contact Joshua.Johnson@ucf.edu to receive free admission that night.

Monday, Nov, 28 鈥� Friday, Dec. 2

Veterans Academic Resource Center Late Nights. VARC study rooms and lounge will be open until 7 p.m. for student veterans. Provided will be food, refreshments and a quiet place to study and relax before finals.

鈥淲e went to experience Hispanic culture, but also to bring music to another culture and combine those elements together,鈥� said flute student Alondra Bahls, president of the 麻豆原创 Flute Club.

During Hispanic Heritage Month the group is sharing its cultural experience by performing music from different Hispanic cultures each week.

The Flute Studio is composed of 12 麻豆原创 undergraduate students who have an interest in music, flute performance and music education. To see and hear about the studio .

鈥淲hen I created this trip, I wanted my students to聽experience another culture and improve their leadership skills,鈥� said Associate Professor Nora Lee Garc铆a. 鈥淚 also wanted this to be a recruiting opportunity for the university. While in Guatemala, the students were able to see music-education techniques from a different perspective. This was a chance for them to be inspired by these methods and bring them back to the United States.鈥�

Music performance major Sara Nazarian said the travelers were immersed in an entirely different culture.

鈥淓ducating and advocating and the learning of other cultures is so important and that鈥檚 why we need to have months like these, so we can teach other that we aren鈥檛 that different from each other,鈥� Nazarian said.

麻豆原创 Music faculty and guest instrumentalists will offer clinics on the Florida Bandmasters Association and Florida Orchestra Association鈥檚 All-State Band and Orchestra audition requirements for 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 grades, as well as Jazz Band audition requirements for 9-12 grades.

The day includes interaction with 麻豆原创 music faculty, who provide coaching on the Florida All-State audition etudes and strategies on how to successfully audition.聽Emphasis will be placed on all-state exercise preparation, tone production, technique development, scales, sight-reading strategies and audition readiness.

鈥淓very student who attends should benefit, whether they ultimately make an all-state ensemble or not,” said Michael Wilkinson, assistant professor of trombone. “Learning to be a musician is a journey, and one year鈥檚 clinic may be the part of the journey that gives a student the inspiration to practice a little more, or may give them that ‘gem’ of musical knowledge that helps to take them a level higher in their musical journey. For some, attending the clinics may just give them that boost that helps in their all-state audition, and gets them into one of the ensembles.鈥�

For students who are considering attending 麻豆原创 to study music, the day showcases each of the wind, percussion and string professors鈥� teaching and musical thought processes, and provides emergent music students an opportunity to experience what 麻豆原创 music is like for a day. The annual event is in its 11th year and approximately 400 students are expected to attend.

More information about the All-State Preparation Clinic is available at https://music.cah.ucf.edu/camps/allstate.php.

For more information about the 麻豆原创 School of Performing Arts, visit .

This is the seventh semester that the Failure Competition has been held, but only the second one open to all enrolled 麻豆原创 students.

鈥淕etting comfortable with failure is a key step in becoming a better risk鈥搕aker and successful business leader,鈥� said Dean Jarley in a blog post. 鈥淭hat is why we celebrate failure and persistence in the college.鈥�

In an essay and video posted to Dean Jarley鈥檚 blog (), Gavin described a series of setbacks he encountered in college as he worked to achieve his dream of being a professional musician. He was rejected by the 麻豆原创 Music Department and cut from three separate drum corps. Still, he persevered.

鈥淓very audition is an opportunity for success or failure,鈥� said Gavin. 鈥淧eople never see the hundreds of thousands of hours musicians must spend alone in a practice room. Similar to any other refined skill, successful music-making requires repeated deliberate practice.鈥�