The Statewide Focus Publication Final | Page 17

New Mexico Students Entertain At Carnegie Hall Our team (from left to right), Morgan Godbolt, Isaiah Barkley, Alexia Taylor, Chloe Nixon, Kai Warrior, and Dr. Stevie DeJuan Springer The DSDS Projects music academy is a professional private community studio established to aid in helping musicians further their musical talents in voice and piano. Students are taught formal musical instruction from time periods including Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary along with Broadway, and Gospel. The private studio instructs students one on one weekly. Some of the students are challenged with life’s setbacks; therefore, support from the community enables each student to receive first-hand attention. Established in 2008, Dr. Stevie DeJuan Springer, professor of the studio, designed a platform that provides recognition to musicians who display musical talents in voice and piano. As the studio continues to grow, Dr. Springer makes outside performance opportunities available for students to display their natural gifts. One of the main objectives for the private studio is to introduce students to professional musical art forms as they enhance their amateur talent. Professional settings such as being an invited special guest during the Popejoy Philharmonic Concert or invited special guest during the Santa Fe Symphony Concert are just a couple of venues that help these youth receive professional public attention. Earlier this year, students Alexia Taylor, Morgan Godbolt, Chloe Nixon, Isaiah Barkley, and Kai Warrior auditioned for the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City, performing excerpts from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.  Leading up to the audition, the students were excited and nervous.  As time grew closer, some students were apprehensive, wanting to back out or feeling t hey were not good enough.  Dr. Springer continued to encourage each of them.  The students successfully made the prestigious audition and performed in Carnegie Hall, May 7, 2017, at the Golden Key Music Festival. Upon returning back to Albuquerque, Dr. Springer received a phone call from the Golden Key Music festival facilitator expressing how thrilled he was with each performance provided by the five vocalists. He shared his interest in having the members of the studio participate in a musical festival in Vienna, Austria. The studio is thrilled to have received this special invitation, as it will allow some of Albuquerque’s formal talent to receive worldwide attention. Dr. Springer’s students are excited and look forward to this performance opportunity next summer. Dr. Stevie DeJuan Springer is blessed to work with each member of the community as they strive to fulfill their musical gift. He invites you to visit the DSDS Academy Facebook page and reach out if you are seriously interested in furthering your natural musical gift in voice or piano. Student Venice Valencia, with Dr. Stevie DeJuan Springer 17 Statewide Focus Magazine