The music department held its first-ever annual Applied Music Showcase, likely the first of many. Out of the large program of around 50 students, 12 werevoted for in a student poll to perform in front of a paying audience in support of their program. Students put hours upon hours of time into their instrument with their instructor, and the showcase is a way to reward the student for their hard work, along with providing an opportunity for the community to come together and support the school. With the need for more incoming cash flow, a large audience, and a successful event is a step in the right direction. The event kicked off their calendar year, and the program will continue to hit its stride with events coming up later in the year.
It is important for LPC students to be in the know about their music department in order to help it continue to grow and thrive. Even if studentsmay not be in the music program or have a friend in the program, they may enjoy jazz or classical music and want to see events in the future.
The music department at Las Positas has always held a presence on campus, with a large number of students choosing to make music their passion along with their major. In 2025, around 50s tudents called the Mertes Center for Arts home, with the building hosting many events, mostly consisting of jazz ensembles in the past.
On Feb. 6, the music department took a step forward into the future and put on its first Applied Music Showcase, featuring 12 different students who graduated from the program displaying all their hard work.
The Applied Music Program is a path and an opportunity for students to receive private instruction from three different experienced teachers to become better musicians.
The twelve performers were voted in by their peers, a process designed to select the deserving students.
The music department is run in large part by three decorated musicians. The staff includes Cindy Browne Rosfield, director of instrumental music, along with co-directors Dan Marschak and Andreas Preponis, director of choral and vocal studies.
Along with helping their students behind the curtain, all three educators take the stage with their students on bass, piano, and drums when it comes time to perform.
Sophomore jazz guitarist Kian Goldsberry performed two songs, S.O.S. and Transitions, the latter of which is a slower tune.
“When you get a good band together to play a slower tune, it’s a magical experience,” Goldsberry said in reference to playing with his teachers.
A majority of the songs performed by students were classical pieces, but some were student-composed.
Among those students are pianists Derek Jensen and Ryanne James Luis, along with Dario San Marchi on the jazz trombone and Chris Chavez on the jazz trumpet.
In the words of Preponis, the first-ever Applied Showcase served three purposes. To show the community what the music program does and the talent they have, to give the musicians motivation to work and therefore perform, and lastly, to function as a fundraiser.
The music department has been fortunate enough in the past to receive grant money to fund various department expenses, such as travel expenses, guest lecturers and artists, and instrument repair, that have dwindled down as time has passed.
“We decided it was time to take matters into our own hands and create an event that creates funding for the program,” Preponis said.
The event had wine served from Las Positas’s own vineyard, along with snacks and dessert bussed around the building by some of the many applied music program students helping out with the production of the showcase.
There were also ticket drawings for various music-themed items from live performances from some of the Hawks’ very own, a free piano cleaning, or the most popular item of the night, a brand new guitar.
The event was an overall success, with many people from the community showing up to support students, not only displaying their musical talent but also their compositional talent.
The final song of the night was “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” written by Stevie Wonder, performed by senior Ches Oliver. It was a triumphant song that included every performer showcased that night.
It was a glorious chorus of three different vocalists, along with various strings, brass, and percussionists to top off the finale.
“I owe him a lot for believing in me and coaching me through everything, he’s just a great person to be around.” Oliver on Preponis.
“They’ve given me so much guidance, and they are such a huge part of my musical journey.” Goldsberry on Marschak, Rosefield and Preponis.
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TOP PHOTO: LPC student Kian Goldsberry, right, riffing off of accompanying professor Dan Marschak, left, at the Mertes Center for Arts on Feb. 6. As part of the Applied Music Showcase, Goldsberry performs ‘Transitions’ by Emily Remler displaying what they learned during their time at the LPC Applied Music Program. (Photo by Eric Liang/The Express)
Carson Pfotenhauer is a staff writer for The Express.
