ΒιΆΉΣ³» alumnus Brian Landrus produces jazz music that glides listeners into a harmonious voyage that merits positive reviews from publications such as The New York Times.
Landrus graduated from the University in 2002 with a bachelor's in music and is now making a name for himself as a low woodwind player and composer in Brooklyn, N.Y.
During the track "Fly," Landrus' saxophone is presented immediately, sounding almost improvisational - yet purposeful. The sax delivers a low, rich melody that darts over a swaying patter of hi-hats and a warm, steady bass, fashioning an arrangement that dips and soars through the opening song on the Brian Landrus Trio's 2015 album release "The Deep Below," Landrus' eighth album.
"I want to record and release a new album ever two years for as long as I can," Landrus said. "I've dedicated my life to improve, and this journey won't end. That's a beautiful aspect of music, you never want to retire."
"The Deep Below" is an apt title, given how Landrus' compositions create a profound sound centered upon the low end of the audio spectrum. The New York Times praised Landrus for his musical depth, admiring the use of low registers within his arrangements.
And there is depth in Landrus' life, too. Although he began playing saxophone at age 12 and knew then that it would be his life's focus, Landrus still finds the time and means to further other passions.
"My ultimate goal has been, and always will be, to use music as a platform to inform the public about the issues of environmental destruction and animal welfare," Landrus said. "These are the most important factors in my life and have been since I was a kid. I became a vegetarian the same year I began playing saxophone."
Many other alumni have developed extensive musical careers thanks to their education and experiences at the University, including the orchestral conductor Donato Cabrera, and mezzo-soprano singer Dolora Zajick.
Cabrera earned a bachelor's degree in music from the University and has since made steady progress in orchestral conducting. He was an associate conductor of the San Francisco Opera from 2005 to 2008, and in 2009, was requested with less than 24 hours' notice to orchestrate the San Francisco Symphony. He was asked to join the Symphony's conducting staff soon after.
Currently driven by a passion for music education and community outreach, Cabrera is leading the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and since 2013 he has been appointed Music Director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, California Symphony, and New Hampshire Music Festival.
Likewise, Zajick has dedicated herself to fostering musical talent in young people. She strives to elevate participants to her level - the world stage - through her Institute for Young Dramatic Voices, an organization she founded in 2006. The program is a three-week long, intensive summer program of study for 15 to 36 year old singers with large or unusual voices at various levels of vocal development. The Institute will occur July 6 through 25 on the University campus.
Zajick graduated from the University with a master's degree in music and continues to perform on opera stages worldwide, including Spain, Italy, Germany, Japan and France. Similar to Landrus, Zajick has earned positive reviews from multiple New York Times articles. One of which described her as a "powerhouse" for her performance in "The Queen of Spades" at the Metropolitan Opera.
These are three examples of many University alumni who have become musical champions. Three more of which will be joining Landrus here in Reno Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Sands Regency as part of the University sponsored Artown event. Alumni musicians Gavin Templeton will play alto sax, John Shipley will be on keys and Ed Corey on guitar.
"We're going to play music we have not played since UNR, over 10 years ago," Landrus said. "It should be a blast!"
