CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH A
2025 EVENTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Downtown Music Destination | 6:00 PM
BUS (Bar Under the Sun)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Lecture: Gala Flagello | 2:00 PM
Evening Concert: Voices, Winds, and Orchestra | 7:00 pm
TAMU-CC Performing Arts Center
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Up Close & Conversational | 7:00 PM
K Space Contemporary Gallery
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Faculty Spotlight: Contemporary Currents | 7:00 PM
TAMU-CC Performing Arts Center
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi & The SoundWaves Committee
Welcome You!
Caitlin Beare
Christina Adams Carrie Pierce
Gala Flagello
GUEST COMPOSER
Gala Flagello (b. 1994) is a composer and educator whose work is inspired by a passion for lyricism, rhythmic vitality, and fostering meaningful collaboration Her music, described as "at times endearingly whimsical, at times ominous, but always moving" (Cleveland Classical), resonates with audiences through its emotional depth and dynamic expression With over 100 performances of her music each year, Flagello's collaborations with leading ensembles, artists, and institutions on national and international stages are impactful to audiences and performers alike
Flagello’s 2025/26 season features premieres by the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Youth Symphony, ROCO, the United States Naval Academy Band, Thalea String Quartet, and Calypsus Brass. Composer residencies this season include Glacier Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Youth Symphony, United States Naval Academy Band, the 2025 SoundWaves Festival at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Piedmont Wind Symphony, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and Purdue University Fort Wayne Upcoming collaborations include a new work for soprano and symphonic winds featuring renowned vocalist Lindsay Kesselman, and a saxophone quartet concerto for acclaimed ensemble ~Nois
Flagello’s works have been featured by prominent ensembles including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, United States “President’s Own” Marine Band, La Jolla Symphony Orchestra, Sante Fe Symphony Orchestra, DuPage Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Youth Symphony, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, and the Apollo Ensemble of Boston. She has collaborated with many notable conductors, including Earl Lee, Fouad Fakhouri, Timothy Muffitt, Arian Khaefi, Bruce Kiesling, and Na'Zir McFadden.
Flagello earned her Bachelor of Music in Composition from The Hartt School, and her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Michigan She has honed her craft as a Composition Fellow at prestigious institutions such as Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music. Flagello’s works are published by Just a Theory Press
BUS (Bar Under the Sun)
List of Performers
Gideon Perkins, violin | José Ledezma, violin | Alana Mascorro, violin | Isaiah Espinoza, vihuela | Emilio Soliz, guitar | Gael Robles, guitarrón
Islander Clarinet Ensemble
Jackson Taylor, Javon Vela, Dylan Wood, Monique Fernandez, Irene Magallanez, clarinet | Allison Maruschak and Rodolfo Guerra, bass clarinet
All the Above
Liv Moya, Angelica Delgado, Kyle Raz, Maryssa Rivera, Nathan Verdin
Cello/Bass Quartet
Islander Brass Quintet +1
Jaden Byars and Gavin Granados, trumpet | Tyler Gonzalez, horn | Justin Garcia, trombone | Esteban Meija, tuba | David Gonzalez Garcia, percussion
Islander Voices + 1 and Opera Workshop
Aiden Gonzales, Liv Moya, Syndi Vo, Hunter Henne, Jackson Grumbles, and Luke Helkey, voice | Alan Kečević, piano
Rodolfo Guerra, Javon Vela, & Jackson Taylor, clarinet
Lichtenstein String Quartet
Gideon Perkins & José Ledezma, violins
Clarisa Martinez, viola | Caesar Lecuona, cello
Islander Clarinet Ensemble & Islander Saxophone Ensemble
Dr. Caitlin Beare, Jackson Taylor, Javon Vela, Irene Magallanez, Monique Fernandez, & Dylan Wood, clarinet
Allison Maruschak & Rodolfo Guerra, bass clarinet
Dr. Matt York, David Cortez, Jose Magallanez, & Ethan Durante, saxophone
AHAVA
John Rocky Esquivel, lead guitarist and vocals | Jessie Sanchez, bass and vocals | Omari Haynes, drums | Nomar Ramon, guitar and keyboard
Gala Flagello: Composer, Educator,
Nonprofit Director
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Performing Arts Center
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 2:00 PM
Lecture with Gala Flagello, overview and Q&A of her career, collaborations, festival work, and more Event is Open to All
Voices, Winds, & Orchestra Program
Featuring the music of Gala Flagello
Camerata Isla
Dr. Ross Bernhardt, conductor
Snow Whispers (2013)
The Parting Glass (2014)
Concert Orchestra
Dr. Brian Shelton, conductor
Antamina (2020) by Lauren Bernofsky (b. 1967)
Droughts and Downpours (2024, arr. 2025)
Symphonic Winds
Dr. Brian Shelton, conductor
The Bird-While (2022)
I. Avian Gods
Diana Sipes, flute | Caitlin Beare, clarinet
Christina Adams, violin | Carrie Pierce, cello
Love & Nature (2024)
I. Flower Power
II. Star-Crossed
III. Slow Burn
Diana Sipes FLUTE
VOICES, WINDS & ORCHESTRA SOLOIST
Diana Sipes, DMA, is Director of the School of Arts, Media, & Communication and a Professor of Music at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, where she has taught since 2002. Besides applied flute and flute ensemble, her teaching areas have included music theory, music history, and flute techniques courses. She has been principal flute with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra since 1994 and the Victoria (TX) Symphony Orchestra since 1997 She previously performed with symphony and opera orchestras in South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, and Louisiana
Besides orchestral performance, Dr Sipes remains active as a recitalist, chamber musician, clinician, and adjudicator. She won alto flute positions several times in the annual National Flute Association (NFA) Professional Flute Choir competitions, and she was selected to perform in recitals at the 2011, 2020, 2022, and 2024 NFA conventions. Diana has performed as a soloist with the Corpus Christi Symphony, Corpus Christi Chamber Orchestra, Corpus Christi Area Youth Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony, and with numerous university ensembles Under her direction, university flute students have won positions in the NFA Collegiate Flute Choir several times She also currently serves as Immediate Past-President of the Texas Association of Music Schools, an organization that represents the music programs at institutions of higher education across the state.
Dr. Sipes earned a Bachelor of Music Education with a Performance Certificate and a Master of Music Education from the University of South Carolina and a Doctor of Musical Arts in flute performance with a theory emphasis from Louisiana State University
Caitlin Beare CLARINET
VOICES, WINDS & ORCHESTRA SOLOIST
Dr. Caitlin Beare is the Assistant Professor of Clarinet at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. An acclaimed clarinetist and educator, she has won prizes for solo and chamber music performances from the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition, the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, Shenandoah Conservatory’s Soloists Competition, and the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition. She has held fellowship positions at the Atlantic Music Festival, Talis Festival & Academy in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Waterloo Region Contemporary Music Sessions
At TAMU-CC, Caitlin coordinates all activities in the clarinet studio; coaches the Islander Winds; teaches music appreciation, woodwind techniques, and University Seminar; and performs with her colleagues in the Bayview Winds and Plumeria Winds She also co-organizes the annual Soundwaves Festival, a week-long celebration of contemporary music. A dedicated member of the local arts community, Caitlin has performed on the First Friday/Art Walk series, on KEDT live radio broadcasts, in numerous local schools, and with the Corpus Christi and Victoria Symphony Orchestras.
Caitlin earned a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she held an assistantship with the Modern Music Ensemble. She holds a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree summa cum laude from Shenandoah Conservatory. She completed additional studies at Bard College Conservatory in the Advanced Performance Studies program Her principal teachers include Anthony McGill, Garrick Zoeter, David Krakauer, Pascual Martínez Forteza, Benjamin Lulich, and Laura Flax
Caitlin resides in Corpus Christi, TX, with her terrier mix, Willy.
Christina Adams VIOLIN
VOICES, WINDS & ORCHESTRA SOLOIST
Dr. Christina Adams is the Assistant Professor of Violin & Viola at Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi, faculty at the Montecito International Music Festival, and Assistant Director of Strings and Chamber Music at the Brancaleoni International Music Festival She holds degrees from the University of South Florida, Boston University, and a D.M.A. from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Adams appears frequently as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician She has collaborated with leading artists from around the country, including New York Philharmonic principals, and has performed throughout the U S , Europe, and Asia She has previously held positions with both the Ann Arbor and Jackson Symphony Orchestras, and her performances have been heard on radio stations throughout the U.S., including several appearances on Florida Classical WSMR
One of Christina’s main areas of focus is making classical music relatable and accessible. She previously served as the artistic director of "If Music Be the Food Lansing," a concert series that directly benefits the Greater Lansing Food Bank. Currently, she is part of the Musicista Collective, a community concert series in the Tampa area spearheaded by violinist Sungho Jung.
Dr Adams is an enthusiastic advocate for contemporary classical music and has worked closely with composers including Augusta Read Thomas, Salvatore Sciarrino, and has premiered and recorded pieces for Taiwanese composer Chihchun Chi-Sun Lee. She is the violinist/violist of the Four Corners Ensemble, and can be heard on Navona Records with the Four Corners Ensemble on their album, “World Map.”
Carrie Pierce CELLO
VOICES, WINDS & ORCHESTRA SOLOIST
Carrie Pierce is the Professor of Cello at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She is the principal cellist for the Victoria Symphony and the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, and also performs as a substitute with the San Antonio Philharmonic. As a soloist and chamber musician, Dr Pierce has performed internationally, appearing as a soloist and chamber musician in Austria, Bosnia, Italy, India, South Korea, Scotland, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. As a soloist, she has appeared with ensembles such as the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, West Michigan Symphony, and Symphony Viva in San Antonio, Texas.
Committed to educational outreach, Dr. Pierce has made multiple trips to India and Nepal to perform in the Kolkata Classics Series, which supports healthcare initiatives for women and children. She is also the founder and co-chair of the SoundWaves Festival (a week-long festival in Corpus Christi that champions up-and-coming composers and new music). Her dedication to community service earned her the Excellence in Service Award from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2018
As an educator, Dr Pierce is actively involved with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, holding certifications from levels one through ten, and enjoys teaching students of all ages She is a director with the Corpus Christi Youth Orchestra Program, directing both the Sinfonietta and the Cello Choirs. Her contributions to music and education were further recognized in 2019 when she received the Texas A&M University Award for Excellence in Creative and Scholarly Activity.
K Space Contemporary Gallery
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
7:00 PM
Join us at K Space Contemporary Art Gallery for an evening of music and discussion by featured composer, Gala Flagello.
FREE EVENT - No Tickets Required
Reception to Follow
Up Close & Conversational Program
All works by Gala Flagello (b. 1994)
Burn as Brightly (2023)
Christina Adams, violin
Carrie Pierce, cello
Dear Johanna (2025)
Sara Renner, English horn
Mary Thornton, trumpet
Mother Time, Father Nature (2021)
Scott Pool, bassoon
Paul Erickson, piano
Asphodel (2023)
Diana Sipes, flute
Caitlin Beare, clarinet
Caro mio ben (2025)
Jessica Spafford, soprano
Paul Erickson, piano
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Up Close & Conversational Program
All works by Gala Flagello (b. 1994)
A Crab, A Quill (2021)
Mary Thornton, trumpet
Paul Erickson, piano
Outer Voices (2022)
Matthew York, soprano saxophone
Paul Erickson, piano
CHAT with GALA
Monochrome Metronome (2025)
Mary Thornton & Ron Ledbetter, trumpets
Karl Kemm, horn
Rai Morales, trombone
Dan Sipes, tuba
World Premiere
Faculty Spotlight: Contemporary Currents
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Performing Arts Center
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025 7:00 PM
Join us in our state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center for the closing concert of Soundwaves 2025, featuring our world-class faculty who will perform a vibrant collection of works by living composers.
FREE EVENT - No Tickets Required
Contemporary Currents Program
Michel Lysight, Deux Esquisses for four instruments (2012)
Christina Adams, violin | Sara Renner, oboe
Caitlin Beare, clarinet | Scott Pool, bassoon
Haleigh Arden O’Neill,That Feeling When... (2025)
Carrie Pierce, cello
Haleigh Arden O’Neill, piano
Richard Cionco, Berceuse for bassoon solo (2024)
Scott Pool, bassoon
Arvo Pärt, Fratres (1977)
Christina Adams, violin
Paul Erickson, piano
Fredrik Högberg, Invisible duet for instrument within range and disc (2002/03)
Caitlin Beare, clarinet
Matthew Quayle, A Song About Time (2013)
Dino Mulic, piano
Elizabeth Raum, Two songs from Men I Have Known (1984) "J.D." and "T.S."
Jessica Spafford, soprano
Paul Erickson, piano
Nathan Hall, Portals (2017)
Sara Renner, oboe
Texas Premiere
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Downtown Music Destination | 6:00 PM
BUS (Bar Under the Sun)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Lecture: Gala Flagello | 2:00 PM
Evening Concert: Voices, Winds, and Orchestra | 7:00 pm
TAMU-CC Performing Arts Center
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Up Close & Conversational | 7:00 PM
K Space Contemporary Gallery
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Faculty Spotlight: Contemporary Currents | 7:00 PM
TAMU-CC Performing Arts Center
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