BMCC Jazz and Guitar Ensembles the Only CUNY Participants in WBGO College Focus Recording Sessions

On Monday, March 27, three members of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) student Guitar Ensemble; Mike O’Donnell, Jacqui Miranda and Amaree Bowen, along with three members of the student Jazz Ensemble; Andrew Tuzhilin, Joel Perez and Jaime Diaz, joined Music professors Quentin Angus and Can Olgun at the WBGO recording studio in Newark, New Jersey to take part in an annual college focus on student musicians.

Professors Angus and Olgun, established jazz musicians in their own right, guided the students through the experience. Olgun, a jazz pianist, has been a headliner at prestigious New York City venues including Smalls, Blue Note and Jazz At Lincoln Center, as well as having performed concerts at Carnegie Hall. Angus, a guitarist and composer, has performed his original compositions in Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, and around the United States, as well as having released three critically acclaimed albums as a band leader.

Jaime Diaz, one of the student musicians in the BMCC Jazz Ensemble, is majoring in Jazz and Popular Music. “I am a singer and one of my role models in music is Bruno Mars,” he says. “BMCC has opened a lot of doors for my career and that has been the best thing as a new musician; in the next years I would like to start working in the music scene in NYC as well as transferring to a music conservatory.”

He says he felt nervous before stepping into the recording studio at WBGO, “but as soon as we walked in the room, I felt comfortable and excited to start performing. For my future in music, I want to keep recording and being involved in projects that allow me to feel excited but comfortable at the same time.”

Jazz and Popular Music major Andrew Tuzhilin, also in the Jazz Ensemble, describes himself as a working musician. “I am the cofounder, writer and bass player of the kids’ band, ‘Rolie Polie Guacamole’,” he says. “I play the electric bass and acoustic guitar and I’ve been playing music since I was in the sixth grade.” His role models are Frederick Chopin and Old Dirty Bastard from Wu Tang.”

Joel Fuentes Perez, who plays drums in the Jazz Ensemble, is in his third semester as a Jazz and Popular Music major at BMCC. “I started learning how to play the drums when I was about nine years old,” he says. “Drums have always been my passion and a way of expressing my feelings to other people with the intentions of making them experience what I feel. Growing up, I mostly played at our local churches and very rarely at school events. I have taken private classes throughout the years, but BMCC is officially my first music school.”

After graduating from BMCC, he says, “I will continue to grow and work on my TikTok page (knotmytempo) and take private drum lessons. Ultimately, one of my dreams is to be a tour drummer and be able to work and play with artists I grew up listening, such as Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, Snoh Alegra and Giveon, to mention a few.”

“It is important for students to work towards things that have meaning and real-world applications,” says Professor Angus. “It pushes students to do their best. Recording at WBGO 88.3FM is an example of this, a highlight they will never forget from their time at BMCC.”

The opportunity came about through Angus’s industry connections. The BMCC student ensembles participated in 2019, then the series was suspended in 2020 and 2021. “Another small FYI, we are the only CUNY campus represented in the series this year,” Angus adds.

Catch the students’ performances: April 17 through 20

The student ensembles’ tracks will be aired from April 17 through 21. WBGO is featuring three different tracks from the BMCC ensembles, daily, around these times: 11:55 a.m., 6:55 p.m. and 10:55 p.m.

The segments can be accessed through web streaming at wbgo.org. According to the WBGO staff, the archived versions of the tracks will be presented in the context of five- to six-hour shows, so it’s recommended to try and catch the live segments.

Including those who recorded at WBGO, here are the students in the BMCC Jazz Ensemble:

Jaime Andrés Diaz Granados Almanza, Voice

Terra Joanne Greer, Voice

Nicole Pettit, Voice

Jose Sabillon, Alto Saxophone

Ruben T Gutierrez, Tenor Saxophone

Jhakenson Cetoute, clarinet

Jonathan Edward Haughton, Bass Clarinet

Sam Fairey, Piano

Andrew P Tuzhilin, Bass

Joel Fuentes-Perez, Drums

Can Olgun, Faculty Director

Including those who recorded at WBGO, here are the students in the BMCC Guitar Ensemble:

Jacquelyn Elisabeth Miranda, Voice/Guitar

Jamil Eddison Laguerre, Voice/Rap

Amaree Jael Aadaire Bowen, Guitar

Carlos Jose Guaba Castillo Jr., Guitar

Michael O’Donnell, Guitar

Andres Victor Tapia, Guitar

Jordan D Ellis, Voice/Guitar

Gabriel Sam Kerolle, Piano

Arthur Driscoll, Drums

Quentin Angus, Faculty Director

 

 

The BMCC Music and Art departmentoffers an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Music with specializations in Music Studies, Music Education or Music Performance. Entrance into the Music Education and Music Performance tracks require an audition. The Music Department provides practice rooms and music tutoring. There are numerous ensembles students can audition to join. To learn more, visit Room F-1130P in Fiterman Hall, email Music&art@bmcc.cuny.eduor call (212) 220-1464.