Moorpark College’s Music Association Spring Showcase was in full swing on Friday April 15, welcoming students, friends and family to support talented artists as they performed their very own written musical masterpieces.

This was a even, both at 7:30 p.m. The intent of the two-night, Friday and Saturday, event was to bring together the music department students, instrumentalists and composers as well as put on a show, said Association’s Vice President and composer Royal Dean.

“The composers: they write the music, they get inspired,” said Dean. “We then give it to the students. They rehearse it and then we perform it.”

Austin Scott, 19-year-old music major, is not only the president of the Moorpark Music Association, but composer of his original piece “Arrangement of Shadows.”

“The purpose of the event is to encourage students to be creative and to be original and also if you are a musician, it gives you a platform to perfect your craft,” said Scott. “This is as real world as it gets. You have a time frame, you have a piece, you have to learn and you have an audience to perform in front of.”

Scott said his hope for the club is when all the members graduate and leave the college as better musicians.

The club would meet twice a week usually on Tuesdays and Fridays for hectic rehearsals, said Dean.

“It was very rigorous and so cool how consistent the players were,” said Dean.

Dean was the composer of “Lost Hope Found,” the first piece performed that night. Dean composed, orchestrated and conducted the piece.

“It went really well,” said Dean. “I feel everything came together. I was a little nervous at first, but everyone did so well.”

There are so many talented musicians involved in the club, said Scott. Some of the other pieces of the night consisted of:

• “Colonel Cosic Rides Again!” by Patrick Gordon-Davis
• “There’s Something Inside of Me” by Connor Lott
• “Atmosphere” by Joseph A. Reyes
• “Insect Personas” by Bryn Kirsch

Nathan Christopher, 19-year-old English major and a personal friend of Scott, said that Moorpark has a lot of talent.

“Being able to see talent and then do something with it where you are allowing students to put their work into a portfolio now, but also showcase it,” said Christopher. “They can be proud of their stuff, it was really great to see that.”

Christopher thought the show went extremely well and was surprised with the variety of talent within the college.

“Seeing other people’s work too definitely blew my expectations out of the water,” said Christopher. “You have singing, you have a piece about nature, piece about insects. There’s a lot of talent that has been ‘slept on’ here at Moorpark.”

There is so much talent at Moorpark College and the Music Association club is always welcoming those who want to showcase their talents. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the club, email Austin Scott at [email protected].