ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University students Rosemary Vega and Eduardo Mendoza Reyes Ortiz will hold their Senior Recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, in the Johnson Fine Arts Center’s Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater.
Vega, a soprano, will perform a set of Spanish contemporary pieces written by Argentinan composer, Irma Urteaga.
“I wanted to be sure to add Spanish to my repertoire for my family,” she said.
She will also be performing a duet from “The Light in the Piazza” with junior Tanner Pietz, baritone. Vega will be accompanied be Kay Fischer, her Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) sister.
Mendoza Reyes Ortiz, a baritone who also plays saxophone, will perform “Aria” by Eugène Bozza, “Concertino” by Eugène Bozza, “Allegretto Brillante for Alto Saxophone” by J. Demersseman” and “OK” by Nick Homes. He will also perform his own composition, entitled, “Looping.” He will be accompanied by Michael Land.
Vega, the daughter of Veda and Angel Vega, grew up in Chaska, Minn., graduating from Chaska High School in 2017.
At Northern, she is pursuing a B.A. in Music with a focus in voice. She has studied with Mr. Michael Skyles.
“When I visited Northern, I met with Dr. Darci Bultema and she had me sing a piece for a couple of voice faculty as well as Dean Boulton. I felt so welcomed I knew I had to stay. And I’m glad I did,” Vega said. “I’ve learned so much from being involved in theatre productions, concerts, and winning the NSU Concerto-Aria competition alongside my recital partner, Eduardo Mendoza. I’ve gotten to see so many musicians grow here at Northern and I’m happy to have been a part of their lives in some way.”
Vega will graduate from Northern in December 2021 and will be looking at graduate schools to apply to in the fall.
“I know performing is what I want to do in my life, so by honing my vocal abilities I know I’ll be able to succeed,” she said.
Mendoza Reyes Ortiz, the son of Freddy Gonzalo Mendoza Castedo and Paola Alexis Reyes Ortiz Rodo, grew up in Cochabamba, Bolivia, graduating from Instituto Eduardo Laredo in 2015.
At Northern, he is majoring in Music Education and has studied with Mr. Fritz Hemke.
“I decided to come to Northern because Daniel Jimenez, an NSU alumni from Bolivia, South America, recommended me this school,” Mendoza Reyes Ortiz said. “He mentioned how the size of the school allows individualized education in an environment where people are looking out for you and are committed to your success.”
Mendoza Reyes Ortiz will graduate in May 2022 and plans on working as a music educator in a Spanish immersion school in the USA. He is also currently working on a project sponsored by Bolivian Consulate in the United States.
“I have the goal to go around the state of South Dakota and give Bolivian-Latin cultural/musical presentations in public schools in an effort to bring diversity to small, isolated communities,” he said. “I plan to take advantage of the organizations I am a part of such as ‘The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation’ or ‘the South Dakota World Affairs Council’ to grow the outreach of my project.”
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.