Santiago Canyon College’s new performing arts co-chair plans to expand program – Orange County Register

Eleanor Núñez, new co-chair of the Department of Performing Arts, has ambitious goals for the Santiago Canyon College music department this year.

“My biggest goal is to ensure that SCC offers a music major for our incoming students, which we are not currently able to offer,” said Núñez, who is working with co-chairman Alex Taber, professor of economics, composer, and musician. “Until this point, there was no such thing as an AAT or an associate degree in arts.”

SCC’s Department of Performing Arts consists of music, dance and theater programs; The most comprehensive of these is music.

Núñez explained that students who want to major in music at four-year universities must take basic required courses to prepare for upper division courses. “About half of the requirements are already met here at SCC, but the things I am considering adding are music theory and musicianship.”

If plans go as hoped, SCC will offer these critical new classes as early as spring or fall 2025. “I’m ambitious,” he said. “I like to get things done as quickly as possible.”

Núñez is an advocate for a music degree. “It’s a very fun degree. It’s hard, I won’t lie. “It is difficult to graduate from the music department,” he said. “It takes a lot of discipline; It requires a lot of patience. But of course I think this is very useful. “That’s why I was studying music, and I’m doing that now, and I want to offer that opportunity to more students, so we can make that happen here at SCC.”

In addition to his duties in the SCC department, Núñez teaches a course on the history of rock music. “I’m young and I like non-classical types of music,” he said. “I’m a big rock’n’roll fan. “The course also includes elements of pop, jazz and country, and these are all genres that I enjoy very much.”

Núñez is a classical pianist and conductor who earned a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in woodwind conducting from Cal State Fullerton. He served as symphony orchestra director at Irvine Valley College and also taught piano lessons.

On weekends, he works as a band director, director of orchestras, and conductor for a pre-college extracurricular program at the prestigious Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles.

For nearly 14 years, SCC’s Performing Arts Department has been headed by the renowned Binh Vu, who is preparing to retire.

“I’m coming to continue Dr. Vu’s legacy,” Núñez said, adding that she was grateful to be able to rely on him as a resource before he left. “I had a million questions and he was very helpful in providing answers and connecting me with different people in the community and staff and faculty at the university.”

Several concerts are planned for the school year, including a Nov. 7 concert that will showcase compositions written by alumnus Victor Gutierrez, who earned his bachelor’s degree in music at Cal State Fullerton and recently completed his master’s degree at New York University.

Roberto Velazquez, recipient of the 2024 SCC Performing Arts Community Partner Award, will also be honored for his service.

Students from the Canyon High School Orchestra, conducted by Michael Whang, and the El Rancho Charter Middle School Orchestra, conducted by Catherine Olsen, will perform classical orchestral works. “They’re literally a block away from us; we’re really excited to have them be a part of this program,” Núñez said.

On Nov. 5, just days before the concert, a bond measure will come up for a vote to fund much-needed new buildings on the SCC campus. Núñez sees a need for a new performing arts building one day soon; Concerts are usually held in the library or gym.

“We do not have a designated area for our performing arts students to receive music education,” he said. “We need a music facility with practice rooms and large community spaces.”

There is also a need for suitable areas for dancers. “We also want to open dance studios so dancers have the right wooden floors, and we will need bars and mirrors for ballet classes. “We need a larger stage that can accommodate large-scale theater productions.”

Núñez looks forward to future performances combining music, dance and theatre. “We would love to collaborate on a large-scale project such as a musical in the future. My understanding is that this has not happened yet in SCC!”