Las Cruces, Centennial boast honor ensembles; Fant named to NMMEA Hall of Fame

The New Mexico Music Educators Association (NMMEA) has chosen a Las Cruces High School band and a Centennial High School choir as two of the five school honor ensembles selected for 2021.

Former New Mexico State University Music Department Head Greg Fant was named to the NMMEA Hall of Fame.

Honor ensembles

The honor ensemble band is the Las Cruces High School Wind Symphony, directed by Ty Frederick.

The honor ensemble choir is the Centennial High School Bella Voce, directed by Christa Fredrickson.

Other honor ensembles selected were: general music, School of Dreams Academy (charter school) Spartan Guitar Ensemble in Los Lunas, directed by Jeff Jolly; jazz ensemble, Bosque School (private school) Jazz Trio, Albuquerque, directed by Aaron Morales; and orchestra, Los Alamos High School Symphonic Strings, directed by Michelle Rosette.

The honor ensembles will perform virtually during the 77^th All State Music Festival and In-Service Conference, Jan. 7-9, 2021. Both the LCHS Win Symphony and the CHS Bella Voce are scheduled to perform at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9.

Visit www.nmmea.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2021-Educator-Conference-Schedule-Dec-16-.pdf for the complete conference schedule.

Visit www.nmmea.com/all-state and click on 2021 All State Ensemble Rosters to see students selected from Las Cruces schools.

Fant

Fant retired from NMSU July 1. He had served as associate vice president and deputy provost since 2011. Fant was interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences twice, an associate dean, an assistant dean and head of the NMSU Music Department. Fant joined NMSU as the associate director of bands in 1990 and is a conductor, saxophonist and tenured professor in music.

Visit www.nmmea.com and https://newscenter, www.centennialmusic.org/choirs.html, www.lchsshowcaseband.com and nmsu.edu/Articles/view/14037/fant-to-retire-as-nmsu-associate-vice-president-deputy-provost.