Corks and Chords was an event last Friday where the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Music Department partnered with Colorado Wine Week to raise funds for performing arts scholarships.

“[The music major is] one of the toughest degrees on campus. They are very intensive. Our music students that are music majors average 15-19 credits a semester for four to five years…so a lot of them aren’t able to have normal part-time jobs like a lot of other majors are on campus so scholarships are essential to allow them to keep studying music,” Dr. Jonathan Hinkle, Director of Bands and Professor of Trumpet at CMU said.

Students and faculty of each music department teamed up to create a music-filled evening for members of the CMU community as well as those attending the Colorado Mountain Wine Festival.

“It’s a lot of fun for us [the music department] to be able to come out here and perform at the beginning of the year and get nerves out,” said Chloe Schrader, cellular and molecular developmental biology junior and drum major.

The concert featured faculty ensembles, the marching band, and the vocal arts ensemble along with other groups in the program.

A variety of pieces were performed as the evening progressed, everything from popular hits like Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” to more classical works to the “Star Wars” theme song.

Many CMU students have benefited heavily from events such as Corks and Chords. Sophomore Sydnee Longoria is majoring in music and business, and is a member of both the vocal arts ensemble, as well as the commercial ensemble. 

“It’s a fundraiser, so all of the proceeds from all the tickets that were sold are going straight into different scholarships for the music department which is super cool because I came in on a music scholarship. It’s personal because I was able to go to school here because of a music scholarship,” said Longoria. 

Corks and Chords is a chance for the public community to participate in life on campus. More events like these are coming up within the next fews months.