Finding Your Voice with Abeni Janae

Transcript

It’s time to hear from Abeni Janae. She might even sing because she recently graduated from UTEP with a Bachelor of Music in commercial music in voice, and she’s currently pursuing a Master of Music with a concentration in Composition. So there is no better person to talk about the fine arts at UTEP. Abeni Janae, please take it away.

– Thanks for the intro, Alex. Since I was 13 years old, I knew I wanted to pursue music. I sang in an open mic night at a youth center for military kids, and even though I was extremely shy, something about being behind a microphone felt so natural. ♪ Give us grace, appear ♪ I originally started as a Vocal Performance major and was accepted into the UTEP Concert Chorale. After the first semester, the pandemic happened and it made me reevaluate my life in music. I switched to Commercial Music and got more into composition. I became the youngest composer published under Carl Fisher Music for my arrangement of “Hold On Just a Little While Longer.” Two years later, I had my arrangement of “Lord I know I’ve Been Changed” premiered by a local high school choir at Carnegie Hall. Being in the UTEP music department gives me a wide variety of experiences, including study abroad trips to Leeds, England with the UTEP Chamber Singers. I was able to return to Carnegie Hall, this time as a performer with the UTEP Chorale Union. Being in commercial music puts me in the unique position of performing not only with the choirs, but also the commercial music ensemble, and sometimes the jazz band. I decided to pursue my graduate studies here in Composition. I’m now a teaching assistant with the Commercial Music Ensemble and still a member of the Concert Chorale and the Chamber Singers. Being at UTEP gave me the space I needed to grow as a musician and a person. It’s rare to be able to do what I have accomplished during my undergraduate studies at other schools, especially with the amount of love and support I’ve received from my peers and professors. This is my home and it always will be. handing the mic back to you, Alex.

– That is music to our ears, Abeni Janae. It sounds like UTEP has given you an incredible foundation for your future career. The opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City is something that very few musicians can say they have done especially so early in their careers. Thank you again for sharing your story.