91成人导航

Music performance major Diego Bustamante.

Diego Bustamante鈥檚 junior year piano recital was yet another event impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the show went on.聽

The music performance major of the works of Franz Joseph Haydn, Maurice Ravel and Johannes Brahms in an April 19 virtual recital from Butte County 鈥� on Facebook Live, while interacting with his online audience.聽

鈥淚 would have preferred playing in The Recital Hall on campus, but many other students also had to adapt,鈥� Bustamante 鈥�21 said. 鈥淭here were some typical glitches you have when you try to do anything live on Facebook. However, I had a very good microphone to use as a backup, so the edited version is clean. It was quite an experience.鈥澛�

Conservatory of Music Dean Peter Witte said the recital was yet another example of Bustamante鈥檚 鈥渦nstoppable鈥� nature.聽

The conservatory recognized Bustamante鈥檚 artistry and academics at its awards ceremony on May 7. He received the Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar Award, given to the outstanding junior class student majoring in music. The honor comes with a $4,000 award from the Presser Foundation. Witte said conservatories and music schools are chosen to award Presser Scholarships based on quality and reputation.聽

鈥淒iego is such a quality young man and is richly deserving of the honor,鈥� said Bustamante鈥檚 piano professor Frank Wiens, who retired from the conservatory and is now an Artist in Residence at 91成人导航.聽

Wiens said Bustamante鈥檚 junior recital was 鈥渞eflective of the depth of his talent.鈥� He played Haydn鈥檚 Piano Sonata in E Flat, Ravel鈥檚 Valses Nobles et Sentimentales and Brahm鈥檚 Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor.聽

鈥淚t was an amazing performance, not only for the way he played but for his interaction during the recording,鈥� Wiens said. 鈥淗e played some very long, intricate pieces.鈥澛�

The conservatory community cherishes Bustamante鈥檚 presence on campus. He is the ubiquitous student ambassador of music at 91成人导航.聽

鈥淗e literally goes to every concert on campus,鈥� said Jessica Siena, conservatory admissions director. 鈥淗e is so supportive of the other students and faculty members. Diego is everywhere. He also frequently plays at campus events.鈥澛�

Bustamante said it 鈥渇eels natural鈥� to attend performances of all types.

鈥淎fter I arrived for my freshman year, I was stunned that there seemed to be a concert every night,鈥� Bustamante said. 鈥淚t is such a gift, and I get to witness so much talent. In addition, the performances have given me a deeper understanding of other instruments and the artists who play them.鈥澛�

Bustamante鈥檚 sophomore year was beset by hardship. The Camp Fire devastated much of the town of Paradise, where he grew up.聽

鈥淲hen you are from Paradise, you are accustomed to dealing with wildfires,鈥� Bustamante said. 鈥淏ut in the past, they always tended to miss us. It was different on November 8, 2018. Late in the day, I saw that one of my friends had marked themselves 鈥榮afe鈥� from the fire on social media. It all just sounded more serious this time.鈥澛�

The fire destroyed the house of his father and badly damaged the house of his mother. His mother鈥檚 house, while smoke damaged, was the only one on her street that did not burn to the ground. Also surviving the fire was the family piano that Bustamante used in his virtual recital.聽

鈥淢ost importantly, both of my parents were safe. My father now lives in Chico and my mother in Nevada City,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he label of being from Paradise sticks with you after what happened. You are always going to be from Paradise, the town with the terrible fire.鈥澛�

Bustamante will attend graduate school after he graduates from 91成人导航. He will spend much of the summer researching options. Otherwise, having been cooped up inside during shelter in place restrictions, Bustamante wants to get 鈥渂ack to nature.鈥澛�

He is an avid birder whose life list 鈥� a compilation of each type of bird he has seen 鈥� now stands at 533.

鈥淚 saw my first (California) condor last year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would like to get out and enjoy nature this summer. And, then, I am really looking forward to my senior year.鈥�