[Austin, TX] Sept. 15, 2024 – Students from the Entertainment & Music Technology (ENMT) program at New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) traveled to Austin on Sept. 15 to participate in the Hispanic Heritage opening concert/ceremony held at the prestigious Long Center for the Performing Arts. The event featured a stellar lineup of Grammy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated performers, marking a significant milestone for the ENMT program.

As part of their involvement, the students ran the concert’s lighting and design, providing them an invaluable hands-on experience in a professional setting. This opportunity allowed them to showcase their skills to a large audience and industry professionals.

In addition to their role at the Long Center, students received passes to Austin City Limits (ACL Live), the iconic venue where the famous TV show "Austin City Limits" is taped. There, they attended a performance by Nashville country artist, Brett Young, gaining insight into the technical aspects of concert production by spec'ing the room and observing the equipment used for the show.

“This is a huge step forward for NMJC,” said Director of Entertainment & Music Technology, Dustin Garrett. “Our program is asked to supply the lighting equipment and design shows that we exist in the industry world now! This puts our students in direct connection with a large-scale venue that is highly regarded in the industry. These venues typically use union workers, and our graduates were able to connect with union staff for potential job placements in the future.” Garrett added, “the success of this event can be attributed to the connections fostered over the past two years. Haydn Vitera of Mariachi Rock Revolution recognized the department's growing reputation in the industry, citing that our program is now seen as a top-quality option for "real-world" experience. Connections are everything in the industry, and real-world experience is the other half.”

This landmark event not only showcased the talent and dedication of NMJC students but also emphasized the importance of industry connections in pursuing successful careers in music and entertainment.

For more information about New Mexico Junior College, visit www.nmjc.edu.

New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) is a leading educational institution committed to providing success through learning and high-quality education to its diverse student body. Founded in 1965, NMJC offers a wide range of academic programs, certifications, services to empower students to achieve their educational and career goals.

Contact: Valerie Onsurez Gauna, Director of Outreach & Engagement, New Mexico Junior College, 575-492-2780, vgauna@nmjc.edu, or Jessica Olivas, Media and Design Coordinator, 575-492-2767, jolivas@nmjc.edu.