Photo by Tam Vu
Student photographers have been capturing the stories behind the music by putting Gator performers in front of the lens
In the SF State course “Journalism 435: Studio Lighting and Business,” Lecturer Scot Tucker teaches his students editorial photography and professional practices. The goal: giving budding shutterbugs the skills they’d need to launch and sustain careers as photojournalists and studio photographers. As part of their classwork in the fall, Tucker’s 14 students set out to create portraits of Gators who’ve dedicated themselves to a different artform — music.
For example, SF State Music major Autumn Cedillo (above right) is half of the Fresno-based femme punk band Besos4Baby (with Gracie Torres, left). The band released a five-song EP, “you’re the reason i’m afraid of the mosh pit,” in 2022.
Photo by Peter Ngugi
Siena Choy is an aspiring singersongwriter whose influences include Antônio Carlos Jobim, Tori Kelly and Dodie.
Photo by Dan Hernandez
A transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College, Sean Young is working toward his B.A. in Journalism. He plays the trumpet in his spare time for fun.
Photo by Michaela Mateo
Ailing Zhao is a fourth-year piano student in the School of Music. She has been a musician since she was 5 years old and is now a music teacher while working toward her B.A. at SF State. She has been teaching for 16 years, 10 years in China and six years in the U.S.
Photo by Feven Mamo
Flutist and Music major Bridget Altez gave a recital in Knuth Hall in December.
Photo by Andrew Fogel
Mateo Jordan (pictured with his guitar) has performed on campus with the University’s Afro-Cuban Ensemble (which celebrated its 25th birthday this year).
Photo by Vanden Harris
Solomon “DJ Solo” Orr, 22, grew up listening to all kinds of music — Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Usher, LL Cool J — developing a deep love for it as he explored artists and genres. He’s a fourth-year Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) major with a minor in Music.
Photo by Neal Wong
Fifth-year Music student Aaron Jerico Balot plays a marimba in Knuth Hall. While studying at SF State he also served as director of percussion for the music department at Capuchino High School in San Bruno.
Photo by Gustavo Hernandez
Gavin Hiller, pictured with his stand-up bass in October, is a freshman.
Photo by David Jones
Shahin Shahbazi is a graduate student in music composition who plays the tar, a traditional Persian lute instrument. The winner of multiple awards for performing and composing, he immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in 2013.
Photo by Ryo Kojima
DJ 4DHILA, a third-year student majoring in Race and Resistance Studies, shows off her turntables and set gear in a campus studio.
Photo by Colin Flynn
Zheng (Audrey) Ma says she first became fascinated by the piano when she heard a neighbor playing when she was a child. Because she would stand outside and listen whenever the neighbor practiced, her mother spent all her savings to buy her a piano of her own. “I am doing what I love every day because of my mother,” she says. “Even though she is no longer here, each time I play I feel like I am connecting with her.”
Photo by Gabriel Studer-Randall
Lecturer Steven Horowitz is a composer, bassist and Grammy-winning engineer best known for his original score for the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Super Size Me.” At SF State he teaches courses on scoring for film and games.
Photo by Leilani Xicotencatl
Cameron Korving, a Psychology major, has been playing the tuba for nine years and has performed with the SF State Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.
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