Four graduates of the New Mexico State University Department of Music in the College of Arts and Sciences are performing on the national stage as members of military music organizations based in the Washington, D.C., area – the President’s Own U.S. Marine Band, U.S. Army’s Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants and the U.S. Army Field Band.

Sgt. Maj. Virginia “Ginger” Turner ’83

Like many musicians, trumpeter Virginia “Ginger” Turner started playing an instrument in sixth grade. She was living in Las Cruces and credits her band director, Ralph Montez, for inspiring her to become skilled on her instrument.

When it came time for college, New Mexico State University was her obvious choice. She wanted to pursue a career in music.

“I knew that Sam Trimble was a good teacher and during high school, I attended all of the Lab Band concerts,” she says.

Although she graduated more than two decades ago, she quickly credits NMSU as the place where she learned her work ethic.

“I really enjoyed being a member of the Pride Band under both Tim Lautzenheiser and Jerry Hoover and traveling overseas to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland,” Turner says.

Lautzenheiser remembers Turner as one who simply would not or could not be deterred from her goal of becoming a professional musician.

“There are many gifted musicians who have aspirations of being on stage; however, it takes a special sense of self-discipline and a balanced confidence supported by long term commitment and steadfast dedication to fill the role of a soloist. Virginia ‘Ginger’ Turner is such a musician. NMSU can be proud to have her as one of their alumni,” he says.

Turner was finishing her doctorate at Arizona State University and needed a job. She knew other musicians in the U.S. Army Field Band and after talking to them, decided to audition. She has been a part of the D.C.-based Army Field Band for 16 years. Turner has achieved the highest enlisted rank possible. She is section leader of the concert band brass section and plans to “stick around for awhile.”

Sgt. Michael Cano ’93

U.S. Army Herald Trumpeter Michael Cano was the first person to have a trumpet lesson in the new (current) Music Center Recital Hall when the department moved over from Jacobs Hall. A student of Ken Van Winkle, Cano earned a bachelor of music education degree. He has returned to campus on several occasions to perform with the Symphonic Winds and the Las Cruces Symphony.

Director of Bands Ken Van Winkle remembers Mike as the life of the music building while at NMSU.

“He personally kept the morale high with his quick wit and kind words about others. All students and faculty enjoyed Mike. Mike worked the hardest, did not take himself too seriously, and was considerate of others,” Van Winkle says.

He has been a member of the Herald Trumpets for 16 years. This group performs on special occasions at the White House and has participated in opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games when held in the U.S.

They also are seen on the annual broadcasts of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Christmas in Washington television programs. The group is called upon to perform Taps at Arlington National Cemetery burial services for Army veterans.

“There can be as many as 20 such services every day,” Cano says.“You are performing on such a regular basis that your musical skills stay sharp.”

Now just four years from retirement eligibility, he feels he will remain a part of this group for as long as possible.

Tech. Sgt. Darrell Partin ’93

Darrell Partin graduated with a double major in piano and vocal performance. He is now the piano accompanist

for the Singing Sergeants, the official chorus of the U.S Air Force based at Bolling Air Force Base in the District of Columbia. He joined this organization in 2004.

He also plays the piano with the Air Force concert band and symphony orchestra.

“I haven’t performed at the White House yet, but I prepare the groups that do,” he says. “I have played at the vice president’s residence and I was a member of the 60-voice chorus from all five services that performed at the National Cathedral funeral service for President Reagan.”

NMSU faculty members Jerry Ann Alt, Martha Rowe and Jim Shearer all agree that Partin was a joy to work with as a student.

“He was a truly collaborative musician; musically, you could trust him with anything,” says Rowe.

For Partin, the highlight of his undergraduate studies was working with the Doña Ana Lyric Opera.

“DALO was in its formative stages when I started at NMSU. I was involved in some way with almost every production from ’89 to ’93,” he says. “I came to musical adulthood working with DALO and Dr. Jon Linford.”

Partin earned a master’s degree in piano accompanying from Arizona State. He returned to NMSU for three years in the mid ’90s when Linford hired him to be musical director for DALO. “I believe that experience prepared me for the job I have today,” he says.

It also gave him the opportunity to meet his wife, the former Gretchen Phillips ’96. She is now a pharmacist with the USAF.

“I don’t know if she will stay in but I know I will retire from the Air Force,” he says.

Staff Sgt. Doug Quinzi ’02

Doug Quinzi grew up in a family of musicians. His mother plays the piano and sings with the church choir; his father played the accordion. When he was entering band in sixth grade, he had his heart set on playing the drums. However, his director at that time, Nancy Joy (now horn professor at NMSU), encouraged him to try the French horn.

“She did a good sales job,” he says. “I was quickly an enthusiastic student of that instrument.”

Quinzi never wanted to go far away to college and since Joy, from whom he took private lessons for many years, had joined the faculty, NMSU seemed like a good place to continue his studies.

Van Winkle says that what stands out most in his memories of Quinzi was his need to play in all the ensembles NMSU could offer. He remained a member of the Pride Band for five years, which is rare among performance majors.

Quinzi puts playing in the Pride Band and traveling with the band to France at the top of his list of favorite memories from his NMSU days. Second was performing with the Symphonic Winds and traveling to Washington, D.C., where they saw the Army Band in concert at the Jefferson Memorial. That planted the seed of a future career possibility, he says. Third was playing in the Horn Choir and traveling to Beijing, where he had the distinction of being named a finalist in the international horn competition.

Following graduation in 2002, Quinzi relocated to the D.C. area and earned a master’s degree from the University of Maryland. He auditioned three times before earning a position in the President’s Own Marine Band and has now completed his second year.

“It really makes you stop and think about our history when you are a part of the oldest musical group in the U.S.,” Quinzi says. “This band was founded by President John Adams in 1798. We perform primarily for the president and the Marine Corps commandant, but groups also perform at other functions in the city.”

Quinzi is married to the former Susan Hess ’03, also a horn player. She teaches elementary school music in Maryland.

“We both love what we do, but we really miss New Mexico, especially when the chile crop comes in,” Quinzi says. That sentiment was echoed by the others as well.