2021 Award: Jo Merwin Scholarship
Major: Music
Minor: Conducting
Hometown: Portland, OR
Extracurricular activities: Songwriting, recording music, playing guitar, video games, listening to audiobooks, and calling my Mom and Dad!
More about Annabella
Future plans:
Composing for jazz groups, large ensembles, and small chamber groups. Composing for film and dance. Performing original songs and touring with my band. Opening my own commercial recording studio and producing women!
How has your major contributed to your professional or personal development?
I have learned not only how to compose and orchestrate for a wide variety of ensembles of all sizes, but also how to organize a recital, create publishable sheet music, and collaborate effectively across many disciplines.
What has been your proudest or most significant accomplishment during your Gonzaga career?
Over a period of eight months, I composed and produced electroacoustic ballet for chamber orchestra in collaboration with choreographer Sarah Glesk, director Pam Erickson, and the Gonzaga Blue Repertory Dance Company. I assembled 25 musicians to perform the ballet with live dance at my senior composition recital on April 3. I rehearsed and conducted the ensemble for two months prior to the final performance. In addition, Blue Rep toured the ballet to dance studios across the state of Washington in February and March 2022! It could not have been done without the army of people it took to produce it! I am so grateful to Dr. Li, Pam, Sarah, Blue Rep, the Terpsichore Chamber Orchestra, Luke Parker, Jon Carlson, and all of my professors!