Michael R.

Hello, I am Michael R. and I have been the cellist for the Lichtenstein Quartet for three years. I have been playing the cello for about fourteen years. I went to Richard King High school in Corpus Christi. Currently I am a senior at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and I plan to graduate with a Bachelor of Music Teacher Certification. After I graduate, I would like to be an orchestra teacher around the Corpus Christi area to encourage my future students to go to Texas A&M of Corpus Christi. Fun Fact: When I was a senior in high school, the quartet I was in got a one in state.

Betsabe T.

My name is Betsabe T., and I have been the violist of the Lichtenstein String Quartet for two years. I played violin for six years and three years ago I became a viola convert. I attended Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Texas and was taught by Dr. Jose Flores, Dr. Melissa Melendez, and Dr. Richard McDonald. I am a sophomore at TAMUCC and am working towards a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in instrumental music all-level teacher certification. After I graduate, I would like to teach strings in the public school system, give high quality affordable private music lessons, and begin a string ensemble in my church. Fun fact: I am 19 and have been married a year to my high school sweetheart.

Julius G.

My name is Julius G., and I have been a violinist for the Lichtenstein String Quartet since the Fall of 2019. I have played violin since 2011, and attended John Jay High School in my home town of San Antonio Texas. The upcoming spring 2021 semester will be the second semester of my sophomore year, and I am majoring in music education in hopes of becoming an orchestra or mariachi director at the high school level. As someone who comes from an underprivileged household, my goal is to provide a passion through teaching music in the public school system, just as my teachers did for me.

Gerardo E.

My name is Gerardo E., I was born in La Libertad, El Salvador. I started playing the violin at the age of 5. Due to my father’s job, we traveled a lot which allowed me to learn my instrument through various teachers with completely different views on how the violin should be played. I was lucky to be able to graduate in 2014 with an International Baccalaureate Diploma, from Academia Británica Cuscatleca, in El Salvador. After I graduated, I came to Corpus Christi with my family to live, that is where my college career started, I began my first two years as a Mechanical Engineer, seeking to learn a lot about the physics of sound, this has always been a fascination of mine, but I was not able to do so until I transferred to the TAMUCC Music Department; here I have been able to pursue the study of sound through a degree in music with an emphasis in music industry. I am now a Senior pursuing this degree and I am on my third year playing violin with the Lichtenstein Quartet. Once I graduate, I am aiming to work at a recording studio as a sound engineer and eventually plan to open my own recording studio. Some fun facts about me, I love playing video games as well as sports like rugby, basketball, and soccer.

Matthew P.

To the Donors of the Morris L. Lichtenstein Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund,

My name is Matthew P., and I am a 2017-2018 recipient of the Lichtenstein String Quartet Scholarship. I’m quite excited and honored to receive this scholarship opportunity and be involved in the actions of the string quartet.

Having been morn and raised here in Corpus Christi, it is only now that I begin to see the subtle ways that the foundation has positively influenced my life over a long period of time. I grew up listening to public radio in the area, which really fostered my attraction and love for classical music from a very young age. Other kids that I knew in school were enrolled in the strings program at the Joe Garza Center, where we now teach.

Now, as a young adult, via this scholarship I receive high level training from a wonderful instructor, first-hand experience in a string quartet setting that is directly applicable to real world scenarios, and via the teaching program we get experience in running a classroom and fostering musician at a young age.

This scholarship provides me with the experience and tools that I need to go on past a degree and become a successful professional. After graduating, I have plans to go on to pursue higher degrees; without the support of the quartet and the Lichtenstein Foundation, I would not be as successful as I am now.

I would like to thank you and explicitly express my gratitude for the effort that you put into student and for the opportunities you provide us.

Anthony S.

Dear Lichtenstein Foundation,

This will be my second year as a violinist in the Lichtenstein Quartet, and I cannot even begin to thank you enough for everything that being in this quartet has done for me.

Throughout the last year, my involvement in the quartet has provided me with so many opportunities for growth, as I continue to study under Dr. Pierce, alongside the close friends my quartet mates have become to me. For example, this summer, Austin Gabrillo, the other violinist in the quartet, and I were able to travel to Dallas to study with Dr. Elizabeth Adkins for a short period of time.

I am currently working on my thirst to last semester here at TAMUCC as a Violin Performance Major, and can confidently say that my time in the quartet has made me both a more competent and confident player, as well as a more well-rounded musician and future educator, due to the time we all spend teaching the sometimes-underprivileged youth at the Joe Garza Recreational Center.

Thank you again for your generosity and undying support. I will continue to offer everything I have as a student and a musical performer to the quartet, and all related activities, as I continue to learn how to give back the gift of music, not only on a stage, but also in our communities.

Austin G.

Dear Morris L. Lichtenstein, Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund,

My name is Austin G. I am a recipient of the Lichtenstein String Quartet Scholarship, and it is with great pride that I say this is my final year at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Thank you all so much for your generosity and your willingness to help ensure that the arts stay alive in Corpus Christi, Texas. This scholarship has brought the opportunity to work with such amazing musicians and remarkable people. Since my first year receiving this scholarship, I have grown so much as a person and as a musician. I have travelled many roads and have become someone I never thought I would ever become. I have both gained and lost many friends through this growth and along these roads.

By being a member of the Lichtenstein String Quartet, I have been able to perform all over South Texas and receive many opportunities that have brought incredible results, such as meeting musicians from all over the state, country, and world. I am on the cusp of graduation and have many prospects in mind, and because I have grown so much as a musician, I may even have a chance at receiving a fully funded Master’s Degree.

It is such a wonderful thing to see how your continuous generosity has created a series of events that would situate me here, writing my last thank you letter to the family that has provided this amazing opportunity to a small city boy like myself.

I wish your family all the best in future endeavors, and I will continuously give my gratitude for this wonderful act of kindness that has given me the opportunity to become a mature musician and a better person.

Thank you again for everything you have done for me, and continue to do for the Lichtenstein Quartet.

Gabrielle C.

Dear Donors of the Morris L. Lichtenstein Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund,

Thank you so much for the fantastic opportunity that you are allowing me to pursue by means of your scholarship. This scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me for many reasons. Financial means aside, I’ve found it incredibly fulfilling to be able to influence young minds by means of teaching them how to play stringed instruments. Seeing how these students grow and learn has been like tending to a garden and watching the flowers bloom. They have gone from learning how to pick up an instrument to learning how to read music and playing their first solo piece of music. Seeing their parents and hearing how grateful they are that we offer these services for free has made all the hours put into it worth it. I have gotten the opportunity to bone with many of these children’s parents and have learned that if it weren’t for the program that we offer, they would not have had the financial means to be able to teach their students how to play an instrument. Knowing that I am offering a life changing service for free to students that very clearly enjoy playing music has been incredibly enriching; and none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the Lichtenstein Foundations’ very generous support of us as teachers and us as students.

Not having to worry about tying together financial ends gives me the opportunity to be more invested in my studies. I have decided that in the future I want to obtain a PhD in either Music Theory or Music History (or perhaps both). I have started taking the necessary steps towards accomplishing this goal by beginning research projects and starting a job as a Music Theory tutor. Although I do not need the money that the job provides, I had the free will to choose this job despite the pay because financial security in my tuition is no longer an issue. I can now use the money that I get from this job towards instrument repairs and instrument accessories that will greatly improve my experience as a music student.

Furthermore, being in the quartet as a music student has greatly enhanced my skills as a musician. Learning the rigorous repertoire that Dr. Pierce assigns us has challenged my boundaries as a musician and forced me to grow and learn new skills that I don’t think I would have been able to if I were not surrounded by the other amazing musicians that are also endowed with the Lichtenstein Scholarship. Last year, I greatly enjoyed the time I spent rehearsing and performing with them and look forward to another year of playing fun and fantastic music.