OUR MUSIC TEAM
Diane Schutz, Director, earned a BA degree in Choral Music Education from Texas Christian University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at New Mexico State University. She began her teaching career in New Mexico in 1975 and taught elementary, middle school and high school choirs for the Gadsden and Las Cruces Public School Districts, spending her final 20 years at Las Cruces High School, where her choirs won national acclaim for their solo performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall.
Diane was honored in 2002 as the New Mexico Music Educator of the Year, in 2006 as the recipient of the Arts in Education Award from the Dona Ana Arts Council, inducted into the NMMEA Hall of Fame in 2005, in 2015 was the NMMEA Teacher Emeritus Award and, in January 2024, served as the first New Mexico All State Vocal Jazz Director. She is currently Director of Music Ministry at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
Asa Cleveland, Primary Accompanist, has been playing the piano since he was very young, having been taught by his mother and sister. He studied under Naomi Rupp and is currently being taught by Lela York. He has accompanied soloists and ensembles in past years and occasionally plays piano for Grace Bible Church as needed. He plays alto sax in the Main Street Homeschool Band and the New Horizons Band, and was first chair alto sax in the 2023 All-State Small School Band. Asa also enjoys playing guitar, violin, mandolin, and ukulele.
Chris Martinez, Assistant Accompanist, started taking piano lessons at the age of 8, studying with Mark Klett. He went on to study with Amanda Gros and Dr. Laura Spritzer (former faculty in piano at NMSU. Chris is now working with Dr. Jung-Won Shin, assistant professor of music at NMSU. His musical experience includes accompanying musicals with local community theatres as well as brass and string soloists at NMSU. Having played violin in the past for four years, he is focusing now on piano. Chris is currently majoring in psychology in the pre-med program at NMSU.