The professors and instructors who spend their days helping Fresno Pacific University students grow as musicians will soon have an opportunity to take the stage themselves.
FPU’s Music Faculty Recital will bring together instrumental and vocal faculty for an evening of music Saturday, September 19, in the atrium of the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center. The free recital begins at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by a reception.
An Evening of Musical Variety
Audience members can expect plenty of variety throughout the evening, with music spanning centuries, styles and languages.
The program will feature works ranging from Mozart to modern selections, along with musical theater. Vocal performances will include songs in French, German, Italian and Russian.
The instrumental lineup is just as varied, featuring flute, alto flute, baritone saxophone, electric guitar and piano.
Together, the selections will showcase not only the range of FPU’s music faculty but also the many different ways music can tell a story, express an idea and connect people.
Meet the Musicians
The recital brings together faculty members, alumni and longtime musicians who contribute to the musical life of FPU.
- Christa Evans, flute, is an assistant professor of music whose work combines scholarship, teaching and performance. A historical musicologist and Baroque flutist, Evans has performed with early music ensembles across the United States. At FPU, she encourages students to explore music from multiple perspectives, from historical context and musical analysis to technical performance and spiritual reflection.
- Chris Janzen, electric guitar, is an assistant professor of art, design and creative innovation as well as an adjunct instructor of music. A guitarist, visual artist and composer, Janzen brings together multiple creative disciplines in his work and teaches guitar courses in addition to painting, drawing and design courses.
- Karen Madden, piano, serves as a piano instructor and brings her love of teaching and performing to FPU’s music community.
- Davis Maga, tenor, is a 2025 FPU graduate who has returned to the university as an adjunct faculty member.
- Carrie Vail, mezzo-soprano, is a clinical assistant professor of music who works closely with students as they develop as musicians and performers. She is the choral director and a voice instructor who also teaches education courses.
- Audriana Vargas, soprano, is a 2017 FPU graduate, while Frank Velasco, flute and baritone saxophone, is a 2020 graduate. Both Audriana and Frank are part of a group of FPU alumni who also serve as adjunct faculty members.
- Rounding out the group is Matt Horton, collaborative pianist, a longtime pianist within the FPU music community.
The presence of several FPU alumni among the performers adds another dimension to the evening, bringing former students back to campus not only as musicians but as members of the faculty helping shape the next generation of performers.
From the Classroom to the Stage
For FPU’s music faculty, performing and teaching often go hand in hand. Their experiences as working musicians inform what happens in lessons, rehearsals and classrooms, while teaching provides opportunities to continually explore the meaning and purpose behind music.
Evans describes that connection as one of the things she values about teaching at FPU.
“We dive deeply into musical analysis, explore historical context, and woodshed technical passages to achieve the fluency on an instrument required to effectively express,” she said. “Whatever we are studying, we are asking, ‘Why? How?’ and exploring the interconnected web that underlies art.”
That exploration at FPU extends beyond musicianship alone.
“At FPU, we come together academically and spiritually to play with music and reflect on the bigger, most important things in life,” Evans said.
The Music Faculty Recital offers the broader FPU community an opportunity to experience some of that creativity, artistry and exploration firsthand.
Join Us
The FPU Music Faculty Recital will be held from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Saturday, September 19, 2026, in the atrium of the Warkentine Culture & Arts Center.
Admission is free, and a reception will follow the performance. Donations in support of FPU’s Music Program are gratefully accepted.
Come enjoy an evening of beautiful music and community while experiencing the talents of the musicians who teach, mentor and make music at Fresno Pacific.
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