Desert Roots Rising Stars Resonant Earth Connects Music and Art at UNLV Barrick Museum

I have attended many concerts, gallery openings, and cultural events over the years, but there was something different about Resonant Earth.

Desert Roots Rising Stars' Resonant Earth concert at the UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art brought together chamber music, visual art, and community in a uniquely immersive setting. Instead of sitting in a traditional concert hall, audience members found themselves surrounded by artwork, allowing the music and exhibits to interact with one another throughout the evening.

The performance was part of Desert Roots Rising Stars’ ongoing effort to expand access to chamber music and music education while enriching the Las Vegas arts community. Early in the program, guests were encouraged to listen, reflect, and allow the music and artwork to take them on a journey. As the evening unfolded, that invitation felt increasingly appropriate.

Presented by Desert Roots Rising Stars, the evening also reflected the organization’s commitment to supporting young musicians through mentorship, performance opportunities, and education. Founded by violinist and educator Shakeh Ghoukasian, the organization continues to provide aspiring artists with access to accomplished professionals while creating meaningful cultural experiences for the Las Vegas community.

The program opened with Igor Stravinsky’s Danse Russe, performed by violinist Liam Mansfield, Creative Director of Desert Roots Rising Stars, and pianist Dr. Alexandria Le, a Las Vegas native, Yamaha Artist, and internationally acclaimed pianist whose career has taken her to renowned stages including Carnegie Hall.

Performers brought energy and technical precision to works spanning multiple musical periods and styles.

The piece immediately energized the room. At times playful and lighthearted, it seemed to bounce effortlessly from one musical idea to the next before slowing into more romantic passages and then returning to its spirited rhythm. It was impossible not to become engaged from the very first notes.

The mood shifted with Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 1. As I listened, it felt as though the piano was telling a story while the strings added emotion and emphasis. The work moved through moments of strength, sadness, tenderness, and determination, revealing the emotional depth that makes Schumann’s music so powerful today.

One of the most memorable works of the evening was Pierre Jodlowski’s 60 Loops. The piece created an atmosphere that was intentionally unsettling. Repeating patterns built layer upon layer, creating feelings of anxiety, suspense, and tension. There were moments when the musicians seemed completely locked together in a relentless cycle. The result was fascinating, uncomfortable, and impossible to ignore. It challenged listeners in a way that felt purposeful and thought provoking.

The museum galleries became performance spaces where visual art and chamber music interacted throughout the evening.

Of all the performances that evening, Cloudbreak by composer Jennifer Bellor stayed with me the longest.

Composer Jennifer Bellor shares the inspiration behind Cloudbreak, a work influenced by her skydiving experience over northern New York that became one of the evening's most memorable performances.

Bellor shared that the piece was inspired by a skydiving experience over northern New York and originally began as a piano composition before being arranged for piano quintet. Knowing the story behind the work made the performance even more vivid. The music felt expansive and atmospheric, moving between moments of quiet reflection and powerful intensity. Listening to it, I could almost imagine drifting through layers of clouds and open sky. It was beautiful, nuanced, and deeply connected to the evening’s theme of nature and our relationship with the world around us.

One comment shared during the evening resonated with me long after the performance ended. Great artists eventually return to their roots and inspire the next generation. That idea seemed to appear throughout the program and in conversations with the artists themselves. The presence of accomplished musicians such as Mansfield, Bellor, and Le reinforced the importance of mentorship and sharing knowledge with emerging artists.

The program continued with Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major, a work rich with color, texture, and contrast. Sitting in the gallery surrounded by artwork, I found myself thinking of the music as a painting. Sparkling passages, lush harmonies, and intricate rhythms revealed new details with every movement. The performance showcased the remarkable artistry of the ensemble while complementing the museum setting beautifully.

The evening concluded with the Atom String Quartet’s Quartet Medium, a piece filled with jazz influences, personality, and energy. After the emotional weight and complexity of the earlier works, its playful spirit provided a joyful ending that left audience members smiling as they rose to applaud.

Yet one of my favorite moments happened after the final note.

An abundant grazing table reflected the evening's earth-inspired theme through color, texture, and natural presentation.

Guests gathered around a stunning charcuterie grazing table that beautifully reflected the evening’s earth centered theme. Overflowing with fresh berries, grapes, citrus, pastries, desserts, and vibrant seasonal ingredients, the display felt like an extension of the artwork and music we had just experienced. The colors, textures, and natural presentation echoed many of the same themes explored throughout the concert.

As artists, patrons, students, educators, and supporters mingled throughout the gallery, conversations continued long after the performance ended. Looking around the room, it was easy to see that people were not in a hurry to leave. They were discussing the music, reconnecting with friends, meeting the artists, and simply enjoying being part of the experience.

Artists, patrons, and supporters gathered following the performance to celebrate the evening and the growing Las Vegas arts community.

What stayed with me most was not any single piece on the program, although Cloudbreak certainly came close. It was the feeling of connection created throughout the evening. Music and visual art shared the same space. Established artists spent time with emerging musicians. Audience members became part of the conversation rather than simply observers.

Las Vegas is often associated with large productions and headline entertainment, which is exactly why evenings like this stand out. Resonant Earth offered something different. It provided an opportunity to slow down, listen carefully, and experience music in a setting designed for reflection and discovery.

Musicians, composers, and organizers gathered following Resonant Earth to celebrate an evening of music, mentorship, and artistic collaboration presented by Desert Roots Rising Stars.

Organizations such as Desert Roots Rising Stars play an important role in the Las Vegas arts community by making classical music, chamber music, and music education accessible to audiences of all ages. Through performances like Resonant Earth, they continue to create opportunities for young musicians while contributing to the city’s growing cultural landscape. Resonant Earth is one of several programs through which Desert Roots Rising Stars supports music education and cultural enrichment in Las Vegas.

For French Quarter Magazine, a proud media partner of Desert Roots Rising Stars, the evening was a reminder that some of the most memorable cultural experiences happen on a much more personal scale. Long after the final applause, guests were still talking, sharing ideas, and enjoying one another’s company. It was a fitting ending to an evening built around music, art, mentorship, and community.

Learn More About Desert Roots Rising Stars

Desert Roots Rising Stars is a nonprofit Music Festival and Summer Academy dedicated to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of musicians through performance opportunities, masterclasses, educational programs, and community engagement.

To learn more about upcoming performances, educational initiatives, or ways to support the organization, visit: www.desertrootsrisingstars.com

To make a donation and support the organization’s mission, visit:

www.desertrootsrisingstars.com/donate