People lined up outside the Burnight Theatre to buy tickets at 7 p.m. to watch the 14th Annual Scott Henderson Memorial Scholarship Concert on April 8.

The concert was presented by the Cerritos College Music Department, which brought some musicians that were scheduled to perform.

Eisha Del Villar played Beethoven’s classical piece, “Sonata in c minor,” on the piano, and Rusty Kennedy played bass and Kris Raman played electric guitar, performing” Holy Wars and Punishment,” which was written by Dave Mustaine.

Reneelyn Caneros, Janet Cisneros, Micheael Herrera, Jennifer Ornelas, Kris Raman, Phyllis Reimer and Angel Torres received Scott Henderson scholarships.

The concert also presented the Dan Seager memorial scholarship.

Scholarships were given to six other Cerritos College students from Yamaha, Pepsi, Ernest Antony Gonzalez and the Dan Seager memorial scholarship.  

One of the performers was Javier Castillo, music major, and he also explained that he was happy how his performance of prelude from Bach went, saying, “I feel satisfied with how my performance turned out.”

Music major Christopher Moreno performed “El Ultimo Tremolo” from Augustin Barrios Mangore.

“I think it went great. It was wonderful for everyone that came. It had some great performances for one night and it showed what Cerritos had to offer,” Moreno said.

He also explained that it was his first time performing at Cerritos College and added that he will be performing more often.

Cindy Hernandez, music major, also performed “I Had Myself a True Love” on mezzo soprano by Harold Arlen and said, “it’s my third time performing in this concert, but the nerves still come. It’s when I think about the work I put in is what helps me take my nerves away.”

Hernandez also explained that she was glad that she and her friends from the Music Department received scholarships.

One performer presented his heavy metal piece for the first time on the electric guitar at the concert was music major Kris Raman who said, “I’ve been playing since November, getting ready.”

Raman also added that he will be performing more often in concerts.  

Vocal major Jose Luis Maldonado Jr. performed a Russian piece and another from Kurt Weill.

Maldonado Jr. explained that since February he has been getting ready for this concert after transferring to Cerritos from Rio Hondo.

“It’s my first official school year at Cerritos College,”  Maldonado Jr. said. “I was not nervous; my motto is I have to know my song two weeks before the performance and I feed off the audience. I love the audience.”

Maldonado Jr. explained that in the future he wants to transfer to a music conservatory like the Manhattan School of Music or Juilliard and become an opera singer.