Levanta Institute
At the Levanta Institute for Music and Creativity, we strive to provide educational opportunities that encompass creative music and arts learning, engaging performances, and thought-provoking presentations. Through these endeavors, we aim to foster curiosity and imagination within our community. Music and creativity are essential aspects of life, connecting people across diverse backgrounds. Our vision at the Levanta Institute is to make these artistic practices accessible to all, enriching lives and nurturing curious minds of all ages while welcoming people to our beautiful campus.
Questions? For more information, please email levanta@aa.edu.
LEVANTA PERFORMANCE
A Night of Brazilian Music: A Journey Through 20th-Century Brazilian Music
December 9, 2023, 7 p.m.
Simms Center for the Performing Arts
Get your tickets now.
Online ticket sales end at noon on 12/9, but tickets may be purchased at the door.
Together we will explore the spirited and sultry music of Brazil, from its historical roots to its contemporary innovations. A Night of Brazilian Music – featuring John Truitt, Hovey and Alexis Corbin, the Rio Grande Guitar Quartet, and Laura Cruz – promises to be a night of rhythm, melody, and cultural exploration that will leave you enchanted and inspired. Download the program (PDF).
COMING IN APRIL 2024: CLARICE AND SERGIO ASSAD
Get all of the details in the performances tab below.
SPRING 2024 COURSES
Beginning Classical Guitar (Grades 4-6)
January 23-March 12
Chorus Room, Music Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$350
To unlock the mysteries of the classical guitar, students will not only be introduced to the techniques and traditions of this foundational and beautiful art form, but they will create deeply expressive and beautiful music. A special emphasis will be placed on learning to play music from around the world as well as the creation of the student’s own music. Students will need a nylon string acoustic guitar, but it is not necessary to have prior experience in music learning to participate in this class.
Instructor Mickey Jones
Registration limited to 15. Register now!
Beginning Music Composition (Grades 4-6)
January 24-March 13
Chorus Room, Music Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$350
If you love music and have always wanted to make your own music, then this class is for you! Through a unique and exciting set of projects, students will learn how to understand musical sound making, musical organization, and the emotional effect of music. By the end of the course, students will have created multiple songs of their own, and they will be amazed at what they’ve accomplished. It is not necessary to have prior experience in music learning to participate in this class.
Instructor Mickey Jones
Registration limited to 15. Register now!
Intermediate Classical Guitar (Grades 4-6)
January 25-March 14
Chorus Room, Music Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$350
Now that students have begun their musical journey on the guitar, this class is an opportunity to grow to the next level. Many exciting techniques for the guitar will be explored like arpeggios, scales, and chords and there will continue to be an emphasis on the creation of the student’s own music. Students will need a nylon string acoustic guitar and students should have completed either the Beginning Classical Guitar class or have 3 months of experience in group or private guitar study as a prerequisite for this class. The class will culminate in a sharing of student compositions and a performance. Come and join us for this fun and creative experience!
Instructor Mickey Jones
Registration limited to 15. Register now!
SPRING 2024 COURSES
Beginning String Orchestra (Adults)
January 25-March 14
Orchestra Room, Music Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$375
Have you always wanted to try your hand at playing the violin, viola, cello, or double bass? Experience the creative engine that is the string orchestra! Learn how to bring the bow to a string to make a variety of magical and beautiful sounds in a group of orchestra beginners in this encouraging and low-stress environment. Students will learn to decode some music notation and write some of their own songs. Students can rent an instrument or borrow a school instrument during this class. It is not necessary to have any musical experience to take this class, and students who took Beginning Strings in the fall and want to continue their learning are welcome, too!
Instructor Muni Kulasinghe
Registration limited to 15. Register now!
Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar (Adults)
January 23-March 12
Chorus Room, Music Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$375
Guitar is the most popular instrument in the world. It is ubiquitous in the world of music from every continent, and everyday people flock to the instrument to figure out its magical properties. But too often for adult learners, the process is frustrating and dispiriting, and the music that adults are asked to learn is either too hard or too boring. In this unique course for adult beginners, from the first meeting to the last, students will make rich and beautiful music with confidence and sophistication. Come and join us in learning how to play this amazing, poetic instrument. Students will need a nylon string acoustic guitar, but it is not necessary to have prior experience in music learning to participate in this class.
Instructor Mickey Jones
Registration limited to 15. Register now!
Intermediate Fingerstyle Guitar (Adults)
January 25-March 14
Chorus Room, Music Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$375
Now that you’ve begun your musical journey on the guitar, you are ready to take your guitar playing to the next level. In this class, students will continue to explore fingerstyle acoustic guitar playing through a study of songs, chords, moveable patterns, scales, and a greater understanding of the sonic possibilities on this bewitching instrument. Students will also consider important musical devices to lend expression and emotional effect to their playing. Come and join us in learning how to make music in this fun, supportive, and enthusiastic class.
Prerequisite: Students should either have taken the Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar class or have at least 3 months of guitar learning to be comfortable in this class. Please contact us at levanta@aa.edu for questions regarding the prerequisite for this class.
Instructor Mickey Jones
Registration limited to 15. Register now!
Exploring the Art of Drawing (Adults)
January 25-February 22
Visual Arts Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$400 (includes materials fee)
Discover the world of drawing in this engaging 5-week course. We will explore fundamental drawing techniques, from line and shading to gesture and figure drawing. Students will have the opportunity to unleash their creativity and develop their unique artistic style. Whether you’re a beginner or have some drawing experience, this class will nurture your artistic skills and passion for the visual arts.
Instructor Chad Waples
Registration limited to 12. Register now!
Ceramics: The World of Clay (Adults)
January 23-February 15
Visual Arts Building, Albuquerque Academy
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$400 (includes materials fee)
In this fun and brand-new class, students will be introduced to the history, techniques, and aesthetic properties of clay as a medium for artistic expression, both in functional objects as well as sculptural ones. The course will be based on clay techniques and creative idea development.
All students will be introduced to throwing on the wheel, will make functional objects, and will learn about glazes and firing processes. Students new to clay will be given the fundamental tools to bring some of their 3D ceramic objects and visions to life. Students with some prior experience with the medium will be challenged to increase their technical proficiency as well as refine and expand their skills.
Instructor Peter Glidden
Registration limited to 12. Register now!
A Dimension of Sight, Sound, and Mind: A Journey to The Twilight Zone (Adults)
January 24-March 13
Albuquerque Academy
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$375
In this course, students will delve deeply into the seminal 1960s work, The Twilight Zone. Every week, students will watch an episode of the television series, developing critical tools to analyze film and television. We will consider each episode through historical, cultural, political, and artistic lenses. This class is for any adult with an interest in learning more about early television or anyone with a desire to revisit this classic. Don’t miss the fun and low-pressure class!
Instructor Isaac Lipkowitz
Registration limited to 17. Register now!
Short Science Fiction: The Evolving Story (Adults)
January 24-March 13
Albuquerque Academy
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$375
Science fiction is a genre of literature that becomes more and more relevant as we enter, in our everyday lives, the realms that it is concerned with; killer robots, intelligent machines, space travel, and myriad other imaginings that are part of the current state of our planet.
In this course, students will read and discuss seminal short stories of sci-fi and will also consider the ways in which speculative fiction has been a medium happily embraced by outsiders — providing a way to imagine new futures and possibilities. From classic space opera to fully imagined cultures, some of the authors who will be our guides in this adventure include Issac Asimov, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Octavia Butler, among others. Join us at the Levanta Institute to explore these new and intriguing worlds!
Instructor Stu Lipkowitz
Registration limited to 17. Register now!
WORKSHOPS
ABQ Sings: A Free Workshop for Teens and Adults
Music Building, Albuquerque Academy
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Join us for a modern-day take on a good old-fashioned sing-along! Songleader Dr. Gabrielle Dietrich will be joined by friends and special guests to help folks lift their voices and their spirits with familiar tunes and a few new favorites. Experienced singers, car singers, shower singers, and brand new singers are all welcome!
Registration opens soon.
A Night of Brazilian Music - December 9, 2023
A Night of Brazilian Music: A Journey Through 20th-Century Brazilian Music
December 9, 2023, 7 p.m.
Simms Center for the Performing Arts
Buy your tickets now!
Welcome to A Night of Brazilian Music, a captivating and interactive concert that promises to transport you on a musical journey through the rich tapestry of Brazilian music from the 20th century. This unique event celebrates the vibrant and diverse sounds of Brazil, highlighting the distinct styles of Choros, Samba, Bossa Nova, and Brazilian contemporary music.
Together we will explore the spirited and sultry music of Brazil, from its historical roots to its contemporary innovations. A Night of Brazilian Music – featuring John Truitt, Hovey and Alexis Corbin, the Rio Grande Guitar Quartet, and Laura Cruz – promises to be a night of rhythm, melody, and cultural exploration that will leave you enchanted and inspired.
Clarice and Sergio Assad in Concert - April 19, 2024
Musical Connections: Clarice and Sergio Assad in Concert
April 19, 2024, 7 p.m.
Simms Center for the Performing Arts
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The multi-talented Clarice Assad will join her world-renowned father, Sergio Assad, for a remarkable performance that promises to be a unique experience. The evening will be a harmonious blend of their artistic voices, creating an atmosphere filled with beautiful music that transcends generations and celebrates the power of familial musical connections.
In the world of music, few artists can boast a breadth of creativity as vast and impactful as Brazilian-American composer and performer Clarice Assad. Her journey through the realms of classical, world music, pop, and jazz has earned her acclaim and recognition on a global scale. A Grammy Award–nominated composer, celebrated pianist, inventive vocalist, and educator, Assad’s artistic voice transcends boundaries and defies categorization.
Peter Glidden

Mickey Jones

Isaac Lipkowitz

He attended Kenyon College for his Bachelor of Arts in film and followed up the experience with a Masters in Education at Earlham College, where he specialized in Educational Media and Game Design. Isaac has served as an educator in a variety of settings, including Think Summer at Albuquerque Academy, Pinon Tutoring Company, and UNM’s Film and Digital Arts Department.
Isaac has a deep love for storytelling of all forms and is an avid board game enthusiast. He occasionally does stop-motion sand animation and recently had a novella he wrote adapted into a radio play by Fusion Theater company. Isaac spends his days reading and cooking for his family.
Stuart Lipkowitz

Chad Waples

Chad has nurtured budding talents in the realms of drawing and painting, both at Albuquerque Academy and the University of New Mexico. His pedagogical focus extends to a spectrum of drawing techniques, with a keen emphasis on key areas like sighting and figure drawing. His skillful command of various drawing mediums, including graphite, charcoal, and oil paint, has enabled him to instill a deep appreciation for the art of drawing in his students.
His commitment to fostering artistic growth and his own expertise as an artist make him a respected figure in the community of Albuquerque, where his knowledge and guidance continue to inspire and nurture the next generation of artists.