Alumni Chapel — Music

The organists for the UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel are Edwina Beard, Donese Mayfield, Michael McHugh and Maxine Thevenot.

If the services of an organist are desired, couples must assume the responsibility for contacting either Mrs. Mayfield, Mr. HcHugh, Mrs. Beard or Dr. Thevenot.

A University organist will play for all weddings in which the organ is used except in the following situation:

A special guest organist may play for a wedding only with the consent of the UNM organist.

Mrs. Mayfield, Mr. HcHugh, Mrs. Beard or Dr. Thevenot must be present at all times.

The UNM organist continues to receive the customary fees.

All fees must be paid directly to the organist.

Organists are not available on Sunday mornings before 11am.

The music for a wedding generally includes 10-15 minutes of music while guests are being seated, a processional, a recessional and accompaniments for vocal and instrumental soloists and any other music can be played during the ceremony itself.

Note:

1) Additional fees will be charged if the organist is asked to coach singers or transpose music.

2) The organist will begin plain playing prelude music 10-15 minutes before the wedding is scheduled to begin.

Unless the organist has been notified that the ceremony is being delayed, she will end the prelude at 15 minutes past the scheduled time of the wedding.

Edwina Beard

Edwina Beard has been the Organist at the UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel since 1977.

She has a Master's degree in organ performance from UNM and has served on the faculty of the UNM Department of Music.

She has extensive experience as a recitalist, church musician and accompanist.

Mrs. Beard works full-time, but will return messages within 24 hours.

Mrs. Beard can be reached at 505.828.0673

Donese Mayfield

Donese Mayfield has been a professional musician (organ, piano and Celtic harp) in Texas and New Mexico for many years.

Donese performs solo on the Celtic harp and in an ensemble with harp, flute and guitar.

She has written a teaching curriculum for folk harp, has released two CDs and has conducted folk harp workshops across the southwest.

Donese has served on staff as a church organist at several Presbyterian churches in the Albuquerque area.

Her musical talent is in great demand for private parties, weddings, funerals and church services.

Donese especially enjoys playing for weddings and performs at approximately 100 weddings a year.

Mrs. Mayfield can be reached at 505.292.6816

Michael McHugh

Michael McHugh has been playing the organ for church services, weddings and for other occasions in Albuquerque since 1976 when he emigrated here from New England.

Michael studied organ at Rowan University and later with Henry M. Cook in Philadelphia and Alistair Cassels-Brown in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Michael McHugh has served as a member of the faculty at Loyola University of Chicago and the Episcopal Divinity School. He served as occasional organist for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in New England and New York foreighteen years. He has offered recitals in the United States and in the Near East.

Perhaps most important, Michael enjoys playing the organ and regards every occasion for organ music as an opportunity to offer music that is unique and fresh. No event is regarded as routine or mundane.

Michael McHugh may be reached at (505) 977-7376.

Maxine Thevenot

Dr. Maxine Thevenot currently serves as a lecturer of music history and music theory as well as the Director of Las Cantantes (women's choral ensemble) at the department of music on campus. She is an international recitalist having performed in such prestigious venues as Notre Dame, Paris, St. Paul's Cathedral, London, Westminster Abbey, Washington National Cathedral, Washington's Basilica of the National Shrine and several others. Maxine moved from Canada to the USA to pursue the Master and Doctoral degrees in organ performance at New York's prestigious, Manhattan School of Music. Locally, she is the Associate Organist-Choir Director at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. John, where you can hear her on most Sunday mornings.

She has played for weddings and anniversarial celebrations since she was 11 years old and as such has played for no less than 1,000 weddings since then. She still remembers the first wedding like it was yesterday and prides herself on choosing repertoire that suits the occasion and the people involved. She looks forward to hearing from you and can most easily be reached on her mobile phone at 505.250.8614.

For additional information, recordings, etc. please visit her website at: www.maxinethevenot.com