Latest news with #Denton
CBS News
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Denton native, jazz saxophonist shares his journey to the Juilliard School's Master of Music Performance program
The road to Juilliard isn't an easy one—but for Denton native Matthew Garcia, it's been a journey fueled by passion and practice that's now taking center stage. Garcia, a jazz saxophonist and graduate of Denton High School, has been accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School's Master of Music in Jazz Performance program—one of the most selective music conservatories in the world. "It requires you to give so much of yourself," Garcia said. "It's beyond a hobby, it's beyond a passion, it's beyond a career. I think it's really part of who you are." Garcia's love for jazz started early. At 11 years old, he picked up his first saxophone and never looked back. "When I made All-State Jazz my junior year of high school, that's when my parents were like, 'Oh, okay, you're serious,'" they said. "So they ended up buying me a new instrument, actually." That very horn helped carry him to New York City, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at NYU. There, Garcia studied under acclaimed jazz musicians like Ron McClure, Lenny White and Melissa Aldana, building a reputation as a rising star in the scene. During his time at NYU, Garcia was recognized as a YoungArts Finalist, performed in the JAS Academy Big Band led by Christian McBride and toured internationally after his combo won the NYU Combo Competition. He has since played at iconic venues including The Village Vanguard, Carnegie Hall, Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland and The Blue Note—sharing the stage with jazz legends and peers alike. "Oh, the talent's been there all along," said Emilio Mesa, who taught Garcia private lessons. "It was a matter of just kind of gently nudging him in a direction that led him to realize that talent, to realize that potential." In fall 2025, Garcia will begin his studies at The Juilliard School, joining a small, elite group of jazz musicians selected from around the world. "I was sitting there refreshing it. I refreshed it, it came out, it was a big 'Congratulations,'" Garcia said, recalling the moment he found out he was accepted. "It felt good to receive that validation—that people think I'm on the path to becoming what I want to become." For now, Garcia is back in Texas for the summer, performing, teaching and giving back to the community that helped launch his career. And while the stages may keep getting bigger, he remains rooted in his purpose: to inspire the next generation of jazz artists.
Bloomberg
14-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
CoreWeave's Power Needs Could Stress Texas Grid
CoreWeave's plans to expand its data center in Denton, Texas are set to double the city's electricity needs. Bloomberg's Brody Ford joins Jackie Davalos on 'Bloomberg Tech.' (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Air ambulance lands on M60 after serious collision between motorbike and car
Pictures show an air ambulance landing on the M60 following a serious collision between a car and a motorbike. The M60 was closed between Bredbury and Denton following the crash at around 2.30pm today (Saturday). All traffic was diverted while investigations were ongoing. Images from the scene show a large emergency service presence shortly before an air ambulance landed. READ MORE: Air India plane crash report reveals pilots' chilling exchange moments before impact READ MORE: Man who donated clothes to charity floored by where he saw them 45 minutes later A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Motorbike rider has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. No other vehicles reported to have been involved at this time. Enquiries are ongoing." Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here According to the Bee Network the M60 closure has been extended from Junction 25/Junction 24 to Junction 1/Junction 24. The clockwise carriageway from junction 27 to junction 24 was shut, with traffic backing up to junction 4. Emergency services remain at the scene. It added that a car and a motorbike had been involved in a 'serious collision' on the M60 and warned drivers there are long delays in the area. Diversions were place, with drivers advised to leave the M60 anti-clockwise at junction 27 and take the first exit onto the A626. At the roundabout take the fourth exit onto the B6167, then at the junction with the A57 turn right. Then continue along the A57 to rejoin the motorway at junction 24. The motorway remained closed with Traffic England now reporting it might not reopen until 11pm.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
M60 closed in one direction after horror crash as thousands of Oasis fans head to Heaton Park
A SERIOUS crash that has closed down a major motorway is causing significant delays for Oasis attendees. Earlier today a serious collision on the M60 led to the road being closed between Bredbury and Denton. 2 2 It comes on the second night of Oasis' Heaton Park performances. The collision happened at around 2.30pm and led to an air ambulance being called to the scene. Traffic from the closure between J27 and J24 has backed up to J4. Delays of around 30 minutes can be expected. National Highways said on X: "Investigations and clear up works remain ongoing at scene." Around 70,000 fans will be attending tonight's gig, with many getting caught by the road closure. Those looking for alternative routes could get a shuttle bus from Manchester on Lever Street for £10.
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Spell has been cast: $150,000 grant for startup
"I feel like I am doing the thing I was put on Earth to do." Dunedin man Rupert Denton is referring to his startup Spellcaster, a literacy platform targeting children and teens who have become disengaged from mainstream schooling. Mr Denton, who moved from Melbourne to Dunedin with his family at the beginning of 2022, has drawn on his own experiences as a secondary school teacher to create the resource. Spellcaster recently received a $150,000 grant, in the startup category, from the New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence (Code) as part of its 10th round of game development funding in the city. It previously received a $40,000 grant in the KickStart category. Since July last year, Spellcaster has been in a pilot phase but it was now being launched commercially to help students and teachers. Mr Denton was previously teaching in Victoria, initially in rural areas and then at The Pavilion School in inner Melbourne, a specialist school for students who had been disengaged or excluded from mainstream education. Many of the students came with complex presentations — whether that was encounters with the justice system, homelessness or drug and alcohol abuse, they had been through a lot and that was sometimes coupled with intellectual disabilities or learning difficulties, he said. Often there had been negative experiences with mainstream schooling and they were very disengaged, Mr Denton said. During the Covid-19 pandemic, for children it was not just a matter of making remote learning work, as some did not have the likes of desks or the internet, but also working with foodbanks to ensure they were fed. Literacy resources were typically designed for much younger children and Mr Denton wanted to build something that was more appropriate for those in their teenage years. He taught himself software engineering in Melbourne and then did further work after arriving in Dunedin with his New Zealand-born wife and two young children. He began talking to former colleagues, speech therapists and parents to find what was available for older students and the challenges they found when working with disengaged learners. He began working full-time on Spellcaster in February last year, saying he still felt a commitment to students at The Pavilion School, even if they were no longer there. The pilot phase had been about getting as much feedback from as many different learners, educators and the public as possible, to really "dial in the product". Initially, it was a game but the platform had been extended to have lesson plan support and an adult was needed to lead the work. Pricing was deliberately set to be affordable so it was not out of reach for anyone needing it. It was designed to layer in alongside what schools were already doing, rather than replace what they were doing, he said. Since its launch, about 4000 students throughout Australia and New Zealand had been on the platform. He was working with educators globally, including at an international school in Kobe, Japan, and a speech pathologist near Baltimore who was using Spellcaster to support someone with a speech language disorder. Mr Denton saw it being particularly used for students aged 9 and over. They were at the centre of everything the team of three — Mr Denton, game developer Josiah Hunt and software engineer Ethan Fraser — did. Mr Hunt was also based in Dunedin while Mr Fraser, who is originally from Dunedin, now lives in Wellington. While Mr Denton had never been to Dunedin before he moved here, he loved the sense of community and how supportive the startup ecosystem was. "I'm so proud to be doing something in Dunedin," he said.
