Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) is thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievements of students who participated in the 2024-2025 Maricopa County Community College District's (MCCCD) Artist of Promise Music Composition Competition. This annual event showcases the creativity and skill of students across the district, highlighting original works in acoustic music, electronic music, and songwriting. Among this year’s winners are our very own Kevin Lewis and Jessica Peterson, who took home first place in Electronic Music Composition and third place in Songwriting, respectively.
"I couldn’t be prouder of Kevin and Jess,” said Chris Scinto, director of PVCC’s Fine and Performing Arts division and this year’s competition coordinator. “Their tremendous achievements highlight the extraordinary talent we have at PVCC and reflect the dedication of our faculty to nurturing creativity and artistic excellence. These accomplishments not only shine a light on our students’ hard work but also elevate the reputation of PVCC as a hub for artistic growth and innovation."
Lewis composed his winning song “SunRise” as a final project for his Electronic Music I class and shared, “I was always curious about the technologies involved in the genre of electronic music. While already having a love for instrumental rock, this gave me the opportunity to create music in a different landscape. With a huge passion for movies since childhood, I thought I would take this class from the perspective of scoring rather than the traditional club scene. To my surprise, I absolutely loved the creativity it inspired in me, and feel like Griffin (Law) really helped encourage me to follow this direction of songwriting.”
“Kevin (Lewis) is the perfect example of the type of students that every teacher hopes to have a classroom full of at the beginning of the semester,” said Griffin Law, professor of Electronic Music and Sound Design. “His genuine intrigue and drive to understand the programs and concepts that we are working with constantly pushed his musical creativity and made his assignments a genuine joy to listen to. As a music teacher, the best thing that you can hope for is to find yourself getting lost in the music of your students, and I am so proud to see that others can enjoy Kevin's music in the same way that I have. The Music Industry Studies program thrives with students like Kevin who constantly push the limits and expectations of both the students and the staff.”
Lewis’ winning composition will be performed at the Artist of Promise Dance, Fashion, and Music Gala on March 20, 2025, at Phoenix College, along with the other first-place winners.
Peterson, who earned third place in the Songwriting category, for her heartfelt composition “Truth on My Sleeve” spoke of her own recognition, “I am extremely proud of myself. I chose to be really vulnerable with my song, and I felt pretty exposed submitting it. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed and wanted to. Winning third place in the contest has sparked an even deeper, fiercer fire of motivation in me with my music. It’s opened up a new level of wonder and curiosity for me, as to what I am truly capable of as a songwriter. I feel very humbled and blessed to know that my song has touched lives, and that will always be a driving force for me with any song I write."
“Since discovering her passion for songwriting, Jess has expressed the inexorable pull toward songwriting as a career and she has taken the necessary steps to do just that,” said Bradford Knights, music faculty at PVCC. “I am so proud she dug deep to become vulnerable with her song and also for always pushing herself to improve at every level.”
The competition was judged by an esteemed panel of experts, including Dr. Jody Rockmaker (Acoustic Music), Samuel Pena (Electronic Music), and Holly Pyle (Songwriting). Their expertise and commitment ensured a rigorous and inspiring selection process.
Please join us in celebrating all the talented participants in this year’s Artist of Promise Music Composition Competition. Their achievements are a testament to the vibrant community of artists, educators, and students at PVCC.To learn more about the college’s music program and upcoming events, visit the website.