Local talents bring love and irony to Fuller Lodge concert

The Los Alamos Arts Council brought local favorites to historic Fuller Lodge on Jan. 14 for an evening that mixed operatic repertoire with contemporary songwriting and a healthy dose of humor. The program ranged from Mozart and Scriabin arrangements to songs made famous by Bob Dylan, Stephen Sondheim, and "Weird Al" Yankovic, offering a broad musical palette for a community audience.

Doors opened at 5 p.m. and the concert began at 6 p.m., with mocktails and light refreshments served before and during intermission. The event framed itself as a Valentine-adjacent celebration of "tender and world-shaking things that love can be" while acknowledging that love can also be difficult. The performance was accompanied by pianist Gabriel Merrill-Steskal, whose resume includes a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan, international competition awards, and recent work commissioning and premiering new pieces on period instruments.

Two local vocalists anchored the evening. Jennifer Perez, who holds a Master of Music from the University of New Mexico, is a frequent presence in New Mexico's choral and early music circles. Her credits include appearances with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, and performances at international festivals; she lives in Santa Fe and serves in the Parish Choir at the Church of the Holy Faith while contributing as a guest host on Classical 95.5 KHFM Santa Fe/Albuquerque. Tjett Gerdom, originally from Iowa with a degree in Music Education from Cornell College, has been a featured soloist across the state and a familiar voice in Los Alamos ensembles, including the Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra and the Los Alamos Oratorio Society. Gerdom has also conducted local orchestras and choruses and has performed in venues from St. Mark's Basilica in Venice to Symphony Hall in Chicago.

For Los Alamos County residents, the concert underscored the role of in-person arts gatherings in maintaining social ties and local cultural life. Fuller Lodge's central location and the LAAC's programming help make live performance accessible to neighbors who seek communal experiences beyond the routine of work and home life. For audience members who rely on such events for social engagement, evenings like this can be meaningful for mental well-being and neighborhood cohesion.

Questions about LAAC events and accessibility options can be directed to Info@LAAC-FLAC.org. As Los Alamos looks ahead, this concert is a reminder that local stages and familiar voices continue to be a vital part of community life, and that the arts remain one of the places where residents can come together to celebrate, commiserate, and find common ground.