LPAC’s Inaugural Music Lab Showcase Features Emerging Student Artists, May 30
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (May 7, 2025) — The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY presents the culminating event of its inaugural Music Lab, a residency that empowers Queens-based student musicians by providing them with creative space, mentorship, and a professional-grade stage to bring their original works to life.
The showcase on Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m. will feature a headline performance from Kasset, an emerging indie band comprised of five CUNY students—including three studying at LaGuardia—hailing from Colombia, Indonesia, Poland, and the U.S. Additional CUNY students and alumni will perform, each bringing their own sound and energy to the stage: Cherry Haze, The New Days, and solo artists Sabrina and Rozie.
“When we envisioned Music Lab in 2024, our goal was to create a space where student artists could move from idea to performance with professional support,” says Handan Ozbilgin, LPAC’s Artistic Director. “The Music Lab Showcase is a celebration of creative growth and a glimpse at the voices shaping tomorrow’s stages. These performances are a culmination of hard work, friendship, and artistic evolution. Watching Kasset grow into headliners has been incredibly rewarding.”
Kasset band members include three Music Recording Technology students from LaGuardia: Juanita Herrera (bassist, lead vocalist), Joey Milano (drummer), and Amelia Marczenia (keyboardist, backing vocals); Noah Tobing (lead vocalist, guitarist), a graduate student at Baruch College; and Faikar Fazazaman (guitarist), a computer science major at Hunter College. They describe their sound as “blending blends indie rock with smooth R&B influences and classic rock energy, reflecting our cultural roots and passion for musical storytelling.” Their performance will feature original songs and covers of some of their favorite tracks.
“Music Lab gave us the motivation to keep creating, rehearsing, and writing,” says Juanita. “We’re grateful for this opportunity. LPAC has become a space where we feel comfortable. It’s nerve-wracking because it’s the first time organizing something this big, but we’re excited to finally share what we’ve been working on with the people we love.”
Cherry Haze is a pop rock/pop punk band mixing One Direction-inspired catchy hooks with the guitar-driven energy of 5 Seconds of Summer and Maroon 5. Made up of CUNY students and alumni, the band describes itself as “bringing big city attitude, real-life stories, and a whole lot of noise to every stage we hit. Right now, we’re rocking a mix of high-energy covers and cooking up original songs that are as honest as they are hooky. If you like your music loud, fun, and a little emotional, come hang.”
The New Days is an alt-rock duo from New York, featuring multi-hyphenate artists Joey Jaide and Nia Roe, a psychology major at Hunter College. Joey and Nia describe their band as “channeling inspiration from the 60’s and 70’s through a modern lens, with sound echoing influences of classic pop, Latin, jazz and hip hop.”
Sabrina, a psychology major at Baruch College, studied the violin at the Bloomingdale School of Music in NYC as a child and later moved on to playing the guitar and singing.
Rozie (no last name given), an alumna of Baruch College and a graduate student at SUNY Plattsburg, describes her sound as “yearny and delusional.”
LPAC invites audiences to experience the energy, sound, and stories of NYC’s next generation of musicians.
“Art is a powerful bridge. It reflects our communities and tells stories that transcend gender, immigration status, class, and culture,” says Evelyn Lowmark, Interim Executive Director of LPAC. “Creating spaces for connection is essential to our shared humanity. Music Lab opens doors to emerging artists and reminds us of what we share.”
“LPAC’s residency programs, including the Emerging Choreographer Series and the Rough Draft Festival for professional and student playwrights, illuminate the benefits of nurturing early-career voices,” adds Ms. Ozbilgin. “Music Lab brings that same energy to emerging musicians.”
“Music Lab is more than a performance opportunity. It is hands-on training in what it means to produce a real show,” says Carmen Griffin, LPAC’s Technical Director. “Student artists work with our professional tech team throughout the process, gaining confidence and experience they’ll carry long after they leave LPAC.”
The Music Lab Showcase will take place in LPAC’s Little Theater on Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased here. General admission tickets are $15 each; student tickets are $10 each. A $2 convenience fee is charged with each ticket.
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How to Attend a Show: Guests attending LPAC shows are encouraged to enter at 45-50 Van Dam Street, Long Island City, Queens (see Maps and Directions). For more information, please email lpacboxoffice@lagcc.cuny.edu or call (718) 482-5151.
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The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC), located at LaGuardia Community College, is a cultural hub that fosters artistic excellence, education, and community engagement. LPAC provides a platform for dynamic artists and storytellers to create, collaborate, and inspire. Through diverse programming, LPAC continues to support its mission of making the arts accessible to all. It is the stage for productions of the award-winning Theater and Music Performance programs of LaGuardia Community College, as well as works from partner institutions, including Carnegie Hall, Joffrey Ballet School, and the Drama League of New York.
LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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