This has been a long journey for Shu Ching Cheng, who will be performing her final recital before her doctoral defense as a doctor of musical arts student at the UA.

Titled “”The Interdependence of Movement and Sound in all Aspects of Piano Technique in Falko Steinbach’s ‘Figures’ — 17 Choreographic Etudes for Piano,”” the recital will consist of a short lecture about piano technique followed by a performance of Stenbach’s etudes.

The fifth-year music student came as an undergraduate in music performance from Shih-Chien University in Taipei, Taiwan, went on to get her master’s degree at the University of New Mexico and is finishing out her doctorate in Tucson. This recital is the culmination of more than two years of work, Cheng said.

Starting piano as a young child, Cheng attended music schools in Taiwan. Cheng attributes her love for piano and pursuit of performance as a professional career largely to Taiwan’s excellent schools.

“”I got to attend a music school instead of a regular elementary school,”” Cheng said. “”It made a big difference. It’s a big reason why I’m still doing music.””

Cheng commented that music is something that has always come naturally to her.

Her recital, which focuses more on the physical aspects of piano, is a direct reflection of her rigorous academic work over the past five years.

Theodore Buchholz, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in cello performance at the UA School of Music, is performing his recital toward fulfilling his degree. The program includes “”Suite No. 3″” by Johann Sebastian Bach, “”Suite from West Side Story”” by Leonard Bernstein, “”Sonata No. 5″” by Ludwig van Beethoven and “”Solo Sonata”” by György Ligeti.

The program is wide-ranging, with baroque pieces intersecting with highly modern arrangements. Buchholz chose these pieces for their balance of character, moods and atmospheres.

Having played cello for 15 years, Buchholz certainly loves playing. But it’s also the experience of playing with others that brings him back every day.

“”I found that having a career as a musician is incredibly diverse,”” Buchholz said. “”I get to play a variety of music, encounter a variety of people and play such a variety of music.””

Corbin Henderson has a passion for tuba. Having played the tuba for eight years, Henderson decided to hold this Thursday night recital just for fun. His program includes “”Just A Thought”” by James Grant, “”Concerto for Tuba”” by Arild Plau, “”Danny Boy”” arranged by Patrick Sheridan, “”Ulricht”” by Gustav Mahler, “”Six Studies in English Folksong”” by Ralph Vaughn-Williams and “”Three Miniatures for Tuba”” by Anthony Plog.

A music performance junior, Henderson has a special interest in Mahler’s “”Ulricht”” since he arranged the piece himself.

“”It was my own personal project,”” Henderson said.

Originally for alto solo voice, Henderson transcribed and arranged the piece for tuba and piano. He also had to translate the piece from German to English. Clearly, Henderson has a passion for tuba.

“”I can’t see myself being happy doing anything else,”” he said. The musician spends around six to eight hours practicing each day for his major.

Henderson hopes people who attend his recital can see the versatility of tuba.

“”It’s not everyday that a tuba player does a full solo recital,”” Henderson said. “”I think people will be surprised at its virtuosity and what it can do.””

Nayeli Lopez is performing a free piano recital Friday unlike one you’ve heard before. In fact, it’s extremely rare.

Playing three sonatas by Antonio Soler, “”Toccata in E minor”” by Johann Sebastian Bach, “”Fantasie in F Minor Op. 49″” by Frederic Chopin, “”Prelude Op. 23 No. 1″” and “”Etude Tableaux Op. 39 No. 8″” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, “”Mountain Spirit Rising”” by Dominic Dousa and “”Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 in A minor”” by Franz Liszt, Lopez’s concert will be a wide-ranging musical performance.

Ranging from contemporary — Dousa’s “”Mountain Spirit Rising”” being composed this year at the University of Texas at El Paso —­ to the well-aged baroque texture of Bach’s “”Tocatta,”” Nayeli is attempting to demonstrate a diverse set of music to earn her degree.

Lopez taught at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, where she received a scholarship from the Mexican government to study piano at the UA.

Life at the UA is one of surprising opportunity, Lopez said. She commented on how available and helpful all her professors are.

Having played piano since she was a young child, Lopez has always fostered a love for piano, even during her high school years when she stopped playing regularly to become a two-time National Chess Champion in Mexico. After high school, however, she decided piano was her greatest passion and majored in music performance.

Lopez finds great satisfaction in playing piano everyday. “”It’s just a beautiful art, everyday is like a lifetime journey, you never stop learning,”” Lopez said.

She also loves how music can bring about different effects on her audience. “”That’s what’s so beautiful about music,”” Lopez said. “”It’s not only for yourself, but it’s for others.””

Joseph Turner’s performance this Friday will be his final recital before receiving his master’s degree in trombone performance. This recital is the culmination of a great deal of work since he first discovered the instrument at age 12.

The program is quite diverse, containing pieces that provide good contrast, Turner said. The program includes “”Concerto for Trombone”” by Launy Grøndahl, “”Daybreak”” by Nicola Ferro, “”Ballade for Trombine, Op. 62″” by Eugene Joseph Bozza, “”Improvisation Nr. 1 für Posaune Solo”” and “”Bruckner Etüde für das tiefe Blech”” by Enrique Crespo, “”La Flor de la Canela”” by Isabel Granda and “”Imágenes”” by Vinicio Meza.

There will be other accompanying trombone players, including Turner’s teacher Moises Paiewonsky, playing in the performance. Turner noted that his recital is a different experience with trombone than most people are used to. He hopes this recital can show people new things about trombone.

“”Hopefully the idea that I can play beautifully too,”” Turner said. “”Instead of the typical stereotype that trombone is just loud. It’s a very versatile instrument.””

All recitals are free and open to the public.