2nd annual

Rock the Block

Meet Our 2022 Performers!

Connor Chee

Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee is known for combining his classical piano training with his Native American heritage. Chee made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 12 after winning a gold medal in the World Piano Competition. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Chee’s solo piano music is inspired by traditional Navajo chants and songs.
Chee has released 4 studio albums of original pieces and piano transcriptions of Navajo music. The Navajo Piano won Best Instrumental Recording at the 16th Annual Native American Music Awards, and his piece “Beginnings” won Best New Age Song. Chee’s 2020 release, Scenes from Dinétah, features piano pieces written about elements of Navajo life and culture. It was accompanied by the release of several music videos filmed on the reservation, directed by Navajo filmmaker Michael Etcitty Jr. Chee’s most recent release, The Navajo Piano (Revisited), features new recordings of his original 15 compositions from 2014, as well as recordings of the traditional songs they were based on. Also included are 3 new transcriptions for harp featuring Angelica Hairston and Johanna Wienholts.
“To me, musical expression is a means of spiritual communication. I do not believe music is a universal language, but it does offer a very transcendent form of communication. There are so many “musical languages” that offer very nuanced expressions, informed by different cultures, customs, beliefs and backgrounds. I’m always excited to find new ways that musical expression can spiritually connect with listeners and performers alike.”
This singer/songwriter comes from the indigenous cultures of the A’Shiwi (Zuni) and Diné (Navajo). Residing in Fort Defiance AZ he recently carried out his musical vision through a Neon Nativez production with hit song “Trustfall”. His music can be found on all steam streaming platforms including EP “Far From The Shore”.

What musical expression means to Irv is that it’s a certain kind of therapy. That can help clear the mind and help people forget about the negativity, even if it is a sad song. Also, there are no rules in musical expression. Here, solo, is one-man band Irv Wauneka!

Irv Wauneka

Garrett Hodgson

21-year-old multi-musician who loves to get his hands on instruments and make music that comes from his inner deeper heart. With songs of meanings and questions he lingers to his everyday living and life. He hopes each night he performs to put a smile on the wonderful audience as they retrieve back home to their normal lives.

Garrett Hodgson is from the hills of California and moved down to Albuquerque, NM, to be with relatives and friends. He discovered a music awareness in a small community in which he was told about. A nice, kind, open community called ‘Ft. Defiance’, where performers and musicians come to play. Garrett will be playing on his keyboard and guitar for his solo show alongside his tenor voice. He plays in a genre of an upbeat progressive rock pop that surely makes you want to dance and move.

As a young boy, he had discovered many types of exotic instruments. His favorite loving grandma taught him how to play on an upright piano, teaching him how to play easy chords, nursery rhymes and hymnals. As the years passed, he owned his very first electric keyboard and started making his own music, playing wonderful scores and genres. He started playing on a 6-string guitar but later over the years he wanted a challenge and decided to play on a12-string guitar.

To Garrett, Musical expression is something that can’t be expressed correctly or in tune but something that has a powerful meaning or two to what gives it a meaningful life, that only one or so will understand. He urges on finding his inner expression in his musical life.