Costa Mesa High School (CMHS) senior Joseph Hufford’s face is a mask of intense concentration as he coaxes a smooth jazz tune from his guitar. As the notes take on a more complex arrangement, he looks lost in the moment. His passion for the music is clear as he breaks into a smile when the song ends. He’s not looking for accolades; he just wants to share his passion with the world.
Hufford recently released his first album, “Coping Without Words,” which he describes as “chill jazz blues.” He wrote, recorded, mixed, and mastered the album in the Music Technology Lab at CMHS using what he learned in the Professional Music Pathway in the Career Technical Education (CTE) program. For this accomplishment, he thanks Music Technology Teacher Matt Hancock, as well as Music Teachers Ashley Riopka, Zaid Batarseh, and Sandy Gilboe, plus Drama Teacher Sarah Portwood, for their guidance.
“Joseph is an amazing kid who is doing incredible things. He thrives in piano classes, music technology classes, and jazz band. He is a musical marvel,” said Batarseh.
Hufford was selected by the Orange County Register as a semifinalist for Artist of the Year this year and last year; finalists for the 2024 honor will be announced April 28. His independent release is now available on all streaming platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple, and Amazon, and he performs in coffeehouses and at events throughout Orange County. In addition to his original music, he enjoys covering songs by artists such as Elvis Presley, John Mayer, George Benson, and Tom Misch.
“My dream is to play in jazz clubs all night with other creative people and just experience music. I want to play straight hard bebop all night, trading off solos and jamming for hours and hours,” Hufford said.
Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) is committed to nurturing the artistic talents of its students, offering a wide range of visual and performing arts courses and CTE pathways tailored to student interests. The Professional Music pathway is designed to prepare students for careers in music engineering and production, post-production for film and television, and live sound mixing for theater and music performances. Students who participate in the pathway develop an extensive digital portfolio of sound designs, podcasts, and produced songs using professional equipment. Learn more about the CTE opportunities offered at NMUSD on our CTE webpage.