Senior Composition Recital, Ian Orejana 2-21-2026

SENIOR COMPOSITION RECITAL

Ian Orejana

Performers are listed inside.

February 21, 2026

5:00 pm

Long Theatre

FEBRUARY 21, 2026 5:00 PM

Drive me crazy (2025) Ian Orejana (b. 2003)

Bergen Finley, guitar

Victor Camacho, bass guitar

Victor Cyrus-Franklin, drums

I got problems too (2025)

Miranda Duarte, alto

Austin Nie, bass

Victor Camacho, bass guitar

Victor Cyrus-Franklin, drums

Happier (2025)

Miranda Duarte, alto

Austin Nie, bass

Bergen Finley, guitar

Victor Camacho, bassguitar

Victor Cyrus-Franklin, drums

Losing control (2026)

Bergen Finley, guitar

Victor Camacho, bass guitar

Victor Cyrus-Franklin, drums

Everything is gone (2026)

Ava Crotti, soprano

Miranda Duarte, alto

Austin Nie, bass

The kind of man you are (2025) Benedict Ventura, cello

600 miles away (2025)

Behind the screen (2022)

Benedict Ventura, cello

Victor Camacho, bass guitar

Victor Cyrus-Franklin, cajon

Miranda Duarte, alto

Austin Nie, bass

Alex Maldonado and Kai Hatton, trumpets

Bergen Finley, guitar

Victor Camacho, bass guitar

Victor Cyrus-Franklin, drums

Sunshine (2024)

Jasmine Valentine, flute

Edmund Bascon, clarinet

Carissa Lee, violin

Benedict Ventura, cello

What I've been doing (2025)

Victor Camacho, bass guitar

Siry Smith, ukulele

Victor Cyrus-Franklin, cajon

PROGRAM NOTES

This recital is presented as a degree requirement for a Bachelor of Music in music composition.

Ian Orejana is a senior music composition major based in Seattle, Washington. He studies composition under Dr. Eric Wood at University of the Pacific.

During his time at the University, Orejana has been in many vocal groups and is currently the president of the Pacific Stocktones a cappella ensemble. If you’ve ever seen a yellow backpack walking around campus, that’s probably him. He recently picked up reading as a hobby, so if you have got any book recommendations, he would be happy to hear them.

Program notes by the composer

Drive me crazy

The first time meeting with someone you’ve been infatuated with is weird. You start losing sleep over wanting nothing just to be with them. This is my sleep deprivation song disguised as a dance song; innocent on the surface, but if you read into it, it’s clear that this isn’t a healthy way to go about wanting someone.

I got problems too

Trying to make something work with another is hard when the other has preconceptions that make them think otherwise. This song is an attempt to get them to recognize that everything will be fine as long as I’m with you and that I will always be there for you.

Happier

If I’m going to acknowledge that I have problems too, I’m going to have to let you know about them. This is that song. Recognizing how much of a consumer I am and how happy it makes me to buy new things was the inspiration for this song.

Losing control

At one point or another, you get tired of doing the same stuff over and over again, and at the same time you’re overwhelmed with everything you have to do. You feel unmotivated to do anything and just want somebody else to take the wheel to try and feel something again.

PROGRAM NOTES

Everything is gone

My sophomore year, I got robbed while I was living on campus. So many things of mine were stolen like my video games, my wallet, and even my car. Thankfully I was able to get most of it back, but my Animal Crossing island and 3DS I still mourn to this day.

The kind of man you are

This one is a reflection on a past relationship and dealing with the repercussions of overlooking red flags. In the end, as much as you’re mad at yourself, you’re just as mad at the other person in the relationship as well. This song was one of my favorites to write.

600 miles away

Going back home means new guys in my area want to meet with me. After everything I had been through, it felt like meeting with them and talking to them was just a veiled attempt to fill a hole in my heart; pretending they were the person I really wanted. A lot of these hookups weren’t usually under morally right circumstances, but why would I care at this point in my life?

Behind the screen

Dating and hookup apps can only get you so far and at one point, you start recognizing when a profile that messages you is just a bot or a catfish. Like a toxic ex, you keep coming back to these apps expecting something different, but the outcome always ends up the same.

Sunshine

If “The kind of man you are” was my initial reaction to us falling apart, this is my final reaction. I used the symbol of sunshine as I felt although we lived every day on the same plane of existence, the sun was always on him while a shadow was over me.

What I've been doing

Spring break of 2025 was a happy time for me as that week felt like one of recovery and reset. Spending time back in Seattle felt like what I needed at the time. Although I wasn't over everything that happened, I could acknowledge at least I was doing better than before. It’s also about time for a light and happier song.

Happy ending

This song is kind of how I’m viewing my “primary relationships” right now. The first half being my experience with hookups but still wanting something more while the last half is directed towards my friends I’ll be leaving soon.

Drive me crazy

Chasing around the moon

Darkness is where I bloom I come alive at night and I’m lucky that’s where you are tonight

Lost in a crowded room

Making my way to you

I got a craving for your body And I want it now

Refrain:

Well baby, I can’t sleep

’Cause you’re the only thing on my mind

And baby honestly, I can’t lie, I might die, tell you why

I want you to drive me crazy; come take the wheel Unlock my senses baby and make me feel like there is heaven on earth, let’s make it real

You’ve got that touch, touch oh to seal the deal

So what it’s 3 am?

We could still go again I got no time to waste And I’m just now getting a little taste

Refrain

When I look into your eyes

You know this could be our life

Refrain

I got problems too

You say that we won’t work

You say this will only hurt

You always tend to think of the worst, but ain’t that ’nough to try?

I say there is more to this I say we are limitless I pull you in for a kiss and that’s enough to try

Refrain:

And I’m trying to let you in

Show you that we are more than friends

Even when you’re not listening

I know you hear me

Even though it’s a lot to take

Soon enough you’ll have me to thank

You don’t have to cry alone, Just on my shoulder

Hey, just so you know I got problems too

So we could just start doing ordinary things

Like getting in your car playing songs you wanna sing Jamming out to a song about forever I don’t care just as long as we’re together

Well, I’d be just fine if I could lay with you underneath the lights

Never saying goodbye

Refrain

Happier

If I had some money

I would be fine

Getting whatever I want without a care in my life

’Cause I’d be happier in a 50,000 dollar t-shirt

’Cause they’d look at me and notice me in my 50,000 dollar t-shirt

And I’d be happier putting on Balenciaga sweatshirts

But I guess I’ll settle for polyester, but is that what I deserve?

If I had some money

I would travel the world

Get on in first class, filling out my passport all the time

If I had some money

No, if I had security

I could live in a big house and I could just give it out down the line

’Cause I’d be happier having instruments I know would sound good

’Cause I wouldn’t worry about the MIDI ’cause I know that all my things would sound good

And I’d be happier being front row at an L.A. concert

But I guess I’ll settle for the essentials

As if that’s what I deserve

Bring me money

(It’s a rich game that we’re playing all the time)

(It’s a rich game that we’re playing till we die)

TEXTS

Losing control

La da da da da

La da da da

La da da da da

La da da da

Stuck in this daily routine again

I just need something to drive

Give me an exit to take again

I’ve been going on the wrong way the whole time

La da da da da

La da da da

La da da da da

La da da da

Wake up to endless numbness

Put on a mask like I’m fine

Feels like you’re in love with girls again

What the fuck have I done with my life

Refrain:

I’m losing, losing all control

I’m breaking down right to the bone

I’m losing, losing all control

I’m losing all of my control

Can’t deal with all this bullshit

Don’t know what is and not mine

The things I do feel insignificant

If only I could just freeze time

Wake up to endless numbness

Put on a mask like I’m fine

Feels like you’re ignoring me again

What the fuck have I done with my life

Refrain

TEXTS

Everything is gone

They came in through the back door

I wish I had done more

But they took everything, while I was asleep

To think that was last time I would see the PlayStation and TV

What the hell were they all thinking stealing from a broke college student though?

I guess that’s just the way that life can go

Refrain:

Everything is gone and every time I think about it, there’s no way to say it

There’s no way to say it

Everything is gone and when I try I talk about it, I feel isolated I feel isolated

I never got to say goodbye

Refrain

The kind of man you are

I never had what you had I always thought of you before me

And now my heart is bleeding and I can’t stop myself from being sad

And now you’re out with someone new instead They always say don’t trust your heart, just use your head

Refrain:

But how was I supposed to know that you would leave me lonely in the house we called our own?

I couldn’t call it home ’cause how was I supposed to know that you would take your things and leave me both the rings? I was just too blind to see the man you were to me, but now I know what kind of man you are I cried upon my pillow, but you were turning up the TV I watched you come to me only just to see you go

And now you’re out with someone new instead I should’ve listened when they said to use your head

Refrain

And now I’m trying forget you

But everything reminds me of how hard I fell for you I listened to what you were saying I should’ve seen the actions you were taking

Refrain

So ’fore I go I hope that you die slow We’re done but now I know what kind of man you are

600 miles away

Hey man, I’m sorry for being 600 miles away

I’m back at home now and I’d like to see your face today

No, I don’t care what you’re doing tonight ’cause I just need someone to soften the light

Hey man, I’m sorry that I’ve been 600 miles away

Wait, I need to know if you’re feeling the same ’Cause I really need this to stop me from going insane

I know we’re nothing, but I feel obligated to you

I know we’re nothing, but you’re too damn good lookin’ to lose If this is wrong, then tell me why do you look so damn good in this bed with me too?

I know we’re nothing, but I feel obligated to you

You and me? I can’t not romanticize

Stay with me, don’t leave to go back to your wife

You and me?/Hey man, I’m sorry for being 600 miles away I can’t not romanticize/I’m back at home now and I’d like to see your face today

Stay with me,/I know we’re nothing but I feel obligated to you don’t leave to go back to your wife/I know we’re nothing, but you’re too damn good lookin’ to lose

Behind the screen

He, he’s been waiting for someone to come Oh, but he, he’s just looking for someone to love

He’s back on his doomscroll

Someone says “Hello” and he starts thinking “Wait, maybe this is the guy”

But when he starts to say more the messages get ignored

And he starts thinking “Great, why do guys have to lie?”

Refrain:

Behind the screen is not what you think

It’s just a picture-perfect imitation that they want you to see

And they know that you’ll fall for the scene behind the screen Behind the screen

Behind the screen is all just obscene

It’s just another damn impersonation they want you to believe

And they know that you’ll fall for the scene behind the screen Behind the screen

He, he’s been out here looking for the one Oh, but he, he’s really looking just for anyone

I think he’s really lying to himself when he is lying on the floor

But if you ask him, he’ll say “What the hell? Isn’t that just what your 20s are for?”

Refrain

There’s no point in telling him what to do

’Cause you know eventually he’ll be begging, running, crawling back to you

Refrain

Sunshine

I’ve been overwhelmed, you can probably tell I still think about the days we talked It was very nice underneath your spell

Now I’m in a cloud full of my own doubts

Wondering if I was just a game

Something that you’d play

I know I’m still the only one who thinks about it every now and then, I know Won’t let me down again

Refrain:

The sun shines on, the earth shifts too

If I could I’d let it shine on me more than you I can’t go back, but would I still if I knew what all those words would all amount to?

I don’t even think I have told my friends

How could I explain how dumb I was?

For seeing past red flags, for seeing past the age gap

If I saw your face even with new eyes I know I would fall for you again

Even though you lied, I’d like to think we could try

I know I’m still the only one who thinks about it every now and then, I know Won’t let me down again

Refrain

The sun shines on…

If I could, I’d let it shine on me

What I’ve been doing

Hey, how are you?

I’ve just been at home

I gave myself a week or two to spend some time alone

Hey, I’m sorry that your boyfriend dumped you too, but I might have suggestions since I’ve been through what you’re going through

So what I’ve been doing is just going out for food

Go to Pike Market, try the new pasta menu

Sure, it’s not the same as going out with a new lover

But I think it’s better than a night of being blue

Hey, did you know?

I saw him again today

The one guy who just looks like one of my favorite actors nowadays

Sure I could be messy, send a message to him anyway, but I’d rather just stay home and play some games like maybe Baldur’s Gate

So all I’ve been doing is just shopping at the mall

Got me a new pair of these pants that make me look so tall

Sure, it’s not the same as going out with a new lover

But I think it’s better than a night of being blue

TEXTS

Happy ending

The cowlick at the bottom of your neck

The way you twitch to fall asleep in bed

Your dirt-colored eyes, I romanticize about them often

The way you look at me like you found your true love

As if it isn’t just the first time we hooked up

I’m just too afraid to say that I might feel the same about you too

These are things that I hope you see in me

All of the details I hope stay in your memory

Look in the dark, I know I made my mark

I hope one day we’ll finally find our happy ending

I hope I get to see you once again

If not that, I’m glad I had you as a friend

Deepest conversations, someone I relate to so immensely

For the first time, I feel like I am ahead

I bit the bullet ‘n it paid off all my debt

Found new lease on life, glad I had you guys beside here with me

There’s so many things I could say when you are with me

So many details I hope stay in my memory

Looking in the dark, just know you made your mark

I hope one day you’ll finally find your happy ending

I hope one day we’ll finally find our happy ending

When is the day I’ll finally get my happy ending?

— lyrics by Ian Orejana