Spring 2007 Recitative
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Message from the Director By Seth Brenzel “The Walden School,” replied Ilana. The Each May for the past several years, professor was Michael Johanson, a Walden Walden faculty member Marshall student for eight summers, and a faculty Bessières has created and shared a member for four. “widget,” a countdown clock for Carrie Mallonee was recently driving in your computer screen that tracks Baltimore when someone behind her started the remaining time (down to the honking. Carrie’s car sports the fashionable second!) until students start arriv- Walden School bumper sticker; evidently ing at Walden for the Young fellow alumna Mattie Rogers, in the car Musicians Program. As I write this, behind, had spotted it and had then recog- the widget reads 32 days, 13 hours, nized Carrie. 52 minutes and 18 seconds. Having recent- Recently, JCC alumnus Noel (Felde) ly read a pre-camp letter issued by Grace Benson was happy to discover that Marilyn Newsom Cushman, founder of Walden’s (Braune) Crispell would be touring through predecessor, the Junior Conservatory Camp, I Switzerland; he hosted her for several nights can tell you that I am not the first director to at his home in Freienstein. Recitative be relishing the annual ingathering of creative A collection of Waldenites — Cindy young musicians and teachers; Mrs. Cushman’s Harkum, Whit Bernard, Marguerite Ladd, liberal use of exclamation points is a dead Vol. 13 No. 1 | Spring 2007 Alex Kotch, Pat Plude and I — attended giveaway of her eager anticipation. the Music Educators National Conference If the widget ran the other way, marking the in Hartford this past March. Pat was lead- time elapsed since Walden’s founding, it ing a workshop about the musicianship would currently say: “Happy 35th curriculum that we teach at Walden, and Anniversary!” In this landmark year, we are we were there to help her out. Another ses- thrilled to be welcoming more than one hun- sion we attended was a concert of works by dred Walden and Junior Conservatory Camp young composers, including a piano trio alumni to the campus of the Dublin School Katy Waldman had composed at Walden. for Reunion 2007. Walden staff and adminis- Katy was quite surprised when our little tration, along with the Reunion Committee, Walden contingent came up to her after the have been busily making preparations for concert to congratulate her. what promises to be the best reunion yet. I As you can see, Walden and JCC reunions am quite excited to reconnect with old friends abound. As Walden turns 35, these reunions from my time as a Walden student, and I look are ones that will hold our organization in forward to meeting many new friends with good stead as we look to the next 35 years and whom I share this incredible enthusiasm for beyond. May you have one of these reunions music, composers forums, mountain hikes, in your life in the not-so-distant future, and dancing, and New England summers. if you think of it, please write to tell me While there are many people attending the about it — [email protected]. reunion, there are hundreds more who will be While 2007 promises to be a summer of sad to miss it. If you’re lamenting the fact reunions for alumni, returning concert series that you have missed your chance to connect and residency artists as well as students, it is with the Walden/JCC community, I urge you also sure to be a time of new connections. The to take heart. Why? When you least expect it, New Orleans-based Panorama Jazz Band will you may find yourself face to face with an old brighten our concert series for the first time, Walden or Junior Conservatory friend, as I did and Vance George, Director Emeritus of the recently. I was waiting for a taxi at Penn San Francisco Symphony Chorus, will visit Station one day this winter, only to discover I campus to work with The Walden School was standing in line with Laurie Kazenoff, Chorus. And of course it will also be a sum- mother of Walden alumnus Alex Kazenoff. mer of first connections for the newest Other “small world” reunions: members of our community: 21 students Current student Ilana Rainero-de Haan and entering our Young Musicians Program this her mother (Walden vocal guru Ruth year, and 25 music educators attending the Hi, Amelia! Bye, Amelia!.......... page 2 Rainero) were visiting Lewis & Clark Teacher Training Institute for the first time. College recently; they happened upon a Message from the Board Chair .. page 2 But whether we are old friends anticipating a music class that was letting out, and intro- TTI Highlights ........................ page 2 reunion or new friends attending Walden for duced themselves to the professor. Ilana the first time, we all eagerly await the chance JCC Corner................................ page 3 talked about her musical background, to begin creating community and making studying piano in San Francisco, and com- Hazel’s Kitchen ........................ page 3 music. See you later this month! I’ll be keep- posing at a summer music school, camp and ing an eye on my widget until then. Family Ties................................ page 4 festival. “Which one?” asked the professor. Calendar of Events .................... page 5 Contributors to The Walden School Receives NEA Grant The Walden School .......... pages 6 & 7 Last summer The Walden School submitted an application to the Summer Schools Faculty Spotlight: in the Arts granting program at the National Endowment for the Arts, for support Aurora Nealand ........................ page 8 of its musicianship program. In late March we learned that our application was accept- ed, and that we will receive the full amount we requested: $25,000. Competition for See the expanded News and Goods such funding is intense, and we feel very fortunate that the granting panel at the NEA in a special pullout section! recognized the considerable merits of Walden’s offerings. So pop the champagne cork and celebrate with us! Hi, Amelia! Bye, Amelia! By Esther Landau freed me to think about music more holisti- Amelia says, “This program is entirely Amelia Lukas has been part of the Walden cally for myself and teach in a more unique and we are both so excited to start year-round office for two years as Office nurturing and inspiring way, too.” classes in the fall! I look forward to focusing on improving my Manager, as Project Manager for the Teacher Amelia’s passion for composition and Training Institute, and this year she will join new music led her to improvisation skills the summer staff. And at the end of the sum- apply for a Graduate while refining my mer, we’ll wave a fond goodbye as she goes Degree in control of extended off to New York to pursue her Masters Contemporary techniques and degree (more on that below!). Performance, a new knowledge of con- degree program at In addition to her work at Walden, Amelia is temporary repertoire Manhattan School of a busy performing flutist. She plays with the with world-class Music. Both she and Presidio Ensemble, a chamber group com- musicians.” prising strings and flute that focuses much of her boyfriend Victor its energy on new music and tours and per- (a violist and com- We appreciate forms throughout the San Francisco Bay poser) have been Amelia for her dedi- Area. Their first CD, Five, was released in accepted to the pro- cation to Walden, May. She also plays with Garnada, a gram, where the her hard work, her Flamenco-Middle Eastern band. curriculum includes collaborative spirit, Composition for and her friendship. Amelia has participated in the Teacher Performers, We wish her well in Training Institute for the past two summers. Contemporary New York. Bon voy- She says, “Prior to ‘meeting’ Walden, I had Performance Practice age, Amelia! always believed that music was more than Class, and Performing with Electronics. just playing notes on a page. While I myself was not comfortable improvising or compos- ing, I felt at my core that the best musicians, Message from the Board Chair no matter what their level, were able to incorporate and marry these three aspects of By Ellen Bernard making goat cheese and playing surrogate creation. However, all of my musical studies mother to approximately 100 goat kids. until this point, even at the highest level, I am pleased to welcome Molly Pindell to The Molly also writes about food and farming seemed so compartmentalized according to Walden School Board of Directors. For those professionally; her recent publications have specific areas of talent and interest. Walden of you who have been part of the Walden appeared in Boulder Weekly, Colby Magazine, community in the recent past, Molly will be and Delicious Living. A professionally trained no stranger to you. But for those of you who chef, Molly holds an M.S. in Agriculture, are a few years out (or many years out!), let me Food, and Environment from Tufts Recitative give you a little background. Molly answered University and a B.A. in International Vol. 13 No. 1 | Spring 2007 a Walden employment ad in the Keene Studies from Colby College. This summer, FOR THE STUDENTS, ALUMNI, PARENTS Sentinel in 1998; she has served as a staff Molly and her husband, David Wilkens, will AND FRIENDS OF THE WALDEN SCHOOL member, administrative assistant, and has be relocating to Stowe, Vermont, where AND THE JUNIOR CONSERVATORY CAMP acted as Director of Operations for the past 7 Molly hopes to start a goat farm of her own. Esther Landau Board of Directors summers. She has become such an integral She and Dave are expecting their first child Editor Ellen Bernard, Chair part of the summer community that it is hard Anne Deane Berman John O’Meara, Vice Chair in late August.