CLASSICAL Music

12 WKU Scholar | Spring 2009 Music By Molly Swietek

Illustration by Cal Long

Two Western Kentucky University faculty As debut releases for both Fiala and Pintner, members are making their mark on the the CDs feature new music recorded for the first scene with recently time. All pieces are original works written by living — some of whom actually perform released compact discs. Dr. Michele on the tracks — and both discs were recorded on Fiala’s The Light Wraps You: New Music WKU’s campus. For several months, the artists for and Dr. Heidi Pintner’s endured the rigorous process of securing funding, by Michael Kallstrom are figuring out which pieces to record, constructing the the latest creative accomplishments to musical arrangements, and, of course, practicing. emerge from the Department of Music. And though performing, engineering, and producing

The CDs contribute relevant recordings a full-length CD can certainly take its toll on a musi- to the classical music genre and add cian, Fiala and Pintner achieved their final products with a little help from their friends . . . and each to the repertoire of music for oboe other. Released on nationally distributed labels, and flute. And though the featured Fiala’s and Pintner’s compilations feature guest instruments, and the artists who play performances by a number of their colleagues, them, are very different, the two CDs have exposing a broad audience to the diverse range of quite a bit in common. talented among WKU’s faculty.

WKU Scholar | Spring 2009 13 Mark Berry, Michael Kallstrom and Heidi Pinter

“The music department at WKU written specifically for oboe. The Guide calls the compositions “light is a very closely-knit community,” recordings on the disc were written and nonchalant,” and finds that Fiala said Pintner, whose first track, It by six composers — Phillip Bimstein, “seems to enjoy herself in this style.” Had to Be, features Fiala on oboe. Fulvio Caldini, Andrea Clearfield, Carla Rees of MusicWeb International “We know this kind of collaboration Bill Douglas, James MacMillan, and declares the CD is “well worth doesn’t happen in every department Rodney Rodgers — and the works listening to [and] any performer who or at every university.” On Fiala’s were performed by musicians makes the effort to disseminate new CD, Pintner plays flute on the from New York, Arizona, Canada, repertoire, such as Michele Fiala has whimsical Cats in the Kitchen, a , and, of course, Kentucky. done here, is to be applauded. The work they commissioned from In addition to Pintner’s guest standard of playing is consistently Phillip Bimstein featuring performance on Fiala’s The Light high.” the two players accompanied by Wraps You, WKU’s Dr. John Cipolla, Playing the oboe is certainly cat noises and domestic breakfast who teaches and saxophone, Michele Fiala’s passion, but it is also sounds. Both musicians agree that and Dr. Donald Speer, professor of her life’s work. She is an assistant mutual respect and admiration is the , perform on her CD. professor of double reeds, and as a foundation for their collaborations. Since its release on the MSR performer, has played throughout “We feel fortunate to work in such Classics label in 2007, the CD has the United States, Italy, and Canada. a supportive environment,” said drawn positive attention from Her career highlights include Fiala. “We share in each other’s several music critics. The Double performing with the Banff Summer accomplishments and enjoy working Reed describes her compilation as Music Festival, Louisville Orchestra, together.” “a classy affair from start to finish” and Phoenix Symphony. She holds Fiala’s CD features premiere and her playing as “light, mellow, a master’s and doctorate in music recordings of seven musical pieces and flexible.” The American Record from Arizona State University and

Carla Rees declares the CD is “well worth listening to [and] any performer who makes the effort to disseminate new repertoire, such as Michele Fiala has done here, is to be applauded.”

Michele Fiala

14 WKU Scholar | Spring 2009 John Cipolla

a bachelor’s of music from the University of Kentucky. Heidi Pintner, a dedicated flutist, shares Fiala’s passion for music. The foundation for her CD, Flute Chamber Music by Michael Kallstrom (Centaur Records 2007), began nearly eight years ago when Pintner joined the faculty at WKU. “Michael Kallstrom [a WKU professor] wrote a piece of music for me when I joined the music Don Speer department, and since then, he’s written several other pieces,” she Cipolla (clarinet), Speer (piano), and and Pintner said they gained from said. “I thought putting together a CD Mark Berry, assistant professor of their recordings was working closely that featured his compositions was a percussion. “The entire CD was a with their colleagues, and they hope nice way to recognize him.” group effort and everyone put a lot of the collaboration among the music Dr. Kallstrom is a Kentucky time and effort into it,” said Pintner. department’s faculty is a positive composer and distinguished “I’m proud of the CD and hope it influence on their students. “Our university professor of music. The furthers the reputations of WKU’s students know we work and perform compositions recorded on Pintner’s faculty members as high-quality together, and I think it’s positive CD are all original chamber works performers.” for them to see us collaborate,” written for flute by Kallstrom. Pintner, who is an associate Pintner said. “In our department, Pintner describes his compositions professor of flute and music theory, student engagement happens on a as “enjoyable, audience-accessible has performed throughout the United daily basis,” Fiala added. “Through pieces of high-quality music,” and States and in Mexico. She plays this project, several students got to said she enjoys playing the pieces second flute in Orchestra Kentucky of watch us perform as we recorded because they were written for Bowling Green and is the treasurer the tracks, and some worked with instrumental combinations that are for the Flute Society of Kentucky. the recording engineer on preparing not normally written together, such She earned her master’s and the recordings,” she said. “We also as flute, percussion, and bass voice. doctorate in music from Florida State brought in several nationally known Kallstrom not only composed University and holds a bachelor’s musicians to perform on the CD, each piece of music for Pintner’s CD, in flute performance from Oberlin so the students were exposed to but performs on the disc as well. Conservatory of Music. different musicians from all across Several of the tracks feature lyrics Through distribution of their the country.” extracted from poems written by CDs, Pintner and Fiala hope WKU Having gone through the process Kallstrom, and as an operatic bass and the music department will gain of producing their own CDs, Fiala singer, it was a natural fit for him to recognition for their creative efforts. and Pintner feel it has improved their perform on his colleague’s CD. “We The CDs serve as student recruitment ability to relate to students. Many of think of ourselves as a community tools and also further WKU’s mission their students aspire to be part of the of supporters, and we work together to be a “leading American university recording process and having first- very well,” he said. “I enjoy the way with international reach.” Fiala hand knowledge of CD production Heidi plays, and when I compose a explained, “Many of the faculty allows the professors to teach piece of music I think not only about members who play on our CDs through experience. “We guide them the personality of the instrument, but perform recitals throughout the better because we’ve gone through it of the person I’m writing it for. She world. Our CDs will be distributed to ourselves,” said Fiala. Pintner agreed, is very friendly and outgoing, and I our international musical colleagues adding, “We learned so much from wanted to write pieces that embody and will make WKU more visible to a the process, it’s made it easier for us her personality.” wider audience.” tell our students what to expect in In addition to Kallstrom’s The production of the CDs also their own career aspirations. We’ve bass voice and Fiala’s oboe allowed Fiala and Pintner to engage chosen this profession because accompaniments, the CD features more with their students. One of we love it, and these CDs are the guest performances by WKU’s the many positive experiences Fiala outcomes of that passion.” n

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