MUSIC AT MEMORIAL An Annual Newsletter to Friends and Alumni 2010-2011

this issue Dr Ellen Waterman P.3 Meet Helen MacLeod P.10 Roadshow P.4 Dr Rob Ash P.11 Music and Technology P.6 Dr Doug Angel P.12 Classical Guitar P.8 Rebecca Powell P.13 Professor Kjellrun Hestekin P.9 Dr Tom Gordon P.14

What’s Inside There has existed throughout the history of heal- ing a relationship between music and medicine. Often, the tuner of the instrument and the healer of the body have been the same individual. The ancient Greeks found this connection in Apollo, god of healing and of music, and us modern folk – if we look closely – will find a similar connec- tion with many medical professionals of today. In fact, if you comb the continent’s major urban centres you’ll find doctors’ orchestras in many of them – from Los An- geles to Philadelphia to London and Australia. The World Doctors Orchestra, founded in 2007, is a global non-profit organization that invites over 100 physicians to perform a benefit concert twice a year to raise money for medical aid projects. Is this connection between music and medicine a giant coincidence? I hesitate to think so. In the following pages a few of our grads offer up opinion on why they think there is such a close connection between the two. The School continues to reach out into the community in different ways and a young program is gaining serious momen- tum. We will visit with the MacLeods and learn how remembering the past has been a big part of shaping their family mantra. And sadly, we will say goodbye to a few of our gems. Professor Kjellrun Hestekin retires after 34 years at the School of Mu- sic and in his final address to the alumni and friends of the School of Music, Dr Tom Gordon reflects on a decade of growth, achievement and fond memories. We most likely haven’t seen the last of them. So maybe instead of goodbye, it’s so long for now. To our alumni, friends and supporters on behalf of our students, faculty and staff, please accept our sincerest gratitude. You are the foundation for our success. Danny Hayward Development Officer

2 ties such as the Opera Road several of Memorial’s graduate Without Show, research on traditional mu- students, stimulating scholars all. sic in Labrador, and our new ven- The highlight of the conferences tures into providing music lessons was the public launch of a fest- Further Ado to young students in remote towns schrift in honour of Dr Beverley This July my son, Nic, turns via video conferencing, the Diamond, Canada Research Chair 18. He’s all grown up and his School of Music reaches out to and Director of the MMaP. Mu- parents are leaving home! As I Newfoundland and Labrador. I sic Traditions, Cultures and Con- journey with my husband Mi- look forward to exploring the texts contains essays by some of chael and our daughter Liz to province and developing new pro- the world’s top ethnomusicolo- St. John’s to begin a new life as jects that continue this tradition of gists – a tribute to Bev’s impor- Director of the School of Mu- participation in community. tant research and far-reaching mentorship. sic, I feel something of the an- ticipation that a new student Third, I’m honoured to be joining has when going off to univer- such a stellar group of musicians Also embarking on a new journey sity. University is all about and scholars! Music at MUN is is outgoing Director, Dr Tom growth: in mind, in spirit, in hugely respected in the broader Gordon, who has guided the critical understanding. The university music world: our inter- School through a decade of un- mark of a great school is that it nationally regarded faculty of precedented growth with wisdom, encourages all these things by scholars, performers and compos- wit, and tenacity. Tom has providing rich experiences and ers build this reputation wherever worked hard to prepare a smooth by expecting the very best from they present their work. The transition for the School, and I all participants in the commu- quality of our students sang out extend hearty thanks for his gen- nity. What a privilege it is to right across the country when our erosity. I look forward to joining have the opportunity to redis- choir, directed by Dr. Douglas the 2010 cohort of new under- Dunsmore, took first place in the graduate and graduate students in cover that sense of adventure National Competition for Cana- the adventure of growing together all over again. dian Amateur Choirs in 2010. At in Music at Memorial! recent Canadian music confer-

ences in Regina, I had the oppor- What do I look forward to on this tunity to hear presentations by Dr Ellen Waterman adventure, beyond the obvious Director, School of Music things like spectacular scenery and all that fresh seafood? First of all, living in a community where music is at the centre of cultural life: whether a late-night jam at the Ship Inn, a Mozart quartet in the D.F. Cook Recital Hall, or paint-ball percussion in a churchyard (which I experienced with glee at the 2006 Sound Sym- posium!). Second, I’m excited about an environment where the School of Music is fully active in the life of Newfoundland and Labrador. I think that universi- ties have a social responsibility towards the communities that fos- ter them – just the opposite of the separation between ‘town and gown’ that traditionally marked the ‘ivory tower’. Through activi- Dr Ellen Waterman (courtesy of ellenwaterman.ca) 3 Adventure on the High Cs MUN’s Opera Roadshow Caught up like the rest of us with April’s JUNO - fever, the popular Newfoundland digest Downhome produced a special issue on music in Newfoundland and Labrador. In and amongst the articles on pop music superstars, the burgeoning music industry in the province and tributes to the tradition- bearers was an article that seemed to surprise even Downhome staffers – an article on one of the province’s top musical exports: opera singers! Headlined by School of Music alumnus and sensation, For many years the program has sand children have enjoyed these David Pomeroy, the article provided excellent instruction and performances – and we’ve got the also featured profiles of rising small-scale performance and tour- letters and crayon drawings to baritone Peter Barrett from Cor- ing opportunities for students. prove it! And every year, the pool of talent ner Brook and Gander-born opera composer Dean Burry whose grows.” As delighted as the kids in the School of Music connections in- ~Peter Jackson, The Telegram, 19 audiences have been, the bless- clude two children’s opera com- February 2010 ings of five weeks in a van and 50 missions he’s received from our performances as Gretl, one of the hugely successful Opera Road- three pigs or a puffin have not show. This year’s brilliant Magic Flute been lost on the Opera Roadshow References to the MUN’s opera was only the latest in a long alumni. Numerous of the grads of workshop as the hothouse for stream of mainstage productions this program have parlayed the young opera singers were fre- that trace back to all the Don quent in the article. And so they Cook / Carolyn Hart productions should be. As Telegram critic Pe- at the Arts and Culture Centre. ter Jackson wrote in his review of But these days it’s on the road MUN’s full-staged production of that most of the MUN’s aspiring Mozart’s Magic Flute this year, divas cut their professional teeth. Opera Roadshow is bringing the “The strength of the opera relied excitement of opera to school- entirely on orchestra costumes, aged children across Atlantic drama and, of course, singing. Canada. The concept – brainchild And what singing there was. The of Dr Caroline Schiller – is simple numerous solo ranks are all filled enough: form a small troupe of by current or former voice stu- young and dynamic singers, pre- dents at MUN. And the calibre is pare a delightful children’s opera pretty close to what you’d get at a (with at least one pants-fall-down small opera house in any larger moment to keep the hilarity roll- centre from New York to Milan... ing), rent a van on May 1st and [Caroline] Schiller is the current storm the province. In each of the torchbearer for the School of Mu- last seven years five to six thou- sic’s opera workshop program.

4 performances as Ifigenia in Han- del's Oreste. Both are back in Newfoundland now and running performance careers from home. Then there was our favourite Ma- ria, Tamara Fifield who made it to the finals in Andrew Lloyd Weber and CBC’s nationally broadcast “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” Back off her Austrian mountain top, Tamara is comple- ting a MMus in vocal performan- ce at l’Université de Montréal.

Are there operatic mountains left to climb for MUN’s School of Music? Absolutely! Next year’s Roadshow tour will be with a Roadshow experience into the wins and leading performances in brand new work – once again foundations of exciting careers. Banff and Tel Aviv. Both tenor from composer Dean Burry – Take for example Suzanne Rid- Jonathan Reed and soprano Meg- Verrue au nez, a bilingual work gen, now with l’Atelier Lyrique han Herder headed to the States adapted from a Franco- de l’Opéra de Montréal. Suzanne after wowing rural Newfoundland Newfoundland fairy tale by Aca- first hit the boards (and floor- in successive tours with The dian librettist Mélanie Léger. A boards) as a singing puffin in Three Little Pigs and Little Red’s co-production with the opera pro- Dean Burry’s The Vinland Trave- Most Unusual Day. While at Bos- gram at Université de Moncton, ler which toured . . . well, Vin- ton’s New England Conservatory, the cast from both universities land in 2006. She also did a turn Jonathan had lead roles in several will tour both Newfoundland and as Cinderella in 2007 before mo- mainstage productions. Megan’s Labrador and New Brunswick as ving on to a graduate degree from time at Westminster College in another generation of young sing- UBC, several big competition Princeton, NJ was highlighted by ers set their course for careers on the world stage! David Kelleher-Flight David cut his operatic teeth as the Big Bad Wolf with Roadshow in 2004. From Memorial, he took his next bite from the Big Apple as he pursued graduate studies, first at the Manhattan School of Music and then in the doctoral pro- gram at Stony Brook. Basing his career from New York, David has sung with Ashlawn Opera Festival, the Ohio Light Opera, the Bronx Opera, the New York Opera Project; and New York Lyric Opera. Just this April he made his Carnegie Hall debut as Monterone in to rave reviews which singled him out as the “one to watch.” From Change Islands to Carnegie Hall is more than a walk in the woods, but David credits Roadshow with the be- ginnings of his career: “Memorial offers an opera program that is unlike any other in Canada. Its small size guarantees much-needed per- formance experience and individual attention for undergraduates. While I was an undergraduate, I had completed 3 complete opera roles before graduation. One of the highlights of the program is that it also offered me professional touring outreach opportunity during the summer, performing over 75 performances all around the province. This kind of hands-on training is invaluable for young performers to hone their craft and nurture their skills as developing opera singers. My training at Memorial not only gave me experience, but educated and prepared me about skills needed for a professional career in opera.” David returns home next December to perform with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra in their annual per- formance of Handel’s Messiah.

5 engineer on the other. There was also a healthy smattering of the- ory – both in terms of equipment and set up, so students left armed with the skills to set up their own recording sessions, as well as be- ing a part of others’.”

Technologically enhanced peda- gogy is the theme of a number of other new initiatives. This sum- mer the School is running its first on-line course – Rudiments of Music Theory – the result of a highly innovative and successful collaboration between the School and Memorial’s Distance Educa- Andrew Staniland (courtesy of andrewstaniland.com) tion and Learning Technology distance-leveling hard-wiring that (DELT) unit. With theory-guru offered the School its passport to Kjellrun Hestekin as the content Music and the digital world. Not only is PC expert, DELT’s team of curricu- Hall a perfect acoustic space, it’s lum and software developers have Technology: also a giant video-conferencing morphed the inventory of learning Nerds and Geeks invade box ready to connect what hap- objects (AKA theory drills) first pens within with the outside developed in support of our the- the School of Music world. And perched above that ory diagnostic testing for potential Time was the most sophisticated box is the School’s Music Tech- students into the materials from – and the most modern – piece of nology Specialist, Richard Blen- which the mysteries of music ru- technology in the School of Mu- kinsopp. From mentoring student diments can be unlocked for pre- sic was the colossal Cassavant assistants to producing commer- B.Mus. students and a general organ in Cook Recital Hall. But cial-quality recordings, Rich is interest audience as well. Next on times are changing and without the School’s techno-idol who the on-line course docket will be a turning our backs on the marvel- keeps us wired (and wireless) as course on Newfoundland and ous acoustic technologies that we explore the no-boundaries ter- Labrador Folksinging, currently have served music for centuries, ritory of music technology. As being developed by tradition- the School is in the throes of a part of a (music) technology liter- bearer Anita Best. technological revolution. We’re acy strategy, Rich developed a going digital from how we create graduate course module for to how we teach to how we relate MMus students this year, assuring This year the School piloted an “E to the world around us. And along that they could negotiate their -Studio” through an initiative of the way, we’ve found some pretty way through the essential digital Dr Vernon Regehr. Double bass nifty shortened circuits to make tools for recording and editing. life at the School more efficient Rich reflected on the first offer and well . . . more modern. of the course, “Recording as a soloist as well as a chamber mu- sician and even as a rock star The School’s first engagement benefits from understanding the with music technology came with recording chain and process. the creation of the electronic mu- The module took the students sic studio tucked in a corner of through the essential roles of the M. O. Morgan building in producing and supporting musi- 1986. But it was really the open- cian on one side of the glass, to ing of Petro-Canada Hall with its recording, editing and mixing Rich Blenkinsopp

6 students in Dr Regehr’s studio gagement with new creative tech- had once-a-month lessons in real nologies. Mixed media, the use of time and using video- electronic media with acoustic Andrew Mercer – conferencing technology, with media, is at the forefront of Dr Virtual Music Educator Meredith Johnson, a bassist with Staniland’s creative activity. To the Winnipeg Symphony Orches- support this, Andrew has begun tra. These lessons, supplemented modernizing the electronic music Andrew Mercer (B.Mus./ by Meredith’s once-a-semester studio with state of the art soft- B.Mus.Ed., 1994; M.Ed., visits to St. John’s, provided our ware capable of cutting edge elec- 2007) is a music educator bass students with the real world tronic composition. There is with vision – far vision. As reference point of an orchestral hardly a single aspect of composi- bass performer and pedagogue as tion left untouched by the recent the curriculum specialist for they mapped their progress across personal computer revolution. For music at the Centre for Dis- the year. And with a flip of the most composers, computers play tance Learning and Innova- directional switch MUN’s E- a role not only in music engrav- tion (CDLI) for Newfound- Studio located the mentor – in this ing, but in the compositional land and Labrador’s Depart- case, M.Mus. guitar candidate process itself, be it for acoustic or Matthew Walsh – in St. John’s electronic forces. It is now not ment of Education, Andrew with the student – School of Mu- uncommon to see lap top built in sees students every day who sic applicant Andrew Noseworthy 2010 on stage with a Gagliano are hundreds of kilometers – in distant Labrador West. An- Cello made in 1775. New music away – in every direction! drew credits the highly successful is in an incredible period of tran- audition which won him a place sition, and technology is front and Andrew’s online music class in the 2010 entry class with the centre in this change. Everything is a place for rural and iso- months of mentorship he was able is changing, from how we com- lated high school students to to acquire in the virtual guitar stu- pose to how we purchase and lis- study, create, share, and lis- dio. ten to music. It is both an uncer- tain and incredible time to be a ten to music with their

musician. peers. He uses numerous Along with being practical pieces of technology to cre- and pedagogically rich, tech- ate this learning environ- nology is fast becoming a ment. “Many new and key partner in our creative activity. Enter Andrew emerging technologies are Staniland, the newest mem- already an integral part of ber of MUN’s burgeoning our students’ lives. It’s my composition faculty. An- task to find ways to use drew’s well-deserved reputa- these cool new technologies tion as the next-big-thing in Canadian composition was to offer relevant learning op- earned through a host of re- portunities for students who cent awards and honours, might not otherwise have including the 2009 National access to a music educa- Grand Prize in EVOLU- tion,” Andrew says. TION, a contemporary mu- sic competition presented by “When an at-risk student in CBC Radio 2/Espace North West River uses his Musique and The Banff cell phone to text me images Centre; top prizes in the SO- CAN young composers com- and video of himself DJ-ing petition; and the 2004 Karen a party for his classmates, Keiser Prize in Canadian all I can say is – Sweet!” Music. Andrew’s acoustic life is complemented by an en- Andrew Mercer (submitted photo)

7 Reich’s Electric Counterpoint . . . All Strung Out no quiet guitar presence there! How do you get a guitarist to play quieter? Put music in front of All this recent activity is a result of him! That old joke doesn’t have the arrival of a master guitarist in much resonance around the our midst: Sylvie Proulx. Sylvie School of Music these days as joined the School in the Fall of MUN’s guitar studio is taking its 2005 on a half-time appointment place loud and strong among the Steve Cowan (B. Mus. Hons., gui- (the other half of her life at MUN is performance areas at the School. tar performance 2010) is the most in the Department of French and recent high profile graduate of the Thanks in part to the great work Spanish where she teaches French School of Music. Next Fall he being done by MUN guitar grads language courses). She came to the starts a MMus program at the pres- that are now out teaching pri- School of Music with a long list of tigious Manhattan School of Music vately and sending really promis- credits to her name both as a per- in New York, continuing on his ing students our way, guitar appli- former and as a teacher. Previous rapid ascent as a classical guitarist. cants are now among the top five post-secondary appointments in- Steve describes his trajectory: instrument groups each year – clude Dalhousie University in Hali- “For many years I immersed my- both in quantity and in quality. fax and a stint with TV Ontario self in the art of music making as a Once here at the School, it’s the where she designed and taught an hobby, being primarily self-taught artistry and mentorship of the re- adult beginner course in guitar for on a number of instruments. Upon markable Sylvie Proulx that’s at broadcast. She has been invited to entering university I was intro- the heart and soul of all this won- offer master classes across Canada, duced into the classical music derful activity. world and to the classical guitar. including at the University of West- Though I was late starting, I took ern Ontario, St. Francis Xavier, the right steps and practiced ex- Lakehead and elsewhere. Those in- Classical guitar has been an ap- vitations were merited by her im- tremely hard in order to gain ac- plied studies area at the School ceptance to Memorial University’s pressive career as a performer, both School of Music after only study- since the 1990s when the studio in live concert and over the air- ing classical guitar for 5 months. was opened as a sideline for com- waves. She has performed across poser Clark Ross. Limited in size “While at MUN my passion for Ontario, Québec and Atlantic Can- because of Dr Ross’s already ada both in solo performances and classical music grew rapidly, as did busy schedule of teaching in the- my abilities as a classical musician. with artists as diverse as jazz singer My hard work as a performer re- ory and composition, the studio Jerri Brown and the Penderecki sulted in numerous MUN scholar- grew gradually because of a rela- String Quartet. Her discography ships and a 3rd place win in the gui- tively low awareness of classical includes Tango Nuevo, the music of tar category at the 2009 Canadian guitar in Newfoundland and Lab- Astor Piazzolla with featured artists National Music Festival in Saska- rador. In 2001 Kris O’Reilly gave Robert Aitken (flute) and Joseph toon, Saskatchewan. the first graduating recital in gui- Petric (accordion) and the soon to “I will be attending Manhattan tar while the first admit to the per- be released Sirocco a solo guitar School of Music in the fall for 2 formance program in guitar was CD on Centaur Records, recorded years of graduate studies. Though Andrew Wicks in 2004. Since in our own Petro-Canada Hall by the main focus will be guitar per- then the studio has been flourish- the CBC’s Adrian Hoffman and our formance, I intend to use my time ing. The first graduate student in own Rich Blenkinsopp. in New York City to become the guitar was admitted in the Fall of best and most well-rounded musi- 2007. That same semester a trio cian I can be. I hope to take in the of top players toured Labrador With guitar graduates from MUN city and all its people have to offer under the Northern Soundscapes winning top national prizes, head- a young musician; to develop in program. And then there was that areas such as composing, arrang- ing off to international graduate memorable massed guitar concert ing, teaching, and better under- studies and returning home to open standing the business aspects of in March 2009 when fifteen gui- studios of their own around the being a classical musician today.” tarists – mostly current students province, we’ll be hearing from and graduates of the program – classical guitar for a long time to gathered on the stage of Cook come. Hall for a performance of Steve 8 makes music music. Enter Profes- by way of example – all this dem- Only She Has sor Hestekin who has been a one- onstrates vividly the way to the mé- person music literacy campaign at tier of musician. No music festival Touched Us All: the School of Music for thirty- in this province could function four years. without her generous volunteerism; Kjellrun Hestekin retires no musical organization in need of after 34 years at the a competent professional was ever School of Music To the mastery of the language of turned down when it approached music, every real musician must her for help. In all this time given In the era of RateMyProfessors.com join an acceptance of the métier. freely, Kjellrun Hestekin “teaches” where top marks go for “easiness” And for this the best learning is the way to the profession of music and bonus points are attributed in by example. Here too Professor for the students around her. red hot peppers along the sexiness Hestekin is a striking testament to continuum, a teacher who insists on the mastery of With her signature both material and métier modesty, Kjellrun may appear to be some- looks back on those thing of an anachronism. years as a kind of But how meaningful are “lucky break” for her: those red peppers against recently she observed, three generations of “I was extremely fortu- graduates’ testimonials? nate all those years ago To a person, the graduates that the (then) Depart- of the School of Music ment of Music was have said they learned willing to take a more from Kjellrun chance on a very wet Hestekin than any other behind the ears new professor in the School. graduate. Since then This despite the fact that I’ve enjoyed wonder- these same graduates have ful opportunities that also said – almost to the I’m sure I would not person – Kjellrun have had elsewhere. Hestekin was the most de- But the best part of the manding teacher they ever job has always been had. the people, students, faculty and staff.”

Since Memorial’s School of Music opened its doors Through two build- to students in 1975, Kjell- ings, three directors, run Hestekin has borne 34 convocations, the principal responsibility for Professor Kjellrun Hestekin (photo by Chris Hammond) best part of becoming the undergraduate music theory a musician at Memorial for almost program. In that capacity she has 700 undergraduate students has had the often thankless task of es- the musician’s life lived. Her been Professor Kjellrun Hestekin. corting music students through years in the Newfoundland Sym- We are delighted that she will re- what is arguably the most arduous phony Orchestra, the even greater main part of our community in the element of the university music cur- number of years she has spent in years ahead, through her engage- riculum. Many young musicians, the MUN Chamber Choir, the ment with the on-line theory initia- especially those cursed with that countless hours spent in rehearsal tive . . . maybe, just maybe, we instinct otherwise known as with students and colleagues – haven’t seen the last days of Kjell- “talent,” enter the music program hours she didn’t need herself to run in her customary seat in Cook with a natural ability to make music spend due to her own mastery, but Hall, marking theory papers during but too little understanding of what which she dedicated nonetheless intermission!

9 man of 19 returning to St. John’s on Heinicke Violin is presented to one Remembering the S.S. Caribou in October of 1942 student each year, for an entire year, when it was torpedoed by the German and affords them the opportunity to Your Roots submarine, U-69. Sadly, Edgar didn’t hone their craft on an instrument they From the moment I stepped inside survive. would otherwise have no access to. her Ottawa apartment I felt like a member of the family. Along with Helen has since established a scholar- Investing in success by sup- her two sons, Peter and Martin, ship in his memory at Memorial’s porting deserving students so Mrs. Helen MacLeod welcomed School of Music. It serves to support they can grow past their po- me with open arms (and I mean graduate students and according to tential is the mantra of the that literally!). I proceeded to join her, there is no better feeling than that MacLeods. “Support for edu- the MacLeod family for a Sunday of a donor. “Supporting students with cation is as critical as it has brunch and a jovial discussion promise is the most rewarding form ever been – especially from about Newfoundland and Labra- of investment,” she states passion- individuals,” Helen says. dor, the late W.K. MacLeod – ately. “Giving back is delightfully “We live in a bigger and more Helen’s late husband – and Mrs. rewarding in unexpected ways – it competitive world and all stu- MacLeod’s most recent gift to the feels great to feel part of a life that dents need support to suc- School of Music. As it turned out, has promise.” In fact, the MacLeod’s ceed.” all three were very much inter- have supported our promising stu- Danny Hayward twined. dents for quite some time. The Wil- liam Kenneth Macleod Scholarship is designed to sup- William Kenneth MacLeod at- port a student tended Memorial University Col- annually in the lege in the early 1930s. At the Faculty of Sci- time, completing his education as ence, while the an engineer was not an option in most recent gift – St. John’s, but he had the good the James and fortune of being awarded a schol- Muriel Martin arship – the Senior Jubilee Schol- Award, named arship – which allowed him to after Helen’s finish his studies in Canada. Ac- parents – was cording to son Peter, his father established to would not have been able to com- support graduate plete his studies without financial students in our support. “That scholarship al- vibrant Ethno- lowed him to receive levels of musicology pro- education and employment that gram. However, would never have been possible, in 2007 Helen at the time, had he stayed in St. and the School of John's,” he says. Profoundly af- Music collabo- fected by the financial support rated on some- they received early in their lives thing a little dif- together, Mrs. MacLeod has been ferent: the pur- on a crusade to give back in the chase of a pres- very same way. She credits tige instrument friends and family ties to New- which could be foundland for her decision to sup- put in the hands port Memorial University and its of a deserving School of Music. One very per- sonal and tragic connection was student. through her brother, Edgar Ray- The Helen mond Martin. Edgar was a young MacLeod Helen MacLeod (photo by Christine Tripp)

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There are many wonderful memories From the After completing a residency at of his time at the School, but his the University of Western Ontario fondest? “Hands down the Gilbert “Hub of the in Radiation Oncology, a spe- Sullivan musical productions”, says cialty that deals with treating can- Dr Ash. “They were so much fun. Bay” to the cer and other diseases with radia- There was always a sense of commu- tion, Dr Ash was off to San Fran- nity and family not to mention the cisco to further his training and excitement of being involved in such Hub of later began practicing in London, a large production that to me was al- ON until 2007 when California ways of good quality. “Also,” he Healthcare: came calling again. adds, “Dr Volk was fantastic and I loved studying under her.” Through- The travels of Dr Robert out his life he has consistently drawn Ash from Carbonear to So, with a busy career and years upon the skills honed as a musician to of advanced medical training un- California serve him in many ways, including der his belt the question is, does his current career. As a boy, Ash still have time for his pas- six year-old sion? “Absolutely”, he says. “I Robert Ash still play (piano) in my free Ash says that, in his opinion, a deci- was discov- time…when I have some that sion to study music prepared him well ering what is.”Actually, Dr Ash feels his for medical school. “Studying classi- would be- training has allowed him to appre- cal music instills tremendous disci- come a long ciate classical music and the arts pline and there is a process of delayed -time pas- in general and, whenever possi- gratification, like when you’re work- sion. I know ble, he takes advantage of the cul- ing on finishing a concerto. This what you’re tural scene in southern California. training establishes in you the idea thinking It was during his early high that anything that’s worthwhile takes Dr Rob Ash (submitted photo) and it was- school years that Robert decided time and hard work.” Within medi- n’t the wonderful world of sci- he would pursue a degree in mu- cine,” he says thoughtfully, “there is a ence. That would come later. In sic. He credits Jane Steele of St. particular advantage in having a clas- fact, young Robert was learning John’s for having such a positive sically trained background because I to play the piano. Laughing as he influence on his decision and his believe it has allowed me to bring a reminisced, Ash says his mother parents for their commitment and certain sensitivity to my profession was desperately hoping he would support throughout his years of and my patients.” musical training. He chuckles as take to the instrument after his three older brothers had begun he recounts many times during his youth driving with his parents The study of Biology, Robert’s other and subsequently quit taking les- passion, developed throughout his sons. across Roaches Line in a snow- storm just to get to St. John’s for school years leading up to university his lesson. and during his second year at the School he decided to add a minor in Living over 7,200 kilometres life sciences. He consequently entered away from his beginnings in Car- Memorial’s medical program to pur- bonear, NL, Dr Robert Ash After high school, Robert entered sue his deep interest in science and (B.Mus.’90, BMS’95, and Memorial University’s School of graduated with a medical degree in MD’95) is currently practicing at Music and graduated with a 1995. Currently, Dr Ash is the Medi- one of the top hospitals in the Bachelor of Music (Performance) cal Director, Radiation Oncology at United States. According to in 1990. “The School of Music St. Joseph of Orange Hospital. He U.S.News & World Report, out of has such a good reputation”, Ash tries to make the long journey home over 4,800 hospitals recently sur- states. “In terms of its curriculum as frequently as possible but com- veyed in the U.S., St. Joseph of and the opportunities to be in- ments light-heartedly that the trend Orange Hospital in Orange, Cali- volved in other events, it’s very these days is for family to pay him a fornia, ranked among the best in well-rounded. The quality of the visit in sunny California. the nation. instructors is also very high.”

11 one who has taken train.” Doug graduated with a per- their talents in mu- formance major (piano) in 2003 sic and chosen to with honours and later in 2008 with make that their ca- his medical degree from the MUN reer,” he states. medical school. He is constantly “Whether it be in quizzed on his path choice to medi- classical perform- cine but feels an undergraduate de- ance, rock and roll, gree in music better prepared him or anything for that for medical school than a sciences matter. I think degree could have. those individuals “In my opinion, the work ethic pos- work harder than sessed by musicians is unparalleled most people real- in other fields and time manage- ize.” ment is crucial for success,” he says firmly. “Most musicians are in- volved with numerous ensembles, Dr Angel currently as well as having their our own resides in London, written and practical work to be Ontario, where he completed.” Throw into the mix a is completing a part-time job or playing with a rock post-graduate resi- and roll band and you’ve got one dency at the Uni- hectic schedule. “Furthermore,” he versity of Western explains, “the operations I perform Ontario. Otolaryn- regularly require me to have excel- gology - Head and lent manual dexterity, hand-eye co- Neck Surgery is ordination, and the ability to train regarded as one of my hands and fingers to do fine the more competi- movements.” Did I mention he is a tive specialties to enter but that did- classically trained pianist? Dr. Doug Angel (submitted photo) n’t deter Angel and now he is halfway towards com- There have been many out- pletion. He chose the field be- standing musicians that have Head and cause he loves being in the oper- inspired Doug throughout ating room and the surgeons in St. his life. From his first in- Shoulders John’s made quite the impression structor, Sally Rowsell, to on him. In fact, Medicine was al- Susan Quinn during his time ways something he’d envisioned with QVE to Dr Susan Above doing (his father and uncle both Knight, they pushed him to graduated from MUN medical MUN Music grad Dr Doug Angel excel and exposed him to school) but made his mind up in has been immersed in the St. new experiences that left high school that he would get his John’s music scene his entire life. him wanting more. But it music degree first. From taking piano lessons at the was the School’s own Pro- age of five to performing with fessor Timothy Steeves that has left a lasting impression such groups as the Quintessential “I knew I'd get as good (or better) on him for a different rea- Vocal Ensemble and the New- training at the School of Music son. “He's an incredibly foundland Symphony Youth than I would at any other school gifted pianist himself,” Choir to...playing in a rock and in the country,” Angel says. states Angel, “and I learned roll band? You bet. Angel’s in- “They have many world – re- a lot from him but, as a per- volvement in music has been di- nowned faculty and, along with son, he was just so under- verse and has allowed him to see Dr Tom Gordon, have done a standing.” Doug recounts musicians from a broad vantage great job at promoting our school one time in particular, a po- point. “Essentially, I admire any- and making it a fantastic place to tential disaster, just two 12

Angel (far left) directing the MUNMed Choir months away from his gradu- ating recital. “I'll never forget the day I walked in for a les- No Regrets son with a cast up to my el- MUN School of Music grad Rebecca Powell, bow,” he recalls fondly, B.Mus. Honours 2007(Performance), struggled “unfortunately, I had broken a when confronted with the choice of studying music finger and he just said, ‘ahhh, or medicine. Then it occurred to her, why not do don't worry, we'll sort this both? The native of Shearstown, NL, started play- out.’” By the way Professor ing the cello at four and the piano at the age of five. Steeves, if you’re looking for A career in medicine was always in her sights but your Scarlatti book of Sona- felt if she didn’t take the opportunity to complete a tas... music degree first, she would regret it. Speaking frankly, Angel cred- “Looking back now,” she says, “on the opportuni- its Steeves and Gordon for ties I was presented with, the friends I made, and experiences I had, I playing an integral role in his would not change a single thing. I had a wonderful experience while doing success in both music and my undergrad at the School – it’s really like a family.” Rebecca is currently medicine but notes that the in her second year of medical school at Memorial University and credits support from his grandfather her training as a musician for preparing her well. throughout it all was crucial. Doug is grateful for all the “With music, as well as medicine, you must memorize an enormous musicians and instructors he amount of material accurately and quickly and will often be required to re- has had the privilege to train call it under pressure. Furthermore, music taught me how to work well both and work with at the School independently, and how to collaborate with others. This too is a skill very of Music and these days he important in medicine.” uses his training as a method Music continues to be an important part of Rebecca’s life and her pursuit of of relaxation. Angel isn’t in- a music degree can be partly accredited to her late grandfather, G. Calvin volved as much in the local Powell. A patron of the arts, his encouragement was very influential during scene in London, however, he the course of her development and she decided to honour him upon gradua- still manages to perform on tion from the School by establishing a scholarship in his name. occasion with The Insiders, a St. John’s based rock and roll These days she can often be found enjoying a concert at the NSO or band, and hopes to return scoping out a performance at D.F. Cook Recital Hall during the home to St. John’s to set up a School of Music’s recital series. “If you enjoy music and want to practice after his residency is further develop your skills and deepen your appreciation for classi- complete where he can once cal music, MUN Music is the place to be.” again, immerse himself into all things musical. 13 Thirty years of The personal fulfillments are the fantasies about a deepest. Our growth as performers musical utopia in has been incredibly rewarding: the North Atlantic Mary’s through collaborations like is not the stuff you the Hot Earth Ensemble; mine with make life- generous faculty colleagues as I changing deci- dragged them through my latest sions over. After Fauré or Lieder project and they all, this is New- dragged me to a slightly more re- foundland . . . not spectable level of playing. And Disneyland! But Newfoundland and Labrador has that epiphanal shaped the direction of my research, doubt proved to be first in the form of the remarkable nothing more than collaboration Jane Leibel and I en- nervous bridegroom jitters. As the joyed with the Artistic Fraud theatre days, months and years unfolded in company around the life of Geor- this job, I grew in the realization gina Stirling and now through my Last Words . . . that even my most wildly romantic continuing engagement with the It was 1969 and I had one of those fantasies about what wonderful Moravian music of Inuit Labrador – VW Beetles with nine spare fan things could happen here fell short a project that has opened me to the belts and a destiny to reach the of the reality of what has happened. vitality of Inuit culture and the end of the road. Starting out from The past ten years have sped by. It beauty of Nunatsiavut. rural Missouri, Newfoundland seems that only a few weeks ago I But it has been the lesson of a com- was as end-of-the-road as you was being introduced as the “new munity joined in music that has could get. But when the car rolled director”. And they’ve sped by be- been the most powerful. Whether in off the William Carson I had one cause they’ve been so full – so full massed choir or kitchen duet, mak- of those life-changing epiphanies: of accomplishment in the commu- ing music together is the greatest a completely unanticipated feeling nity of the School of Music and rich privilege of human experience. And of being home. My first visit to personal fulfillment for my wife nowhere is this more vividly taught Newfoundland was a love-at-first- Mary O’Keeffe and me. There are than among the musicians and sight experience and the next 30 the obvious and evidently enduring friends of music we’ve met here in years saw that thunderbolt of an achievements – the construction of Newfoundland and Labrador. We intuition grow to conviction. So I Petro-Canada Hall, the inauguration make music at the most profound launched a three-decades-long of the M.Mus. graduate programs level of human interaction and in campaign to make myself inevita- and the MA/PhD stream in ethno- reaching that level we’re not afraid ble to Memorial’s School of Mu- musicology, the development of the to have a good time. The best part sic – a campaign that grew more MMaP Research Centre. More about leaving the director’s office fervent with every visit. My initial powerful still are the people accom- after ten years is what comes next: attraction to the “Genesis-Chapter plishments: the national and inter- becoming a “civilian” musician and I” landscape began to take second national recognition of our choirs, music researcher at the School of seat to the people whom I met the ground-breaking work in re- Music. To all those who have con- here. Increasingly the most inter- search, creative activity and per- tributed generously to the successes esting and compelling of them formance of our faculty, the spec- of the School of Music across the were musicians from the School tacular successes of our graduates last ten years, my deepest thanks, of Music. whether on concert stages in New not only for your support of the My next big epiphany occurred York or in the music room at Meni- School itself, but also for how much on July 16th 2000, driving along hek High School in Labrador West. you’ve enriched my life. The MUN Chamber Orchestra in the St. John River Valley in New Brunswick. We were driving to St. Petersburg, Opera Roadshow on the boat, moving to Newfound- Change Islands, the Scruncheons in Dr Tom Gordon land. Sting was on the CD player Nain . . . the School of Music is and I suddenly wondered what- everywhere and everywhere it is, the-heck I had gotten myself into. there is exciting music!

14 MUSIC AT MEMORIAL is a publication of Memorial University’s School of Music. It keeps us in touch with the community, our alumni and our many friends. It is with their help that we achieve so much. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, or if you would like an electronic copy, please contact the School of Music.

Design: Danny Hayward School of Music Writing: Tom Gordon, Danny Hayward and Ellen Waterman St. John’s, NL Canada A1C 5S7 Printing: MUN Printing Services Tel: 709 737 7486/7 Cover photo of Dr Ellen Waterman courtesy of Fax: 709 737 2666 www.ellenwaterman.ca www.mun.ca/music/home/ ISSN 1923-6468

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Those who can

Colin Carr ...also teach.

This year the School of Music welcomes the guest artists from the Newfoundland Sym- phony Orchestra’s Masterworks Concerts for a series of public master classes. Eavesdrop with us as these great performers and mentors pass the tricks of the trade to as- piring student artists. All part of becoming a great musician at MUN’s School of Music.

David Jalbert

Colin Carr

Cello and Chamber Music:: October 7th, 1 to 3pm, Petro-Canada Hall David Jalbert

Piano:: November 18th, 1 to 3pm, Petro-Canada Hall James Ehnes James Ehnes

Violin and viola:: February 10th, 1 to 3pm, Petro-Canada Hall Anton Kuerti

Piano:: March 10th, 1 to 3pm, Petro-Canada Hall Anton Kuerti

And for the best in chamber music by visiting professionals, faculty and student artists, join us for the 2010-2011 Music at Memorial concert series. Complete listings on our exciting concerts are available on our website at: www.mun.ca/music/concerts

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