Fall 2010 Alumni Magazine ® Digital Arts New program brings students, college into 21st century | page 14 First Carson Film gets Interdisiplinary Arts Symposium Drake inducted into Broadcaster’s fall premiere | page 19 crosses borders | page 24 Hall of Fame | page 42 FROM THE DEAN Dear Friends, With our summer activities and events in full swing, our College; recent I am delighted to bring you greetings from UNL and from doctoral graduate the Hixson-Lied College. In my letter to you at this time Kurt Knecht, last year, I mentioned that the University was in the process who received the of finalizing plans for launching its Campaign for Nebraska, university-wide a $1.2 billion capital campaign for its four campuses. I am Folsom Dissertation pleased to report that the official launching festivities took Award this past year; place last October and that the Campaign is now up and graduate student running. Our College, of course, has an important role to Shannon Cameron, play in this initiative. Our campaign goals are set, and our one of two students working and honorary committees are fully organized and in the nation to be ready to start their work on behalf of the College. We are awarded a prestigious, intending to engage all of you in some way in our efforts national directing fellowship by the Kennedy Center to achieve our campaign goals, and hope that you will American College Theatre Festival; and Alumni Board join together with us, as you have in the past, to move the member Leta Powell Drake, who was recently inducted into College forward in new and exiting ways. the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. In In addition to news about the capital campaign, this addition, this issue includes faculty profiles of Professors issue of our Alumni Magazine provides you with a variety Dana Fritz and Sandy Veneziano, exiting news about our of other interesting stories about some of the projects new graduate programs in the School of Music, and a and activities that our faculty and students have been tribute to Professor Rusty White from the School of Music, engaged in this past year. These include our innovative who retired after 29 years of service to the School and to interdisciplinary curricular focus on Digital Arts, which the University. began offering courses this past fall; our Johnny Carson This coming Fall, I will be starting my 10th year as Film Series collaborative project Vipers in the Grass, which your Dean, and as I look back over the past nine years, it is now in post-production; our new Interdisciplinary is heartwarming to me to see all that our faculty, students, Arts Symposium, under the leadership of Professor staff and alumni have accomplished, and the myriad ways Rhonda Garelick; the first Carson Lecture Series event, in which everyone has banded together to do the work which featured Jeff Sotzing, President of the Carson of this outstanding College, moving it squarely into the Entertainment Group, along with three former writers national higher education arena, where it belongs. It has from the Tonight Show; and the Community Arts initiative been equally gratifying to work at a University that values that Professor Sandra Williams from the Department of the arts as vital to its academic mission and to the quality Art & Art History has been working on for the past several of life throughout the campus community. Finally, I am years. All of these projects would not have been possible ever grateful for the long-standing support that has been without the special support that was made available by our provided by the University of Nebraska Foundation, as well Hixson-Lied and Johnny Carson Endowments, and other as for the loyalty and commitment that you, our alumni, funding provided by alumni and supporters of the College continue to demonstrate to UNL and to our College. We all in recent years. are indeed most fortunate in so many ways! You will also read about Matt Boring, a junior in the Enjoy the stories and news that we have to share in this School of Music, who was named a Truman Scholar, the issue, and, as always, I invite you to visit us the next time first for the University since 2004, and the first ever for you come to Lincoln. Giacomo M. Oliva Hixson-Lied Endowed Dean 2 University of Nebraska–Lincoln TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Story Development 14 Digital Arts brings College into 51 The University of Nebraska Brass 28 Bill Tomek Feature 21st Century Quintet tour Czech Republic 30 University Singers pay tribute to Features 54 Art alum receives Fulbright to study Professor Emeritus Pete Jenkins 19 First Carson Film to premiere this printmaking in Egypt Fall 32 Capital Campaign 55 UNL alum creates theatre 22 White retires after 29-year career in documentary 34 Thank You to Our Donors School of Music 56 New graduate degrees offered in 37 Donors to @rts Patrons, Carson and 24 IAS places arts in critical context School of Music Encore Circles 27 Narboni reaches across Nebraska 60 School of Music Junior wins Truman 40 Hixson-Lied Endowment Report with Piano-in-Tow Scholarship 42 Leta Powell Drake inducted into 62 Music student receives Boren Departments Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame Scholarship to study in Jordan 2 Dean’s Letter 45 Veneziano mixes teaching, 63 SOM grad wins Folsom Prize for 4 News and Notes professional career Best Dissertation 48 Faculty Notes 46 Art Professor explores what nature is 64 Community arts class promotes service learning 52 Honors Day Highlights and Award 50 Shannon Cameron Nominations 66 ‘Tonight Show’ insiders featured in first Carson Lectureship 58 Alumni Notes Cover Images: College Administration The cover shows a sampling of student projects from Edward Forde, Chair, Department of Art and the new Digital Arts Initiative. Featuring the work of Art History the following students (left to right, top to bottom) John W. Richmond, Director, School of Music Fall 2010 Dan Buhrdorf, Jennifer Rubinstein, Benito Sanchez, Paul Steger, Director, Johnny Carson School of Ben Skudlarek, Mary Claire Rice, Natalia Kraviec, Theatre and Film For Alumni and Friends of the Jordan Kaiser, Kammie Russel, Ben Skudlarek, Bryan Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, Klopping and James Chu, Keegan Baker and Logan Hixson-Lied Advisory Board University of Nebraska–Lincoln Caldwell. The instructor is Assistant Professor Terry L. Fairfield, Christina M. Hixson, Jeff Thompson. Heather Jones, Giacomo M. Oliva, Dean Chancellor Harvey S. Perlman, Jeff Sotzing, Giacomo M. Oliva Special Thanks James W. Strand, Frank M. Tirro, and UNL College of Journalism and Mass Susan Varner Wilkins Associate Dean Communications Interim Dean and Professor Christin Mamiya Charlyne Berens for her guidance and collaboration College Alumni Board on this project. Susan Brasch, Adrienne Dickson, Leta Powell Drake, Editor Steve Gaines, John Heineman, Lance Nielsen, Kathe C. Andersen Hixson-Lied Endowment Jamie Reimer, Lenette Schwinn, Carol Thompson, for assistance with the funding. Valery Wachter, and the University of Nebraska Contributing Writers Foundation’s Lucy Buntain Comine, Asha Anchan, Scott Anderson, Troy Fedderson, How to reach us: Jessica Simpson, Brittany Sturek Letters to the editor, alumni news, story ideas We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, or address changes may be sent in any of the disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s Photography following ways. Via mail: Kathe Andersen, Fine and status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. All photographs by Kathe C. Andersen Performing Arts Magazine, 102 Woods Art Building, except as noted Lincoln, NE 68588-0144. Via e-mail: kandersen1@ unl.edu. Via fax: (402) 472-9353. We reserve the right Art Director to edit letters for length, style or clarity. Joel Gehringer ® http://www.unl.edu/finearts http://www.facebook.com/HLCFPA Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts 3 NEWS & NOTES Stephan named permanent director of Lied Center by University Communications rave reviews. The success is based on a great staff, wonderful performances of volunteers and tremendous support from ill Stephan, interim executive director 2008 Tony Award- the Friends of Lied, the Lied Trust, Nebraska of the Lied Center for Performing winning South Pacific businesses and the University of Nebraska BArts at the University of Nebraska– in February had and the University of Nebraska Foundation. Lincoln, agreed to become the permanent attendance of 7,463 I am really looking forward to bringing director effective July 1, UNL Chancellor patrons, the largest more stellar artists to the Lied, reaching Harvey Perlman announced in March. number of ticket out to all corners of the state and inspiring Stephan has served as interim execu- Bill Stephan buyers for a Broadway our wonderful young people through the tive director since July 10, 2009, and has show since 2005. Overall, ticket sales are up performing arts.” shown “tremendous leadership, vision and more than 10 percent over last season. Stephan is a graduate of Boise State management skills,” Perlman said. Stephan “I am thrilled to have the opportunity University with degrees in business and joined the Lied Center staff in February to serve as the executive director of the music. Prior to his 10 years with the Nampa 2009 as associate executive director. He had Lied Center,” Stephan said. “Nebraska’s Civic Center, Stephan was the managing been the director of the Nampa Civic Center ‘Home for the Arts’ is one of the leading director at Idaho Dance Theatre for three in Idaho for 10 years. performing arts centers in the United States years and served as the marketing, sales In the past year, the Lied Center has with a first-class venue showcasing the finest and development assistant at the Boise experienced higher ticket sales and consistent artists in the world.