EASTMAN NOTESSPRING 2014 “Making Music Matter” DOUGLAS LOWRY 1951 – 2013 Creating MUSIC in Her Own Way On the ship from her native Germany to her new home, whenever her mother was looking for Dietlinde Payne she knew she would find her intently watching the accordion player perform. And when Dietlinde settled in Rochester as a teenager, one of her passions quickly became taking the bus to watch Eastman students perform. After retiring from a teaching career, she decided to giveback to the University through a George Eastman Circle Scholarship that supports the students who bring her so much joy. “I’d like to see them become musicians or maybe even music teachers, combining two of the things that are so important.” —Dietlinde Payne ’64 Retired Teacher Rochester, New York Supports: Eastman School of Music To learn more about the new George Eastman Members of the George Eastman Circle, the University of Rochester’s leadership annual giving Circle Scholarship program, please visit society, can establish scholarships to help students in www.GeorgeEastmanCircle.com/Scholarships the schools they care about most by committing at least $5,000 annually for a minimum of five years. To learn more about joining, call (800) 598-1330 or visit www.GeorgeEastmanCircle.com. Your gift can help create the next generation of All gifts count toward The Meliora Challenge, a University-wide musicians or teachers—or both—who will inspire us all. fundraising Campaign that was launched in October 2011 and runs through June 30, 2016. Visit campaign.rochester.edu. { SPRING 2014 } At the end of Eastman’s memorial tribute for Douglas Lowry on November 3, Neil Varon and the Eastman Philharmonia performed Lowry’s Geo (inspired by George Eastman) while a collage of photographs was shown on a screen above the stage. 2 From the Dean 3 Brief Notes 26 School News 18 22 Dialogues Helping 29 A Man Who Made Recordings 10 on an Women 31 Music Matter Operatic Find Alumni Notes Eastman celebrates the achievements Masterpiece a Voice 33–34 of Dean Douglas Lowry—and holds to Eastman Opera Theatre Eastman’s Women Tributes, his dreams for its future. prepares Poulenc’s in Music Festival In Memoriam Dialogues of the celebrates ten years 35 Carmelites. of discoveries. Faculty Notes 36 Student Notes ON THE COVER: Douglas Lowry, September 2007. PHOTOGRAPH BY KURT BROWNELL ADAM FENSTER Spring 2014 | Eastman Notes 1 { FROM THE DEAN } EASTMAN The Healing Art NOTES Having entered the spring semester with optimism and in Shortly after Dean Lowry’s passing, the Eastman Volume 32, Number 1 anticipation of many exciting events, we also remember Philharmonia dedicated its performance of Mahler’s Spring 2014 the fall semester with mixed emotions. Due to the loss “Resurrection” Symphony to his memory. During and of three treasured members of our community, the fall after this remarkable performance, it seemed as if those Editor was simultaneously difficult yet rewarding, filled with in attendance gained some indescribable insight and David Raymond sadness yet life affirming. appreciation for the impact each individual’s life has on In August, staff pianist Gerald Lee passed away follow- countless others. A different kind of understanding was Contributing Writers Mark Berry ing more than 30 years of devoted service to Eastman’s gained as part of a Memorial Celebration for Doug that David Raymond voice and opera department as an accompanist and vocal was held on November 3. The moving tributes offered Helene Snihur coach. Jerry assisted and encouraged several generations by Doug’s close friends, colleagues, and three children Contributing of voice students, who remem- gave us insights into his many Photographers ber him with great respect and passions. But it was the music Kurt Brownell affection. composed by Doug himself that Adam Fenster In late September, Douglas enabled us to truly appreciate Gelfand-Piper Photography Lowry, the Joan and Martin this man’s voice and artistry. Kate Melton Messinger Dean of the Eastman And in a candlelight vigil Nadine Sherman School of Music resigned and held in December in memory Brandon Vick passed away one week later of Tatiana Tchekina, we were Photography following a valiant battle with moved to the very core of our Coordinator multiple myeloma. His death had beings by the deep love and devo- Karen Ver Steeg a seismic impact on our school, on tion expressed by the students Design our university, and throughout with whom she worked. The Steve Boerner the international music world, vigil concluded with a record- Typography due to Doug’s contributions as ing of Tatiana and her beloved & Design, Inc. an articulate spokesperson about husband, violinist Oleh Krysa, the role of music in society, his that left us speechless. I cannot moving musical compositions, imagine any other form of art or and the genuineness of his per- means of communication that sonal interactions with everyone could have had so powerful an with whom he worked. impact. Published twice a In early December, pianist Tatiana Tchekina lost her We live in a world where we are seemingly bombarded year by the Office life in a terrible automobile accident. Tatiana’s students daily by news that divides us—stories of violence in our of Communications have spoken movingly about her nurturing spirit, dedica- cities and wars throughout the world, of poverty, need, (Mark Berry, Executive tion to each of them as individuals, and her commitment and economic despair. Music, on the other hand, unites Director), Eastman to the integrity of the music they performed together. us—healing our spirits, nurturing our souls, and build- School of Music, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, Throughout the course of these heart-rending events, ing our communities. The value of music resides in its NY 14604, (585) I was reminded yet again of the profound power of music. celebration of life itself. 274-1050. The Eastman community, which is already one of the We remember our dear friends and colleagues lost, as Eastman-Notes@ special hallmarks of our school, united in a manner that we move forward in advancing Eastman’s mission of pre- esm.rochester.edu made me grateful and proud to be a member of such a paring our students to enrich the world through music. remarkable group of people. As everyone came together in support of one another and of the families of those who Jamal J. Rossi, Dean passed away, I was struck by the invaluable role music played in beginning the healing process for us all. Visit the Apple Store to download and read Notes on your iPad. 10% Total Recovered Fiber 100% Post-Consumer Fiber 2 Eastman Notes | Spring 2014 { BRIEF NOTES } Kathryn Lewek in The Magic Flute; Erin Morley (on left, with Alice Coote) in Der Rosenkavalier; Kathryn with Dean Jamal Rossi on January 4. is already an old hand at “thoroughly confident and partner with Rochester ways for performers and Alumni the role, performing it in rounded portrayal of the Institute of Technology, audiences to interact with Conquer Bregenz, at Covent Garden, girl who is innocent but Microsoft Studios, and the live music through digital and at the Washington Na- strong-willed and morally Rochester Philharmonic technology. Last fall, Sound the Met tional Opera before coming incorruptible.” Youth Orchestra in Sound ExChange also gave a con- If you heard the Metropoli- to the Met. ExChange Interactive cert in an unusual venue, tan Opera’s January 4 Sat- Katie wasn’t the only Scores of Scores Classical Visions Project, Rush Rhees Library on the urday afternoon broadcast Eastman soprano with a A grant from the National which will create new River Campus. of Mozart’s Magic Flute, splashy Met performance Endowment for the you heard an Eastman this fall. Erin Morley Humanities enabled alumna in her Met debut. (BM ’02), understudy to Sibley Music Library to Soprano Kathryn Lewek Mojca Erdmann, went on digitize 20,000 public (BM ’06, MM ’08) took the as Sophie in the opulent domain music scores, stage for the first time, dis- production of Richard which can be downloaded patching the Queen of the Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier free from the University Night’s two killer arias (in in November. The New of Rochester’s Digital a killer costume, designed York Times praised Erin’s Repository, UR Research. by Julie Taymor). Kathryn “limpid, fluid soprano” and Now for the next step: Eastman Scores Publishing, offering performer-friendly, print-on-demand copies of more than 250 of those scores—mostly of chamber music—with many more on the way. Information is available on the Sibley Library website. Classical Collisions Eastman student ensem- ble Sound ExChange was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Two examples of unusual American chamber music repertoire Max and Marian Farash SoundExChange Orchestra turned Rush Rhees into a new kind available from Eastman Scores Publishing. Charitable Foundation to of music library. KEN HOWARD/METROPOLITAN OPERA (LEWEK); CORY WEAVER/METROPOLITAN OPERA (MORLEY); ADAM FENSTER (SOUND EXCHANGE) Spring 2014 | Eastman Notes 3 A Romantic Atmosphere Eastman Opera Theatre visited 1930s Budapest for its fall production, the Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick musical She Loves Me, directed by Stephen Carr. Nicely balanced between Broadway and operetta, this romantic show tells the story of feuding clerks in a fancy perfume shop who unknowingly fall in love. Cast members (pictured left to right) included Matt Moisey and Danika Felty as the lovers George and Amalia, John Leighton as delivery boy Arpad Laszlo, Rebecca Herlich, Sara Sommerer, Abby Middleton, Evan Roberts, Alexander Brickel, and EE Ming Chua as shoppers, and Kimberly Merrill and Jarrett Logan Porter as shop clerks Ilona Ritter and Ladislav Sipos. Photograph by Gelfand-Piper Photography 4 Eastman Notes | Spring 2014 Spring 2014 | Eastman Notes 5 Spirits Awake Eastman’s Craighead-Saunders Organ at Christ Church was the focal point for Spirits Within, a featured event in the 2014 Eastman-Rochester Organ Initiative (EROI) Festival and the Rochester Fringe Festival, both held in September 2013.