Washington and Lee University Department of Music—Polyphony
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Polyphony Washington and Lee University Department of Music Summer 2015 턂 턂 FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD Welcome to the first edition of Polyphony, the news Polyphony magazine of the Department of Music at Washington and Lee Head, Department of Music University. Just as independent musical lines come together to Gregory Parker form a complex and interesting composition, the Department of Music brings individuals together in ways that enhance their Administrative Assistant unique talents and, at the same time, equips them to contribute to the rich diversi Mary Peterson ty of musical and cultural expression. Contributing Writers and Editors In this issue we will recap the highlights of the recently completed 2014-2015 academic year. You will read about internationally-acclaimed performers who came Jonathan Chapman Cook, Christopher Dobbins, to campus, student accomplishments, alumni news and faculty activities. You will Timothy Gaylard, Nate Leath, Shane Lynch, meet our new Director of Instrumental Activities, learn about improvements to Les Nicholas, Gregory Parker, Byron Petty, Wilson Hall and find out about new curricular developments. We will also look Graham Spice, Mark Taylor, Terry Vosbein, ahead to the exciting Concert Guild and SonoKlect events of the coming year, the Shuko Watanabe Petty University Singers tour to Ireland, ensemble concerts, faculty and student recitals Contributing Photographers and alumni events. In May, the music faculty completed a ten-year strategic plan for the Depart Patrick Hinely ’73, Lacey Lynch, ment of Music that was sixteen months in the making. We have charted a bold Gregory Parker, Kevin Remington, course that we believe will enhance W&L’s reputation as a great institution for mu Steven M. Shires/PixelProShop sic. You can find the plan on our website atgo.wlu.edu/musicplan . One of the most Washington and Lee University ambitious goals of that plan calls for the University to become accredited by the Department of Music National Association of Schools of Music. We are hard at work to achieve that goal 204 W. Washington Street and one of the articles in this issue will shed more light on that endeavor. Those of us who teach here get to work with the brightest students from across Lexington, VA 24450 the country and around the world. Everything we do is focused on giving them the 540-458-8852 best education possible. I hope that reading Polyphony will not only inform you but [email protected] will excite you about who we are and what we do! www.wlu.edu/music Gregory B. Parker, D.M.A. Professor of Music, Head, Department of Music CONTENTS DEPARTMENT NEWS FACULTY NEWS Aspiring to Accreditation ...........................................................................2 Instrumental in a New Era .......................................................................13 Curricular Changes .........................................................................................3 2015-2016 Alumni Events ........................................................................14 Visit Us Online ..................................................................................................3 Faculty Facts ....................................................................................................15 Making a Good Thing Better ....................................................................4 ALUMNI NEWS From Near and Far: Renowned Performers Highlighted Alumni News ..................................................................................................16 2014-2015 Concert Guild Season .....................................................5 New Music Shines in SonoKlect Series ................................................7 GALLERY Choral Area News ...........................................................................................8 Photos from 2014-2015.............................................................................19 Instrumental Area News ...........................................................................10 2015-2016 CONCERT CALENDAR ..........................................20 STUDENT NEWS Student Highlights .......................................................................................12 Awards Day 2015 ..........................................................................................12 DEPARTMENT NEWS ates and that its goal-setting and deci sion-making processes are well-informed and carefully planned. Every accredited institution must meet every standard, but the standards are written in such a way that each school can meet them in accor dance with its distinctive identity, mission and resources. Such accountability offers our students the assurance that our pro gram is vigorous and that the preparation it provides is excellent. In 2013, Gregory Parker developed a five-year “pathway to accreditation” to guide the University’s efforts in this area. Year two of that plan called for a campus visit by an NASM consultant in order to establish a baseline for our work towards accreditation. Daniel Sher, Dean Emeritus of the University of Colorado College ASPIRING TO ACCREDITATION of Music served as W&L’s consultant, visiting the campus in March 2015. Sher The Department of Music has set a NASM accredits the institution as brought an extensive background to the goal for W&L to become accredited by a whole, not just the music unit. So, in task, having made some 75 evaluative and the National Association of Schools of everything from admissions policies to consultative visits to college, university Music (NASM) by 2018. Founded in 1924, financial practices to curriculum devel and conservatory music programs during NASM is an association of 657 accred opment to governance structures NASM his 29-year career as the music dean first ited institutions that exists to promote accreditation assures that the institution at LSU then at Colorado. Additionally, he national curricular and operational is effective, efficient and accountable. For served as president of NASM from 2006 standards for collegiate music education. example, standards such as those regard 2010. His report has provided valuable Additionally, NASM conducts statistical ing evaluation, planning and projections insights that will inform our ongoing research, provides professional develop ensure that an institution is engaged in efforts. ment opportunities for leaders of music ongoing trend analysis in the field of mu Washington and Lee would become departments, conservatories and schools, sic so that its curricular programs remain the first top-twenty liberal arts college in and engages in policy analysis. relevant in their preparation of gradu- America to be accredited by NASM. 2 턞 CURRICULAR CHANGES Simon Shaheen, the Palestinian-born Speaking about the new course, virtuoso oud and violin player and his trio Spice said, “The greatest reward for me This year has seen a number of on Oct. 23, 2015. in offering MUS 205 was that at the end changes in the requirements for a music of 12 short weeks of study, the majority degree from W&L as we strive to assure MUS 205: Introduction to of the students enrolled in it were actively that our program remains relevant and the Music Industry seeking employment and internships in engaging. Here are the highlights of this The proliferation of technology that the music industry. Student interaction year’s changes: is affordable and practical for professional with alumni working in the music busi and amateur musicians alike has opened ness really encouraged this.” Throughout The General Music Sequence new entrepreneurial vistas to them. High the semester, a number of alums video Beginning in the 2015-2016 academ ly successful programs in music entrepre chatted with the class, helping students ic year, students who want to major in neurship have emerged in a number of learn about the different roles available to music will have another sequence (or prestigious music academies. Over the them in the industry. One class assign concentration) from which to choose: the last five years, presentations and round ment required students to reach out to general music sequence. Until now, music table discussions on the subject of music alumni working in the music business to majors had to choose from sequences in entrepreneurship have been offered at develop strategies for networking. Also, music history, theory and composition, or the annual meetings of the National the Department of Music hosted a Music performance. The general music sequence Association of Schools of Music. Clearly, Business Seminar which brought four will appeal to those students who want a it is a trend in the field of music that is of young alumni and friends of Washington broader experience in their music major. great interest to a wide range of musi and Lee back to campus to discuss their In any given year, approximately half of cians, from classical to hip-hop perform developing careers. all declared music majors are also ma ers, as well as educators, marketers and joring in another discipline. The general logisticians. MUS 365: Post-Tonal Music music sequence will be a good choice for In response, Graham Spice, audio Responding to concerns that the cur many of those students who are planning engineer for the Department of Music, rent three-term music theory sequence careers in a field other than music and developed a new course called Introduc was not adequately addressing theoretical who want to pursue their passion for tion to the Music Industry and taught developments