Promoting Musical Excellence
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string or bass. Performing with them taught College of Musical Arts me not only how to project, but how to deal Bowling Green State University with nerves. Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0290 Christopher Bruck: I learned that Europeans like challenges. One I decided to try for myself. I climbed up a 6,000 ft. mountain at the edge of Salzburg. It took me four hours. One older Austrian passed me on the way up and on the The University Choral Society out- way down! side the Rudolfinum, which houses Dvorak Hall, in Prague in July. Jeshua Franklin: Perhaps the highlight of the tour for me was the opportunity to conduct the orchestra and choir. I learned a great deal From the Editor Museum of Art’s Peristyle I thought we would through conducting a full orchestra and it Promoting be in Vienna at a medical meeting when the helped me to grow in my understanding of Shock and Awe in Vienna University Choral Society would be performing conducting. Musical So hot was the afternoon that we girls mostly there. But then I forgot about it. We came out waited just on the lawn outside the Orangerie to Schonbrunn just to walk around a little Ellen Gartner: Through this trip I learned Excellence Hall at Schonbrunn Palace. The orchestra before tonight’s meeting and then we heard, how to be a part of a “professional” group. accidentally, this wonderful singing of the A collective group of musicians, speaking beginning to warm up was stirred with humid Pro Musica supports the Mozart Requiem and came in and here you all different languages, was still able to create air thrumming from rotating fans. Our floating College of Musical Arts by black gowns and jackets brooked no air; we are! It’s fantastic, it is absolutely unbelievable.” beautiful music that moves the soul. inviting the participation of laughingly called them our ‘petroleum’ gowns, “It’s so unbelievable that you simply must Elizabeth Hanson: Memories of such events alumni, friends, parents and never a wrinkle, but never a breath either. The join Pro Musica right now because many and moments on stage were ones I shall the Bowling Green community men strode in their tuxes restlessly around and of our students are here because of money never forget. My appetite for performance has in a wide variety of musical through the several open doors to the terrace grants from our organization. Say you will! I’ll increased and my desire to return to Europe is and lawn. The air seemed electrically charged send you the information.” stronger than ever. events and by providing with the anticipation of performing Mozart in “We will! This is phenomenal work, financial support for projects Amanda Lovitt: Thanks to Pro Musica, I was the exact same hall where the “Master” himself wonderful for the students.” that are often beyond the able to experience the Czech and Austrian presided some 230 years before. “Come with me after the concert and I’ll reach of state funding. cultures, histories and life through the The call came to line up and process introduce you to Dr. William Skoog and his international language of music onstage just behind the orchestra. Looking wife, Elaine. She’s also the president of the out at the audience, we were surprised to Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.” Jacqueline Nemeth: On our bus travel to A letter from the President see a nearly full hall. Maestro William Skoog, Addendum: They both joined. If anyone wants Salzburg we stopped at two abbeys. The first conductor and choral director, strode to the more Pro Musica members, I could always go was the Mondsee, where the wedding scene Greetings to you! Transitions are being made this fall. New members have podium and spoke briefly to the audience and to Paris. was filmed for The Sound of Music. Second was been welcomed to the Pro Musica Board, bringing along unique talents, orchestra. Baton held high, he began with a the giant monastery of Melk, where we were insights and skills. Celebrate Excellence! determined flourish. The Mozart Requiem is able to sing a short recital under the grand This year’s goal is to double Pro Musica’s membership. Last year, 216 40th Annual Competitions comprised of 12 sections. The first begins with organ that Mozart played as a child. members funded 23 domestic and nine international grants. in Music Performance Winners Students traveled across the United States, and to Korea, Spain, Greece, the bass followed by tenor, alto and soprano. 2006 University Dawn Wagner: I had an incredible time in Ghana, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and other nations. Composition Division The work is full of difficult fugues and ends Europe with the group of wonderful musicians Choral Society Summer Pledges fund these travels. Scramasax for saxophone quartet with a somewhat slower pace (we sang the and good people with us. Traveling to Europe Four scholarships were awarded this past spring to recognize two entire Requiem in German Latin!). European Tour with the UCS was an incredible experience. I by Andrés Carrizo I stood downstage and slightly left, allowing graduate and two undergraduate full-time music students. Dr. William Skoog: The European trip in summer will never forget! Graduate Division me full view of the audience. Sometime during Pro Musica makes possible extra-collegiate experiences by which 2006 was extraordinary for these students. It the solos of the third section, I chanced to spot students become better musicians and valuable ambassadors for the College Tatiana Shustova, piano gave them opportunities to see many parts of a friend of mine, Associate Professor at the of Musical Arts, and for the city of Bowling Green. In a tumultuous world, I-Chen Yeh, piano the world, experience directly other cultures Medical University of Ohio in Toledo, Carlos culturally enlightened students and future teachers are better positioned to and languages, sing with a European orchestra Undergraduate Division Baptista, M.D., Ph.D., wandering in with his more readily cope with differences. in major European concert halls such as Prague Jennifer Meggitt, soprano friend and colleague Susan Batten, Ph.D., R.N. This coming year Pro Musica will reach out to civic organizations so that and Vienna, and to sing in Salzburg for Mozart’s Christopher Bartz, soprano saxophone and associate dean of Nursing at MUO. They sat students can reflect upon their travel experiences and share their enormous 250th birthday. Such an education extends down toward the back of the hall. I was in awe. talents. A larger circle of friends will receive a benefit and create new beyond books and lectures, and brings them to Audience Choice Award When intermission came, I rushed out and discussions. The students and faculty of the College of Musical Arts sincerely life. I would define this as a life-changing, eye- I-Chen Yeh, piano sat down beside them in my concert gown. appreciate your support. opening experience and one that they will value Anton Zotov, piano They were in shock! “Nancy! Was that you up for the rest of their lives. They grew personally and there on the stage? We can’t believe it!” Virginia Marks professionally; one could see it happen. Gratefully, Front row (left to right): Jacqueline Nemeth, Collaborative Pianist Award “How did you two happen to come to our Amanda Lovitt, Elizabeth Hanson, Ellen Gartner Karol H. Spencer Timothy J. Bruno: The Moravian Symphony concert?” I asked. and Dawn Wagner President Ruoxu Chen “Remember,” said Dr. Baptista. “I told you Orchestra was amazing. They were talented Back row (left to right): Jeshua Franklin, during a concert last March at the Toledo musicians who knew how to unify sections of Christopher Bruck and Timothy J. Bruno the Bregenz Music Festival in Austria, she performed the soprano solo in Mozart’s Mass in Student EssaysStudent EssaysStudent Essays C Major and the title role of Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. In Washington, D.C., she has appeared as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich. Other Maestro notable engagements include Wolf Trap Farm, James Levine and Myra Merritt Ford’s Theatre and the Smithsonian Museum Concert series. She was presented in her debut recital at the Terrace Theatre in the Kennedy rehearsing every part, every character. Each Profiles In Pedagogy Center under the auspices of the renowned was imbued with charm, wit, pretentiousness, Washington Performing Arts Society. Myra D. Merritt willy-nilly and singing; costumed and ready, Her rewards are many: grants from the Ohio Maestro James Levine, music director of the she herself performed all, changed all, wrote Arts Council, the National Opera Institute and David Babich: Carnegie Stewart Blatt: Tubonium Courtney Michelle Metropolitan Opera, leaned forward in his and invented all. Even at this early age she was Sullivan Foundation and the D.C. Commission Hall trip Conference Competition Cleveland: NATS chair, his face riveted to hers, and asked her combining voice with drama. of the Arts and Humanities. She was I arrived in New York City on May 25, 2006. I would like to thank Pro Musica for their to sing again. Having stood throughout the She grew up a devoted Christian and even Regional Competition awarded the Catholic University of America’s That evening I auditioned for chair placement financial support. My experience at the day, waiting with others to audition for the to this day makes a strong point saying, “Faith in I wish to thank Pro Musica for the money grant outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in the within the National Wind Ensemble. Before the 2006 Tubonium Conference in Minnesota Met, tired and sorry to be the second from the God is the fulcrum of my life, be it performing, of $100 that enabled me to attend the National Field of Music.