Quarternote Blair VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY Volume 24, Number 3, Spring 2000 Published by the Blair School of Music Blair on the Row page 8 from the dean PEYTON HOGE his issue of the QUARTER NOTE fea- this issue, we have added a class in song- tures the growing role the Blair writing. The Blair School is committed to tSchool plays in the thriving music sharing these and other courses with all collaborative concerto industry in Nashville. Many of you those who are interested in the diverse are already familiar with Jim Foglesong’s and vital musical scene in our society. popular class The Business of Music, Soon after you receive this issue, the Eberle to Premier Kurek’s Violin Concerto with Nashville Symphony which has attracted many Vanderbilt stu- new instructional wing just to the west of dents and area citizens over the years. our current building will be completed, You may not know, however, that many and we expect to move into our new stu- Associate Professor Michael Kurek, chair of the compo- DIANE ALANCRAIG Blair faculty members have been active dios, classrooms, and practice rooms dur- sition/theory department and precollege violinist as studio musicians on recordings of some ing the summer. These new quarters will Kathryn Eberle have collaborated on his new work enti- of the industry’s most acclaimed artists. greatly enhance the learning environment tled Concerto for Violin and Orchestra to be premiered (I remember being startled—and delight- for all our students, from preschool chil- by Eberle with the Nashville Symphony as part of the ed—a few years ago when, channel-surf- dren through adults. The next issue will Symphony’s Horizons Series. The concert will take place ing on our television set at home, I saw include a progress report and photos, and Sunday, April 16, at 7 PM in Nashville’s War Memorial Bobby Taylor in a Reba McEntire music I look forward to sharing this exciting Auditorium. Dean Wait video.) While the Blair School continues news with you. Eberle, a student of Cornelia Heard, associate profes- to feature classical music as the heart of Please know of my gratitude for your its precollegiate and collegiate programs, continuing interest in the Blair School of sor of violin, has won many prizes over the last few Quarternote we have expanded our offerings in sever- Music at Vanderbilt University, and of years. She formerly won the Symphony’s student con- Blair certo competition and recently was one of 20 violinists VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY al areas. From past issues of the QUAR- my best wishes for a pleasant and pro- TER NOTE you already know of our ductive spring and summer. chosen from over 120 applicants worldwide to compete On the cover: Bobby Taylor, associate pro- fessor of oboe, began his career as a faculty classes and lessons in fiddling, dulcimer, in the Johannsen International Competition in Washing- member at Blair in 1969, the same year he and mandolin. Recently, as you will see in ton, DC, in March. The QUARTER NOTE will feature a became principal oboist for the Nashville Symphony and began playing recording conversation with the young virtuoso in the summer sessions for the music industry in Nashville. issue. His first experience playing a session was in the old Quadraphonic Sound Studio, just a “This kind of collaboration illustrates the kind of fam- few blocks from Vanderbilt, where he ily atmosphere we have here at Blair and the integrated played oboe in the bathroom of the old house-turned-studio. Here, he plays in the nature of our program,” says Kurek, who composed the kitchen—The Sound Kitchen, that is, in piece for Eberle after hearing her play. Franklin, Tennessee. See story p. 8. Photo by Peyton Hoge Also on the program, Kenneth Schermerhorn, adjunct professor of music, will conduct the Symphony The BLAIR QUARTER NOTE, the newsletter of the Blair School of Music, is published Spring Faculty Recitals in Strauss’s elegy for string orchestra, Metamorphosen, and three times a year in cooperation with the Haydn’s Symphony no. 101, The Clock. Office of Alumni Publications for alumni, current students, and other friends of the School. and Ensemble Concerts Editor, Bonnie Arant Ertelt Blair Liaison, Debra Creasman Designer, Keith Wood APRIL 13, 15 MAY 1 Director of Alumni Publications, Vanderbilt Opera Theater Nashville Youth Symphony E. Gordon Gee Named Chancellor Anthony J. Spence Gayle Shay, director Carol Nies, conductor PEYTON HOGE Precollege, adult, and undergraduate Steve and Judy Turner Recital Hall Nashville Youth Repertory Orchestra E. Gordon Gee, president of Brown Vanderbilt University,” said Board of alumni are encouraged to send their University, has been named seventh Trust and KeyBoard Chairman professional or personal news to: 8 PM, free Sally McFadden, conductor Suzuki Reading Orchestra and Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, Martha R. Ingram. “He embodies the The BLAIR QUARTER NOTE APRIL 18 Suzuki Youth Strings effective August 1. values that are so important for a great 2400 Blakemore Avenue His unanimous election at a special university and for this University in Nashville, TN 37212-3499 Vanderbilt Symphonic Celeste Halbrook Tuten, director Choir Concert Langford Auditorium February 7 meeting of the Vanderbilt particular: excellence in scholarship, a Or by e-mail to: Board of Trust came after a nine- passionate concern for every individ- [email protected] Jane Warren, director 7:30 PM, free Cathedral of the Incarnation month national search that began last ual, a commitment to partnership with Visit us on the Web at 2001 West End Avenue April, when Chancellor Joe B. Wyatt the community and the courage to www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/ announced his intention to retire in make difficult decisions. Equally 7 PM, free Vanderbilt University is committed to principles July after 18 years as Vanderbilt’s important, Gordon has a great passion of equal opportunity and affirmative action. chief executive. for our educational mission, and a Printed on recycled paper “Gordon Gee is the ideal leader for keen sense of Vanderbilt’s traditions.” 2 3 happenings Dean Wait Plays Ryman Faculty Honor Schweitzer Dean Mark Wait was the featured known, said Wait. “If Copland had much lesser composer. What’s striking Nine Blair School of Music faculty Flute and Continuo with Jane Kirch- Strayhorn, and Duke Ellington. The pianist at the opening concert of the never written anything other than is the breadth of his vision. That’s members took part in the Albert ner, associate dean and associate pro- evening closed with Steve Hyman, Ryman Auditorium’s Classical Series Appalachian Spring and the things popu- what makes him the foremost Ameri- Schweitzer Tribute Concert, Friday, fessor of flute; songs by Cole Porter M.D., a piano student of Marilyn on January 20. larly known, he would have been a can composer of the century.” January 14, at the historic Belcourt and George and Ira Gershwin per- Shields-Wiltsie, adjunct senior artist The Nashville Symphony opened Theatre in Hillsboro Village. formed by Gayle Shay, assistant pro- teacher of piano, playing Rachmani- DAVID CRENSHAW the Ryman’s “Music of the World” The concert, a fundraiser for “Sym- fessor of voice, with Melissa Rose, noff’s Prelude no. 4 in D Major and series with a tribute to composer posium 2000: World Peace Through assistant professor of piano; Enid Chopin’s Fantasie-Impromptu in C- Aaron Copland honoring the 100th Reverence for Life” to take place this Katahn, professor of piano, playing the Sharp Minor. To end the evening, anniversary of his birth. Dean Wait fall at Vanderbilt, commemorated both first movement of Beethoven’s Sonata, Shields-Wiltsie performed the first performed Copland’s jazzy Piano Con- the 125th anniversary of Schweitzer’s op. 57 (Appassionata); and David movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto certo, first played by Copland himself birth and the 250th anniversary of Schnaufer, adjunct associate professor in A Minor with Hyman playing the in 1927 with the Boston Symphony Bach’s death. of dulcimer, and Steve Seifert, adjunct orchestral part at the second piano. under Serge Koussevitzky. Featured performers included John instructor in dulcimer, performing Details of Symposium 2000, which The Symphony, led by Kenneth Johns, associate professor and chair of Appalachian duos for lap dulcimer. will include the premiere of a specially Schermerhorn, adjunct professor of the department of guitar, playing three Katahn also accompanied Jonathan commissioned work by Michael Rose, music, performed a number of Cop- movements from Bach’s Cello Suite Retzlaff, associate professor and chair associate professor of composition, will land classics: Appalachian Spring, “Hoe- no. 1 as well as Johns’ own transcrip- of the department of voice, in a seg- be featured in an upcoming down” from the Rodeo suite, Fanfare for tion of Bach’s Sonata in C Major for ment of songs by Fats Waller, Billy issue of the QUARTER NOTE. the Common Man, and Lincoln Portrait, narrated by David Grapes, executive producing director of the Tennessee Repertory Theatre. Sigma Alpha Iota Chapter Installed The two movement Piano Concerto, The women of Blair announce the semester to showcase its members. Music. Iota Phi, originally the SAI the last Copland work that openly recent installation of the Iota Phi chap- Community service projects have chapter at Peabody College, became embraced jazz, deserves to be better ter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional included the Nashville Cares AIDS inactive at the time of the Peabody/ women’s organization upholding the Walk, performing for patients at nurs- Vanderbilt merger in 1979. Both Associ- highest standards in music and provid- ing homes, and a weekly faculty appre- ate Dean Jane Kirchner and Library ing encouragement and inspiration to ciation project. Fundraisers have Director Shirley Watts were members female musicians everywhere.