Manuscript

The magazine of the Northeastern State University Department of Music Spring 2021 Contents 2 Welcome from the Chair Features 3 Guest Artists 5 NSU @ OkMEA 6 New Student Lounge & Opera Workshop 7 Green Country Jazz Festival 9 “Can’t stop the Music” (AKA NSU Music during a global pandemic) 11 Announcement of a new music degree 12 Student News 13 Alumni Feature 14 In Memorium 15 Faculty News 17 Endowments, Scholarships, & Donors

Musicians: we are the most romantic of all artists. We believe in, and chase the illusive, intoxicating, unseen magic/beauty that exists in the universe. We are conduits for this magic/ beauty that has the ability to stir emotions that are fundamental to what it means to be human and alive. Here’s to us all....!

- Dr. Ron Chioldi Welcome FROM THE CHAIR Spring 2021 marks the end of an academic year unlike any other. It was difficult. It was certainly stressful. So many modifications were made to our normal operating procedures due to the pandemic. Some of these modifications will inform how we operate in the future. Others, I hope we never have to implement ever again. Our faculty, staff, and students were resilient in the face of highly pressurized circum- stances. I want to thank them for their grace, adaptability, and understanding as things constantly changed.

Early on in the pandemic, the performing arts were singled out as being particularly risky for infection. We took measures to ensure the safety of our faculty, staff, and students as best we could under state, local, and university protocols. We found ways to increase air flow, ventilated spaces with open windows year round, incorporated HEPA filters, spaced desks and chairs for social distancing, relocated classes and ensembles to larger areas, and wore masks throughout wherever feasible. We did have a few waves of required quarantine in the fall semester, but were very grateful for the opportunity to still meet, study, and make music together. Many universities across the country were not meeting in-person at all, so we counted ourselves lucky in that regard. We kept measures in place for the spring semester, but infection and quarantine rates were much, much improved.

As a department, we managed to continue offering public performances. In total, we published 47 public performances via virtual online stream! Towards the end of the spring semester, we were able to have a couple of events with live audience at the NSU Blues & BBQ fund raiser for the Jazz program and the Wind Ensemble/Communiversity Band Joint Concert on April 27th. These were joyous occasions and we were glad to welcome people back into the Center for the Performing Arts for live performance. I expect the coming fall semester will be fully in-person and I hope you will join us for as many performances as possible. We have missed you! Though not exhaustive in the least, please read on in this issue of Manuscript to see the many ways that this department and the great students we teach remained active and creative.

2 GUEST ARTISTS AT NSU MUSIC

The NSU Department of Music hosted several guest artists this 2020-2021 academic year. These artists are experts in their respective fields and instruments and collaborated with music faculty to bring their talents and expertise to our students and the community. While most were virtual offerings, the benefit to our students and community were immesaurable. Dr. Christopher Wilson joined the NSU trumpet studio for a virtual masterclass on September 23rd. Dr. Wilson is principal trumpet for the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet. As an educator, Wilson was formerly Artist/Full Professor of Trumpet at Arkansas State University for 11 years where he built a nationally competitive trumpet studio.

Mr. Roger Hoverson joined all music majors to lead a virtual session on Musician’s Health and Wellness on September 28th as a part of Recital Lab course. Mr. Hoverson is an avid practitioner of Pilates and became a Balanced Body Pilates instructor in 2017. He is keenly interested in how the Pilates method can assist musicians in both preventing and recovering from injuries. Hoverson is pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of North Texas and is involved in the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health at UNT. Mr. Hoverson is an alumnus of NSU, holding the Bachelor of Arts in Flute Performance.

Dr. Everett McCorvey is Professor of Voice and Director of Opera at the University of Kentucky. His many accolades include founding and acting as Music Director of the acclaimed American Spiritual Ensemble, a group of 24 professional singers performing spirituals and other compositions of African- American composers dedicated to keeping the American Negro Spiritual alive. Dr. McCorvey is also in his sixth season as the Artistic Director of the National Chorale of New York City. Celebrating over 50 years of great choral singing, the National Chorale is a symphonic choir which performs at Lincoln Center in New York City. He joined the Joint Voice Studios of Dr. Myers and Dr. Bester as guest speaker for their recital on the American Negro Spiritual on October 8th.

3 Dr. Sarah Herbert presented a virtual session to the NSU Trumpet Studio on Alexander Technique and Performance Anxiety on November 12th. Dr. Herbert joined the faculty at Western Kentucky University in 2020 as the Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz. Other appointments include University of Wyoming, the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music, and Miami University Regionals in Hamilton, OH. As a K-12 music educator, Dr. Herbert spent four years as the Director of Instrumental Music for The Menaul School, an Independent School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Two virtual masterclasses were held via Zoom for the voice studios, led by Dr. Linda Di Fiore, Professor of Voice and Opera at DePaul University, and Dr. Jeffrey Williams, Associate Professor of Voice at Austin Peay State University. Di Fiore, a mezzo-soprano and Regents Professor Emeritus from the University of North Texas, recently retired from the University of California-Santa Barbara where she served as Area Head of Voice. Williams joined the Voice Faculty at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee as Assistant Professor of Voice in the Fall of 2014. He maintains an active performance schedule including with the Nashville Opera, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Public Radio – Live in Studio C, Gateway Chamber Orchestra, and in other featured concert and recital performances throughout the country.

The trumpet studio of Dr. Hay was pleased to welcome, Mr. Rob Waugh for a virtual masterclass on February 10th. Mr. Waugh is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Austin Peay State University where he provides private studio instruction and conducts the university’s big band the Jazz Collegians. Prior to his appointment to APSU, Mr. Waugh was the trumpet and jazz ensemble director at Indiana State University for eight years.

Bassist, Mr. Jon Hamar, was the featured guest artist for the 54th annual Green Country Jazz Festival. In 2012 Jon joined the faculty at the Centrum Jazz Workshop under the Artistic Direction of John Clayton. While living in Seattle Jon taught at Central Washington University, Northwest University and Edmonds Community College as well as maintaining a private studio. In Fall of 2015 Hamar joined the faculty of Natalie Haslam School of Music at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN, where he is the Assistant Professor of Jazz & Classical Double Bass. 4 NSU at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association conference

Normally, the NSU Department of Music is very active at the Oklahoma Music Educators Asso- ciation winter conference. Despite the pandemic and the conference being delivered all-virtually, this year was no exception. The University Singers performed a virtual concert as invited honor group on January 28th. Several of our faculty also led sectionals with virtual members of the OkMEA High School All-State Ensembles via Zoom. Dr. Hay led the trumpet sectional and Dr. Raya the trombone sectional for the All-State Symphonic Band. Dr. Wall led the alto sectional for the All-State Mixed Chorus.

5 Work Day & New Student Lounge

Music Students came together on a Saturday this Spring to help create a new student lounge area. The previous lounge was housed in a small room with no windows. Given the pandemic, the need for open windows for ventilation, and need for more storage space, these dedicated students devoted their time and labor to move furniture and equipment. Before, the lounge had to be closed for safety. Now, the lounge is open as a place for students to gather, study, rest between classes, and receive tutoring. They also helped to create a wardrobe/costume storage area for Opera Workshop. Thanks to Cheryl Nobles, Department Administrative Assistant, and Megan Gasca, our Performing Facilities Technical Director, for helping supervise this work day. Special thanks to all the students that came to help!

Opera Workshop performs “All that Jazz” A Chicago Musical Review

Directed by Dr. Whitney Myers, the combined efforts of Opera Workshop and the NSU Jazz Combo resulted in a compelling virtual show that highlighted musical numbers from the musical Chicago on April 26th. Cast included Megan Jacobs, Courtney Creel, Elizabeth Stroud, Lissie Franklin, and Bretly Crawford with special appearance by Professor Emeritus, Dr. Bob Daniel. NSU Jazz Combo included Dr. Clark Gibson, Farren Mayfield, Jacob Martin, DeNario Shoates, Dylan Ward, Brennan Marcotte. 6 Green Country Jazz Festival While most of our festivals and workshops were cancelled this year, the Green Country Jazz Festival Judges’ Jam and Performance proceeded with alterations. Dr. Clark Gibson and the NSU Jazz Ensemble joined guest artist, Mr. Jon Hamar, to record a professional video for virtual release for this 54th Green Country.

7 8 “Can’t stop the Music” (AKA NSU Music during a global pandemic)

NSU RiverHawk Marching Band played for RiverHawk Rally, RiverHawk Jam, and several other recruiting events on campus.

To the delight of many in downtown Tahlequah, the NSU Jazz Band moved their rehearsals outdoors.

Ensembles like the University/Community Chorus, the NSU Wind Ensemble, and the NSU Communiversity Band relocated their rehearsals to larger spaces like the Jack Dobbins Field House gym.

Like many places around the world, our students adjusted to a world of online masterclasses and virtual learning.

9 Faculty and students adapted to applied “Can’t stop the Music” lessons outdoors whenever possible. Here, Dr. Raya gives music student, (AKA NSU Music during a global pandemic) Keven Nava-Hinojosa a trombone lesson outside the Fine Arts building.

Music Education students gaining clinical experience in the field with their full internships at area schools were creative in their methods of instructional delivery. Pictured, Jace Davison teaches band and Lacey Franklin teaches choir.

Though invitations to clinic at area high schools were rarer for our faculty this year, they had to adapt to district protocols including distancing, masking, etc. Pictured here, Dr. Bester helps the Muskogee High School Choir with pronunciation of a piece they were working on in Afrikaans.

10 Starting Fall 2021, the NSU Department of Music and the NSU Jazz Program is proud to announce a new degree that modernizes our Jazz Studies degree into a program of study that is applicable to the modern day music industry.

11 Student News

Senior Music Business major LeRoicia Penney served with Chamber Music Tulsa for her Music Capstone Internship Fall 2020. Her intern supervisors at CMT had wonderful things to say about LeRoicia during her final evaluation.

Carson Mathes & Megan Jacobs were semifinalists at the Texhoma National Association of Teachers of Singing competition and Carson later went on to place 2nd in Category 8B (2nd year college men) in the Oklahoma NATS Chapter competition.

Freshman trombonist, Dylan Ward, won the NSU Concerto Competition. The competition allows instrumentalists and vocalists to prepare music judged by a panel of all music faculty. Dylan was given the opportunity to perform as featured soloist with the NSU Wind Ensemble on a work for solo trombone and wind band titled Morceau Symphonique by Alexandre Guilmant, arr. by Wesley Shepard.

Degree Recitals Special Congratulations to our Fall and Spring graduates! Timothy Caputo - Junior Trumpet Performance Major Recital, August 31 Jackson Washburn - Junior Trumpet Jazz Major Recital, August 31 Kaitlyn Ryan - Senior Music Ed Clarinet Recital, September 1 Kelli Martin - Senior Music Ed Saxophone Recital, October 17 Jacob Martin - Junior Percussion Jazz Major Recital, October 23 Lissie Franklin - Senior Music Ed Vocal Recital, April 2 Maxwell Sellars - Senior Music Ed Trumpet Recital, April 5 Brennan Marcotte - Senior Trumpet Jazz Major Recital, April 8 Timothy Caputo - Senior Trumpet Performance Major Recital, May 6 Fall 2020 Lacey Franklin, Myklind Reyes-Sosi, and Joshua Bowling - Music Education Junior Standing Status Earned LeRoicia Penney - Music Business

Clinton Beeler, saxophone - Fall semester Morgan Foshee, percussion - Fall semester Lissie Franklin, vocal - Fall semester Andrew Pearson, trumpet - Fall semester DeNario Shoates, horn - Fall semester Megan Jacobs, vocal - Spring semester Logan Edwards, clarinet - Spring semester Spring 2021 Skye Lawrence, Kelli Martin, Jace Davison - Music Education 12 Timothy Caputo - Music Performance Alumni Feature

Stephen Clark, BA Music Performance 2010

A young American bass noted for his “stalwart” and “metallic” voice, Stephen Clark is quickly developing an exciting international opera career. Since 2018, he has been an ensemble member of the Theater am Goetheplatz in Bremen, Germany, where he has given performances as Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni, Melisso in Alcina, Graf Ribbing in Un ballo in maschera, and Der Bankier and Der Theaterdirektor in Lulu. In the 2020-21 season, he returns to Theater Bremen, reprising the role of Sarastro as well as singing Der Sprecher, in Die Zauberflöte and also making a role debuts as Mustafà in L’italiana in Algeri Harašta in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen.

From 2016-2018, Mr. Clark was a member of the prestigious Yale Opera program. During his time there, he made a number of role debuts, such as Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Luka in William Walton’s The Bear, and the Father-in-Law in Milhaud’s Le pauvre matelot. Along with his time on the stage at Yale, he performed frequently in concert, appearing as a soloist in the first two parts of Handel’s Messiah with the Hartford Chorale, in Stravinsky’s Renard with Orchestra New England, and in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Waterbury Symphony, the Hartford Symphony, and most notably with the Yale Philharmonia, a performance conducted by Marin Alsop.

Mr. Clark was featured as an Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera in the summer of 2018, singing Masetto in Don Giovanni while covering Leporello in the same production and also covering Pangloss in their production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. During the summers of 2017 and 2016, he was a member of Central City Opera’s Apprentice Artist Program. Highlights from his summers there include singing Angelotti in Tosca, a Denver Politician in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Azarias in Britten’s The Burning Fiery Furnace, and the title role in Mozart’s The Impresario. He has also given performances with regional opera companies such as the Fort Worth Opera Festival, Sarasota Opera, and his home- town opera company, Tulsa Opera.

13 In Memorium James “Ralph” Whitworth, music teacher, choral director and voice teacher at Northeastern State University for 34 years, died October 1, 2020. Ralph contributed immensely to the artistic and cultural development of Tahlequah. Most memorable were the Christmas Candlelight Concerts, midnight caroling and European concert tours by the Northeastern singers (financed by baking and selling Swedish tea rings that Ralph and Beth made with students), and the Boar’s Head Feasts that allowed so many to experience the Renaissance celebration of song, dance and community and the sacred performances at Christmas with choir, artistic sets and orchestra. Ralph was welcomed into the Oklahoma Music Educator’s Hall of Fame in 1994 and chosen as a “Centu- rion” at the 100th anniversary of Northeastern’s founding.

Kenneth “Ken” G. Grass graduated from Northeastern State College in 1969, with a double major in instrumental and vocal music. After graduation, Paris York asked Ken to consider coming to Broken Arrow to take over the jazz band and band director position, where he and the BA staff took the marching band to several state and regional marching championships. He arranged almost all of the marching music for BA and later TU. The BA Jazz Band won many competitions and was selected to play for the National School Board Conven- tion in Miami, Florida. In 1991, Ken was approached to consider going to the University of Tulsa as assistant professor to the marching band, basketball pep bands, symphonic wind director and teach woodwind pedagogy, saxophone and supervise interns and first year teachers. Eventually more courses and titles were added including full professor. He was so proud to be called “Prof”. He joined his father, mother and many loved ones in Heaven on November 6th, 2020.

Jane Bailey was born in Corinth, Mississippi on March 13, 1937 to Forrest and Hazel L (Preston) Bailey. She departed this life on April 10, 2021 at the age of 87 years and 28 days. Jane began playing on the radio at the age of seven for a Christian show. She learned how to play the organ and began playing and sharing her talent in church. Jane attended Tulsa University where she earned her Bachelors Degree and Indiana University where she would earn he Master’s Degree in Music. Jane taught music at Indiana University before coming to Oklahoma where she taught music for over 30 years at Northeastern State. She taught form and analysis, and counter point and also taught piano.

Robert “Eugene” Sparks passed from this life on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 surrounded by friends and family. Eugene had a lifelong career at NSU as the night supervisor for the Sanitation Techni- cians. He spent a good deal of his career taking care of the Fine Arts building. Eugene loved his job, and he was the kindest person to speak words of encouragement. When the work was done, it was time to do some serious fishing and hunting. He would hunt for animals like quail, deer, rab- bits, ducks and always loved a day spent fishing. Fishing for Eugene was a competitors sport, and the inability to reel in the big one would make his sense of humor fade fast. He enjoyed working on small engines like lawnmowers and the occasional odd car engines. This country boy loved the view of sunrise from his own front porch. He was normally in the company of his dog and getting ready to go out and do a little gardening, he raised the most beautiful gardens. Eugene was blessed with a great sense of humor and the ability to tell a story for every occasion. 14 Faculty News

Dr. Christian Bester gave many recitals both on campus and off, including Washington D.C.’s Church of the Epiphany Tuesday Concert Series, and with Voces Intimae: The Art of Song - Texas. He was a Filstrup Resident Artist with Tulsa Opera and also contributed to the “I Can’t Enjoy Op- era” workshop. Dr. Bester’s article “LGBTQ+ Vocal Literature - Songs for Life” was published with the National Association of Teachers of Singing Journal. He gave several lectures on Afrikaans Art Songs - An Introduction to Afrikaans Song Repertoire with The University of Memphis, Baylor University, and Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ’s Arts and Spirituality Virtual Series. Bester gave and hosted virtual masterclasses, served as adjudicator for many events.

Dr. Ron Chioldi continued his work as co-author of the group piano textbook for college and universities titled, Keyboard Musicianship, Book 2, 11th edition with Stipes Publishing. Dr. Chioldi also performed a limited audience house piano recital in Fayetteville, AR.

Dr. Clark Gibson was named as featured artist with Taylor Entertainment Group of Tulsa. He per- formed for TEG’s International Jazz Festival. He also performed with Maybelle Wallace, Theater North and the Greenwood Cultural Center for the 100th year commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Dr. Gibson hosted a virtual Green Country Jazz Festival this year with guest artist, Jon Hamar.

Dr. Ben Hay is Principal Trumpet for the Bartlesville Symphony, Acting Principal Trumpet for Signature Symphony at TCC, and Extra/Substitute Trumpet for Tulsa Symphony and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. He recorded as second trumpet for a YouTube concert video with Gateway Chamber Orchestra (Clarkesville, TN). Hay gave presentations and masterclasses with Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA), University of Northern Alabama (Florence, AL), and Western Ken- tucky University (Bowling Green, KY). He plays with Zen Brass (national brass chamber group) and is a founding member of Ionic Brass, an emerging chamber group. Dr. Hay was named as award-recipient for the NSU Presidential Model the Way award.

15 Dr. James Lindroth’s article “Taking a Break” was published with Rhythm Scene, a publication of the Percussive Arts Society in February 2021.

Dr. Whitney Myers performed many recitals and roles this year. She performed often as a Filstrup Resident Artist with Tulsa Opera. Notably, Dr. Myers performed the role of Lucy in Billy Goats Gruff with Tulsa Opera, sang for donors and board members, participated in the “I Can’t Enjoy Opera” workshop series, and for Tuesdays at Trinity Episcopal. She also performed the world pre- miere of the one-act opera, Royal Flush, with Marble City Opera in the role of Franckie. She sang with Marble City Opera for Opera on Tap and Women’s History Month. Dr. Myers performed for The Jefferson in Arlington, VA and for Roland Park in Baltimore, MD. In addition to her activity as a performer, she adjudicated several competitions and was a finalist in Opera Ithaca’s Interna- tional Competition of Voice and Lyra New York’s International Vocal Competition. She was a semi-finalist in the Grand Prix International Music Competition. Dr. Bryan Raya served as guest clinician for the Oklahoma Music Educators Association All-State Symphonic Band trombone section. He also coordinated many on-campus events including a virtual Department of Music open house - a first for NSU Music. Dr. Raya coordinates the NSU Music Concerto Competition, mentored and supervised the competition winner, Dylan Ward, as well as seven student conductors towards performance with the Wind Ensemble and Communi- versity Band.

Dr. Jeffery Wall conducted the University Singers as invited honor choir at the virtual conference of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association. He continues his work with the professional-level chamber choir, Vox Solaris in Tulsa and serves as College/University Repertoire & Resources Chair for the Oklahoma state chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He also serves as Interest Session Chair for the Southwestern division of the American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Wall was a guest clinician for the Oklahoma Music Educators Association All- State Mixed Chorus alto section.

Dr. Anne Watson was contributor for bass clarinet finger drills, extended scales, and technique studies in the book Finger Fitness Etudes for Clarinet and Auxiliary Clarinets by Kristen Denny- Chambers. She was guest clinician for the Oklahoma State University clarinet studio and the clarinet studio of Kristen Denny-Chambers. She performed with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas in the virtual collaboration of Latency Canons by Raymond J. Lustig.

16 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! NSU Music Support Gifts to support the music program through the NSU Foundation play an important role in the lives of our music students. Whether for the Music Scholarship Fund or for music programming, your investment, regardless of the amount, will help our music program remain strong and vital. Please make out your check to the NSU Foundation, marked for the Music Scholarship Fund or music programming and send it to: Dr. Jeffery Wall, Department of Music, 605 N. Grand Avenue, Tahlequah, OK 74464. Thank you.

Endowed Music Funds

Dr. Lowell “Chief” Lehman Endowed Fund Thelma Parker Memorial Scholarship Dr. Mark S. Bighley Music Scholarship Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Music Scholarship Donald E. & Martha Sory Blair Music & COLA Scholarship Dr. William J. Rauch Band Scholarship Joe Davis & Jacob Farinelli Memorial Scholarship Clare M. Stroup & Thomas E. Stroup Memorial Scholarship Frances Fite Memorial Jazz Scholarship Lou Summers Memorial Vocal Scholarship NSU Marching Band Endowed Fund

2020-2021 NSU Music Contributors Reflected below are donations January 2020 –March 2021. Please let us know if we have accidentally left off a donor or placed someone in the wrong category.

$50,000+ $1,000–1,999 $100–249 $1–$99 Donald and Martha Blair Anonymous Ken and Rhonda Beard Benevity Causes Ernst and Gaye Bekkering John Benge Dr. Sara Brown $25,000+ Carl Bivins Memorial Steven Chase Doug and Erica Caputo Scholarship Anne Davey Wayne and April Felts $10,000+ Michael Dill Mindi Hendrix Terry and Maria Foster Danna and Tim Grear Family Eve L Kuniansky Delena Goss $5,000-$9,999 Fund David Laney Lori Martin Max McCullough David Rader Farren and Gail Mayfield Sindi McGuire Dr. Diana Metzger Kay Vincent Cheryl Nobles Fred Monachello John Yeutter Donna Roberson Sarah Whittle $2,000–4,999 Ann Sheldon Carla Young Anonymous $500–999 Linda Spyres Dr. Mark Bighley Virginia Davis Dr. Donald W Studebaker Bob and Kathy Daniel ONEOK Foundation Lenore Wilson Dr. Chuck DeShong Memorial Scholarship $250–499 Betty Jo Hays Dr. Deborah Landry Judith Sherman Anne Watson

17 visit www.nsumusic.com to give