Music Today Spring 2006 at Iowa State University The ISU Wind Ensemble conducted by Michael Golemo. ISU alumnus and U.S. Poet Laurette Ted Kooser. ISU sound Omaha bound Third ISU President’s Concert to feature world premiere of alumnus’ poem set to music. he piece isn’t very long, third President’s Concert on Symphony Orchestra are also on only about four minutes. Sunday, March 26. A biennial the program. The Wind T But it’s a composition that event, this year’s President’s Ensemble will premiere an James Rodde, the Louise Moen Concert will be held at the new original fanfare composed by Professor of Music and director Holland Performing Arts Center Jeffrey Prater, professor of music. of choral activities, feels will stay in Omaha, Neb. Simon Estes, the F. Wendell with individuals for a long time. “The President’s Concerts Miller Distinguished Artist-in- “I can see this poem in a have spread interest for the music Residence, will be featured with beautiful new light,” Rodde says. program across campus,” Rodde the Symphony Orchestra and “It’s a well-written, expressive said. “It’s nice to have other Wind Ensemble. composition.” University-wide activities The concert gives students in The piece is a new work by surrounding this event and the three ensembles an René Clausen entitled The Early realize the Department of Music opportunity not only to give a Bird. It is a setting of a poem by is the catalyst that will draw the joint concert but also to perform Ted Kooser, current U.S. Poet ISU colleges and alumni together. in an outstanding new facility. Laureate and 2005 Pulitzer Prize “It shows that the “One of the real thrills for me winner, and was commissioned department plays a vital role in and our students is to be able to by an anonymous Iowa State student life on campus both now perform in such a beautiful hall,” alumnus through the Department and in the future.” Rodde said. “Like our previous of Music. It will be performed by While The Early Bird will be a President’s Concerts in the Iowa State Singers. highlight of the President’s Minneapolis and Chicago, this Kooser is a 1962 Iowa State Concert, it will be just one of performing arts facility is also alumnus from Lincoln, Neb. several memorable moments. In considered world-class.” The world premiere of The addition to the Iowa State The Iowa State Singers have Early Bird will be a featured Singers, performances by the ISU been rehearsing The Early Bird attraction during Iowa State’s Wind Ensemble and the ISU Continued on page 3 2 - Music Today From the Chair your career information and The Department of Music personal updates. We take great celebrates its role as a vital part pride in your accomplishments! of Iowa State University. We are It is important that we stay also celebrating our 25th connected to our alums, and that anniversary of the Music Hall, you are aware of what is and pleased to announce that the happening at Iowa State. Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall will We have had two major gifts be completely renovated this to our department in recent summer. In the pages ahead you years. One of these gifts, from will appreciate the international Deloris Wright, will allow us to scope of the music faculty, purchase and install a digital students and alumni who extend video camera in the back of our decide where this unrestricted the boundaries of music making recital hall. This video web-cam money will be best used. These beyond our campus, city, state, will allow anyone to view two generous gifts are making a region and nation. We are concerts, recitals and major difference in our making a difference. presentations in the recital hall, department. It is important that As I type this, we are in real time. Ms. Wright’s gift is you, our alumni, understand the beginning our weekend also providing some very special importance of all gifts, no matter scholarship audition process for enhancements to our electronic how large or small. prospective students. We have music studio. The Department of Music is nearly 120 students auditioning Our other special donor, Ms. educating young people to use for approximately 30-40 Ellen Walvoord, recently made a their talent to change the world. undergraduate openings. We will, generous pledge of one million We hope you will join us in of course, continue to hear dollars. Although a portion of turning our vision into reality. additional students throughout this donation will likely go to the semester. Our future is very enhance our scholarship fund, Sincerely, bright. our faculty will collectively Michael Golemo, D.M.A. Our current students Chair, Department of Music continue to excel in both the classroom and in performance. We are justifiably proud of the Music Today education and opportunities our students receive, both from our Michael Golemo, chair Please address all faculty and guest lecturers. This William David, editor correspondence to the editor: semester alone we have provided Dave Gieseke, public relations [email protected] masterclasses or clinic sessions manager, College of Liberal Arts 515-294-5364 from no fewer than a dozen and Sciences “guest” world-class artists, Iowa State University does not including the Pacifica String discriminate on the basis of race, Quartet, maestro David Becker, Music Today is published twice color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, tuba soloist Patrick Sheridan, a year for the alumni, friends, students and faculty of the sex, marital status, disability, or status trumpeter David Birkman, and as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be composer Libby Larsen. Our Department of Music at Iowa directed to the Director of Equal students are very fortunate that State University, an academic Opportunity and Diversity, 3680 our faculty and university strive department in the College of Beardshear Hall, 515-294-7612. to attract such influential and Liberal Arts and Sciences. eminent guest artists. We want to hear from our www.music.iastate.edu alumni. Please e-mail us with 3 - Music Today department news Libby Larsen residency includes concerts, lecture Renowned American April 7 and 8 beginning at 7:30 composer Libby Larsen will visit p.m. in the Martha-Ellen Tye the Department of Music from Recital Hall. April 6-8. The lecture is also scheduled During her three-day stay, for the same time and location on Larsen will give a lecture, “The April 6. Concert Hall That Fell Asleep Larsen is one of America’s and Woke Up as a Car Radio,” most prolific and most performed and will take part in two concerts living composers. She has created featuring a variety of her a catalogue of over 200 works compositions. spanning virtually every genre The concerts will feature the from intimate vocal and chamber ISU Wind Ensemble, Ames music to massive orchestral and Children’s Choir, ISU Symphony choral scores. co-sponsored by the Department Orchestra, the Ames Chamber She is sought after for of Music, the Center for Artists (a community vocal commissions and premieres by Excellence in the Arts and ensemble) and Department of major artists, ensembles and Humanities and a grant from Music faculty. orchestras around the world. Sigma Alpha Iota philanthropies. The concerts will be held Larsen’s visit to Iowa State is President’s Concert features world premiere Continued from page 1 remember and sing the lyrics,” he for several months and plans to said. “René’s composition etches perform it during a spring the poetry into the singers’ semester tour. minds.” “One student wrote me a In addition to the 3 p.m. letter telling how she felt about performance, the ISU Alumni the piece. She described what she Association will hold a reception was seeing when she was singing beginning at 1 p.m. the lyrics and what the poem ISUPresident Gregory meant to her,” Rodde said. “The Geoffroy and College of Liberal students really enjoy singing it. Arts and Sciences Dean Michael In fact, one, who has been in the Whiteford will speak at the Singers for two years, told me concert and attend the reception. that it’s the favorite work he has Concert tickets are $15. A sung with the choir.” combination concert/reception Rodde says The Early Bird is ticket is $25 for ISUAA members the type of composition that will singing careers. and $30 for non-members. Ticket stay with the students long after “If they hear the music when information is available through they finish their collegiate they are 70, they’ll be able to the Department of Music. 4 - Music Today Iowa State Singers to tour China The Iowa State Singers are preparing for a performance tour in China, May 14-24, 2006. The group will sing concerts in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. In each of the cities, the Iowa State Singers will perform also with choirs from area Chinese universities. “The Singers will concertize with their full program from Bach to contemporary composers, yet part of their experience will be to fully prepare and perform Chinese pieces that their international community and will help prepare help these students with this audiences will quickly our students for lifelong, once-in-a-lifetime experience recognize,” said James Rodde, productive participation in a would be greatly appreciated. the group’s director. “The choir’s global society,” Rodde said. “In Rodde says the Moen- challenge will be to learn the all probability the knowledge the Hamilton Endowment from the pronunication of the Chinese students will gain from this Department of Music’s Choral language.” cultural exchange will help Activities will contribute $500 to Rodde feels strongly that the improve the quality of life now each participating student.