EASTMAN

NOTESFall/Winter 2013

JACK is Jumpin’! An Eastman-born quartet reflects on a thriving career PreP ared to t ake the St AGe

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Headed for the top: The JACK Quartet started at Eastman in 2003 and has remained together in the cause of contemporary music.

2 From the Dean 3 Brief Notes 20 School News 10 18 24 Recordings IML: From Rite 14JACK Institute to Here at 26 Alumni Notes is Jumpin’! Institution Eastman 28–30 With worldwide performances and It’s been a big year for A faculty member Tributes, Eastman’s innovative and a recent graduate In Memoriam acclaimed CDs, this Eastman-born Institute for Music on their engagement quartet is thriving. Leadership. with Stravinsky’s 31 incendiary, century-old Faculty Notes Rite of Spring. 32 Student Notes ON THE COVER: The JACK Quartet. PHOTOGRAPH BY HENRIK OLUND

JUSTIN BERNHAUT Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 1 { FROM THE DEAN }

EASTMAN Special Effects NOTES Schools of music have complicated missions but one astonishing awareness and knowledge of technology and Volume 31, Number 2 simple purpose: to educate talented young performers, new media. They seek to weave their music into the fabric Fall/Winter 2013 scholars, composers and teachers in the critical functions of the culture in which they live. It is our belief that these Editor of their chosen professions. We have a responsibility to traits represent a trend toward convergence, with music David Raymond furnish experiences that not only teach the art, but also at the core. At a practical level, these new ensembles are bear some resemblance to the world that our students not leaving governance and business models to chance. Contributing Writers Mark Berry will inherit. This includes preparing them in the musi- They are seizing ownership of operations, marketing, Dannel Espinoza cal rudiments and the real-life challenge of inspiring artistic planning, and, yes, the balance sheet. Douglas Lowry and building an audience, knowing important aspects The Paul R. Judy Center (described on pages 12–13) Brad Lubman of the business, and becoming entrepreneurs. Some will furnish us with a living, breathing means of not just David Raymond think that the latter components studying trends, but leading Helene Snihur are beyond the domain of what them. In 2015, Eastman will host Contributing we should be doing, suggesting a festival/conference, funded by Photographers Kurt Brownell that an education in the arts the Judy Center, that will bring Adam Fenster should “stick with the art.” Yet in artists and entrepreneurs to Gelfand-Piper history provides us with many discuss what is really happening Photography examples of innovative musi- in this new world of music, from Kate Melton cal entrepreneurs who not only musical production to marketing Nadine Sherman Gerry Szymanski created inspiring music but also to distribution. We will witness Brandon Vick ambitiously built careers. From first-hand the musical results of Mozart to Stravinsky, our lore is some of these efforts. This festi- Photography Coordinator full of artists who learned how val will focus not on what’s wrong Karen Ver Steeg to drum up business, not afraid with the music world, but will cel- Design of posting handbills or cleverly ebrate what’s right, using the past Steve Boerner marketing their wares. as a point of ignition for the future. Typography The attentive musician lis- When we couple initiatives like & Design, Inc. tens to the pulse of the times— this with the array of accomplish- Published twice a not to curry favor with current ments of our Eastman alumni year by the Office stylistic trends, but to form an and students just this last spring of Communications understanding of how music’s of 2013, one can sense the special (Mark Berry, Executive presentation and enjoyment have evolved. To assume effect that Eastman is having on the music world. From Director), Eastman School of Music, 26 that the musical experience of 1813—how it looked, felt, Renée Fleming’s being awarded the National Medal of Gibbs Street, Rochester, dressed; where it took place—would and should remain Arts and Jeff Beal’s two Emmy nominations for his score NY 14604, (585) the same in 2013 ignores some basic laws of nature. to House of Cards, to the Project Fusion saxophone quar- 274-1050. Listening to this pulse of the times is what the new Paul R. tet of students winning the grand prize at this year’s Eastman-Notes@ Judy Center for Applied Research at Eastman is all about. Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, esm.rochester.edu Working from the notion that the symphony orches- one can sense this Eastman “special effect.” tra is an ever-evolving ensemble, Paul Judy, a longtime We measure our work by the impact we hope to have supporter of Eastman and keen student of organiza- on the futures of our students and by our imprint on tional behavior, hit upon the idea that the emergence of the current world of music. We have much to celebrate. innovative small ensembles across the land is somewhat And, to be sure, much work to do. But we could not akin to the emergence of the symphony orchestra in the do any of this without the steadfast belief our support- 19th century. ers have in the Eastman mission. This issue of Notes, In the case of new ensembles, the evidence suggests rich with stories of Eastman family, bears out our that young musicians, in addition to presenting in the observations. established concert hall venue, are now reaching out to Visit the Apple Store to download and read Notes create performance experiences in whole new contexts. on your iPad. They are also infusing their performances with heavy doses of other art forms, particularly digital visual media. In many cases, these works of digital media are created by the musicians themselves, in part because our stu- 10% Total Recovered Fiber 100% Post-Consumer Fiber dents are entering our music schools equipped with an

2 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 ADAM FENSTER { BRIEF NOTES }

The People’s Diva and President Obama at the White House. No, Spidey is not leaving Hatch Hall after a recital.

Spider-Man, Opus 2 Hanson Completed finished it. When the Sibley annotating, and putting Ms. Fleming Eastman’s Spidey senses After retiring in 1964, Library received the man- it into a usable form for goes to were tingling for a couple Eastman’s­ legendary uscript in 2005, Eastman researchers. This summer of days in May, when Howard Hanson started an Historian Vincent Lenti un- his task was completed, and Washington cast and crew members autobiography . . . and never dertook the task of editing, a copy of Vince’s edition Renée Fleming (MM ’83) of the upcoming movie of The Autobiography of has received plenty of The Amazing Spider-Man Howard Hanson joined the awards during her career, 2 hit town. Rochester In May, 16 Eastman faculty members were acknowledged shelves of Sibley Library. but the 2013 National temporarily became New for their years of service to the school. At the top of the (There are no publishing Medal of Arts—bestowed York City, as street signs list was Professor of Piano and Eastman School Historian plans, so only three copies by President Obama in a were replaced and NYPD Vincent Lenti, who celebrated 50 years as an Eastman exist, by the way.) Look for White House ceremony on cars raced on Main Street. faculty member. Vince celebrated his demi-centennial at a excerpts in the next Notes. July 10—is surely near the Two days of shooting for a reception with family, friends, colleagues, and the students top of the list. The sopra- car-chase scene focused on in his piano studio. Go Team Lenti! no’s fellow honorees this the immediate ESM area. year comprised a diverse The movie is scheduled for group, including author release in May 2014. Tony Kushner, trumpeter Herb Alpert, and movie A Star Reborn director George Lucas. She was Inez Harvuoth (BM ’36) at Eastman, but was known as Irene Manning in Hollywood (where she starred in movies with Bogart and Cagney) and on Broadway, where she worked with Jerome Kern and Lerner and Loewe; she also sang (in German) on Glenn Miller’s last recordings. Manning, who died in 2004, is the subject of a new biog- raphy, Irene Manning: The Rebellious Prima Donna, by Gene Arceri, just published Irene Manning made her mark by bearmanormedia.com. on Hollywood, on Broadway, The book is $19.95; the pet and in leopard prints. leopard is extra.

ASSOCIATED PRESS (FLEMING); ADAM FENSTER (SPIDERMAN); GERRY SZYMANSKI (LENTI) Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 3 A Massive Requiem Hundreds of musicians joined forces in May for a performance of Benjamin Britten’s 20th-century classic War Requiem, observing the centennial of its composer (1913– 1976) and the piece’s 50th anniversary. The powerful work, which combines the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead with moving antiwar poems by Wilfred Owen, united the Eastman Rochester Chorus, Eastman Chorale, Philharmonia, Chamber Orchestra, and Children’s Chorus; and soloists Laura Osgood, Matthew Valverde, and Ben Curtis. All are shown here in rehearsal, led by William Weinert, Eastman’s Director of Choral Activities. Photograph by Kate Melton

4 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 5 Pointed toward the Future Eastman’s 88th annual Commencement took place on May 19 with the customary and beloved trappings: a full Kodak Hall, music from the Trombone Choir, the switching of the tassel, and more. Eastman’s 2013 graduates got good advice from Dean Douglas Lowry and Professor of Piano and School Historian Vincent Lenti, heard a rousing speech from Student Association President Molly O’Roark, and even a performance by pianist Daria Rabotkina. For video highlights, go to youtube.com and look up 2013 Commencement, Eastman School of Music. Photograph by Adam Fenster

6 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 7 A Return to Bass-ics The International Society of Bassists Convention, held at Eastman from June 2–8, offered not only dozens of concerts, lectures, and other bass-centric events, but also opportunities for serious shopping sprees at the booths of many equipment makers. “It was an honor to welcome the ISB for its biennial convention,” said Jeff Campbell, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media and one of the convention co-hosts. “There is a great sense of family within the worldwide bass community and I was thrilled to see and hear all these wonderful bassists in our own backyard.” (See also back cover.) Photograph by Brandon Vick

8 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 9 10 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 from Institute to Institution 2013 has been a banner year for one of Eastman’s innovative programs

ounded in 2001 as a resource for creating resources related to graduate study and professional and sharing ideas that could help keep development. music vital and relevant, Eastman’s The Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program Institute for Music Leadership has (ALP), established in 1996, is one of the IML’s most vis- done much over the last decade to ible programs at Eastman. The program offers courses instill in young, burgeoning profession- on leadership, arts administration, musical entrepre- al musicians the skills and imagination neurship, careers in music, performance, contemporary necessary to confront a challenging musical marketplace. orchestral issues and health for musicians, as well as a FIt is an integral part of the Eastman experience for certificate program and internships with Rochester arts more and more students, and in the past few months, organizations and “externships” in the United States, IML has received recognition from the University of Canada, and around the world. ALP also sponsors events Rochester for its accomplishments. It has also received with guest artists and speakers from all walks of the musi- generous support that will help it further evolve to meet cal life; including successful Eastman alumni like the the future needs of students. JACK Quartet. The four members gave an ALP presen- tation in April entitled A Roadmap to Starting a Chamber The Four Faces of IML Ensemble, and its violist John Pickford Richards said Since it began in 2001, the Institute for Music Leadership “We learned so much of what we needed to know while has developed four core programs that guide students we were here.” and alumni along the entrepreneurial path. Here’s a brief Offerings of the Center for Music Innovation and introduction to each of them; visiting the IML website at Engagement (CMIE) include the New Venture Challenge esm.rochester.edu/iml will lead you to full descriptions (awards to Eastman students who develop innovative of all of them. ideas in music presentation and performance), and some Careers and Professional Development offers help exciting video offerings: eTheory (a guided introducto- with resumes and other professional documents, career ry theory course with Eastman professor Steve Laitz), path service, and many job- and audition-related online Speed Lessons on specific audition pieces with Eastman

DAVID COWLES Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 11 Ever Better! The hardworking Institute for Music Leadership staff, from left to right: Ray Ricker, Leslie Scatterday, Samuel Krall, Kristjian Bogdanovski, Linda Altpeter, and Michael Reed.

faculty musicians, and videos on the topic “What is The Paul R. Judy Center will be a new component of the Entrepreneurship?” IML that will be devoted to understanding and stimulat- The Orchestra Musician Forum (OMF) and its website ing the development of innovative ensemble models that polyphonic.org, both founded by Paul R. Judy in 2006, can find success in the changing music world. enhance the professional development and broaden the As chairman of the Chicago Philharmonic Society, life perspectives of musicians in North American symphony trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), for- orchestras and other musical arts organizations. poly- mer president of the CSO board, and founder of Eastman phonic.org offers articles, video interviews, blogs, and School of Music’s Orchestra Musician Forum and its spotlights of notable orchestras; Polyphonic OnCampus online resource center polyphonic.org, Paul Judy has presents video blogs, articles, and interactive webinars for many years had his finger on the pulse of the musical by young musicians, for young musicians. marketplace and career possibilities for 21st-century musicians. A Generous Gift and a New Center The founding of the Paul R. Judy Center comes at a time The savvy philanthropist and the street-wise entrepreneur: In June, Eastman announced that noted philanthropist of great upheaval in our concert-music culture. Many of Paul R. Judy (left) and Ramon Paul Judy made a $1 million commitment to establish the America’s orchestras, faced with the long-term challenges Ricker (right). Paul R. Judy Center for Applied Research at Eastman. of aging audiences, financial pressures, and competition from other cultural forms, have been cutting positions or going out of business entirely. At the same time, smaller artist-led ensembles such as Alarm Will Sound (the new music ensemble which got its start at Eastman in the early 2000s), eighth blackbird, and the International Contemporary Ensemble have emerged and thrived. “Musicians face many challenges after graduation, not the least of which is finding a sustainable way to practice their art,” said Douglas Lowry, Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music. “Mr. Judy’s generous gift will help put Eastman and the IML on the cutting edge of providing young musicians with the tools they need to create their own performance opportunities and become self-sustaining as advocates for the music they love.” While the Paul R. Judy Center will certainly encourage discussion on how to rejuvenate orchestral performance

12 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 BRANDON VICK (IML STAFF); KURT BROWNELL (RICKER) In their April IML presentation, the members of JACK Quartet detailed some of the personal, financial, and legal steps to creating and sustaining a chamber ensemble, and perhaps even making some money from it. (See p. 14 for more about JACK.)

in the 21st century, its focus will be creating research on Douglas Lowry, whose nomination read in part: “[they] and programs for alternative artist-centered ensembles have exhibited an unusual entrepreneurial mindset, that foster new models of artistic innovation, organi- galvanized support from other Eastman units, made zational relationships, and operational sustainability. remarkable strides in economizing resources, and ener- In addition, the Paul R. Judy Center will sponsor a gized the student body and the administration . . . I cannot biennial festival and conference for scholars, orchestra imagine a finer unified effort toward one of Eastman’s managers, ensemble administrators, music school lead- primary strategic causes, all attributable to a belief in ers, and students. The inaugural festival and conference common goals, good work, and a unified team spirit.” is scheduled for early 2015. “As someone who has followed and supported major A Medal for a Street-Wise Professor musical organizations for a long time, I am greatly con- IML’s founding father and guiding spirit since 2001, cerned about the news of orchestra bankruptcies and Ramon Ricker, retired in May of this year, leaving a financial difficulties,” said Judy. “Unfortunately, these major legacy in preparing Eastman students for the developments are not surprising given the limitations of professional world. Ray has been part of Eastman since the traditional orchestra organization model. I see great the 1970s when he arrived as a saxophone student, with hope in the entrepreneurial spirit of the musicians who degrees from the University of Denver and Michigan are taking it upon themselves to energize our culture State University; he received his DMA degree in 1971 and with their own new groups, and I am pleased to be able has been part of Eastman life ever since. Besides teach- to contribute to their continued growth through this ing at Eastman, he has performed with the Rochester gift to Eastman.” Philharmonic Orchestra since 1972, played in innumer- able concerts, on many recordings and TV soundtracks, A Meliora Moment and written a number of books, including the recent The IML’s sterling staff was recognized this year with Lessons from a Street-Wise Professor: What You Won’t the University’s Meliora Award, given to staff members Learn in Most Music Schools, in which he shares several whose work performance and dedication during the pre- decades of entrepreneurial savvy. vious year exemplify the University’s motto, Meliora Ray will be presented with the Eastman Dean’s Medal in (Ever Better). No wonder they’re smiling! Pictured September in recognition of his dedication and leadership are IML director Ramon Ricker, Operations Manager as a faculty member, entrepreneur, and founding director Leslie Scatterday, Careers Coordinator Samuel Krall, of IML, and to recognize both Ray and his wife, Judith Assistant Program Coordinator Kristjian Bogdanovski, (BM ’76, MM ’81, MBA ’91), for their leadership-level Administrative Assistant Linda Altpeter, and Information philanthropy, including a recent gift provision to estab- Analyst Michael Reed. lish two professorships and an endowed scholarship for The IML team were nominated by Eastman Dean saxophone students at the Eastman School.

ADAM FENSTER Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 13 Meet JACK C Christopher Otto ( BM ’06) Violin

A Ari Streisfeld ( BM ’05 ) J Violin John Pickford Richards ( BM ’02, MM ’04 ) Viola

14 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 “Like-minded in different ” K ways Kevin McFarland ( BM ’04 ) Cello JACK Quartet: Four Musicians with a Mission

By David Raymond

he members of the JACK Quartet met ten years ago, when they were all Eastman T students, to play one of Samuel Adler’s string quartets in a 75th-birthday trib- ute concert for the former Eastman composition department chair. Seeing the group’s affinity for contemporary music, he suggested that they play together on a regular basis. “We said to ourselves, ‘Well, why not?’,” says violinist Ari Streisfeld. “We were constantly playing contemporary music anyway,” adds violist John Pickford Richards. “I think we played more than 200 student pieces while we were here.” They were together, but they weren’t JACK quite yet. After musing over many possi- bilities for a group name, says John, they came up with the idea of using the first letters of their first names. “We’re a group that enjoys playing difficult European modernist avant-garde music,” says John, “so we figured an all-American name was the way to go.” JACK’s ironic name has proved to be a boon in concert booking: European concert

HENRIK OLUND Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 15 Focusing on contemporary promoters find the typically American moniker to be Quartet, and they have performed with pianist Ursula music was a given: JACK particularly eye catching. Oppens, electric guitarist and composer Steve Mackey, rehearsing in Hatch Recital By 2005, the four young musicians were trying to and pianist Aki Takahashi. Hall for its April concert here, establish themselves as a quartet; almost ten years lat- JACK’s 2013 datebook includes appearances at which included Buttonwood er, as JACK, they are elite members of the world of new London’s Wigmore Hall, Paris’ Salle Pleyel, and New by Gregory Spears (BM ’99). music, highly regarded for their expert performances of York’s Merkin Concert Hall and Le Poisson Rouge. The a wide range of contemporary music. JACK has worked group is also active on the festival circuit: last summer with some big names in the new-music scene: early in they played at the Lincoln Center Festival, Tanglewood, its career the group took advice on repertoire from the June in Buffalo, and the Lucerne Festival, where they are Arditti Quartet and on the music business from Kronos quartet-in-residence.

The members of JACK were not the only ones bringing New new sounds to Eastman last spring. In March, Melinda Wagner arrived on campus as composer-in-residence Music at for the 2013 Women in Music Festival. Eastman stu- dents, flutists Emlyn Johnson and Johanna Gruskin, Eastman, and violinist Timothy Lee, presented Wagner’s Little Moonhead, inspired by Bach’s Fourth Brandenburg Concerto. Professor of Flute Bonita Boyd and the Spring Rochester Women’s Philharmonic closed the festival with Melinda’s Flute Concerto, for which the composer and Fall won the Pulitzer Prize in 1999. The Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen, a subtle and distinctive voice in contemporary music, was Eastman’s Howard Hanson Composer-in-Residence in April; his work was performed by Musica Nova and, in their guest Celebrating Women in Music: Johnson, Gruskin, Lee, Wagner, appearance here that month, JACK Quartet. and Boyd after the all-Melinda Wagner concert.

16 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 KEVIN LAYDEN (JACK QUARTET); GERRY SZYMANSKI (WOMEN IN MUSIC) “Focusing on contemporary music was Three Eastman Bs They may not be Bach, a given. There was no discussion about it.” Beethoven, and Brahms, or even Bartók, Berlioz, —Cellist Kevin McFarland and Bernstein, but these three Eastman-trained composers made news They’ve given occasional performances of Mozart JACK has performed contemporary string quartet recently. and Brahms, but JACK is at heart a new-music group. music in venues large and small all over the world, and “Focusing on contemporary music was a given,” says they find, in Streisfeld’s words, “We don’t give audiences cellist Kevin McFarland. “There was no discussion about enough credit” for being able to appreciate contemporary it. A career in contemporary music may not have been music. “If we present it well, if we clue them in, we find incredibly practical-minded, but we knew what we want- they’ll open their ears to new sounds. We know that if we ed to do, and we stayed committed to it. But none of us really believe in it, audiences will take to it.” realized how far we would go with it.” “We’ve had audiences react negatively if music is too JACK came to fame as exponents of the quartets conservative,” McFarland adds. of the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis (1922–2001)— “We were interested in pushing boundaries,” says extremely dense, demanding music which has become Christopher Otto. “We were interested in all different a cornerstone of their repertoire. Their latest recording types of music, but music that was not really represented project is the quartets of the German composer Helmut in concerts or that other groups were not playing, and Lachenmann, whose virtuosic music duplicates the sonic bringing it to people’s attention.” Caleb Burhans (BM variety of electronic music with an innovative use of tra- JACK has already helped add significantly to the con- ’03) has become a go-to performer (violinist ditional instruments. The quartet also frequently plays temporary quartet repertoire, thanks to its collaborations and countertenor) and the music of John Cage and Philip Glass, two composers with numerous fellow Eastman alumni. Their recent composer in the New with very different aesthetics. program at Eastman included Buttonwood by Gregory York new-music scene. JACK ranges freely within the contemporary music Spears (BM ’99), and their recording plans include an Caleb’s acclaimed universe—and expects its audiences to join them. Along album of pieces written by Eastman graduates. Chris Otto recent compositions appear on a new CD, with groups like Alarm Will Sound and So Percussion, says, “New music is often a close collaboration between Evensong (Canteloupe), JACK represents a performance style and a point of the composer and the performers. We work with several with performers includ- view that many reviewers have dubbed post-classical, composers we met at Eastman: Caleb Burhans (BM ’03), ing Alarm Will Sound, indie-classical, alt-classical. The labels are catchy, but Kevin Ernste (MA ’04, PhD ’06), Hannah Lash (BM ’04). Trinity Wall Street the members of the quartet don’t like labels. We’ve watched them develop, we know their music and Choir, and Caleb. “We like to take music we like even if it is very different they know our playing. It’s a big family.” The latest movie in styles, and let the playing and listening bridge the gap,” “We’re like-minded in different ways,” says Richards. soundtrack by Jeff says Streisfeld. “We’ll play a piece by Glass alongside one “Our minds are very open to each other’s ideas. We’re Beal (BM ’85) is for the by Xenakis, and let the audience make the connection.” inspired by each other.” recently released docu- mentary Blackfish. Jeff got further welcome news in July, when his music for the Netflix Coming up drama series House of Past Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative Festivals have Cards was nominated celebrated Bach, Mendelssohn, and other venerable fig- for two 2013 Emmy Awards. ures; the 2013 EROI Festival, Spectrum of Sound, is all about music written since World War II. Expect to hear Jennifer Bellor (PhD lots of Messiaen, plus music by Hindemith, Cage, Ligeti, ’13) not only won a and one of the festival’s special guests, composer William 2013 DownBeat Award Bolcom, whose prolific output includes a number of large- (see Student News, p. 32) last spring; the scale (and popular) organ works. American Composers Eastman Musica Nova director Brad Lubman and his Orchestra gave a ensemble Signal have become popular guests at New reading of her new work York’s Miller Center. Brad and the group will appear Crystal Skies, inspired three times in the Center’s Composer Portrait series, by her first skydiving experience. performing music of Georg Friedrich Haas (October 10), Roger Reynolds (February 22), and Unsuk Chin (March 13, 2014). William Bolcom

KATRYN CONLIN (BOLCOM); LIZ LINDER (BURHANS) Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 17 RITEhere at Eastman This year marks the centennial of Stravinsky’s ballet Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), first performed in Paris by the Ballets Russes on May 29, 1913. At its premiere, the choreography by Nijinsky caused a riotous scandal; but the music itself soon triumphed and is one of the few 20th-century staples of the symphonic repertoire. Here are some thoughts about Stravinsky’s seminal work from two members of the Eastman family who know it well. Conductor Brad Lubman has a long association with The Rite of Spring and has conducted it at Eastman no less than four times. Saxophonist Dannel Espinosa recently undertook the job of arranging the entire piece for the Eastman Saxophone Project, with great success.

18 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 “Completely obsessed with Stravinsky and his music” By Brad Lubman y first encounter withThe Rite of Spring of the Stony Brook Symphony, the graduate orchestra at was hearing a recording by Bernard Haitink SUNY Stony Brook. Since I had been so obsessed with and the London Philharmonic was in 1977, the piece for so many years, I felt comfortable enough when I was about 14 years old. I had recent- to conduct it from memory. Since then I have had the ly become obsessed with classical music, opportunity to conduct The Rite of Spring several times Mparticularly Mahler, Debussy, and Beethoven. Several at Eastman, in 1998 with the New Eastman Symphony, people told me I should listen to the Rite of Spring but that and then in 2000, 2006, and 2012 with the Eastman it’s a very dissonant piece. Naturally I was very curious, Philharmonia. I also conducted Klaus Obermaier’s having read about its legendary status. I was immediately very interesting production for solo dancer and com- very taken with the piece, with its fierce originality and puter-live-interactive video with the Taiwan National Brad Lubman is (what seemed at the time) complexity. Symphony, and last season another interesting production Associate Professor I soon obtained a score and tried to follow it while with puppeteer Basil Twist and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. of Conducting listening to the record. I also bought more record- I don’t find any particular challenges in conducting and Director ings: Boulez and the Cleveland Orchestra, Solti and The Rite of Spring at this point; it’s a lot of fun and always of Musica Nova. the Chicago Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas and a very intense experience. The first time one leads it, the Boston Symphony. Within a few years I owned at however, one is often grappling with the famous Danse least a dozen recordings of The Rite of Spring. I became Sacrale and its changing meters and syncopations. Each more and more intrigued with the piece, and in my high time I have done the piece at Eastman, the students are school and college years became completely obsessed always thrilled and excited by it. Even though it’s already with Stravinsky and his music. 100 years old, it still brings out such a high level of enthu- The first time I conductedThe Rite of Spring was in April siasm, obsession, and devotion in young musicians. And 1995. I was 32 and finishing my tenure as music director in myself . . . I’m still as crazy about the piece as ever! “Too perfect an opportunity to pass up” By Dannel Espinosa nother member of ESP and Project Fusion, orchestration. For each new section of the work, I would Matt Evans, and I discussed many crazy often just sit and analyze the score, envisioning possi- ideas of arrangements for large saxophone ble combinations and different ways of voicing sections ensemble: compositions that could achieve in order for different colors to come through. The way something new on saxophone that had not yet Stravinsky serialized themes and rhythms was extremely Abeen attempted. captivating, and the mathematician in me got a huge kick For my DMA I decided to minor in conducting, and I out of seeing how he made it work. was extremely fortunate to work on The Rite of Spring Since I knew the ensemble was going to memorize it, with my conducting professor, Brad Lubman. This year I tried to make it easier to memorize without sacrificing was the 100-year anniversary of its premiere, and it was anything. It significantly helped once I knew who was Dannel Espinosa just too perfect an opportunity to pass up! going to be playing each part; I ended up arranging with (DMA ’13) is a I have been doing arrangements since middle school, the colors, timbres, technical abilities, etc. of individual saxophonist and and The Rite of Spring was by far the biggest arranging players in mind. I also distributed solos throughout the member of Project project I have ever taken on. I did not get a chance to try out ensemble so that everyone had at least one moment to Fusion and Eastman different sections, so most, if not all, of the arrangement shine. This also allowed for colors to change naturally, Saxophone Project. was exactly how I originally entered it, without any adjust- instead of the same player constantly trying to sound ments other than a few wrong notes here and there (there like different instruments. are probably still a few more that I need to touch up!). I tried to condense the scoring, in order that some play- I enjoy arranging so much because I get to complete- ers wouldn’t be on stage with nothing to play for multiple ly deconstruct works and attempt to put them back movements. If I tried this arrangement with another together. I get a better grasp of how and why certain ensemble, I would most likely expand a few sections, to notes work. I was fascinated by Stravinsky’s scoring of allow for a bigger sound in certain movements. I really the instrumental solos, and I tried to get creative with the feel the performers were able to bring my arrangement scoring of saxophones in order to capture his mastery of of Rite of Spring to life.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 19 { SCHOOL NEWS }

Happy faces at the Jazz festival, as always, was the Jazz Festival Scholarships Festival Scholarships A Festival Concert with the Eastman Jazz Ensemble under Bill concert: Jazz Studies and Dobbins. This year’s winners were double bassist Ryder Contemporary Media on Jazz Street Eaton and saxophonist C. J. Ziarniak, both of whom will professor Harold Danko, Eastman is always jumpin’ at the annual Xerox Rochester be entering Eastman this fall as Jazz and Contemporary festival director Marc Iacona, Jazz Studies and International Jazz Festival, and this year was no excep- Media majors. Contemporary Media tion. Eastman students, faculty members, and alumni professor Jeff Campbell, play an important part in this huge event, which brought Douglas Lowry Reappointed scholarship winners Ryder thousands of people to downtown Rochester between Eaton and C. J. Ziarniak, June 21 and 29 to hear great music in numerous indoor Eastman Dean festival director John Nugent, and Eastman and outdoor locations. Douglas Lowry has been appointed Community Music School Many of the events took place on Jazz Street, as Gibbs to a second five-year term as the Director Howard Potter. Street was renamed for the festival, and many more in Joan and Martin Messinger Dean Eastman performance spaces. Kodak Hall was filled by of the Eastman School of Music. big names like Willie Nelson, Pink Martini, and drummer On May 19, University of Roches- Steve Gadd (BM ’68), who took part in a concert with pia- ter President Joel Seligman nist Bob James and saxophonist David Sanborn on June announced the appointment, 27. After hours, festival late-nighters could head to the which took effect on July 1. Rochester Plaza to hear guitarist and Eastman Community “Doug is an inspiring leader of Music School faculty member Bob Sneider and his trio. Eastman and is working to advance the school’s new Eastman Community Music School’s jazz honors stu- strategic vision,” said Seligman. “The new world-class dents had a concert of their own, and a highlight of the facilities created under his leadership complement the

20 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 KURT BROWNELL { SCHOOL NEWS }

A Magical Orlando Eastman Opera Theater audiences entered a realm of magic, madness, and University Life Trustee Martin and music with the winter studio production of Handel’s Orlando, directed E. Messinger and his wife, the late by Alison Moritz and presented from January 31 to February 3. Based on Joan Messinger. a Renaissance story but re-set in Victorian England, the action of Orlando Lowry led the renovation of the his- included illusion, magic tricks, trap doors, and shadow play, all enhancing Handel’s exuberant score. Supervising the operatic magic were students toric Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre Zach Burgess and Betsy Pilon, as a magician and his assistant. and the building of the new Eastman East Wing, which includes Hatch Recital Hall and other state-of-the- school’s reputation for professional music education at art performance, rehearsal, and teaching spaces. the highest level. Doug recognizes the school’s valuable Dean Lowry has raised the school’s profile with events role in shaping the discourse for the future of music pro- and special programs around the country, notably in New fessions and training, with a keen appreciation of current York City with the appearance of the Eastman Virtuosi industry challenges and opportunities.” at Merkin Concert Hall and the Eastman Chamber Jazz “As a performer who understands and values schol- Ensemble at St. Peter’s Church. arship, Doug has been singularly successful in enhanc- ing morale and a sense of community,” said University Linda Muise is Provost Peter Lennie. “He is highly regarded by his fac- ulty as a visionary leader, and is widely appreciated for Witmer Award Winner his work to increase the school’s visibility.” Linda Muise, Eastman Assistant Dean for Residential Lowry joined the Eastman School of Music as its Life, was one of the winners of the University’s 2013 Wit- sixth dean in 2007, and in 2011 was named the first mer Award for Outstanding Service, announced in April. Joan and Martin Messinger Dean, endowed by alumnus An employee of the university for more than 30 years,

GELFAND-PIPER PHOTOGRAPHY Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 21 { SCHOOL NEWS }

Linda works tirelessly to create a welcoming atmosphere interdisciplinary collaborator. He Upcoming for the more than 300 students who call the center home began his undergraduate studies Notable Events while at Eastman. She devotes in physics and graduated summa countless hours training a resident cum laude with honors in music advisor staff that is well-prepared from Columbia University. He and sensitive to students’ needs. received his MM and DMA in “This is Linda’s power,” said composition from The Juilliard Janeen Elhassan, head resident School. Goldman’s compositions advisor at the Eastman Living have received national and inter- Ted Goldman Center; “caring for people in a way national recognition, including two ASCAP Morton that builds them up stronger.” Gould Young Composer Awards. September 19–28, 2013 As a testament to the qualities Linda Muise Rochester that gained Linda the Witmer Medal, Eastman has not Renée Jolles, Associate Professor Fringe Festival • Over 30 Fringe one but two awards named in her honor. Each spring, we of Violin, enjoys an eclectic career Festival shows will award the Linda Muise Student Life Award to a member as soloist and chamber artist spe- feature students, of the Eastman staff who contributes to the improvement cializing in a wide variety of styles. alumni, and faculty of students’ lives. The Linda Muise Student Award is Hailed as a “real star” by The New and staff members presented to a graduating senior who has shown leader- York Times for her New York con- from the University of Rochester. ship traits and has supported the quality of residential certo debut in Alice Tully Hall, she • rochester.edu/arts/ life at Eastman. has premiered hundreds of works, fringe including Schnittke’s Violin Con- Renée Jolles September 26–29, 2013 New Faculty Members certo No. 2 (U. S. premiere). Her concerto engagements EROI Festival 2013: have included orchestras such as Orpheus, Philharmonic Spectrum of Sound: Announced Orchestra of New Jersey, Cape May Festival Orchestra, Aspects of Organ Music Six distinguished performers and scholars will join the and the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra. Since 1940 Eastman faculty in the 2013–2014 academic year: • esm.rochester.edu/eroi Henry Klumpenhouwer, Professor Edoardo Bellotti, Associate Pro- of Music Theory, is a graduate of fessor of Organ, Harpsichord and the University of Alberta (BMus Improvisation, has held the same Composition, MMus Theory) position in several musical insti- and Harvard University (AM, tutions and universities, including PhD Music). He taught at the the Conservatory of Trossingen University of Alberta from 1991 and the University of Bremen in to 2012. Klumpenhouwer’s pub- Germany, and the University of lished work involves the analysis Henry Udine and the Conservatory of Edoardo Bellotti of atonal music, the history of Klumpenhouwer Trento in Italy. A virtuoso organist and renowned impro- music theory, and analytical methodology. viser, he performs at leading festivals and concert venues throughout the world. Nathan Laube, Assistant Professor October 13, 2013 of Organ, was a featured perform- A Tribute to Zvi Zeitlin Assistant Professor of Opera er at the 2009, 2011, and 2012 October 18, 2013 Stephen Carr’s work in opera, national conventions of the Organ Eastman Philharmonia musical theatre, and operetta has Historical Society; the American and Eastman Rochester Chorus, Neil Varon, taken him across the United States, Guild of Organists’ 2010 national conductor Europe, and Asia. He received a convention in Washington, D.C.; • Mahler: Symphony BM (’00) in voice performance and the Guild’s 2012 national con- No. 2, “Resurrection” and an MM (’07) in stage direct- vention in Nashville. He has per- Nathan Laube November 7–10, 2013 ing at Eastman, and earned two formed with numerous orchestras, chamber ensembles, Eastman Opera Theater additional postgraduate degrees Stephen Carr and choruses. Many of his live performances have been • Bock & Harnick’s in musical theatre in London at the Royal Academy of featured on American Public Media’s Pipedreams. Laube She Loves Me Music. Stephen will direct the Eastman Opera Theatre’s has won top prizes at several distinguished competi- fall production, She Loves Me. tions and currently is artist-in-residence at the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris. Ted Goldman, Assistant Professor of Music Theory, is a composer, music theorist, performer, educator, and Full biographies are available at esm.rochester.edu.

22 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 { SCHOOL NEWS }

Performing Weill’s salute Street Scene Brings Broadway Opera to Kodak Hall to ice cream cones and Kurt Weill proudly subtitled his 1946 musical adaptation building designed by Mary Griswold—but the stage was affectionate spoof of of Elmer Rice’s Street Scene “An American Opera,” and its filled with a huge cast of Eastman students and singers Italian opera (left to right): Lourdes Cossich, Matt presentation by Eastman Opera Theatre this spring proved from the community, directed by Steven Daigle and per- DiDonna, Nadia Fayad, that despite its Broadway pedigree, it is indeed an opera. forming Weill’s remarkable score, whose content ranges Anthony Baron, Emma There was one imposing set—a brownstone apartment from arias and ensembles to blues and boogie-woogie. Henry, Ben Curtis, and Jacob Stebly.

Operatic jitterbug: Mary Baron as Mae Jones and Alexander Bickel as Dick McGann sang and danced Street Scene’s “Moon- faced, Starry-eyed.”

GELFAND-PIPER PHOTOGRAPHY Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 23 { RECORDINGS }

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 q

MARIA SCHNEIDER bass and Tim Horner, (London Symphony/ joins his friend, pianist of the Week” by RTE Lyric 1 Winter Morning Walks drums—swing through six Brynmore Llewelyn Jones); Dan Tepfer, for an album of FM (the top Irish national mariaschneider.com Cunliffe originals as well Marimba Concerto, with original material. In March, classical music station), as famous ones by Harry soloist Nathan Daughtrey the duo toured to support this collection of cello and For her latest, eagerly await- Nilsson (One), Antonio (Slovak Radio Symphony/ the album in the United piano encore pieces with a ed CD, Maria (MM ’83) is Carlos Jobim (The Girl from Joel Suben); and Piano State, Norway, and France. twist by Ravel, Saint-Saëns, joined by illustrious sopra- Ipanema), and Schwartz Concerto, with soloist Betty You can hear Ben and Dan Rachmaninoff, and many no Dawn Upshaw and the and Dietz (You and the Oberacker (Czech Radio on YouTube playing the more, features Irish sisters St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Night and the Music). Symphony, Vladimir Valek). selection “Renata and Jean” Ailbhe (BM ’06, MM in an ambitious work that from this album. ’08) on cello and Orla critics have compared to BRASS ARTS QUINTET MARIUSZ SMOLIJ McDonagh on piano. music by Gershwin and 4 Suites and Treats 6 Eugene Zador: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Ellington. You can order the Available from Amazon.com, Orchestral Works, WIND ENSEMBLE JOHN SERRY CD from ArtistShare.com, Rhapsody, I Tunes Volumes 1 & 2 8 Landscapes q The Shift through Maria’s website. Naxos 8.572548, 8.572549 Naxos 8.573104 johnserry.com The faculty Brass Arts of VICENTE AVELLA quintet of Tennessee Tech A Hungarian composer of The UKWE’s survey of John’s latest album was 2 All the Days of My Life University, with trumpeters the generation after Bartók American music includes released in January as a Pandora’s Boombox Charles Decker (BM ’68) and Kodály, Eugene Zador Javelin and Mojave by digital download and is now vicenteavella.com and Chris McCormick (1894–1977) moved to Michael Torke (BM ’84) available as a CD. The Shift (MM ’88) and hornist Greg the United States, writing and an arrangement of is featured in the Summer Vicente (MM ’98) provides Danner (MM ’80), cele- and orchestrating movie Aaron Copland’s Quiet City 2013 issue of Jazziz maga- contemporary solo piano brate the ensemble’s 50th music. He also wrote many by longtime EWE director zine, which states that John arrangements of traditional year with original works orchestral works in a con- Donald Hunsberger (BM (BM ’75, MM ’90) is in “top wedding-music favorites and jazz arrangements servative, often lighthearted ’54, MM ’55, DMA ’63). form . . . Serry’s playing is from J.S. Bach’s Jesu, Joy of written especially for the style. Mariusz’s (DMA ’03) Copland’s Variations on a as colorful and expressive Man’s Desiring to Men- group, including Chris’s survey of Zador’s music Shaker Melody (based on as ever.” delssohn’s Wedding March, March of the Confused Men includes his best-known a section of Appalachian with well-known music by and Expansions and Greg’s work, Divertimento for Spring) and two works by RENÉE FLEMING Wagner, Pachelbel, and four Suite for Brass Quintet. Strings (1954), as well as Frank Ticheli round out the w Strauss: Ariadne original pieces: Dressed in the Oboe Concerto, Studies program. auf Naxos White; All the Days of My EMMA LOU DIEMER for Orchestra, A Children’s Decca 743810 Life; Romanze (Reprise); 5 Pacific Ridge Symphony, Csárdás AILBHE MCDONAGH and The One I Love. Navona NV5898 Rhapsody, and more. 9 It’s a Cello Thing e Strauss: Capriccio; Available from CD Baby, Dvořák: Rusalka; BILL CUNLIFFE TRIO Three different orches- BEN WENDEL & DAN TEPFER Amazon, and Massenet: Manon 3 River Edge, New Jersey tral works by Emma Lou 7 Small Constructions ailbhemcdonagh.com Arthaus Musik 107529 Azica 72250 (MM ’49, PhD ’60), with Sunnyside Records/Available three different orches- on Amazon.com and iTunes Named “A stunning debut Renée (MM ’83) recently Bill (MM ’81) and his trio— tras and conductors: album” by the Irish Inde- debuted as Ariadne in including Martin Wind, Santa Barbara Overture Saxophonist Ben (BM ’99) pendent and chosen as “CD this increasingly popular

24 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 { RECORDINGS }

r t y w e

o p a u i Chesley’s songs, performed DMA ’05), and its fifth CD its 15th anniversary by The Interludes; The consists of four works com- this year. Music Box is a collection missioned by the group, half-comic, half-serious championed by Howard of 12 piano inventions; and including Thrum by David JONATHAN RYAN Richard Strauss master- Hanson at Eastman. For Love Songs is just that: 13 Evan Thomas (MM ’83). a A Cathedral’s Voice piece. The conductor and more information on of them by Chesley, sung Raven OAR 941 orchestra are fully serious Clifford’s instrumental and by Jennifer McBride with JESSELSON/FUGO DUO Available at Straussians: Christian vocal music, you can con- the composer on piano and o Carolina Cellobration ravencdcom, amazon.com, Thielemann and the tact his widow Rosa Drake his son, Ames Parsons, on Available from CDBaby and iTunes Staatskapelle Dresden. It Julstrom (BA ’46, MA ’47) trumpet (chesleykahmann@ is available as a DVD or at [email protected] comcast.net). In celebration of their Jonathan Ryan’s (MM a Blu-Ray Disc. Three of or visit www.julstrom.com. 30-year partnership, the ’06) début solo recording Renée’s most acclaimed SAMUEL ADLER Jesselson/Fugo Duo com- features the 2011 Parkey roles—Countess Madeleine ARABESQUE WINDS u Cantos; Close missioned six composers organ at the Cathedral of in Strauss’s Capriccio and t Mosaic Encounters; Five to write pieces for cello and St. John Berchmans in the title roles in the Dvořák arabesquewinds.com Snapshots piano, and recorded them Shreveport, LA, with music and Massenet operas—are Various instrumentalists for their new CD Carolina by Byrd, Bach, Schumann, available on the new DVD The Coleman Award- Naxos 8.559743 Cellobration. In 2013 cellist Dupré, the premiere re- set from Arthaus Musik. winning quintet’s first CD Robert Jesselson (MM cording of Three Liturgical includes music of Ligeti, Professor emeritus of ’79) was named as the SC Improvisations by George CLIFFORD JULSTROM Bach, Nielsen, and Ravel. composition Samuel Adler Governor’s Professor of the Oldroyd, a commis- r Folks and Fantasies: The group started at East- continues to write prolif- Year by the SC Commission sioned piece by Zachary The Chamber Music of man and four of the original ically. These imaginative on Higher Education. Wadsworth (BM ’05), and William Grant Still and members remain—flutist shorter works give virtuoso other works. A Cathedral’s Clifford Julstrom Deidre Huckabay, oboist workouts to members of the EUCLID QUARTET Voice was featured on WGSM (William Grant Still Liz Spector Callahan, and string family: violin, viola, p Bartók Quartets public radio’s Pipedreams Music) CD4001 clarinetist Isabel Kim (all cello, double bass, guitar, Nos. 1, 3, & 5 and on With Heart and BM ’09), and bassoonist and harp. Two were written Artek CD60 Voice, hosted by Eastman Clifford (1907–1991; PhD Eryn Bauer (BM ’10), joined for former ESM colleagues: professor Peter Dubois ’48) who taught at Western by hornist Jena Gardner. Canto III for solo violin The Euclid Quartet, which (BM ’80). Illinois University for al- for the late Zvi Zeitlin, and includes violinist Jacob most 40 years (1936–1974), CHESLEY KAHLMANN Canto VIA for double bass- Murphy (BM ’98), recently Do you have music or was a prolific composer. y Four new recordings ist James VanDemark. released the second CD in a performances on a recent This disc combines his Four Orbiting Clef survey of Bartók’s six great or forthcoming CD? Notes Moods for string quartet Productions, Inc. MINNEAPOLIS GUITAR string quartets. The group’s wants to know! Send promo and Fantasy for flute, QUARTET first installment was widely copies to Eastman Notes, string quartet, and piano In 2012, Chesley (BA ’52) i Thrum praised by reviewers for Office of Communications, with six Little Folk Suites released not one, not two, Innova 858 its virtuosity and sense of Eastman School of Music, by the African-American but four recordings of his commitment. The group, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, composer William Grant music. Collision and Call The MGQ includes named for Cleveland’s NY 14604; or just alert us Still, whose music was Me A Dreamer consist of Benjamin Gateno (MM ’01, Euclid Avenue, celebrates that it is available.

Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 25 { ALUMNI NOTES }

official press release and 1950s a list of the finalists from 1 Gloria Mae Bugni the Grammy Foundation McMaster Juhn (MM ’55) is available at GRAMMY. is chairperson of the Schol- com. Diane is District Vocal arship Committee of the Coordinator and Vocal Sarasota Opera Guild and Music Teacher at Penfield was nominated to serve on (NY) High School. their board. Gloria and her husband Martin Juhn have On November 20, 2012, been long time supporters Candace Baranowski- and volunteers with the Sundby (BM ’72, MM Sarasota Opera Guild. She ’74) directed the Edison was recently interviewed State (FL) Concert Choir for Florida Stories on NPR in Brahms’s Liebeslieder station WUSF, Tampa. waltzes, with Mary Griffin Seal and Eastman’s Enrico Katherine Hoover (BM Elisi playing the four-hand ’59) celebrated her 75th piano accompaniment. “It birthday with a tribute by was a great honor hav- the New York Flute Club at ing Dr. Elisi play in this the 2013 New York Flute concert,” Candace writes. Fair. Katherine took part as She has been on the Edison flutist in a program of (in It hasn’t been a hard-knock year for Charles Strouse State University faculty her words) “some oldies (BM ’47), who saw recent New York revivals of two of since 2005, has a private and two new works.” Two his musicals: Annie (1977), running at Broadway’s Palace music studio with more of her piano works were David B. Levy (BM ’69, Theatre, and It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman (1966), than 40 students, and di- performed in New York this MA ’71, PhD ’80) has been as part of City Center’s Encores! series. The ever-popular rects two community adult spring: Line Drawings by appointed associate dean of Annie was also the subject of a recent PBS documentary, choirs. With her son Julian, Miriam Conti at the Tenri the College at Wake Forest and is set for a movie remake with Cameron Diaz as Miss a professional jazz pianist Cultural Institute; and the University, effective July Hannigan. Superman, originally a Broadway failure, was and music producer, she di- premiere of her Toccata by 1, 2013. His primary respon- warmly received this time around for its campy ’60s vibe rects the Lehigh Children’s Max Lifchitz and Christ & sibility will be faculty —and for Strouse’s lively score, written with Lee Adams. Choir. St. Stephen’s Church. governance. In June, the Annie cast celebrated Charles’s 85th birthday with an onstage party after a performance, Charles is Eli Epstein (BM ’79), for- Alan Molitz (BM ’68) is shown here with Annie, Daddy Warbucks, and FDR. mer second horn with the 1960s principal double bass of the Cleveland Orchestra who Bill Cahn (BM ’68) Canadian Opera Company now teaches at the Boston presented creative music Orchestra. His winter Festival, with Helmuth Julian and Alexander thrive and New England conser- making workshops at season highlight was a Rilling. Alan’s wife Nancy in musical and cuisine ca- vatories, recently published Radford University (VA) production of Tristan und Young Molitz (BM ’68) pre- reers, respectively; Julian’s Horn Playing from the from April 7 to 9. He also Isolde directed by Peter sented master classes and wife Angela freelances as a Inside Out: A Method for All performed in a freeform Sellars. Alan presented a workshops in performance French horn player. Brass Musicians, avail- percussion improvisa- master class in March for enhancement with Opera able from eliepstein.com. tion with members of the the studio of Jeff Stokes Lyra Studio in Ottawa, the Professor of Horn W. Radford dance department, (BM ’69) at the University National Music Academy, 1970s Peter Kurau reviewed the and in his own composi- of Western Ontario; this Brott Festival (Hamilton, Diane Abrahamian (BM book favorably in the New tions Time Traveler, Just summer marks his 13th ON), and in Eastman’s ’79, MM ’86) was a quar- England Horn Society’s Sing, and Kebjar-Bali, with season as principal double Music Horizons in summer terfinalist for the Grammy Cornucopia, calling it “over- the Radford Percussion bass for the Oregon Bach 2012 and 2013. Their sons Music Educator Award. The whelmingly stimulating Ensemble. and productive.”

Pianist Robert Jordan (BM In the 2012–2013 season, ’62) celebrated his 70th David Harman (DMA ’75) birthday in September celebrated his 29th anni- 2010 with a recital at Rosch versary as music director of Hall, SUNY Fredonia. The the Rochester Philharmonic event kicked off the school’s Youth Orchestra. The Robert Jordan Piano RPYO’s season included Scholarship and Endowed a trip to Carnegie Hall Lectureship, which provides for a February 17 concert recruitment scholarships called World Premieres for piano students, assists with Rochester Roots, and a with student enrichment “side-by-side” concert with efforts, and promotes 1 Gloria Mae Bugni the Rochester Philharmonic diversity. McMaster Juhn (MM ’55) 2 Geary Larrick (MM ’70) 3 Hollis Thoms (’77–’79) Orchestra on March 10.

26 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 CORBIS (STROUSE) { ALUMNI NOTES }

Michael Isaacson (PhD 11 at the Denver Center ’79) recently completed Theater Company, staged a new musical entitled by Tony-nominated director Miss Palm Springs in Marcia Milgrom Dodge. collaboration with lyricist Kim Scharnberg (BM ’82), Gordon Goodman. It has who has orchestrated five been optioned for a New Broadway productions, York production. Michael’s is co-orchestrator. Neil latest album, An American is associate professor Hallel, choral music per- at Brandeis University formed by Counterpoint and conductor of the and conducted by former Brandeis-Wellesley Eastman Professor Robert Orchestra. De Cormier, was praised by Rollins College professor Kamran Ince (MM ’84, Daniel Crozier as “a testa- DMA ’87) received an ment to Michael Isaacson’s Arts and Letters Award in versatility and impressive Music from the American technical command . . . In Academy of Arts and all, these choral works are Letters. The award consists 4 Jeff Stockham (MM ’82) grateful to sing and very of $7,500, plus another naturally conceived.” (See Symphony Orchestra under currently artist-in-residence by J. S. Bach (arranged by $7,500 towards the re- “Recordings,” Spring 2013 Anna Binneweg. at the University of Busoni), Ignacio Cervantes, cording of one work. In Eastman Notes.) South Carolina. Chopin, Poulenc, William April, Kamran’s first opera, Alan Vizzuti (BM ’74, MM Bolcom, Joplin, Ives, and Judgment of Midas, was 2 “Multicultural ’76) performed at Stephen Jelly Roll Morton. premiered by Milwaukee’s Percussion Music,” by F. Austin State University 1980s Present Music contempo- Geary Larrick (MM ’70), in Nacogdoches, Texas, The Australian Broad­ Neal Hampton (BM ’83) rary ensemble. was published in the Spring on April 25, as a trumpet casting Company’s Classic writes: “My show Sense 2013 issue of the National soloist with the univer- FM presented a recital by and Sensibility (book and Richard Kravchak (BM Association of College Wind sity’s Swingin’ Axes—his pianist Donna Coleman lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow, ’80) is the new director and Percussion Instructors third appearance with that (DMA ’87) on May 19. based on Jane Austen) had of the School of Music Journal. Geary has written group since 1999. Alan is Donna performed music its world premiere on April and Theatre at Marshall 45 articles for the Journal University in Huntington, since he was a graduate WV. Richard was previously student at Eastman. professor of woodwinds and Bravo Argento! The 25th music education, and chair Composer and vibra- anniversary revival of the of the music department at phonist Ted Piltzecker opera The Aspern Papers by California State University, (BM ’72) was a featured Dominick Argento (PhD Dominguez Hills. performer and composer ’58), which we previewed in February at the third in the Spring 2012 East- Akmal Parwez (PhD ’81) Festival internacional de man Notes, was a great heard the premiere of vibráfono y marimba at the success for the Dallas his Mallaal for English Institute Cultural Peruano Opera, which originally horn, performed by Anne in Lima. From March 1 premiered it in 1988 and Goldberg, on March 10 in to 3, he led a quartet for revived it in April; for New York City. The piece, ALOMA (Atlanta Lovers the starry cast, including only one minute long, of Music Association) and Alexandra Deshorties means “sadness” or “regret” presented seminars at and Joseph Kaiser (shown and is a prayerful tribute Emory and Kennesaw State here), Susan Graham, to a Pakastani girl, Mallal universities. and Nathan Gunn; and Yousafzai, who raised her particularly for the com- voice against ignorance 3 Hollis Thoms (PhD poser, who was there to and bigotry. candidate ’77–’79) was acknowledge the audi- invited to submit eleven of ence’s ovation on open- 4 Jeff Stockham (MM his major musical scores for ing night, April 12. The ’82) was recently seen in a special collection at the consensus of the many Stephen Spielberg’s Lincoln Maryland State Archives in admiring reviews was with “President Lincoln’s Annapolis. These works in- that The Aspern Papers— Own Band,” which performs clude operas, oratorios, and Dominick’s 13th opera—is on original Civil War brass three symphonies. Hollis a substantial and beautiful instruments and recreates has written over 125 works; work that deserves a place the appearance of the his Symphony No. 2 will in the repertoire. United States Marine Band be premiered in January of the 1860s. The band 2014 by the Londontowne performed several concerts

KAREN ALMOND/DALLAS OPERA (THE ASPERN PAPERS) Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 27 { ALUMNI NOTES }

over inauguration weekend TRIBUTE (January 10–20) at the Smithsonian Institution’s American History Museum. David Burge Jeff is an active freelancer in the upstate New York The American pianist David Burge, who graduated region. His own Civil War from Eastman in 1956 and who taught here from 1975 brass band, The Excelsior to 1993, died on April 1 in Warwick, Rhode Island, at Cornet Band, has per- the age of 83. formed throughout the David Russell Burge was born on March 25, 1930 Northeast for the last 12 years; Jeff plays solo E-flat in Evanston, Illinois. He earned bachelor’s and mas- cornet in the Federal City ter’s degrees from Northwestern University and then Brass Band and the 47th PA 5 Gregory Jones (DMA ’92) a doctor of musical arts degree and artist’s diplo- Regimental Band (Coates’ ma from Eastman in 1956, serving with the Army Band). during the Korean War in the interim. He was also David Evan Thomas a Fulbright Fellow at the Cherubini Conservatory (MM ’83) was awarded of Music in Florence. He taught at the University a McKnight Composer of Colorado from 1962 until 1975, then returned to Fellowship for 2013. The Rochester to join the Eastman faculty. He chaired awards, which include the piano department from 1975 to 1987, remaining $25,000 in unrestricted funds for each recipient, at Eastman until his retirement in 1993. acknowledge excellence in Burge was unusual among concert pianists in that the field of music composi- his recital repertoire consisted almost entirely of tion. David’s composition Thrum was released by 20th-century music, from Schoenberg and Berio to 6 Jean Ellen Linkins (MM ’05) George Crumb, and many more contemporary com- the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet in March 2013 performed at the Eastern Arts Fellow in The Lewis posers (including himself). Burge’s New York debut on the Innova label (see Division Convention of the Center for the Arts. Jason’s recital in 1961 at Carnegie Hall included music by “Recordings,” p. 25). American Choral Directors appointment begins in fall Bartók, Schoenberg, Ben Weber, and Dallapiccola; Association in February. 2013. (BM ’84) Allen Hughes, writing in his New York Times review, Patricia Zweibel 5 called it “a recital to shame the army of pianists who was recently promoted to Gregory Jones (DMA Keve Wilson (BM ’91) Counsel at Skadden, Arps, ’92) recently completed writes: “I have been play and replay the same safe pieces year in and year Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, his fourth recital tour of awarded the Clifford-Levy out . . . The persuasiveness of his programming and where she has worked as an China, playing solo works Creativity Grant in New playing was notable, and he certainly deserves a attorney in the Political Law and chamber music, York City for 2013. This medal of some sort.” In the ensuing decades, crit- Group since May, 2008. conducting brass ensem- grant award provides ics continually praised Burge’s adventurous musi- bles as part of the May the opportunity to go to Music Festival, and leading the Makuleke Village in cal tastes, as well as his musicianship, imagination, 1990s concerts and master South Africa, bordering and intellect. Peggy Dettwiler (DMA classes at the famed Beijing Zimbabwe, for eight days. ’91) is the Director of Central Conservatory, I will be working with Choral Activities at Tianjin Conservatory, and elementary and preschool Mansfield University (PA). Lanzhou University. The aged children and their The Mansfield University photo shows Greg in the teachers in a cultural Concert Choir (MUCC) Gobi Desert in Northwest exchange music program, was one of 362 choirs from China. He also traveled to teaching them traditional 64 countries to participate Greece as a guest artist American songs and learn- in the Fifth World Choir and clinician at the Melos ing songs from them. This Games held in Cincinnati Brass Ionian Seminar on grant was awarded through in July 2012. The choir the island of Corfu with the Diller-Quaile School of won gold medals in three additional master classes in Music, where I am on the categories: Musica Sacra, Athens and in Albania. faculty.” Folklore, and Mixed Youth Choir. They were one Benjamin Rankin (BM of only two American ’96) is Vice President of 2000s choirs to receive three Retail Development and In April, Julia Bullock (BM gold medals. Women from Education at Lancôme. ’09) played the title role in the MUCC participated Leos Janáček’s Cunning in a concert version of Jason Treuting (BM ’99) Little Vixen in the Juilliard The Sound of Music at won a fellowship position Opera production to great David Burge was an expert performer Carnegie Hall on April at Princeton University as acclaim. The New York of contemporary music. 24. The Concert Choir Creative and Performing Post’s James Jorden wrote:

28 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 COURTESY OF EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC (BURGE) { ALUMNI NOTES }

“spunky lyric soprano Julia Bullock charmed as TRIBUTES the Vixen, so full of lively mischief you could hardly blame her for raiding a Robert Ward henhouse or biting the leg of a neighborhood kid.” One of several Pulitzer Prize winning composers trained at Eastman, Robert Ward died in Durham, North Caro- Ashley Lancz-Toman (BM lina April 3 at the age of 95 after a long illness. ’04, MM ’06) portrayed Born in Cleveland, Ward came to Eastman in 1935 the harpist in Quentin and received his BM in 1939. After further study at Tarantino’s Oscar-winning filmDjango Unchained, for the Juilliard School of Music, he joined the U.S. Army, which she arranged and receiving a Bronze Star for meritorious service in performed Beethoven’s the Aleutian Islands. While teaching at Columbia Für Elise. University and at Juilliard, he composed several sig- nificant works, culminating in his first opera,He Who Last summer, Abigail Levis (BM ’09) played Rosina in Gets Slapped, produced in 1956, and particularly The The Barber of Seville for Crucible (1961), which won the Pulitzer Prize for music Hubbard Hall Opera, and and is still frequently produced around the world. she is joining Utah Opera Ward’s other works included seven more operas; four as a Young Artist in the symphonies and numerous other band and orchestra 2013–2014 season. Robert Ward (BM ’39) in October 2006 with the pieces; numerous chamber pieces, choral works, and cast of Eastman’s production of Claudia Legare. 6 On May 4, 2012, Jean songs. Ward’s operas Claudia Legare (1977) and Roman Ellen Linkins (MM ’05) Fever (1993) were recently produced at Eastman, and Daigle said on Ward’s death, “but I know that this act received an EdD/curricu- Ward visited his alma mater during the rehearsals for of kindness, generosity, and sincerity was repeated lum and instruction and the former work. countless times with young musicians and artists. elementary education/ music emphasis from Ward was a close friend of Eastman Opera Theatre With everyone he met in the music profession (and Bob Jones University. Director Steven Daigle. “His mentorship, advice, and beyond), he made the conversations lasting, personal, The title of her disserta- interest in my personal well-being were special to me,” and insightful.” tion is “The Pedagogical Philosophy of Lorna Lutz Heyge, PhD.” Dr. Heyge (BM ’63) is the founder of John La Montaine the original Kindermusik John La Montaine, who died on April 29 at the age of program (1974–1994) and Musikgarten (1994–pres- 93 in Hollywood, was five years old when he decided ent). Jean Ellen serves that he wanted to be a composer. He became a prolific part-time on the faculty of and much performed one, as well as a member of an Anderson University (SC) exclusive club among American composers: in 1959, he and Maranatha Baptist received the Pulitzer Prize for his First Piano Concerto. Bible College (online) in Watertown, WI. She also It was premiered by the great virtuoso Jorge Bolet, and teaches private voice and many of LaMontaine’s other works were launched by Musikgarten early child- distinguished musicians, including Leontyne Price, hood music and movement. Charles Munch, Howard Hanson (who recorded his Birds of Paradise with the Eastman-Rochester Josh Massicot (BM ’03, MM ’07) recently published Orchestra), Donald Gramm, and orchestras from the “I just want to write my pieces”: Functional Piano for Music New York Philharmonic to the Chicago Symphony to prizewinning composer John Therapists and Music the Los Angeles Philharmonic. LaMontaine (BM ’42) Educators (Barcelona LaMontaine graduated from Eastman in 1942, after Publishers), a resource book study with Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers. He a young man, he accompanied the old-school divas for students, professionals, and anyone looking to de- immediately drew favorable notice for his music; the Maggie Teyte and Mary Garden in recitals, and he velop their functional piano conductor Dmitri Mitropoulos described his scores played piano and celesta in the NBC Symphony under skills. Josh is on the faculty as “full of invention, composing talent, and a mature Arturo Toscanini in the early 1950s). of Nazareth College (NY); musical mind.” His musical output, whose style has “There is not one of my pieces that is like anoth- he developed this manual been likened to such American neo–Romantics as er piece,” John La Montaine said in a 2003 interview based on years of experi- ence teaching functional Samuel Barber and Ned Rorem, included concertos, with newmusicbox.org. “I’ve never spent a lot of time piano to music therapy and operas, chamber music, and choral works, as well as on publicity or anything like that. I just want to write music education majors. He much music for his own instrument, the piano (as my pieces.”

GELFAND-PIPER PHOTOGRAPHY (WARD); UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND PRESERVATION (LA MONTAINE) Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 29 { ALUMNI NOTES } also serves on the execu- Met revival of Poulenc’s to serve as visiting artist of Kodály’s Dances of Phyllis (Kladsky) tive committee of the New Dialogues des Carmélites. at St. James Cathedral Galanta, the Denver Post’s Gershkoff (BM ’41), York State Music Teachers Concerts in Chicago, and Ray Mark Rinaldi noted: May 2013 Association. Jonathan Ryan (MM ’06) frequently concertizes “Soloists shined, especially Crystal H. Gutheil relocated from Chicago to under the management of Jason Shafer on clarinet.” (BM ’40, MM ’43), Erin Morley (BM ’02) won New York in August 2012 Karen McFarlane Artists May 2013 a 2013 Richard Tucker to accept the position of (see “Recordings,” p. 29). In March, bass-baritone Edward J. Krolick Music Foundation Career Organist and Choirmaster David Wannen (BM ’01) (BM ’48, MM ’51), Grant—a $10,000 award at St. Mary’s Church in Jason Shafer (BM ’09) buckled his swash to play April 2013 to outstanding young Nutley, NJ, where he over- is temporary principal the Pirate King in Gilbert John LaMontaine opera singers. Erin has sees a growing music pro- clarinet with the Colorado and Sullivan’s Pirates of (BM ’42), May 2013 been a member of the gram that includes the St. Symphony Orchestra, Penzance at the Kirby John C. McLaughlin Metropolitan Opera’s Mary’s Schola Cantorum, which he joined after two Center for the Performing (BM ’48), June 2013 young artist program for a professional ensemble years with the New World Arts in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Iris C. (Bedrick) Rogers the last three years, and that he founded, and the Symphony. Of the orches- David is also managing (BM ’47, BA ’48), May 2013 appeared in the recent Parish Choir. He continues tra’s recent performance director of the New York Evelyn (Kneeland) Gilbert and Sullivan Schuyler  (BM ’44), Players, which he joined in April 2013 2004 after getting a degree in business from Columbia 1950s University. Annette (Nahmensen) Albright  (MM ’54), Sunny Yungin Yang is the April 2013 new cellist of the Kronos Frank J. Bellino Quartet, one of the leading (MM ’51), June 2013 groups in contemporary David Burge music since the 1970s. (DMA ’56), April 2013 Sunny replaces another Zita (Silverman) Eastman graduate in the Friedland cellist’s chair: Jeffrey (BM ’57), April 2013 Ziegler (BM ’95), who David Edward Froehlich is leaving to pursue solo (BM ’52, MM ’53), projects and to join the April 2013 faculty of Mannes College. Grace (Butiste) Hepburn Kronos celebrates its 40th (BM ’53), June 2013 anniversary in 2013–2014 Richard E. Otto with a number of commis- (’55), May 2013 sions; Sunny will be playing John Fiske Robson From the Winter 2005 Eastman Notes: new music by Philip Glass, (BM ’53), January 2013 Jacob Avshalomov with his wife Doris, Aleksandra Vrebalov, and Robert I. Silberstein and another family member. Terry Riley, among others. (BM ’53), March 2013 TRIBUTE 1960s IN MEMORIAM Paul Eugene Brown Jacob Avshalomov (BM ’62, MM ’63), 1930s April 2013 The American composer and conductor receiving a BM in 1942 and an MA Ruth M. (Brigham) Gibson Francis J. Cocuzzi Jacob Avshalomov died on April 25 in in 1943. (BM ’36), February 2013 (BM ’62), May 2013 Portland, Oregon, where he had lived After World War II, he taught at Margaret (Waderlow) Lynn (Priest) Fitzpatrick for many years. Columbia University (1946–1954), then Morton (’39), May 2013 (BM ’64), June 2013 Robert E. Ward Fredric Lieberman He was born in 1919 in Tsingtao, was appointed conductor of the Portland (BM ’39), April 2013 (BM ’62), May 2013 China, the son of the Siberian-born Youth Philharmonic in 1954. He led this Lawrence R. Singer composer Aaron Avshalomov. In Chi- renowned youth orchestra—the oldest 1940s (BM ’64), February 2013 na, he worked as a factory supervisor in the United States—for 40 years, retir- William Arrowsmith Joan W. (Harter) Stanley and was also the diving champion of ing in 1995 after leading an estimated (’42), January 2013 (BM ’61), February 2013 Jacob D. Avshalomov North China. 640 concerts and 10,000 auditions. (BM ’42, MA ’43), 1970s After the Japanese invasion of China Avshalomov won numerous awards April 2013 Helen C. (Tuntland) in 1937 he moved to the United States throughout his life for music education Elinore L. Barber Jackson (MM ’71), with his mother. He studied composi- and composition, including the New (MA ’42), May 2013 June 2013 tion with Ernst Toch in Los Angeles, York Critics Circle Award for his cho- Arthur Eresman (MM ’51), April 2013 1980s attended Reed College in Portland, ral work Tom o’Bedlam. He published a Virginia Farmer Marcia F. Beach and spent two years at Eastman study- dual biography of himself and his father, (BM ’43), July 2013 (PhD ’88), May 2013 ing composition and orchestration, Avshalomov’s Winding Way, in 2008.

30 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 PAUL KITAGAKI, JR./THE OREGONIAN { FACULTY NOTES }

and Music Cognition. She gave an expanded version of this talk as a Celebrating keynote address for the Service Midwest Music Cognition 50 Years (1963–2013) Symposium at Ohio State Vincent Lenti, Professor University. Betsy, with of Piano Professor of Theory Steve Laitz (PhD ’92), presented 35 Years (1978–2013) at the Music Theory John Marcellus, Pedagogy Conference Professor of Trombone at the University of Marie Rolf, Professor of Massachusetts, Amherst Music Theory from June 24–28. Allan Schindler, Profes- sor of Composition Enrico Elisi Professor of Theory 30 Years (1983–2013) In May, Associate Professor William Marvin (MA Jonathan Baldo, of Piano Enrico Elisi trav- ’94, PhD ’02) has been Professor of English eled to Indonesia and South elected President of the Robert Wason, Korea for master classes Music Theory Society of Professor of Music and workshops entitled New York State. It is the Theory Selected Aspects of Piano oldest American regional Technique and The Damper music theory society, and 25 Years (1988–2013) Pedal and Sound Alchemy the only one to publish an Jean Barr, Professor of at the Jakarta Conservatory, international journal, so it Accompanying and Dankook University, is highly influential and has Chamber Music Hanyang University, Sun an exceptionally distin- Alan Harris, Professor Hwa High School, and guished membership. Bill’s of Violoncello Sookmyung Women’s predecessor was Jonathan 20 Years (1993–2013) University. He also led the Dunsby, chair of Eastman’s Natalya Antonova, first Seoul International Music Theory Department. Professor of Piano Master Class on May 18. Nicholas Goluses, Professor of Theory Professor of Guitar Musica Nova director Brad and Associate Dean of This rare first edition (from the Sibley Library) for piano, four Oleh Krysa, Professor Lubman led Ensemble Graduate Studies Marie hands, shows Debussy’s dedication to Read on the title page of Violin Signal at Columbia Rolf (PhD ’77) recently pub- of his Marche des Anciens Comtes de Ross (1891). The work was University’s Miller Theater lished “General Meredith 15 Years (1998–2013) renamed as the Marche écossaise when the orchestral version in a concert dedicated to Read and Claude Debussy’s Harold Danko, Profes- was published (1911); it has been known by that title ever since. the British composer and Marche Écossaise” in sor of Jazz Studies & conductor Oliver Knussen The Musical Quarterly. Collections division of Rush Naïades’”; and Marie Rolf, Contemporary Media, (who visited Eastman in John Meredith Read, an Rhees Library, but soon “La premiére ébauche de Piano December 2010) as part American career diplomat, grew to include 85 boxes Colloque sentimental”. Roger Freitas, of the Composer Portrait commissioned Debussy’s of materials placed in the Associate Professor series. The New York Marche Écossaise in 1890. New York Public Library, of Musicology Times described Brad and Her research began with Library of Congress, Albany Don Harry, Associate Signal’s performance of the Read materials in the State Library, historical Professor of Tuba Knussen’s Ophelia Dances Rare Books and Special societies in Pennsylvania James Thompson, as “dazzling.” and Delaware, Dickinson Professor of Trumpet College, and elsewhere (see 10 Years (2003–2013) Professor of Theory photo above). Carlos Sanchez- Elizabeth Marvin (MA ’81, Gutierrez, Professor PhD ’89) taught an invited Speaking of Debussy, three of Composition workshop for students Eastman theory professors (“Exploring Pitch Memory are published in Regards and Melody Perception: sur Debussy (Paris: Fayard), Paul O’Dette’s latest Empirical Approaches”) which includes presenta- recording, Il Divino at the New England tions from the International (Harmonia Mundi 7557), re- Conference of Music Colloque Debussy in Paris ceived effusive praise from Theorists, April 12–13, at in February 2012. Matthew Gramophone magazine, Tufts University. She also Brown contributed “Pelléas, which called the disc of organized and spoke on Mélisande, le grotesque et fantasias, ricercars, and int- the conference plenary l’arabesque”; department abulations by Francesco da session, with Ani Patel chair Jonathan Dunsby, Milano (1497–1543) “A truly (Tufts University) and Ian “La vocalité de Debussy: ravishing programme” and Quinn (Yale University) une vision herméneu- Paul “our own latter-day on the topic Music Theory Marie Rolf tique du ‘Tombeau des Orpheus.”

Fall/Winter 2013 | Eastman Notes 31 { STUDENT NOTES }

1 It was the Semester of and pedagogy and an Saxophone at Eastman last Eastman Community Music spring, with students of School faculty member, Chien-Kwan Lin winning was recently named a 2013 big in two major competi- Steinway artist. Joseph tions. At the national finals will perform at special of the MTNA Chamber events this fall in Buffalo Music Wind Competition, and in Rochester, hosted Eastman sax students by Denton, Cottier, and swept both the solo and Daniels Steinway Gallery. chamber-music categories. Jonathan Wintringham John Liberatore, PhD stu- won first prize in the dent in composition, is one young artist (woodwinds) of the 2013 winners of the category. Project Fusion ASCAP Foundation Morton Saxophone Quartet Gould Young Composers (Dannel Espinoza, Matt Awards. Yie Eun Chun Amerdio, Michael Sawzin, (MM ’10) is also among this Matt Evans) won first year’s winners. prize in the winds chamber music category. In April, In May, Eastman’s 2012–2013 teaching assistant prizes Saxophonist Keenan Project Fusion also won were awarded to Lauren Becker (DMA student in horn), was awarded to Jonathan McKoy is this year’s recip- the grand prize at the Matthew Valverde (DMA student in voice), Min Hwan Fitzgerald, for “Reginald ient of the Rochester, New 2013 Plowman Chamber Kim (MM student in piano), James Sullivan (PhD student Smith Brindle’s revision of York Chapter of The Links, Music Competition, and in music theory and DMA student in double bass), Gilad Polifemo de Oro: A ‘greater Incorporated, an organiza- was awarded Eastman’s Rabinovich (PhD student in composition and in music fulfillment’?” (professors tion that recognizes the tal- John Celentano Award for theory), and Emlyn Johnson (DMA student in flute). John Covach and Nicholas ent and academic achieve- Excellence in Chamber Goluses, advisors). ment of African-American Music for 2012–2013. And Composition category; The winners of Eastman’s scholar-musicians. Keenan in May, Project Fusion won trombonist Paulo Perfeito, 2012 Lecture-Recital prize Regina Compton, PhD gave a recital on April the gold medal, senior Jazz Group, for Paulo Per- are John Allegar, for “The student in musicology, 28 in which he not only wind division, in the 2013 feito’s Eastman 6tet, which Chicago Years of Flor- was awarded the J. Merrill performed saxophone Fischoff Chamber Music includes saxophonist Marc ence Price: Context and Knapp Research Fellowship works and arrangements by Competition. Eastman’s Schwartz, trumpeter Dave Hybridity in Variations on of the American Handel Bach, Decruck, Wirth, and Midic Winds (Johanna Chisholm (DMA ’13), bass- a Folksong and Suite No. 1 Society to support travel to Tomasi, but sang Rodgers Gruskin BM ’13, flute;June ist Emilio Lasansky (BM for Organ” (professors Mi- London for research on her and Hart’s “My Funny Kim, oboe; Rebecca Tobin, ’15), drummer Eric Metzger chael Anderson and David dissertation, “A Study of Valentine” with a jazz clarinet; Quinn Delaney, (BM ’14), and pianist Higgs, advisors), and Tim- Handel’s Secco Recitative combo. bassoon; and Russell Reuben Allen (BM ’10, MM othy Burns, for “Investigat- in the Operas from the First Rybicki BM ’13, horn) won ’13); and saxophonist Marc ing Schumann’s Gedichte Royal Academy of Music Garrett Rubin received the Fischoff Competition’s Schwartz, Jazz Arrange- der Königin Maria Stuart, (1720–28).” an mtv-U award from the bronze medal. ment, “The Two Lonely Op. 135” (professors Jean Fulbright Foundation, given People” and Jazz Soloist, Barr and Jürgen Thym, ad- Joseph Irrera, DMA stu- for a research project on More Eastman sax acclaim: for “Stella by Starlight.” visors). Honorable Mention dent in piano performance an aspect of international Jonathan Wintringham musical culture, focusing was also a winner of on contemporary or the 2013 Astral Artists popular music as a cultural National Auditions; force for expression or DMA student Katherine change. With assistance Weintraub is first prize from the Jordan National winner of the 2013 William Conservatory, Garrett will C. Byrd Young Artist devise and teach a program Competition; and DMA for children at a cultural student Phil Piereck center for refugees in is third prize winner of Amman. the First International Saxophone Symposium and Sarah Fuchs Sampson, Competition. a current PhD student, is Eastman’s Presser This year’s DownBeat Music Award recipient for awards included graduate 2013–2014. This summer, college awards to three Sarah conducted archival Eastman graduate students: research in Paris, London, Jennifer Bellor, for her and Toulouse, studying op- original piece “Midnight era pedagogy, performance, Swim” in the Original 1 Project Fusion Saxophone Quartet: Matt Evans, Michael Sawzin, Dannel Espinosa, Matt Amedio. and production.

32 Eastman Notes | Fall/Winter 2013 GERRY SZYMANSKI Eastman MAIL A free monthly newsletter for Eastman School of Music alumni, parents, and friends The Eastman advantage continues long after graduation; in fact it lasts a lifetime, as our alumni maintain professional and personal contact with each other, and with the school itself. EastmanMAIL, our monthly newsletter, will provide you with announcements of alumni events in your region and elsewhere, important information about events at Eastman, and much more useful news.

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Sweet and Low

Last spring, Eastman hosted the International Viola Congress; this spring the school super-sized it and brought in the International Society of Bassists from June 2–8. The biennial convention brought hundreds of bassists of all ages from more than 30 countries to mingle, perform, and listen. It was a homecoming for alumni Ron Carter, Brett Shurtliffe, and (pictured) Yung- Chiao We, who all performed (see also p. 8). “It was a thrill for me to see so many of my former students in prominent roles in performing at this prestigious event,” said James VanDemark, Professor of Double Bass and co-host of the Convention. Photograph by Nadine Sherman