BLAIR WINTER 2005 Blair celebrates 40years of precollegiate instruction For tyYears Vanderbilt University Young

Forty Years From the Dean Blair faculty reminisce about the formative years his is a special year for the Blair School Cover: Pierce Trey, a member of the of Music and, accordingly, a special issue Children’s Choir that toured Germany last summer (see page 8). of the Quarter Note. Through our con- Photo by Neil Brake. T Young cert series, special events featuring faculty, students, and alumni, and through our publi- B Y L ISA D U B OIS The BLAIR QUARTER NOTE, the newsletter cations, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of of the Blair School of Music, is published twice a year in cooperation with the the founding of the Blair School. ring on the festivities! Organist Emeritus, Peter Fyfe; Office of Advancement Communications From its inception, Blair has represented excel- for alumni, current students, and other The Blair School of Associate Dean and Associate friends of the School. lence in musical performance and instruction, Music is 40 years old! Professor of Flute Jane Kirch- and we are proud that this essential principle

The BLAIR QUARTER NOTE, Volume 29, DANIEL DUBOIS B ner; Senior Artist Teacher of A group of faithful faculty Number 1, Winter 2005 remains the guiding force in all that we do. In and holder of the © 2005 by Vanderbilt University. members started at or near 1964, there was no music major for Vanderbilt students, but there was an energetic, Chancellor’s Chair Roland All rights reserved. the beginning—and stayed accomplished, and dedicated faculty with inspired students. Del Sawyer, the first direc- Schneller; Professor of Pi- on as the academy grew Editor, Bonnie Arant Ertelt tor and subsequent dean of the Blair School, established a solid foundation of superb ano Emerita, Enid Katahn; Director of External Affairs, Cindy Steine from a small precollegiate Contributors, Lisa DuBois, Angela quality in the curriculum, faculty hires, and program development. Blair owes him an Joseph Joachim Professor program at Peabody Col- Wibking Fox, Jim Patterson incalculable debt of gratitude, for none of the progress Blair has made since then could of Chris Teal; and Art Director, Donna DeVore Pritchett lege to a premier accred- Designer, Suzanna Spring have occurred without his principled and forthright guidance. Adjunct Assistant Profes- ited precollegiate and Executive Director of Advancement In 2005, the Blair School has a nationally respected collegiate program, outstanding sor of Violin and former Communications, Ken Schexnayder collegiate music school at precollegiate student Mary precollege and adult instruction, a broad array of courses for Vanderbilt University stu- Vanderbilt University. Kathryn Vanosdale. Precollege, adult, and undergraduate dents who are not music majors, and talented, accomplished students of all ages. All alumni are encouraged to send their Curious about the “good professional or personal news to: this is made possible by a superb faculty whose achievements on the world’s stages are ol’ days,” Quarter Note spoke QN: How did the Blair matched by their wisdom and inspiration in the teaching studio and classroom. The BLAIR QUARTER NOTE separately to several of these ven- Academy of Music get started 2400 Blakemore Avenue The past year has seen new milestones in the School’s maturation: the first Euro- back in 1964? Nashville, TN 37212-3499 erable faculty members: former pean tour by a collegiate ensemble, two European tours by precollege ensembles, Director/Dean Del Sawyer; Adjunct Del Sawyer: At that time I was a teach- Or by e-mail to: a record enrollment in the precollege and adult program, growing audiences for the Professor of Organ and University ing fellow of at George Peabody [email protected] many concerts in our outstanding new facilities, and active collaboration with civic and Undergraduate alumni news now regional arts organizations. Our faculty members perform and give lectures through- appears in Vanderbilt Magazine’s class notes section. Any news sent by under- out the world and provide students at Vanderbilt University and in the Middle graduate alumni is forwarded to Tennessee region with instruction of the highest caliber. Blair School of Music–a Timeline Vanderbilt Magazine. With all these achievements, there is every reason to celebrate a distinguished Visit us on the Web at past, a vibrant present, and the promise of a brilliant future. That is what you will find 1964 1967 1968 1969 www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/ in all of the Blair School’s concerts this year and in this issue of the Quarter Note. Blair Academy of Music opened Blair String Quartet estab- Suzuki program, one of first Fifth Blair anniversary. Vanderbilt University is committed in September, as the precol- lished. First members were programs in the region, begun Faculty: 10 full-time, to principles of equal opportunity and I hope you will join with us in celebrating this remarkable history and, better still, lege division of the School of Sheldon Kurland and Stephen by Sharon Rogers. 15 part-time. affirmative action. the promise the Blair School holds for generations to come. Music of George Peabody Col- Clapp (), Lee Kull (), lege for Teachers. Fall enroll- and David Vanderkooi (cello). Printed on recycled paper ment: 224 students. Faculty: 1 1971 full-time (Roland Schneller), 19 Blair Woodwind Quintet estab- Original part-time. John Friedel (Del) lished. Two of first members members of Sawyer, director. Building at were Bobby Taylor () and 1208 Eighteenth Avenue South the Blair String Quartet– Jane Kirchner (flute). Myra Jackson Blair—mother of on the Peabody campus. Fund- Sheldon Valere Blair Potter—for whom ed by the Justin and Valere Kurland and the Blair School was named Potter Foundation; Valere Blair Stephen Clapp Potter named it in honor of her (violins), David Oval inset photo at top—Kathryn mother, Myra Jackson Blair. Vanderkooi Plummer, who celebrates 30 NEIL BRAKE (cello) and Lee 2 BLAIR Quarter Note years with the Blair School this Kull (viola) Winter 2005 3 year, back in 1986.

College for Teachers School of Music. The dean of the Peabody Roland Schneller: I was 24-years old, my wife was pregnant, Enid Katahn: I was giving private piano lessons in Nashville the job, I inherited many exceptional collegiate and precol- Music School, C. B. Hunt, was conducting a national search and I’d spent the summer living in a trailer park at a fine arts and Del asked me that first year if I would come and teach legiate students from Stephen Clapp, who is now retiring as and had to twist my arm to be a candidate. But C.B. was a summer camp. I desperately needed a job. It was late August at Blair. I said no. In the meantime, I had taken a course dean of the Juilliard School. wonderful man and said he’d back me 100% if I took the and by the time I responded to notices about music position certifying me to teach groups, which, if I wanted to do that, I had a lot to learn, because I wasn’t a very experienced job—and he sure lived up to his promise! openings, Blair’s was the only one that hadn’t been filled. I meant I’d have to put a second piano in my living room. The teacher. I taught both Connie Heard and Mary Kathryn Vanos- It was a whirlwind. In two and a half months I renovated was really fortunate to get that job. next year, Del invited me again, and this time I said yes. dale during their senior year of high school. They were quite a building, hired a faculty and made my own flyers. I didn’t Del became a good friend and cohort. We kind of hung I taught for 35 years before retiring. Those early days at advanced and very savvy, had studied with some of the have an office, so I worked at the Pancake Pantry and at around together and dreamed together, making it up as we Blair were a trial in some respects. In the original building best people in the region, and went on to study with many the Peabody Student Center. Because I was a performing went along. I kept busy helping him do whatever needed to the walls were very thin. I was upstairs next to a violinist, illustrious musicians. I can’t claim to have had a big impact musician, I knew all the musicians in Nashville, and I asked be done, whether it was administrative, going down to the and he stopped me one day and said, “Enid, can’t you have on their careers. my friends to direct me to the ones known to be both good printer to proofread something, or shoveling snow off the your students play a little more softly?” I said, “No! When teachers and good performers. Those were the people I tried front walk. We both treated Blair like it was our baby. the music says loud, they have to learn to play loudly. I’m Mary Kathryn Vanosdale: Chris Teal was a great influence to hire. not training them to play in this dinky little room. I’m train- on my career, actually. I started taking lessons at Blair the But I also had to solicit the students. So I hit the pave- Peter Fyfe: I was an organist and choirmaster at Christ Epis- ing them to play on stage!” first year it opened, and had a lot of teachers through the ment. I went to the newspapers, the radio stations, the TV copal Church, now Christ Cathedral. After Blair opened, the years. I spent a year and a half with Chris and then went stations. At every interview I told the story of how we Peabody organ teacher, Scott Withrow, wanted to be away Jane Kirchner: I started teaching at 16 and at Blair when I off to college. He was a lot of fun. You see this green teacher were starting this music academy for children serious about during the summers, so he asked me to take over in summer. was 21 years old. I had been a student at Peabody, and the coming at you, and you know he’s an accomplished player, their music. I went into the schools and spoke at general Several years later, I began teaching year round—organ at teacher I’d had for two years resigned in the middle of the and that he’s got to get used to teaching. He was just about assemblies. I talked to parents’ groups, ladies’ groups, garden Blair, sight singing and ear training at Peabody. I stayed on summer, and here I was with my new degree. I was in the our age, and we liked that. He was really hip and had long clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, and Rotary Clubs. It was a lot of work, for 39 years. right place at the right time, and I worked hard to make hair, and he showed us that you could be cool and also be a but I’ve never had so much fun in my life. In the first year Blair had no organ, so I taught at Christ myself valuable. They hired me. great violinist. He was young and fresh and he took an inter- The first full-time faculty member I hired was Roland Church. In 1965, I got a little Holtkamp pipe organ installed est in all of us personally and professionally. Schneller. at the house on 18th Avenue. The room was small, but the Chris Teal: I didn’t start at Blair until 1972. I came because organ just fit in there. I was a little uneasy at first, because I’d heard through the grapevine that they were auditioning QN: What are your fondest memories? the floor slanted, and the organ was extremely heavy. for a new member of the Blair String Quartet. When I got Schneller: Because the school was so small, everybody knew

1972 1978 1981 1982 1987 1992 Blair became cosponsor with New building planned on 3.5 acres of the Blair School of Music merged with Vanderbilt University’s Board of Trust Minors in music and music National Association of Schools of Music Nashville Symphony Vanderbilt University campus. The Blair Vanderbilt University on January 1. authorized the development of Blair history developed for students granted final approval for Bachelor of of Nashville Youth Symphony. String Quartet debuted at Carnegie Spring enrollment: 489 precollege, to the status of a degree-granting in Vanderbilt University Music in Musical Arts and Bachelor of Nashville Junior Symphony Recital Hall. 201 adults, and 420 college students school of the University. Nashville schools and colleges. Music in Composition/Theory. BMI organized. Chris Teal joined (VU and 7 area colleges). Contemporary Brass Quintet John Kochanowski joins Blair Composer-in-Residence program began.

Blair String Quartet. 1979 became official faculty. Connie DAVID CRENSHAW String Quartet. Heard became second violinist in Violist John Kochanowski joined the Blair String Ground broken for the building on Blake- Blair String Quartet. 1974 more Avenue. Fall enrollment: 444 prec- Quartet in 1987. 1993 Blair celebrated its 10th ollege, 87 adults, and 94 college 1988 Del Sawyer retired, anniversary. Informal discus- students Blair and College of Arts and July 1. Mark Wait sion began about a merger 1984 Science developed new program: music became new dean. with Vanderbilt University. 1980 Blair celebrated its 20th anniversary. 1986 major as a second major, not open to Kathryn Plummer was hired as Del Sawyer was appointed Blair’s first Blair Students. Blair celebrated 25th Blair School moved into the new build- dean. Faculty: 17 full-time, 33 part-time; First class of Bachelor of Music students anniversary. violist for the Blair String matriculated. Blair String Quartet was Quartet. ing. The Blair String Quartet performed 15 faculty in Nashville Symphony. Poster for a 1977 Carnegie Hall Recital with at the National Gallery in Washington, named a finalist in the 1986 Naumburg Chris Teal and Enid Katahn D.C. Blair Guild founded. Blair became International Chamber Competition. 1990 1977 Blair Children’s Chorus was formed by Mark Wait was the first accredited NASM school to offer 1985 First class of Bachelor of Music students Blair Academy separated from Blair accredited as a non- degree-granti- banjo and fiddle for credit. Nancy Boone. named dean in Vanderbilt University Board of Trust graduated. 1993 Peabody and became Blair School of ng institution by the National Associa- approved beginning the Bachelor of Music, Vanderbilt University. tion of Schools of Music. Groundbreaking for the building on Blakemore (1979): Marty Ligon, Music degree program. Peabody Music Bob Street, Carlyle Apple, Del Sawyer, Library moved to Blair building. In April, 4 BLAIR Quarter Note Ken Roberts, Anne Potter Wilson, 51 faculty with 16 full-time. Winter 2005 5 Jean Heard

everybody and everyone was involved in just about everything. Kirchner: I remember one time the electricity went off and Many of our best ideas and programs developed out of infor- I was in a room with no window. So I led my student into mal discussions around the coffee pot. It was exciting the big, old Victorian bathroom with a large window and lots to dream and share ideas and then watch these ideas come of light coming in. We sat on the lavatory and the bathtub Sound Fundamentals to life. and finished the lesson! Profile: Connie Heard B Y A NGELA F O X Fyfe: There were no jealousies, no fighting over students, no QN: How has Blair changed over the years? hurt feelings. Vanosdale: In the old days there was just a small group of us, and it was really elite. Everybody wanted to go into a Sawyer: We were like a family. I didn’t have a secretary at career in music. I felt sentimental when we left the old build- first, but this young woman, Euline Behm, was recommended ing and moved into the new building. When you join a to me. She couldn’t type worth a hoot, but she was devoted university you lose that quality of intimacy in exchange for most immediate inspiration. “She was just a delightful per- to Blair. The next year I made her the registrar and hired a making an impression nationally. son with a great sense of humor,” Heard recalls. “As a teacher, secretary who could type. she believed in breaking down complex problems into Kirchner: I would never have imagined Blair taking up a full simple building blocks, so that the student could be successful Katahn: I remember the Chen brothers, Melvin and Irwin, block between 24th and 25th Avenues and with the mar- each step of the way. My job as a teacher today is the same— who studied with me for years. They both took piano and velous facilities we now have. Nobody could have foreseen to help students play as best they can—although there is a violin and were wonderful on both instruments. One time this! different recipe that works for each student.” at a recital Irwin was playing the violin from memory, and Heard, who received her BM and MM from Juilliard and Melvin was accompanying him on the piano.Well, Irwin got Teal: The Quartet’s goals have changed over time. Now it’s also holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence, credits her love of stuck and kept going around and around the same loop. more professionally aggressive and has more performance DANIEL DUBOIS music to her mother, violinist Jean Keller Heard. “My moth- Melvin just kept backing up and played right with him until goals. The School has also made dramatic leaps in what it er played with the North Carolina String Quartet, and I grew Irwin found his way out, and they came to a close. They were offers. Mark Wait (I keep calling him our “new Dean,” but up hearing her rehearse and perform,” says Heard, whose adorable. Melvin is now the head of a music department at he’s been here for 10 years!) has greatly respected what we father is Chancellor Emeritus Alexander Heard. “My three a college in New York. I think he also has a Ph.D. in physics. started. He’s cherished the things that were good about brothers also played instruments, but I’m the only one the School and has tried to continue them. who went into music professionally.”

DANIEL DUBOIS Heard and her husband, bassist Edgar Meyer, may have passed the musical gene on to their 11-year-old son George, onnie Heard has been making—and teaching— who began violin studies several years ago. “He plays very beautiful music at Blair since 1982, when the acclaimed well, but if you ask him what he’s really into, he’ll proba- Cviolinist joined the Blair String Quartet and the fac- bly say soccer,” says Heard. Nevertheless, George is follow- ulty of Blair as an artist teacher of violin. Her musical roots ing in his parents’ tradition of spending summers making 1998 (phase 2) held in November. Two en- Symphony. Blair faculty perform more dowed faculty chairs established: than 1,100 concerts in the US and 15 at Blair, however, stretch back to the earliest days of the music. He attended the Greenwood Chamber Music Camp The five-year M.Ed., a joint effort of the Joseph Joachim Professor of Violin foreign countries. Edgar Meyer named a school. “When my family moved to Nashville in 1963, my near Boston while Heard and Meyer traveled to Oregon Blair and Peabody, begins in fall. held by Chris Teal and the Chancellor’s MacArthur Fellow. mother signed me up for lessons with Wilda Tinsley (later for Chamber Music Northwest, one of the couple’s festival Chair held by Roland Schneller. Wilda Moennig), one of Blair’s original faculty members,” stops last summer. “Our family leads a rich but hectic life,” 1999 2003 Heard recalls. “I still have my notebooks from those days, and says Heard, in something of an understatement. Felix Wang became cellist with 2002 Collaboration between Nashville Ballet I like to show them to even my most advanced students, In the fall, Heard resumed performing with Blair String Blair String Quartet. Blair Recital Official opening of Ingram Hall. and Blair School: Emergence! Nashville because they emphasize the fundamentals of violin playing

DAVID CRENSHAW Quartet, which has a new Naxos recording due out. Mean- Hall renamed Steve and Judy Turner Faculty include 20 members of Nashville Youth Symphony renamed Curb Youth was the featured guest at Recital Hall. Symphony, a collaborative effort that apply to all levels.” while, Heard’s status as a teacher undergoes a significant the first Conversations Series program between Blair and Nashville Symphony. Although the basics of violin haven’t changed, Blair itself change as she becomes a full professor, and the first tenured in 1995. 2000 has evolved during Heard’s long association with the School. faculty member at the Blair School. “I am enormously grate- 1994 Completion of Phase 1 addition: 40,700 2004 “Of course, the School has grown so much in terms of the ful to be a tenured professor at Blair, and it is a special honor Blair celebrated its 30th anniversary. sq. feet; classrooms, studios, practice Blair celebrates its 40th anniversary building and the number of full-time faculty,” Heard agrees. to be the first one.” Heard says. “Although I did not initially Faculty: 23 full-time, 60 part-time. rooms, courtyard, and gathering space. with a series of events throughout the “But the emphasis has remained on the students and on cre- favor the tenure system for the Blair School, I think it may Michael Kurek won 1994 Academy Award In 2000-01: 168 concerts at Blair. academic year. Mark Wait named holder ating a nurturing environment for them.” be very significant in terms of recruiting and retaining excel- in Music from the American Academy of of the Ingram Dean’s Chair. Arts and Letters. Heard continued her studies at Blair throughout high lent faculty and putting Blair on the same footing with the 2001 school and then went on to study with famed teacher Dorothy very best schools in the country.” The grand opening of the Martha Rivers 2014 DeLay at Juilliard. The legendary DeLay remains Heard’s 1995 Ingram Center for the Performing Arts Blair will celebrate its 50th anniversary. First program in Conversation Series is with Chet Atkins. Edgar Meyer, Blair faculty member and DAVID CRENSHAW MacArthur Fellow, playing at Nash- 6 BLAIR Quarter Note ville’s Caffe Milano in the late 90s. –compiled by D.B. Kellogg Winter 2005 7

Musical Ambassadors Two precollegiate and one collegiate ensemble toured Germany, Spain, and the Canary Islands last summer

B Y C INDY S TEINE,PAM S CHNELLER AND T OM V ERRIER

n a manner of speaking, you know you’ve arrived when On through Germany and the Czech Republic you hit the road, and that was true this past summer for On June 17, the 23 members of the Blair Childrens Chorus Ithree Blair School of Music ensembles. The first Euro- departed Nashville for an exciting 10 day concert tour. Under pean tour by the collegiate Vanderbilt Chamber Winds the leadership of Pam Schneller, director, and Roland Schneller, and European tours by two precollege ensembles—the Blair accompanist, this was the choir’s third European tour. Suzuki Cello Choir and the Blair Children’s Chorus—meant After arriving in Berlin, the Concert Choir enjoyed two that the Blair School had student musical ambassadors work- days in Magdeburg. Hosted by the Exaudi Choir of Magde- ing hard this summer, showcasing their expertise and versa- burg, the girls enjoyed a day as villagers in the Medieval Town tility to neighbors far beyond Nashville. Project and later received a standing ovation at their stand- ing-room only concert. In Wernigerode, they celebrated To the Land of Bach and Handel the city’s 775th anniversary and enjoyed homestays with Thirteen Suzuki string student musicians, all under the age families after presenting a concert in a local church. Visits to of 15, traveled on their first international performance Eisenach and Dresden were thoroughly enjoyed as was the tour in a nine-day visit to Germany in June. Under the lead- thrill of performing a concert in St. Michael’s Church in ership of Anne Williams, Blair Suzuki Cello Choir director, Leipzig. and accompanied by Celeste Halbrook Tuten, senior artist In the Czech Republic, the choir was honored to visit and sing at Terezin, the former Nazi concentration camp. teacher of Suzuki violin, the group performed three concerts Posing in front of the Alcázar castle in Segovia, Spain, are members of the Vanderbilt Chamber Winds: Amy Cutright, Don Schwartz, director Tom Verrier, Danny in as many days, including a full evening concert in Magde- A joint concert with the Prague Children’s Choir was pre- Chapa, Julie Syler, Neala Swaminatha, Paul Epp, Chris Wilson, Erin Lavin, and faculty guest artist Karen Ann Krieger. burg, Nashville’s sister city. sented in the ornate Mozarteum in Prague’s beautiful old Following the path of the great Johann Sebastian Bach city center, and on June 25, the weary but happy travelers returned home. and Frederic Handel, they began a musical and cultural tour Fantasia en España English, the connection we made through music proved to in Eisenbach, a town with close associations to Bach and the In Spring 2004, the newly formed Vanderbilt Chamber Winds be all the language we needed. It was the basis for a great great reformer Martin Luther. and director Thomas Verrier accepted an invitation to per- collaborative spirit and a continued friendship.” Indeed, The students visited the Museum of Musical Instruments form at the World Conference of the International Society the conductor of the Union Musical Utielana, Belgian- and stopped in at the Bosehaus, the repository of the Bach for Music Education (ISME) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, in born Frank DeVuyst, will visit Blair in March to conduct the archives, as well as St. Thomas Church, where the compos- July, a concert event that capped a week-long “whirlwind” Vanderbilt Wind Symphony in the premiere of his own crit- er worked for many years as church organist. They visited performance tour of Spain, with a schedule of four concerts ical edition of Ricardo Villa’s Gran Fantasia Española as part the Handel House, the composer’s birthplace, which has in five days. of a concert that will be recorded for broadcast by Spanish been restored as a museum outlining his life and work. In Embarking on their journey in Madrid, the ensemble National Radio. And Verrier is invited back to Spain this Naumberg, the group saw the city’s famous cathedral, the immediately drove to the ancient mountain village of Segovia summer to teach a two-week conducting course for band market square, and St. Wenzel’s Town Church, which has for a late evening performance in the city square. A Sun- directors. the biggest Bach organ in Germany. day afternoon performance held in the headquarters of the From Utiel, the Chamber Winds traveled to the bustling In Magdeburg the group visited such historic sites as famous Osborne vineyards drew a crowd of over 200 locals. Mediterranean port city of Castellon for a late-night outdoor the Domplatz, the Town Hall, the Elbe Promenade, and the Tiny Utiel in the hills of La Mancha was the third per- concert, then rushed back to the Madrid airport for a flight Johanniskirche with its Luther Monument. As a final reward formance stop, with the ensemble performing in a joint con- to Tenerife and their performance in the brand new Audi- for a successful working tour, the entourage spent their final cert with the Union Musical Utielana, then joining with the torio de Tenerife. day in Germany at Kassel, visiting Wilhelmshohe, Europe’s host performers and their families for a home-cooked fiesta A recording of the ensemble will be distributed in Spain biggest mountain park. dinner that went on until the wee hours of the morning. by the arts council of Tres Cantos. In addition, portions of “This was a high point of the whole experience for us,” the performance in Tenerife will be included on the compi- Blair Children’s Chorus enjoying the Old City center in Prague. notes Verrier. “Though virtually no one in the town spoke lation CD from the ISME convention.

8 BLAIR Quarter Note Winter 2005 9

STUDENTS FACULTY

PRECOLLEGIATE AND ADULT Performing Arts Center. Eli Bishop attend- tain Summer Conservatory, Roundtop, culture of AIDS in Africa and the Caroline Awh, violin student of Katherine ed Sewanee Summer Music Festival and Sarasota, and Sewanee. Caribbean. This fall he participated in the Mansouri, and Katie Awh, violin student was a finalist in the concerto competition. Blair students performing at the Frist first-ever conference on Medical Ethno- of Celeste Halbrook Tuten, attended the Margaret Cerjan returned for her third Center for the Visual Arts this fall on musicology at Florida State University. Hartt School of Music Summer Suzuki summer to the Killington Music Festival; Family Night included the Liza Barley His new book, Music in East Africa: Institute in August. she was also chosen to play for the Nash- String Quartet, and flute/harp duo Neala Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture, Will and Annie Bender, violin students of ville Symphony Fair.All are violin students Swaminatha and Paula Bressman. is now available from Oxford University Connie Heard. Katherine Mansouri, gave a joint Suzuki of Press. He presented papers and gave Sarah Bennett, Ellen McSweeney, violin lectures in Arizona, Florida, California, recital last October.Will, Annie, and Wil Harley, piano student of Rachael students of Connie Heard, and Christina Sammy Bender (also a student of Kather- Short, performed in August at Dancin’ in Georgia, and as part of Vanderbilt’s 2004 Thompson, violin student of Carolyn Commencement Seminar. ine Mansouri) and Mary Grace and David the District with the Blue Note Quartet, Huebl, attended the Killington Music Bender, students of Anne Williams, attend- an ensemble of sax, bass, drums, and piano, Festival last summer. Sarah also attended Joy Haslam Calico, assistant professor of ed the Ottawa Summer Suzuki Institute. which he founded in 2003. The group the Heber Springs Festival in Arkansas. musicology, presented “‘J¸dische Chronik:’ Hannah Bergmann, also a student of opened for Bela Fleck. Recalling the Warsaw Uprising in a Com- Mansouri’s, performed a Suzuki violin Joanna Felder and Emily Mahler, students memorative Cantata” in September as Jessica Keel and Jenni Ch’ng performed of Connie Heard, and alumna Shannon recital at Blair assisted by Brenna and with the select high school flute choir at the first faculty supper-seminar for the Madeline Wheeler on violin. Thomas attended Rocky Mountain Sum- Program in Jewish Studies. the National Flute Association Convention mer Conservatory in Steamboat Springs, Erin Cassel, Margaret Cerjan, Joshua this summer. Students Abi Coffer, Katie CO, where they worked with Blair faculty Cynthia Cyrus, associate professor of Henderson, Cecilia Huerta, Sam Quig- Howard, and Amulya Pervaje performed members Carolyn Huebl and Felix Wang. musicology, is recipient of a National gins, Austin Stevens, and Claire Whit- solos on pedagogy concerts. All are flute Endowment for the Humanities collabora- comb, all members of the Curb Youth students of Norma Rogers. Senior vocal performance major Linnette tive grant (with Susan Weiss of Peabody McCloud and senior musical arts major Symphony, directed by Carol Nies, re- John Lee, piano student of Karen Ann Conservatory and Russell Murray of ceived McCrory Foundation Scholarship Gioia Fazzini were selected for the Song- University of Delaware), “Reading and Krieger, was named the Tennessee State fest at Icicle Creek Young Artist Program Grants to attend music festivals last High School Concerto Winner at the Writing the Pedagogy of the Renaissance: summer. McCrory Grants are based on in Icicle Creek, WA. Both are voice Students, Teachers, and Materials of Musi- Tennessee Music Teacher Association students of Gayle Shay. their CYS audition and outstanding convention. cal Learning, 1520-1650.” An internation- orchestral work throughout the year. Preetha Narayanan, student of Connie ynonna Judd opened the 2004/05 Conversation Series at the Blair School al conference, a volume of essays, and an Cassel, Cerjan, Abi Coffer, Huerta, Brenna Wheeler and Madeline Wheeler, Heard, was one of ten violinists chosen giving students, the Nashville community, and her fans a unique per- online bibliographic database addressing students of Katherine Mansouri, gave a Jessica Keel, and Faye Zheng performed nationally for the Music Academy of the Wspective into her artistry during a discussion with moderator Deanna the institutions, traditions, and practices Suzuki recital, with Celeste Halbrook solos and chamber music at the Nashville West in Santa Barbara, CA, a highly selec- Walker. Wynonna talked about how she chooses songs, touring and recording, of musical pedagogy in the Early Modern Tuten accompanying. Mansouri’s group of Period will result. Symphony Orchestra’s October Advisory tive, full scholarship summer program. faith, family, her new book, and she gave advice to those who want to make it in Committee Meeting. violin students performed at an art show at the Belle Meade Plantation. the music industry. Afterward, she (along with Tony Obrohta on guitar) sang rous- Heather Engebretson attended Encore ing versions of “Rock Bottom” and Eric Clapton’s “Change the World.” last summer. In the fall, she was chosen ALUMNI by audition for the National Public Radio UNDERGRADUATES show “From the Top.” She gave two per- PRECOLLEGIATE The Fountain String Quartet, David Tony Silva, former piano student of formances as part of the Nashville Sym- Blair faculty performed on Live in Studio by local musician Andy Scheinman, who Repking and Carrie Stillwell, violins; Roland Schneller, was appointed to the phony preconcert talks at the Tennessee C heard on local public radio station interviewed two other Blair faculty over Henry Hoffner, viola; and Adrian Lauff, adjunct faculty at Christian Brothers WPLN this fall. The program featured the last year, Lyn Bingham, senior lecturer cello, with pianist Ralph Blanco were University. He is currently working on his Carolyn Huebl, adjunct assistant professor in aural studies, and David Schnaufer, first place winners in the Southern Divi- DMA in piano performance at the Scheidt of violin, and Dean Mark Wait, piano; adjunct associate professor of dulcimer. sion young artists chamber music competi- School of Music, University of Memphis. tion sponsored by Music Teachers National Beegie Adair, adjunct lecturer in jazz Gregory Barz, assistant professor of Association. The group is coached by John improvisation, and her trio; and Craig musicology (ethnomusicology), has been Nies, associate professor of piano, in Kochanowski. Jen Berkebile, student of FACULTY funded by a grant from the National Jonathan Retzlaff, was named 1st alter- September. In October the Blair String Endowment for the Humanities to serve nate in the vocal division of the same Quartet performed with composer on the inaugural board of consultants for competition. ongratulations to Daniel Bernard Roumain, BMus’93. the new B. B. King Museum in Indianola, The Strings Department of the Blair Kathryn Plummer asso- Butch Baldassari, adjunct associate profes- MS, birthplace of the legendary blues Cciate professor of viola, School had 30 of its collegiate students sor of mandolin, and the Nashville Man- musician. Other awards and grants from attend prestigious music festivals this past for 30 years of service, to dolin Ensemble performed their Bach, Vanderbilt include the Ambassador summer. The festivals included Aspen, Bobby Taylor, associate pro- Beatles, Bluegrass concert at The Chau- Award, a Service-Learning Enhancement Bowdoin, Brevard, Colorado College, fessor of oboe, for 35 years, tauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY, in Mini-Grant, and a development grant Encore, Heber Springs, Innsbrook, Killing- and to Roland Schneller, sen- July. Baldassari was featured on a WPLN from the Center for the Study of Religion ton, Mancini Institute, Masterworks Festi- ior artist teacher of piano and series called Playing in the Band, produced and Culture to develop an initiative on the val USA, Masterworks Festival Europe, holder of the Chancellor’s Daniel Bernard Roumain, BMus’93, Chair, for 40 years of service Music Academy of the West, Rocky Moun- headlined I, Composer: the Music of Daniel to the Blair School. 10 BLAIR Quarter Note Roumain to open the 2004 anniversary Winter 2005 11 concert season in October at Ingram Hall. NEIL BRAKE

Past Present Future

F ACULTY FACULTY Past e Summer Conservatory in Steamboat Jonathan Retzlaff, associate professor of Amy Dorfman, associate professor of Springs. She gave a duo recital with pianist voice, and Enid Kahtan, professor of piano, was a member of the guest music Mark Wait to open the fall season. piano, emerita, presented recitals on the faculty of the 2004 Tennessee’s Governor’s John Johns, associate professor of Guest Artist Series at Pepperdine Univer- School for the Arts. She joined the guitar, played solo recitals this fall at sity and at the University of California at Northridge; Retzlaff gave master classes

Nashville chamber group ALIAS as a guest Pr St. Stephen’s Guitar Festival in New artist in a performance of Paul Moravec’s York City; Springfield Guitar Society in at both schools. He also was appointed

Tempest Fantasy, the winner of the 2004 Futur Springfield, IL; Acoustic Art Series at the Tennessee Governor of the National Pulitzer Prize for Music. Kemp Museum in Wichita Falls, TX; Association of Teachers of Singing in April. esent Lambuth University in Jackson, TN, Blair hosted the Tennessee/Kentucky (with masterclass); at the Blair School; Region NATS Student Auditions which and at Nashville’s First Lutheran Church. brought 350 singers, teachers, and pianists to Blair for the first time. Retzlaff, along Michael Kurek, associate professor of with Gayle Shay, assistant professor of composition, was one of four finalists Flight Dreams, the new album by Joe Rea voice, and Amy Jarman, senior lecturer in for the National Symphony Orchestra Phillips, senior artist teacher of guitar, and voice, served as coordinators for this Commission Competition. He is once his duo partner Stan Lassiter, was an edi- annual event. esent again active in the National Academy of tor’s pick-of-the-month in Guitar Player Norma Rogers, adjunct senior artist Recording Arts and Sciences at the nation- Magazine. The Phillips–Lassiter Duo also

Futur teacher of flute and piccolo, performed a al level, and his composition for / played in recital at the Steve and Judy

Pr piece for 2 piccolos and accordian at the euphonium ensemble was performed at Turner Recital Hall. the U.S. Army Band national tuba con- National Flute Association Convention Kathryn Plummer, ference by the Blair Tuba/Euphonium associate professor of this summer with Karen Ann Krieger, Ensemble, directed by G.R. Davis, viola, performed and taught at the 6th assistant professor of piano, and symphony adjunct assistant professor of tuba. annual Heber Springs Chamber Music colleague Ann Richards. She also per- Festival in May. She also performed for formed on a recital honoring her flute A Precollege Cheri Montgomery, lecturer in voice, three weeks this summer in the Festival professor, James Pellerite, and served as published a series of four workbooks der Zukunft (Festival of the Future) in a judge for the Young Artists Piccolo e Past Sunday, April 10, 4 PM created for French, German, English, Ernen, Switzerland. She played in Brig, Competition. Showcase and Italian lyric diction courses. Each Switzerland, at the Stockalperschloss Melissa Rose, assistant professor of piano, Ingram Hall workbook comprises three products: and in Martigny, Switzerland, on a series Past e an instructor’s manual, the student performed on several chamber music Precollege alumni including Connie Heard, Jerome Reed, Mary at the Foundation Pierre Gianadda. edition, and an answer key.All are pub- series this summer, including the 2004 Kathryn Vanosdale, and Roger Wiesmeyer join the Suzuki Players, Jama Reagan, lished by S.T.M. Publishers (Student adjunct artist teacher of Symposium and the Historic Blair Children’s Chorus, Blair faculty, and students in presenting this Text Manufacturers, Nashville, TN). piano, received the Tennessee Music Franklin Chamber Music Festival, gala concert. A new history of the Blair School will be available for Teachers Association “Teacher of the Year” sponsored by the Nashville Chamber DANIEL DUBOIS Carol Nies, adjunct senior artist teacher of sale and signing by the author, D.B. Kellogg. Come early and enjoy a Award for 2004, in recognition of her Orchestra. She also completed her conducting, served as guest conductor for visual history of Blair through photos. Admission is free. A reception exceptional work with students. Reagan eleventh season as resident pianist for the Rome Festival Orchestra and assistant in the lobby of Ingram Hall follows the performance. is widely hailed for her abilities as a the Summerfest Chamber Music Series Futur conductor for the Rome Festival Opera soloist, chamber musician, adjudicator, in Kansas City. this summer. teacher, and author. Michael Alec Rose, associate professor of composition, was chosen as an award NEIL BRAKE recipient by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers Jen Gunderman, senior lecturer in music She also served for the third year on the (ASCAP). history and literature, played at the Blue artist faculty of the Killington Music Highways Festival (Utrecht, Netherlands), Festival in Vermont. David Schnaufer, adjunct associate pro- fessor of dulcimer, performed for a num- and the Calgary Folk Festival (Canada), Carolyn Huebl, assistant professor of ber of visiting Australian dignitaries and both with singer/songwriter Caitlin Cary; violin, performed on the Historic Franklin Nashville civic leaders at the Parthenon in and with various artists in Nashville at Chamber Music Series in June. In July, Nashville on September 11 for the open- Opry Plaza, Exit/In, Mercy Lounge, 12th she and Jonathan Crow, concertmaster of ing of the Australian Festival’s memorial & Porter, Radio Cafe, Douglas Corner,The Montreal Symphony, were soloists in the Family Wash, and Dancin’ in the District. Bach at the Strings in Connie Heard, professor of violin, played the Mountains Festival in Steamboat four concerts at the Chamber Music Springs, CO. She spent six weeks teaching Russian arts administrators visited Nashville Northwest Festival in Portland, OR. and performing at the Rocky Mountain and the Blair School in November. Here they look at an antique Tennessee Music Box in the studio of David Schnaufer.

12 BLAIR Quarter Note Winter 2005 13 DANIEL DUBOIS

F ACULTY FACULTY

in Mazatlán. The Colegio de Sinaloa Foglesong Inducted into invited her for a presentation in Culiacán, together with the acclaimed singer/song- Hall of Fame writer/actor José Angel Espinoza, whose song “En Sinaloa nací” Simonett used as Foglesong got the news during a news conference at the Coun- title for her new book. She lectured at the try Music Hall of Fame. “I’m going to steal a Pete Rose quote,” Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (Culi- PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION Foglesong said. “I can’t believe you get paid for doing something acán), the Universidad de Occidente (Los that you absolutely love. It’s been a great ride.” Foglesong’s career stretches back to the 1950s, when he worked Mochis), and the Universidad Autónoma as a recording studio singer backing acts including Dion & the Indígena de México (Mochicahui). Belmonts and Neil Sedaka. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was presI- Deanna Walker, adjunct artist teacher dent of the Nashville divisions of Dot, ABC, MCA, and Capitol Records. of piano, received the 2003 MTNA- He worked with artists including Garth Brooks, the Oak Ridge Boys, Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Tanya Tucker. Year award. She has written songs for a Foglesong has taught music business courses at Blair since musical play entitled Cornman by Janice 1991. Country music singer Dierks Bentley, who took Foglesong’s music business course at Vanderbilt, made the announcement that Fronczak. The work has been accepted Foglesong would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

DANIEL DUBOIS for a reading at the Hawaii International “Jim Foglesong is a giant of the music industry,” said Mark Wait, Conference on Arts and Humanities. im Foglesong, adjunct professor of music business, was induct- dean of Blair School of Music. “For decades, his work has been cru- ed into the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with singer/ cial in guiding the industry and in determining its future. We are Jsongwriter/actor , on November 9 during proud to have Jim on the Blair School’s faculty, and I’m thrilled that Pam Schneller (left) and Cynthia Cyrus (third from left) joined the Dean’s Office this fall “The 38th Annual Country Music Association Awards” broadcast on he has been selected for the Country Music Hall of Fame.” as assistant dean and associate dean. Amy Jarman (right) has served as assistant the CBS network. —Jim Patterson dean since 2001. Jane Kirchner (second from left) will return to teaching full-time in fall ’05, after 18 years as associate dean.

service. His performance included an origi- The Venus Harp Company in Chicago nal solo work, “When Silence Was Golden.” donated a concert grand harp to the Mem- Marian Shaffer, adjunct professor of harp, phis Symphony Orchestra last season in New Faculty was featured with the Memphis Sym- her honor. This is her 28th season as prin- cipal harpist of the Memphis Symphony. phony Orchestra in the Mozart Flute Mat Britain adjunct instructor and Harp Concerto. She also traveled to Gayle Shay, assistant professor of voice, of music Anchorage, AK, to play La Boheme with participated in the art song festival Matt Combs adjunct instructor the Anchorage Opera and performed with Songfest 2004 in Malibu, CA, performing in fiddling the Memphis Chamber Music Society and on various concerts with pianist Martin at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. At Katz and composer John Harbison and Paul Deakin lecturer in music theory the final concert of the Sewanee Festival collaborating with other young composers Elizabeth Eckert adjunct artist teacher she was presented an award for 25 years of to premiere newly-written American art of piano service in leading the harp department. songs. In July, she directed the opera scenes portion of the Young Artist Pro- Janet Epstein adjunct artist teacher gram at Icicle Creek, WA. of recorder Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Jen Gunderman senior lecturer in music History and Literature Helena Simonett’s history and literature, new book on banda music was published part-time in Mexico where she spent a semester Erin Hall adjunct artist teacher doing research among the Yoreme people. of violin Simonett presented En Sinaloa nací: histo- ria de la música de banda at the Book Fair Joel Reist adjunct assistant professor of

New Faculty Tracy Silverman adjunct assistant professor of fiddling Christopher Stenstrom adjunct instructor Emergence!! marked the second collaboration of viola da gamba between Blair School composers and the Nashville Ballet. They premiered four new works at Ingram Hall in November.

14 BLAIR Quarter Note NEIL BRAKE Winter 2005 15

Dean Mark Wait nominated for two Grammy Awards

ean Mark Wait was nominated for two Grammy Awards for his work D on an album recorded at Blair’s Ingram Hall. Wait was nominated along with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in the Best Classical Album category for : Symphony No. 1; ; Holiday Overture, released on Naxos. He was nominated for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (With Orchestra) for the same album, which was recorded with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra with conducting. Nominations for the 47th Annual Grammy Awards were announced in Hollywood. Award winners will be revealed on Feb. 13 at the Staples Cen- ter in Los Angeles. “These nominations are deeply gratifying for several reasons,” Wait said. “First, it shows yet again that the Nashville Symphony Orchestra has an important national presence. Secondly, this nomination is a tribute to the music of a great composer, Elliott Carter, and it was an honor to play his Piano Concerto. “And finally, this recording was made in Ingram Hall at the Blair School of Music. The Blair School is very proud of that.” Wait has performed more than 200 concerts in 25 states and was a featured pianist in recordings of the complete works of Igor Stravinsky.

—JIM PATTERSON NEIL BRAKE

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