CONVERSATION EVENTS Eastman’s Pulitzers Jeff Tyzik, Crossover King Lisztomania! EASTMAN NOTESFALL 2017 Community Engagement From ROCMusic to opera, alumni and students bring music to the Rochester community. “After learning more about George Eastman Circle Scholarships, it became clear to me that ACROSS it was my turn to give back. As someone who received a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music, I wanted to make another student’s dream THE GLOBE possible through a life-changing opportunity. I’m so gratified to know my support goes to an ROCHESTER’S IMPACT incoming freshman clarinetist.” IS WHEREVER YOU —Maurita Murphy Marx ’76E | DeWitt, Iowa Supports: Maurita Murphy George Eastman Scholarship CREATE IT. Eastman School of Music Your gift can help create the next generation of Members of the George Eastman Circle, the musicians or teachers— University of Rochester’s leadership annual giving or both—who will society, can establish scholarships to help students inspire us all. in the schools they care about most by committing a minimum of $5,000 annually for at least five years. To learn about joining, call (800) 598-1330 or visit www.GeorgeEastmanCircle.com. EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC Visit: rochester.edu/melioraweekend NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID 26 Gibbs Street PERMIT NO. 780 Rochester, NY 14604-2599 ROCHESTER, NY Opening the Gates This year’s Gateways Music Festival, held from August 8 to 13, brought Smith, ‘98E (MM) and current student Rochelle Joyner; violinists Timothy more than a hundred musicians of African descent to Eastman for an array Edwards ‘82E, Mellasenah Edwards ‘89E, Henri Muhammad’98AS, Adrian of chamber, piano, and orchestral concerts, as well as programs for young Walker ‘85E, and Anyango Yarbo-Davenport ‘08E, ‘11E (MM); current musicians. (Shown here left to right are Jessica McJunkins, Amadi Aziki, student violist Kathryn Brown; cellists Ken Law ‘89E, Thapelo Masita ‘17E, Troy Stuart, and Chris Jenkins, pictured during a chamber music rehearsal.) and Teryle Watson ‘72E; flutists Jacqueline Cordova-Arrington ‘X15E and Eastman’s Gateways participants included professor George Taylor, viola, current student Adam Sadberry; trumpeter Leonard Foy ‘83E, ‘85E (MM); and many alumni: pianists David Berry ‘04E, Leonard Hayes ‘15E, Robert and trombonist Isrea Butler ‘04E, ‘06E (MM). { FALL 2017 } Frogs, bats, and opera: students from Rochester’s School 4 await their cue in Eastman Opera Collective’s The Three Feathers. 2 From the Dean 3 10 The King of Crossover Brief Notes Jeff Tyzik ’73E, ’77E (MM) on conducting, composing, and navigating the music business 4 Alumni on the Move 14 Embracing Innovation 24 and Honoring Tradition School News Eastman Gives An Eastman conference brings together 31 6 established and emerging music leaders Recordings Back to Rochester Some recent graduates are following 16 Eyes on the Prize 32 Between 1944 and 2012, nine Eastman- Alumni Notes a noble Eastman tradition: using their affiliated composers have won American talents and their entrepreneurial skills music’s highest honor. 34 In Memoriam to enrich the Rochester community with music. 22 Lisztomania! 35 Celebrating the nineteenth century’s greatest, Faculty Notes and most versatile, piano virtuoso 36 ON THE COVER: ROCMusic director Alexander Peña is also on the Eastman Community Music School staff, as conductor Student Notes of Tutti Strings and Camerata Strings. PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN SCHLIA STEPHEN JONES Fall 2017 | Eastman Notes 1 { FROM THE DEAN } NOTES Volume 35, Number 1 Fall 2017 EDITOR David Raymond CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Gross Richard Kessel David Raymond Helene Snihur CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kurt Brownell Adam Fenster Dave Jones Kate Melton Nic Minetor John Schlia DESIGN Steve Boerner Typography & Design, Inc. PRINTING Canfield & Tack, Inc. OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS “Our students are supported by a vast network of parents, teachers, and friends who believe in them”: on Freshman Move-In Day, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR August 21, 2017, freshman Emma Antonides (far right) is shown with her parents, Grace and Frank Antonides, and Orientation Richard Kessel Team member Danielle Romano ’20E. EDITORIAL DIRECTOR David Raymond CREATIVE ARTS DIRECTOR Michelle Martorell A Most Precious Gift SECRETARY One of the traditions that binds generations of Eastman have made financial donations to Eastman to provide Olga Malavet alumni together is our annual fall convocation, where we scholarship support for our students. These generous welcome new members to the Eastman community. In donors have recognized the value of music in the world, my message to our new students this fall, I focused on and they have committed their own resources to help another experience shared by all alumni: as students, all support and transform the lives of future generations of us received one of the most precious gifts of our lives of musicians. It is nearly impossible to thank these indi- long before we truly appreciated it—the opportunity to viduals enough for the precious gift they have given to pursue a dream. our students. Studying music is much more than obtaining an edu- As Eastman alumni, we have all benefited from the cation. It is a ticket to pursue dreams. Some students scholarships established by those who came before us. dream of performing on the concert stage while others As I have encouraged our new students to be cognizant aspire to write great music. Some desire to transform of and grateful for the precious gift given to them by the lives through teaching, while others hope to lead their people making their education possible, I ask our alumni Published twice a year by the Office of own ensembles or organizations. While our individual to consider making an annual donation to Eastman at Communications, Eastman aspirations might vary, part of the magic of Eastman is whatever level you feel comfortable. If Eastman played School of Music, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY that our students leave here inspired by the vast array of a role in enabling you to pursue your own dreams, please 14604, (585) 274-1050. paths they can pursue to have meaningful lives in music. consider how you might give that same opportunity to One dream we all share is to make the world a better place those who desire to make the world a better place through Eastman-Notes@ esm.rochester.edu through our music. their own music. Each year I am in awe of our students and their families Meliora! when I hear the stories of what it took for many of them to reach Eastman. Our students are supported by a vast Find us on Facebook and Twitter. network of parents, teachers and friends who believed in them, and in the impact they could have on the world if they dedicated their lives to music. There is another group of individuals to whom we Jamal J. Rossi 10% Total Recovered Fiber should also be grateful: the thousands of individuals who Joan and Martin Messinger Dean 100% Post-Consumer Fiber 2 Eastman Notes | Fall 2017 { BRIEF NOTES } George W. Hamlin IV A High Honor for Hamlin On June 27, the University awarded its Dean’s Medal— one of its highest honors— to philanthropist George W. Hamlin IV, an influ- ential Rochester business leader and loyal friend of Eastman and supporter of Ribbons down her Back its mission for more than As if being an ensemble member in the Tony-winning revival of Hello, Dolly! wasn’t enough, Analisa Leaming ‘07E is also two decades. the understudy for actress Kate Baldwin, who plays Mrs. Molloy. Analisa got the chance to assume the role for several A member of the performances this summer. Her bow with Bette Midler, David Hyde Pierce, and the rest of the cast was captured from the Eastman National Council balcony of the Shubert Theatre by Analisa’s former teacher, Kathryn Cowdrick. and chair of the Eastman Board of Managers, his generosity created the roots; his wife, Mary, and Rochester philanthropist increasing pluralism of the Hamlin Family Director his son, Alex ’00E, are Betty Strasenburgh ’52E. music-theoretic field,” with of the Institute for Music accomplished musicians. articles by students, alumni, Leadership and the Hamlin The Dean’s Medal citation Theory, in Practice and faculty members. The Family Scholarship at lauds “his exemplary Intégral, published annu- journal decided to celebrate Eastman. He also serves the leadership and inspirational ally by Eastman’s graduate with a colorful cover design, University as a member of generosity.” students in music theory, is by Dorothée Billard and the Medical Center Board Previous Eastman celebrating its thirtieth an- Clemens Helmke, a graphic and UR Medicine Home alumni winners of the niversary. This high-quality design team based in Berlin. Care Board. Dean’s Medal are former journal is a scholarly, peer- To see more about Intégral, George’s interest in Eastman Institute for Music reviewed journal “pursues including an index of issues Eastman can be traced back Leadership director Ramon an implicit mandate to since 1987, go to esm.roch- to his family’s deep musical Ricker ’73E (DMA) and explore and exploit the ester.edu/theory/integral/ Liedership Potential One of Eastman’s major competitions, and one of the last items on the spring semester calendar, is the Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition. Jessie Kneisel taught German for many years at Eastman, and the award is given in her memory to outstanding student singers and pianists, in performances of the German art song repertoire. The 2017 competition (the 36th annual) was held in May, and the winners were: First Prize, Robin Steitz; Second Prize, Hannah Harrow; Third Prize, Emma Ruth Ritter. The winning pianists are Christopher Kayler, Edward Rothmel, and George Warren. This year’s adjudicator was Graham Johnson, one of the world’s leading vocal accompanists and song scholars, and a frequent visitor to Eastman.