Queens College Faculty Staff News FYI November 27, 2002 Sir Roland Hanna Dies at Age 70; All-Star Tribute Planned December 11 ir Roland Hanna, a professor Hanna began his piano studies at the and Smithsonian Jazz Orchestras, the in the Aaron Copland School age of 11. After graduating from Cass Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the of Music and an internation- Technical High School and a two-year National Symphony Orchestra. His ally known pianist, composer, stint with the U.S. Army Band, he active itinerary carried him to major Sand collaborator with many of the continued his musical studies at the clubs and auditoriums throughout the great jazz musicians of the last half Eastman and Juilliard Schools of United States, Europe, and Japan. century, died of a viral infection of the Music. In the 1950s and 1960s he Hanna’s writing also incorporated a heart on Wednesday, November 13. A played with the Benny Goodman Big mixture of jazz and classical elements. memorial concert featuring Wynton Band, Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughn, His catalogue of over 400 composi- Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Grady Tate, Al Hibbler, and Carmen McRae. He tions includes not only works for stan- and Dr. Billy Taylor will be held at the was later the pianist for the Thad dard jazz ensembles but also trios for College on Wednesday, December 11 Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra from cello, flute and french horn, as well as at 8 pm in LeFrak Hall. 1966-1974. Hanna formed the New larger works for piano and orchestra. “He could play everything from York Jazz Quartet in 1971 and per- Among his numerous recordings were Chopin to blues to Ellington and be- formed with them through the 1980s. albums dedicated to the music of Duke yond with equal conviction and tech- As befits a performer who claimed Ellington, Alec Wilder, and George nical assurance,” noted Edward that two of his biggest influences were Gershwin. His most recent CD, Every- Smaldone, director of the School of Art Tatum and Artur Rubinstein, thing I Love, was released last month. Music. “We never knew where he Hanna seemed equally comfortable Hanna was knighted in 1970 by the would take us, but we always knew we with both jazz and classical music. He president of Liberia for humanitarian were in for a glorious ride. Sir Roland appeared with the American Com- services after giving a series of benefit brought an unassailable professional- posers Orchestra, the Lincoln Center concerts in that country. He is sur- ism and personal warmth and love to vived by his wife of 48 years, his role as colleague and teacher that Ramona, and two daughters and two was rare in a musician and artist of CUNY Campaign sons. Funeral services were held on Monday, November 18, at the Canaan such depth and talent. He was one of a There is still time to take part in the Baptist Church on W. 116 St. kind and we will miss him deeply.” CUNY Campaign! Booklets and Other performers scheduled to Hanna was among the cornerstones donation forms have been appear at the December 11 memorial of the College’s M.A. in Jazz Perfor- distributed through the campus concert include the Queens College mance Program, along with composer, mail, including a list of organiza- Orchestra, conducted by Maurice arranger, and saxophonist Jimmy tions you may support. Once you Peress, Yoshio Aomori (bass), Cecil Heath, who founded the program and pick a charity, you may make a Bridgewater (trumpet), Richard Davis was responsible for bringing Hanna to contribution either by writing a the College. Sir Roland continued to (bass), Jon Faddis (trumpet), Barry check or by choosing payroll de- play a major role in that program after Harris (piano), Fred Hersch (piano), ductions throughout the year. Heath’s retirement in 1998, working Eddie Locke (drums), Jimmy Owens For more information, contact Bob along with trumpeter and composer (trumpet), Jeb Patton (piano), Carie Weller at 5780. Please return forms Michael Mossman and saxophonist Smith (vocalist), Michael Weiss and checks to the QC Campaign by Antonio Hart. (piano) Frank Wess (saxophone), and Monday, December 16. Born in Detroit in 1932, Roland Paul West (bass). Jeffery Renard Allen 100 years into the past and 100 years into the future. He is also working on a Notes Receives Whiting Award collection of short stories entitled Jeffery Renard Allen (English), whose Kwanzaa Celebration Shadowboxing and a volume of poetry. novel Rails Under My Back has won The Africana Studies Program invites extraordinary praise, has just received the faculty and staff to the College’s a 2002 Whiting Writers’ Award. The Service Award Kwanzaa celebration on Tuesday, $35,000 award is given to encourage Ceremony Honorees December 3 at 3:30 pm in the Patio exceptionally promising emerging Room North, Dining Hall. The event is On November 12 the College honored talent. Recipients are chosen by a sponsored by the President and Admin- faculty and staff who have been at the committee of writers, literary scholars, istration of Queens College, the Ethnic College for 20 and 35 years. In a cere- and editors. Allen, who has been at Studies Council, the English Depart- mony attended by President Jim Queens College since 1992, is also the ment, and the SEEK Program. Muyskens and Acting Provost Evange- author of a previous volume of poetry, los Gizis in the Student Union, the Harbors & Spirits (Asphodel Press). Frank McCourt December 3 following members of the College In reviewing Rails Under My Back, community received pins and certifi- Frank McCourt, the Pulitzer Prize- the New York Times noted that “Allen’s cates for their service: winning author of ’Tis and Angela’s prose is intense, concentrated. His Ashes, will read from his works on language, which ranges from the deli- Thirty-Five-Year Service Awards Tuesday, December 3 at 7 pm in LeFrak cately lyrical to the aggressively vulgar, Art: William W. Clark Hall. General admission seats, available demonstrates extraordinary poise; he at the door, are $8. For information call can also deploy, in his dialogue, a wide Buildings & Grounds: Joseph B. 4646 or visit www.qc.edu/readings array of voices and nuances of tone. Gosha Besides Joyce and Faulkner, other 20th- Chemistry & Biochemistry: Randolph Victorian Domestic Handicrafts century novelists whose work Allen’s R. Smith The Women’s Studies Program will calls to mind are Dos Passos, Ellison, Earth & Environmental Sciences: sponsor a lecture by Talia Schaffer and Henry Roth – an indication of the Leonard J. Cinquemani, Nicholas (English) regarding “The Victorian remarkable literary company in which K. Coch Domestic Handicraft” on Wednesday, this novel may be seen to move.” Economics: Hugo M. Kaufmann December 4. Schaffer, who specializes Among other awards, Rails Under My English: Beverly A. Gross, Fred Ka- in Victorian women's writing, is the Back received the 2000 Chicago Tri- plan, Charles H. Molesworth, An- author of The Forgotten Female Aes- bune Heartland Prize for Fiction. Origi- thony J. O’Brien thetes: Literary Culture in Late-Victo- nally published by Farrar, Straus & rian England. The lecture will be held Giroux, the novel is now available in Family, Nutrition & Exercise in the Student Union VIP Room, Union paperback from Harcourt. Sciences: John R. Magel Grill, from 12 noon - 2 pm. Compli- Allen described writing the book as History: Vivian R. Gruder mentary lunch will be served. Students primarily an act of faith. “In that sense, Benjamin S. Rosenthal Library: earn 1 CLIQ point for attending. it really sustains you. It reaffirms your Shoshana Kaufmann commitment to humanity, despite all Linguistics & Communication Disor- Lectures at GT Museum of the various troubles we’ve seen in the past and continue to see today.” ders: Alan M. Stevens The Godwin-Ternbach Museum will be Born and raised in Chicago, Allen Aaron Copland School of Music: Hu- sponsoring two lectures in December. began writing Rails Under My Back in bert S. Howe, Jr., Arbie Orenstein The first is “How Can We Read Them? 1990 while working on his doctorate at A History of Prints in the 19th and 20th Philosophy: Harvey Burstein the University of Illinois in Chicago. A Centuries” by Marilyn Kushner, the professor who was impressed by Curator of Prints at the Brooklyn Mu- Twenty-Year Service Awards Allen’s work suggested he go to New seum of Art, on Thursday, December 5 York and find an agent. Allen did, and Accounting & Information Systems: at 6 pm. On Wednesday, December 11 was also offered a post at Queens Col- Carol D. Klinger at 5 pm, Julia Sneeringer (History) will lege, where he teaches African Ameri- Buildings & Grounds: Freddie M. address “Imagining Women: Artistic Canty, Sallie M. Gill, Gaynell can literature and creative writing. and Political Representations of Women Green, Joseph Perry, Donna M. Allen was recently a Director’s in the Modern Era.” Both lectures take Sorenson Fellow at the New York Public Li- place in the Museum, located on the Counseling & Advisement Center: brary Center for Scholars and Writers, fourth floor of Klapper Hall. For infor- Elizabeth J. McCaffrey where he did research on his forthcom- mation call 4747 or visit ing novel Hour of the Seeds, which Drama, Theatre & Dance: Susan A. www.qc.edu/art/gtmus.html. follows an African-American family Einhorn 2 Educational & Community Programs: 3667. Peck asks that members of the Madison Avenue. Bus departs from the Kenneth J. Dunn audience read at least one of his works, Armenian Church of Holy Martyrs, Elementary & Early Childhood Educa- if possible. He will autograph books 209-15 Horace Harding Blvd. in Bay- tion: Linda G. Gibson after the talk. side, at 11:30 am.