Event Calendar & News: Alumni News

Alumni News Fall 2001-Summer 2002

1950's

1960's

1970's

Carol McAnulty, B.M. in Clarinet Performance ('72), teaches guitar at Northern Michigan University (NMU). McAnulty recently performed a solo with the Benzie Symphony Orchestra, and gave a solo classical guitar recital at NMU. She freelances on clarinet and classical guitar throughout Northern and Upper Michigan. McAnulty earned her M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Catholic University of America.

William Penn, Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition ('71), had a revival of the show "The Fitzgeralds," for which he wrote the original score, at City Center (NYC) in Fall 2001. The show starred Alec Baldwin and is based on the lives and writings of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of "The Great Gatbsy." The original production starred Frank Langella and Blythe Danner. Penn also recently produced a CD narrated by Charles Osgood of CBS-TV titled "Animal Stories." His song "Sex on the Net" was recorded by P-Funk artist Rick Gardner and licensed by Disky/ EMI in Europe; his piece "Carezze" was recorded and toured by Italian singing star Claudio Picarella; and his "Three Essays for Solo Tuba" and "Capriccio for Tuba & Marimba" were released on the Summit Label by Gene Pokorny of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Penn is owner of Arizona University Recordings (AUR) and Publications, and continues to compose on occasion. AUR recently completed a 7-CD Box Set titled "America's Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax," including MSU's Joseph Lulloff, The Great Lakes Saxophone Quartet, Charles Ruggerio, and various MSU ensembles.

1980's

Lonnie Klein, M.M. in Clarinet Performance and Orchestral Conducting ('87), made his conducting debut in Italy in Summer 2002, conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Milan in the cities of Brescia and Milan.

Julia Larson Mattern, B.M. in Flute Performance ('84), is flutist for the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, and the Musical Arts Woodwind Quintet in residence at Ball State University, where she is associate professor of flute. She is substitute flutist for the Russian Festival Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Her annotated bibliography of flute books was published in Flute Talk magazine. She conducted the National Flute Association High School Flute Choir at the national convention in Dallas, served as a member of the NFA Pedagogy Committee, and as a judge for the NFA Newly Published Music Competition. Mattern is listed in "2000 Outstanding Musicians of the Twentieth Century."

Joseph Spaniola, M.M. in Composition ('87), won the 2001 25th Annual National Band Association/William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Competition for ESCAPADE.

John Swain, Ph.D. in Tuba Performance ('86), is associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters, professor of music, and director of instrumental music education at California State University. He presented "Picking Up Where Secondary Instruments Left Off" at the California Music Educators Association State Conference in 2001. He is active as an adjudicator, clinician and performer in Southern California. His piece for band, Paloyoloyo, was premiered at the California Association for Music Education (CMEA) annual conference, and he was honored by CMEA as the outstanding college/ university music educator for 2001-02.

1990's

Christopher Chaffee, M.M. in Flute Performance ('97), was appointed interim assistant director of the Catherine Shouse Arts Leadership program at Eastman School of Music, a new music and arts education program. His responsibilities include working with the career planning office, coordinating music for all outreach and internship programs, developing new courses in performance studies, advising students one-on one and teaching on occasion.

Sharon Graf, Ph.D. in Musicology ('99), was appointed a tenured position in musicology at the University of Illinois. Elizabeth Jones-Caputo, M.M. ('98), is professor of music theory at Georgia S.W. State University. Her husband is also actively involved in music and performs with the U.S. Air Force Band.

David T. Kehler, M.M. in Conducting ('92), was appointed associate conductor of the Dallas Wind Symphony, and serves as conductor for the Greater Dallas Youth Wind Symphony. In 2002, his youth symphony performed as a featured ensemble at the Texas Bandmaster's Convention/National Band Association Convention. He also serves as the director of the Mustang Band at Southern Methodist University.

Joe Lane, II, B.M. in Instrumental Music Education ('98) was appointed assistant principal at Orchard View Middle School. From 1998-2001, he served as choral director there, where he was the first African-American teacher and administrator.

Tage Larsen, B.M. in Trumpet Performance ('92), was appointed fourth trumpet for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Larsen is the first African-American musician to be hired by CSO. He is former second trumpet for the St. Louis Symphony, and prior to that, solo cornet for the Marine Band in Washington, D.C.

John Masserini, DMA ('99) and M.M. in Clarinet Performance, was appointed assistant professor of music at Idaho State University (ISU). His teaching duties include studio clarinet and saxophone, music theory, music appreciation, and woodwind methods. He also founded and is a member of ISU's faculty woodwind quintet, Idaho Winds. He appeared as a guest artist in both the 2001 and 2002 Montana/Idaho Clarinet Festivals; and as concerto soloist and guest artist at Northern Arizona University. He performed a concerto with the ISU Symphonic Band; a chamber music concert in Sun Valley with Randolph Kelly, principal violist of the Pittsburgh Symphony; and a chamber music concert with soprano Diane Rigains.

Kenneth H. Milch, M.M. in Music Education ('93), continues his ninth year as director of instrumental music at Lamphere Schools in Madison Heights (MI). He and his wife, Carla, were married April 21, 2001, and are expecting their first child in March 2002.

Mai Motobuchi, B.M. in Viola Performance ('97), was appointed violist in the Boriamus Quartet at the New England Conservatory.

Susan Schnerer, M.M. in Clarinet Performance ('91), was appointed general manager of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. Past appointments include the Greater Lansing Symphony, the Denver Chamber Orchestra, Central City Opera House Association, the Arvada Center Orchestra, and the MSU School of Music. Before her appointment, she served as a parent volunteer for the Traverse Youth Orchestras. She was also coordinator, fundraiser and publicist for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra's winter chamber music performances.

Seth Semons, M.M. in Clarinet Performance ('97), was appointed a position with the U.S. Army Band in Washington, D.C.

Margaret Sippey, B.M. in Flute Performance ('99), won the concerto competition for the Wind Ensemble at Eastman School of Music, and performed the Badings Flute Concerto. She freelances in upstate N.Y. and performs with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. As a finalist in the New World Symphony, she has performed three concerts with the ensemble in Miami. She attended the Aspen Music Festival in Summer 2002, and is working on her DMA at Eastman School of Music, where she earned her M.M. in Flute Performance and Literature.

Robert T. Stroker, Ph.D. in Music Education ('93) and B.M. in Music Education/Performance ('84), was named dean of Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance.

2000s

Alexandre Antunes, DMA in Double Bass Performance ('02), was appointed to the double bass and electric bass faculty at the Flint Institute of Music, and to the faculty at Flint Community Music School.

Don Babcock, DMA in Trombone Performance ('01), was appointed a tenured position as assistant professor of trombone at Eastern Michigan University.

Allison Berry, an undergraduate in Voice Performance ('02), studied and performed at the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival in Bonefro, Italy; and performed as soprano soloist in Rutter's Requiem at the People's Church, East Lansing (MI).

Jeff Brown, DMA in Choral Conducting ('02), is director of choirs at Libertyville High School (IL).

Adam Carter, B.M. in Music Education ('01), was awarded the Fulbright/Netherland-America Foundation Grant, and received his post-graduate diploma in saxophone performance from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Andrea Cheeseman, DMA in Clarinet Performance ('01), was appointed assistant professor of woodwinds at Delta State University (MS).

Kristen Cole, M.M. in Music Therapy ('01), received the Great Lakes Region of Music Therapy Special Projects Award, along with Roger Smeltekop, for her thesis project entitled "Music Therapy Assessment for Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Survey Study." She presented a concurrent session entitled "Let's Start at the Very Beginning: Back to the Basics of Music Therapy Assessment" at the Great Lakes Region Music Therapy Conference (IL). In addition, she was appointed assistant professor of music and director of music therapy at Mississippi University for Women.

Rachel Dale, M.M. in Conducting ('01) has been cast as Queen of the Night in the Magic Flute at the University of Arizona, where she is currently pursuing a DMA.

Donna Emmanuel, a doctoral candidate in Music Education ('02), presented a session at the 2002 Midwestern Conference, and was appointed assistant professor of music at the University of North Texas.

Paul Hartley, M.M. in Clarinet Performance ('02), was one of nine accepted into the DMA program for clarinet at the New England Conservatory; was appointed principal clarinet of the Boston Civic Orchestra; and received the Stephan and Josephine Ludewig Memorial Scholarship in May 2001.

Ron Herrema, Ph.D. ('01) and M.M. ('86) in Music Composition, was appointed adjunct faculty member, teaching computer music, music theory and composition at Northeastern University in Boston. He recently performed in a webcast produced by monroestreet.com at the 2002 MSU Honors concert, and at the Longy School of Music in Boston.

Sungmi Kim, DMA ('01) and M.M. ('96) in Piano Performance, returned to Korea to teach at Kyung Won University and various other schools in Seoul.

Abe Khalaf, B.M. in Music Education ('01), was appointed principal trombone with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra; substitute trombone with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra; and instrumental music director at Reeths/Puffer High School in Muskegon (MI).

Glenn Klassen, DMA in Orchestral Conducting ('02), was appointed music director/ conductor of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, and manager of the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, where he will also continue as assistant conductor. He guest-conducted the Rochester Symphony Orchestra; Mennonite Community Orchestra, Canada; the Traverse City Symphony Orchestra; and the MSU Opera Theatre's Fall 2001 production of The Secret Marriage.

Scott Lubaroff, DMA in Conducing ('01), was named associate director of bands at Kansas State University.\

Peter Miyamoto, DMA in Piano Performance ('01), was appointed assistant professor at the California School for the Arts.

Robert Moore, B.M. in Music Education ('02), received a teaching assistantship at North Texas State University.

Scott Perry, DMA in Oboe Performance ('02), was appointed professor of oboe at the University of Virginia in Fall 2002. He is also principal oboe for the Charlottesville Symphony.

Susan Ruggiero, B.M. in Flute and Voice Performance ('02), was cast as Elisetta in MSU's Fall 2001 Opera, The Secret Marriage, and performed as a soloist in MSU's Spring 2002 Opera, Orpheus in the Underworld. She performed on flute in the Chautauqua School of Music Festival Orchestra; and received a School of Music Fellowship from the University of Michigan, where she will pursue her M.M. in Flute Performance.

Geum-Suk Son, Ph.D. in Musicology ('00), was appointed a tenured position in musicology at Southwest Baptist University (MO).

Nola Campbell Stabley, Ph.D. in Music Education ('00), published "Creative Activities for String Students" in the Music Educators Journal in September 2001.

Gary Sullivan, DMA in Wind Conducting ('01), is director of bands at Charlotte High School (NC). He received the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Legion of Honor award, which recognizes school band directors who have maintained programs of very high quality.

Stacie Thompson, DMA in Clarinet Performance ('00), was appointed a position with the U.S. Army Band in Washington, D.C.

Brandon Ulrich, B.M. in Music Education ('01), was declared Alumni Association Outstanding Senior by MSU's College of Arts & Letters, in which he received $1,000.

Joan Vandessel, B.M. in Clarinet Performance ('01), received the Sudler Award from MSU's College of Arts and Letters.