BRAG Report

See May 2008 Report

Reported April 2009

Awards & Competitions

• James Caldwell, BM '79 composition and theory, was awarded the 2009 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award at Western Illinois University.
• Andrew Crane, DMA '05 choral conducting, was awarded the 2007-08 Outstanding Faculty in Teaching Award from California State University - San Bernardino, where he is assistant professor of music and director of vocal studies. He joined the CSUSB faculty in 2005.
  
• In August, Laura Erickson, BM '05 flute performance, won third prize at the National Flute Association's Orchestral Audition Competition. Finals were held in Kansas City, Mo. Erickson studied with Richard Sherman during her undergraduate years at MSU. She is currently a master's degree student at the University of North Texas.
  
• In May, Andrew Hawks, master's student bass performance studying under Jack Budrow, won the principal bass position with the Battle Creek Symphony.
  
• MSU Opera Theatre Director Melanie Helton, associate professor of voice, and Raphael Jimenez, assistant professor of conducting and associate director of MSU orchestras, earned "Thespie" awards for Best Director and Best Musical Director for the March 2008 production of Bernstein's Candide. The Thespie awards were given out by the Lansing State Journal for the best work in theatre for the 2007-08 season in the Greater Lansing area. Sopranos Elizabeth Toy and Shelby Sievers, double cast in the role of Cunegonde, shared the award for Best Actress in a Musical, as did tenors Nathaniel Peake and David Theis for Best Actor in a Musical. The Candide chorus was given a special mention for excellence in ensemble work. Nathaniel Peake, David Theis and Elizabeth Toy are voice students of Professor Richard Fracker, and Shelby Sievers studies with Molly Fillmore.
  
• In November, Sinae Kim, DMA candidate and piano student of George Vatchnadze, won third prize in Division V and fifth prize in Division VI of the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition.
  
• In July, Vakhtang Kodanashvili, DMA candidate and piano student of George Vatchnadze, won the bronze medal and $5,000 at the 2008 New Orleans International Piano Competition. In addition to the cash prize, he will perform with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in the Concerto Showcase 2009 concert.
  
• Sarah Lewis, senior music performance major studying oboe with Jan Eberle, was the sole MSU recipient of the Sudler Prize in the Arts for the 2008-09 academic year. The Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts has been honoring undergraduate students with artistic talent since 1982. Besides MSU, the award is given out at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chicago, Oberlin, Purdue, Duke, Rice, Stanford and Emory universities.
  Kathryn Lowerre, assistant professor of musicology, was one of three to be awarded the Innovated Course Design Award at the ASECS annual meeting in Richmond, Va. Each winner made a presentation about their courses in a special conference session.
  
• In November, Julie Neal, DMA candidate and student of Caroline Hartig, was the first place winner of the Music Teachers National Association's State Collegiate Young Artist Woodwind Solo Competition.
  
• In January, Nora Olson, a junior trombone performance major and student of Ava Ordman, was named a semi-finalist in the 2009 Eastern Trombone Workshop National Solo Completion. Olson competed with four other semi-finalists at the ETW held in Washington D.C. in March.
  
• In May, Simeon Stoyanov, DMA candidate and student of Ava Ordman, was runner-up for the principal trombone position in the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Stoyanov was one of 30 trombonists invited to the audition.
  
• William Withem, DMA candidate and student of Charles Ruggiero, was chosen to receive a 2008-09 ASCAPLUS Award - Concert Music Division. These awards, made by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, are granted by an independent panel and are based upon the unique prestige value of each writer's catalog of original compositions, as well as recent performances in areas not surveyed by the Society.

Tours, Performances, Master classes

• In May, Suren Bagratuni, professor of cello and co-chair of the string area, performed the world premiere of the Concerto for Cello and Orchestra by Vache Sharafyan, which was commissioned by MSU. The performance took place in Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. Along with the concerto, Bagratuni performed the Armenian premiere of the "Suite in the Old Style" by Alfred Schnittke (cello and string orchestra version, arranged by Bagratuni). In June, Bagratuni performed Second Cello Concerto by Shostakovich at the prestigious Miskolc International Opera Festival in Miskolc, Hungary with Northern Hungary Symphony Orchestra. In June and July, Bagratuni performed solo and chamber music concerts along with conducting master classes at the International Music Academy (Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy). In July, Bagratuni performed C minor Piano quartet by Brahms along with Dmitri Berlinsky, associate professor of violin, and Yuri Gandelsman, professor of viola, at the Fontana Chamber Music Series in Kalamazoo, Mich. In August, Bagratuni conducted a series of master classes for Daejin University Summer School in Pocheon, Korea. In September, Bagratuni performed chamber music concerts during the International Violin Festival, which took place in Oettingen, Germany. Bagratuni collaborated with Zakhar Bron, Jacob Gilman, and Irina Vinogradova.
  
• In May, Dmitri Berlinsky, associate professor of violin, and Elena Baksht, instructor of piano, gave a performance at the Embassy of Austria in Washington D.C. as part of the Embassy Series, whose mission is to promote international understanding and global cultural diplomacy through music and the Arts. In July, Berlinsky, with the International Chamber Soloists, performed at the Fontana Chamber Arts 2008 Summer Music Festival to close the series in Kalamazoo, Mich. Performing Bach's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041, he received rave reviews by the Kalamazoo Gazette for his performance. In November, Berlinsky gave performances and master classes at the International Academy of Music in Italy.
  
• In November, Geoffrey Deibel, DMA candidate studying with Joseph Lulloff, gave a series of master classes and a recital at the University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. The master classes included a discussion covering the general topics of the interaction between the saxophone and electronics, as well as the compositions themselves. The works were composed for Deibel by the students of the composition department. The works that were performed at the recital included Martin Bresnick's "Tent of Miracles," Luciano Berio's "Sequenza VIIb," the world premier of composer Jesse Ronneau's "Aphasia," and Steve Reich's "New York Counterpoint."
  
• In April the voice studio of Molly Fillmore held a benefit recital and raised $200 for Ele's Place, a healing center for grieving children in Lansing.
  
• In September Molly Fillmore, assistant professor of voice, was the understudy to Karita Mattila for the title role of Salome at The Metropolitan Opera. She was later an understudy for two roles in the MET's Ring Cycle conducted by James Levine.
  
• In August, Mark Flegg, DMA candidate and student of Richard Illman, performed for a sixth season with the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, Calif.
  
• In August, Kristopher L. Johnson, BM '05, MM '08 jazz studies, who studied with Derrick Gardner, performed with British jazz/pop sensation Jamie Cullum at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the Count Basie Orchestra. Johnson, trumpet, has been a member of the Count Basie Orchestra since February 2008. In November, Johnson performed as part of the Count Basie Orchestra with Tony Bennett on the Today Show. Additional television appearances of Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra included The Early Show on CBS, The Rachel Ray Show, and the NBC Tree Lighting.
  
• In May, Derek Polischuk, assistant professor of piano, was the featured master class clinician from the MMTA at the 2008 Michigan Youth Arts Festival at Western Michigan University. Polischuk was also the featured piano clinician at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival at WMU. In October, Polischuk and Justine Sasanfar, a master of music candidate in piano pedagogy, travelled to the Cornerstone School Nevada Campus where they conducted a workshop on improvisation for three group piano classes.
  
• Anton Shelepov, DMA '08 violin performance having studied with Walter Verdehr, is a regular substitute violinist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and continues to perform as a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. In addition, his composition, "Suite for Strings" was performed by the English Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy in 2008. It was performed by the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra as part of the Gilmore Festival and will be performed and choreographed next season by the Modesto Symphony (Calif.).
  
• Richard Sherman, professor of flute, was the featured North American artist at the 2008 Brazilian International flute convention held in Maringa, Brazil. He presented a master class, recital, and appeared as soloist with chamber orchestra with members of the Curitiba Symphony Orchestra.
  
• Melody Siu-Wan Sze, DMA '08 and former student of Molly Fillmore, has been cast in the role of Tebaldo in Opera Hong Kong's production of Don Carlo.
  
• In September, Sandra Snow, associate professor of music education and choral conducting, presented four sessions for the North Carolina chapter of the American Choral Director's Association's Fall Conference as the headline clinician. In October, Snow conducted the Texas Collegiate Women's Chorus. The chorus represented six universities in Texas. In November, Snow conducted the TMEA Region 19 choir in Houston, TX in preparation for her appearance as the TMEA Mixed All-State Conductor in February 2009.
  
• Simeon Stoyanov, DMA candidate in trombone performance and student of Ava Ordman, traveled to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia to perform a two-week trial period with the Malaysian Philharmonic after being a finalist in recent auditions.
  
• Kelly Tang, PhD '95 composition, was commissioned to compose a work for the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band and soloists from The President's Own United States Marine Band. In November, Tang's new composition, Three Portraits for Symphonic Band, was given its premiere at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore with the U.S. Marine Band's music director, Col. Michael Colburn, conducting.
• In September, Curtis Taylor, BM '07 jazz studies and former student of Derrick Gardner, performed as a member of the Cyrus Chestnut Group at the Kennedy Center. The performance was aired on NPR's JazzSet.
  
• The Wind Symphony, directed by Kevin Sedatole, performed the finale concert at the the 2009 College Band Directors National Association National Conference in March at the University of Texas at Austin. The prestigious conference, which is held every other year, attracts college band directors from across the country. The concert included many new works commissioned by MSU University Bands and the Big Ten Band Directors Association including those by John Mackey, William Bolcom, Carter Pann, and MSU's own Ricardo Lorenz.
  
• In March, the Women's Chamber Ensemble, directed by Sandra Snow, performed at the 2009 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conference in Oklahoma City, Okla. Hundreds of choir recordings from across the U.S. were peer reviewed for the 50th anniversary of ACDA. Twenty choirs were ultimately selected, and the MSU Women's Chamber Ensemble was the only collegiate women's chorus represented.

Lectures & Presentations

• In May, Cynthia Taggart, professor and area chair of music education, presented a lecture to an audience of 100 at National Kaoshung Normal University, Kaoshung, Taiwan, on Edwin Gordon's Music Learning Theory. Taggart also presented four two-hour lectures at National Pintung University of Education, Pintung, Taiwan. The lecture topics included 1) Measuring Music Aptitudes, 2) The Why, What, and How of Early Childhood Music, 3) Ideas for teaching Early Childhood music, 4) Current Trends in American Music Education. Taggart gave two two-hour keynote addresses for an audience of 700 at the Kun-Shan University in Tainan, Taiwan, for the 2008 International Conference on Music Education for Children on 1) Preparatory Audiation and Music Development in Young Children, 2) Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Music Learning.

Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships

• In August, Marella Briones, BM '01, MM '06, began her doctoral studies in choral conducting at Boston University.
  
• Sara Stolt, MM '08 clarinet performance who is currently in the DMA program studying with Caroline Hartig, was awarded MSU's Andrew Rasmussen Fellowship, which is a competitive fellowship that is awarded to only two candidates each year in support of advanced graduate work.
  
• William Withem, DMA candidate and student of Charles Ruggiero, was accepted as only one of two new composer fellows for the 2008 Annual John Duffy Composers Institute. Founded by the Virginia Arts Festival in 2005, the John Duffy Composers Institute is dedicated to the inspiration, creation, and performance of new music by living composers.

Job Placements

• John Bragel, BM '04, accepted a position as choral/vocal director at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Previously, he was director of choirs for the Williamston Community Schools.
  
• Mark Flegg, DMA candidate and student of Richard Illman, has joined the music faculty at Wayne State University as trumpet instructor.
  
• Sarah Graham, DMA '05, began her appointment to the position of teaching choral music and music education at Illinois State University.
  
• Scott Hochstetler, who completed his DMA in choral conducting in May 2008, began his choral-vocal position on the faculty at Goshen College.
  
• Melissa Mills, PhD '08 music education, accepted a position as visiting assistant professor of music at the University of Maryland for the 2008-09 school year.
  
• Jonathan Nichol, DMA candidate in the studio of Joseph Lulloff, accepted a position at Grand Valley State University's Department of Music as assistant professor of saxophone.
  
• Maria Papazahariou, MM '08 music education, has accepted a position as assistant deputy of music education for the island of Cyprus. In this position, she is responsible for evaluating and training Cypriot music teachers and is responsible for the country's music curriculum.
  
• Katherine Wolfe, MM '08 in choral conducting, accepted a position as vocal music director at Pewaukee High School in Pewaukee, Wisc.

Publications and Recordings

• Suren Bagratuni, professor of cello and co-chair of the string area, recorded and published a new CD of the complete Sonatas and Variations by Beethoven with Ralph Votapek, piano. The recording is published and distributed by Blue Griffin Records, based in Lansing, Mich. Bagratuni participated in recording of Duo-Sonata by Gagik Hovunts with Alexandre Brussilovsky, violin. The recording is published by the Suoni E Colori label, Paris, France.
  
• In June, Bruce Campbell's choral arrangement of Willow Carol was published by Paraclete Press.
  
• In October, Melanie Helton, soprano and associate professor of voice, was joined by composer Ricky Ian Gordon in concert at the Molly Grove Chapel, First Presbyterian Church. The concert was in celebration of the release of their CD "and flowers pick themselves: The Songs of Ricky Ian Gordon," produced and recorded by Blue Griffin Recording. Blue Griffin is a Lansing label operated by alum Sergei Kvitko (DMA, piano). The recording includes the world premiere recording of the orchestral song cycle, "and flowers pick themselves," and 14 songs for voice and piano. It was subsidized by a grant from MSU.
  
• Sergei Kvitko, DMA '01, recording engineer, pianist and owner of Blue Griffin Records, had his recording of Mussorgsy's Pictures at an Exhibition from the self-engineered and self-produced album "Of Lands and People Far Away, selected as one of American Record Guide's Critics' Choice 2008. At the end of each year American Record Guide, one of the oldest and most respected classical music publication in the world, compiles the Critics' Choice list of the best recordings of the past year. The best recordings of the year 2008, according to the critics, include CDs of such luminaries and classical super-stars as Placido Domingo, Rene Fleming, Herbert von Karajan, Angela Hewitt, Marc-Andre Hamelin, Marta Argerich, Murray Perahia and many others.
  
• Jonathan Reed, professor of music and associate director of choral programs, contributed a chapter to "The School Choral Program" published by GIA. The chapter is entitled "The Vocally Proficient Choir: Working with Male Voices." Reed's edition of "Dona Nobis Pacem" from Bach's B minor Mass was published by Alliance Music Co. and is being used this spring for the Texas TMEA Allstate Mixed Choir.
  
• Matthew Schoendorff, DMA candidate in composition and student of Jere Hutcheson, was featured in the fourth and final volume of "Composers on Composing for Band," which was released at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December.
  
• David Schumacher, BM '97 composition and theory, and JC Sanford announced the release of their new Beauport Jazz CD "Edge of the Mind" with their 17-piece jazz orchestra, Sound Assembly. Featuring the original compositions of co-leaders Schumacher and Sanford, Sound Assembly has performed in the New York City jazz scene for the past eight years. CDs are available from the band's web site.
  
• Sandra Snow, associate professor of music education and choral conducting, authored the two DVD set Choral Conducting/Teaching: Real World Strategies for Success (GIA) for secondary school choral teachers, university teacher trainers, and graduate students in choral music. The DVD includes more than 30 examples of choral rehearsing and includes work by Jonathan Reed and two MSU alumni.

Press and Interviews

• Suren Bagratuni, professor of cello and co-chair of the string area, received positive reviews by the BBC Music Magazine and International Record Review for his recording: Beethoven. Complete works for cello and piano.
  
• Jeffrey Loeffert, DMA candidate studying with Joseph Lulloff, received positive reviews for his performance of the Henri Tomasi Concerto pour Saxophone et Orchestre with the Lima Symphony. More
  
• Nathaniel Peake, MM '08 vocal performance and student of Richard Fracker, received a positive review in the San Francisco Chronicle for his performance at the Merola Grand Finale. More
  
• The Spectral Trio's CD, Chamber works by Madeline Dring, William Grant Still and Jean-Michele Damase, whose members include Richard Sherman, professor of flute, Jan Eberle, associate professor of oboe, and the late Kimberly Schmidt, received two positive reviews from the International Record Review and the American Record Guide. More
  
• The Verdehr Trio received positive reviews by the Washington Post read and Argentina's La Nacion newspaper.

 

See May 2008 Report

 

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