The vibrancy, the success, the trajectory, the impact, and the reputation of our College of Music, or any college for that matter, is linked directly to the excellence of the faculty. Here is a collection of news highlights, some recent achievements, and recognition of six colleagues.

Suren Bagratuni, cellist, was just recognized by MSU with the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award for his national and international reputation as a leading pedagogue, solo performer, and collaborative artist;

Kevin Bartig, musicologist, one of the world’s leading authorities on the music of Sergei Prokofiev and the film music of Russia, has just been asked by Oxford University Press to write a book with a companion website that enables readers to listen to musical excerpts and view additional commentary for their Keynote Series designed for general audiences;

Dmitri Berlinsky, violinist, just returned from a concert tour in Uzbekistan and then London where he was the featured concerto soloist with the London Philharmonic and taught master classes at Yehudi Menuhin School for Musical Excellence;

Michael Dease, jazz trombone, who joined our faculty in 2012, has recruited an excellent and large class of students who just won several prestigious national competitions including best-recorded entry for the 2014 National Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition;

Mitchell Robinson, music education and editor of the New Directions: A Journal of Scholarship, Creativity and Leadership in Music Education, is a leading national advocate for the arts in public education who effectively articulates the reasons all students should have access to a full curriculum that broadens the current emphasis of lessons in STEM;

Cynthia Taggart, music education, director of the early childhood music programs, and past president of the College Music Society, was recognized in January by the Michigan Music Educators Association (MMEA) as “Music Educator of the Year,” honoring the tremendous impact she has had on her students and the music education profession in the state of Michigan.

The national and international impact of our faculty is profound and I am proud to sing their praises.

Sincerely,

James Forger
Dean, MSU College of Music