OPUS Fall 2022

OPUS

Walla Walla University Department of Music

Message from the chair

I arrived at Walla Walla University this fall just days before classes began, and was struck, seemingly within minutes, by the exuberance of our music students— their energy, friendliness, curiosity, talent, passion, openness, and obvious delight in each other’s company. The warm welcome that they—and my new colleagues—extended to me is something I’ll long remember with gratitude.

Speaking of gratitude, I imagine we’re all thankful for a return to a degree of normalcy sufficient for meeting in person again. And there’s so much more to be grateful for, even in the midst of instability stretching from our own little worlds to the four corners of the earth. Perhaps there has never been a more critical time than the present in which to seek out and cultivate beauty, and to revel in it with thankfulness. Our sanity may depend on it. Finding joy certainly depends on it.

Beauty in expression is one of WWU’s core themes. As I write this, we’ve just reached the middle of fall quarter, and yet our music students and faculty have already graced our campus and community with that theme in action— most recently in the Symphony Orchestra concert at the University Church. Visit wallawalla.edu/concerts to watch it and several other concerts from the past two years. And join us in person or through livestream for upcoming concerts, beginning with our annual Christmas concert—Friday evening, December 9, “Gifts for a King,” during which we will celebrate the eternal beauty of the Christ Child.

Many thanks to all of you who have supported our students and program in so many ways. You are valuable members of our university music family, and your continued support will be immensely helpful—and much appreciated—as we continue to recover from the pandemic.

Karlyn Bond Chair, Department of Music

ICantori shares their musical talent across the east coast

ICantori of Walla Walla University performed at venues across New York City, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., during a week-long tour in June. The eight performances centered around the theme Reclaiming Allelujah.

This auditioned select choir, made up of 32 students, performed at various Seventh-day Adventist churches and cathedrals. Kraig Scott, professor of music and director of choral studies, said, “We get to share God’s love and beautiful music with all kinds of people. We also represent WWU Seventh-day Adventist higher education and God, so all of these things are important reasons to tour.”

Heidi Kissinger, senior fine arts and music major, described how she was able to sing comfortably over the tour because of the bond she shared with fellow members. “Choir is not about a solo, it is about singing together as one voice made up of multiple voices,” Kissinger said. Students were able to bond outside of singing, especially during the tour while sightseeing and visiting museums.

University Church celebrates 60 years of worship

On October 15, a special church service celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Walla Walla University Church which has long been a place of sacred music. Performances by ICantori and a brass ensemble drew special attention to music’s role in collective worship. After the service, members were invited for an organ crawl through the Casavant pipe organ. Tours were guided by several music majors and organ students. Kraig Scott shared his knowledge and passion for this unique instrument with more than 200 people.

About the cover: This spring ICantori was able to return to touring, singing, and visiting at a variety of venues including St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C.

Department of Music

BY THE NUMBERS

11% students are in more than one ensemble

of all College

Place students participate in a music ensemble

10

68 ensembles allow diverse music experiences

43 students participate in University Singers, the largest student ensemble

WWU student wins regional piano competition

Yena Cho, senior music and pre-dentistry student, placed first in the Grande Ronde Symphony Association’s Concerto + Aria competition last spring. She performed the third movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 for her recorded audition.

As part of the reward for winning the competition, Cho was invited to perform with the symphony at their spring concert on May 25, at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon. A cash award was also given at the performance.

Cho said she selected this piece to perform because, “Beethoven is my favorite composer. He is a transitional figure between the Classical period and the Romantic period. Since I really liked this piece, it was not hard to interpret it, and the more I worked on this piece, the more I got to love it.”

Cho has been playing piano for 18 years, and at WWU she is studying under Jinhyang Park.

Annual Christmas concert to delight listeners

On December 9, the Department of Music will present its annual Christmas concert at the Walla Walla University Church. “Gifts for a King” will celebrate the eternal beauty of the Christ Child through music performed by the Symphony Orchestra, ICantori, University Singers, and others. There will be two performances, one at 6 p.m. and the second at 8 p.m. The concert is free and open to the community.

Beck continues to direct multiple student ensembles and has recently taken on direction of the well-loved Big Band. In May, he coordinated the first program dedicated to concerto movements in which the Symphony Orchestra accompanied five students on differing instruments for the unique program. Beck also continues to share music to local audiences through community events such as the celebration of Sharpstein Elementary’s approval by the Blue Zones Project. Beck conducted the WWU Steel Band at their celebration in October.

Bond just joined the WWU faculty as chair of music. She comes to us from her hometown of Salt Lake City, where she taught at Westminster College—within both the music department and Honors College—for twenty-five years, and performed extensively as a piano soloist and chamber musician. Among her favorite courses to teach were music history and interdisciplinary courses in the arts, such as British Modernism in Music and Literature. She is thrilled to be part of the WWU community of learners.

This year Janis was awarded the Winnifred Collier Ringhoffer Professional Development Award by the regional chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). This competitive award permitted Janis to attend the NATS national conference in Chicago this July. Janis also traveled this summer with ICantori of Walla Walla University on their tour to Washington, D.C., and New York City. More recently, she served as an adjudicator for the annual student auditions for the Inland Northwest Chapter of NATS.

Park played works by Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart alongside acclaimed guest artist Christopher Harding in March for the guest and faculty recital in March. She is currently on sabbatical as a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan. The program welcomes every opportunity to train and influence educators with in-depth and extended exposure to the way the professors teach, study, and perform their art. Park has been studying pedagogy in depth. She is excited to adapt new ideas to her class preparation at WWU.

In April, Scott was the guest artist for the 2022 Musicking Conference at the University of Oregon where he taught a masterclass for organ students and performed continuo and solo works. This June, he served as one of five judges for the semi-final round of the National Young Artist Competition in Organ Performance for the American Guild of Organists. Scott also performed his annual faculty recital on campus, and at a special church service and recital at Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church in Portland, Oregon.

Karlyn Bond Chair of the Department of Music

Jinhyang Park Assistant professor of music

Kraig Scott Professor of music

Christine Janis Associate professor of music

Brandon Beck Associate professor of music

Ensembles

Big Band

Director: Brandon Beck

A traditional big band including vocalists, the Big Band performs a variety of musical styles including jazz and popular music. The ensemble is open to all students, faculty, and staff. Performances include concerts and special events on and off campus.

Brass Ensembles

Director: Brandon Beck

A brass quintet or brass choir perform on campus and in the local community with some touring as well. Members must first be part of the Wind Symphony or receive permission from the director.

Harp Ensembles

Director: Brandon Beck

Harp duos, trios, quartets, or larger groups perform as harp ensembles on campus, in church, and for local community performances.

ICantori

Director: Kraig Scott

The WWU select choral group enjoys a history of touring that began in 1929. Renamed ICantori (Italian for “the singers”) in 1979, the ensemble has traveled extensively in the United States

Auditions for incoming music students!

Auditions are typically held in the spring during U-Days. We would love for you to audition:

• March 3, 2023

• April 3, 2023

Students from any discipline are welcome to join ensembles in pursuit of growing their musical talents, nurturing a love of music, and connecting with others.

and has made appearances in Canada, Russia, and Romania. Members are required to be part of University Singers. Performances include sacred and secular classical choral repertoire for church and community performances.

Steel Band

Director: Brandon Beck

This Caribbean-style steel band performs music representative of the Caribbean, other world music styles, and classical music in sacred and secular contexts. The group performs on campus and in the community with some off-campus touring.

String Quartet

Director: Kraig Scott

The string quartet performs on campus, in the University Church, and in the local community. Members must first be part of the Symphony Orchestra or receive permission from the director.

Symphony Orchestra

Director: Brandon Beck

Open to all students, faculty, staff, and community musicians, the Symphony Orchestra performs on campus, in the University Church, and on tour.

University Singers

Director: Kraig Scott

The University Singers is the general choir of WWU. Membership is open to all students, faculty, staff, and community musicians. University Singers performs one major concert each quarter plus performances for church services.

Wind Symphony

Director: Brandon Beck

Open to all students, this traditional concert band performs locally and with some off-campus touring. Wind Symphony members rehearse three times weekly.

Woodwind Ensembles

Director: Brandon Beck

A flute choir, woodwind quintet, saxophone ensemble, and clarinet quintet or choir performs on campus and in the local community with some additional off-campus touring. Members must first be part of the Wind Symphony or receive permission from the director.

Learn

Audition applications: Submit your audition application and learn more about requirements at wallawalla.edu/auditions-scholarships

Deadlines:

• February 14, 2023, for March U-Days auditions.

• March 19, 2023, for April U-Days auditions.

• March 31, 2023, for DVD/YouTube auditions. (if you live more than 200 miles from Walla Walla)

On March 8, 2022, the music department provided WWU students, staff, and the community with an annual spring voice concert, this year titled “A Disney Celebration.” The concert occurred in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium and had a large turnout.

The performers were all students of Christine Janis, assistant professor of music who teaches voice majors and minors. This recital showcased songs from classic Disney movies such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Enchanted,” “Tangled,” and “101 Dalmatians.”

Because of the unique nature of the concert, students had opportunities to embrace new challenges beyond excellent singing. Performers had to focus on their song as well as movement, embracing

Ready for anything

their character, and working with props.

This concert showcased the musical talent of Walla Walla University to the community as well as to other students that attended. Janis noted the positive energy, laughter, and smiles around the room as performers brought the Disney characters to life. She explained that concerts help provide beneficial recruiting opportunities for the music department and showcase the variety of musical experiences that are offered for WWU students.

The next spring voice concert, “It’s a Grand Night for Singing: Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein,” will occur Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

Music department alumni share where they are and how music prepared them

Aric Vyhmeister ’14

Music, engineering, and physics major

Current job: freelance composer and pianist, adjunct faculty at Metropolitan State University, and music director with the Boulder Opera

Do you have advice for students considering studying engineering or music?

My advice is to continue developing skills in your areas of interest and ask yourself what fits your temperament, life goals, and personality. You can find some of those answers by talking to lots of people currently working in the field you’re interested in.

How did studying music influence where you are now?

Music is such a diverse field with many different professional routes that I hadn’t been aware of when I began. Having the chance to play with vocalists and instrumentalists helped focus my interest in chamber music and collaborative piano, and many supportive faculty gave me the opportunity to write music for different ensembles, which sparked a love for composition.

Lisal Folsom ’04

Music major, voice

Current job: endocrinologist at Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s Medical Group, and assistant professor with the University of Louisville School of Medicine

How did studying music influence where you are now?

Studying music at WWU provided the unique opportunity to acquire abilities that have been invaluable in my medical career. Pattern analysis, active listening, and thinking outside the box are all skills that transfer across many areas of expertise.

Another aspect of my training that has been perhaps unsurprisingly beneficial is learning to present myself in front of an audience. I often give talks, presentations, and lectures and continue to use the techniques I acquired during my time at WWU to pique and hold the attention of my listeners.

Sponsors and Friends

The Department of Music would like to thank our 2021-22 sponsors and friends for their support. Your giving strengthens our impact on students and promotes the power of the arts in our community.

To add your support, visit wallawalla.edu/give.

FRIEND

(UP TO $99)

Rob Christy

Gary and Carol Dodge

Terry and Terri Koch

Mel and Joyce Lang

Steve and Heather Lee

Joyce Muzzall

Troy Patzer

Margaret Roser

Khalid and Tiffaney Sorensen

Elizabeth Wenz

BRONZE

($100–$499)

Robert and Mary Betz

Loren Dickinson

Dick and Nadine Dower

Fred Field

Pat Gustin

Christine Janis

Aaron Nakamura

Marvin and Jeanie Robertson

Warren and Debbie Rood

Kenneth Rudolf

Penny Shell

Dan and Carolyn Shultz

Barbara Stratton

Kit Watts

David and RuthAnn Wyman

Walla Walla Dental Care

SILVER

($500–$999)

Debra Bakland

Julianne Fisher

Dietmar and Audra Grellmann

James Pensiero

Takoma Park SDA Church

Kirk and Susan Willard

GOLD

($1,000–$4,999)

Anonymous

Jerry and Shirley Schoepflin

Mel and Cynthia Sorenson

Robert and Linda Spady

Roy Benton and Cynthia Westerbeck

PLATINUM

($5,000+)

Anonymous

Anonymous

Patricia Benton

David Richter

Roger and Krista Woodruff

Jamie Palmer

Senior

music major

16

music scholarships available

Prospective music students are encouraged to apply for scholarships, which are awarded based on merit, auditions, and need. Students may qualify for some or all of the scholarships listed below.

U-Days scholarships

Up to $6,000 per year

Achievement scholarships— $9,000 to $15,000 per year depending on GPA or ACT/SAT scores

Instrumental ensemble scholarships

Small ensemble scholarships

Piano and organ scholarships

Endowed scholarships

Learn about auditions and available scholarships at wallawalla.edu/ auditions-scholarships

“Being a part of the music program at WWU has given me so many growth opportunities in my field as well as opportunities for ministry and community. Donated funds have not only allowed me to remain a student at WWU through scholarships but have also enhanced my experience by allowing me to travel and perform with the ensembles.”

Love what you do— share what you love.

Study music at Walla Walla University.

Our mission is to challenge and nurture each student with a rich musical experience. It is our goal that each music student will be inspired to further enrich the lives of others with expertise, passion, and sensitivity.

The Department of Music provides professional preparation for educators, performers, composers, and scholars. Through our programs and performance opportunities, we also serve the region as an important artistic and cultural resource.

Numerous ensembles

A wide variety of ensembles allow music students to gain plenty of practical performance experience across many music styles.

Performance opportunities

In addition to frequent local concerts, music students can travel with their ensembles and perform for audiences across the country.

Personalized training

Music students receive personalized training and mentorship from dedicated faculty. Our accomplished faculty have graduate degrees from leading universities and conservatories and extensive experience in their fields. Learn more at wallawalla.edu/music-faculty

Versatile program

Department of Music students may also choose to combine their study of music with a second bachelor’s degree in another field, working closely with advisors to complete both degrees in a timely manner.

Degrees offered:

Music education (Bachelor of Music)

Music education teacher certification

Emphases include instrumental and choral Music performance (Bachelor of Music)

Emphases include piano, organ, instrument, voice Music major (Bachelor of Music)

Music production (Bachelor of Music)

Music minor

Join us!

2022–2023 calendar highlights

Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, 6 and 8 p.m.

“Gifts for a King” Christmas concert University Church, livestream at wallawalla.edu/concert

Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, 8 p.m. Music department vespers University Church

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, 4 p.m. Honor Band Festival concert University Church

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2022, 7 p.m. Piano festival concert: Park and guest artist Fine Arts Center Auditorium

Saturday, March 4, 2023, 4 p.m. Choir and Orchestra winter concert University Church

Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 7 p.m.

Big Band winter concert Fine Arts Center Auditorium

Saturday, April 18, 2023, 7 p.m.

Guest recital: Lyndon Johnston Taylor Fine Arts Center Auditorium

Friday, April 28, 2023, 8 p.m.

Homecoming vespers: PRISM concert University Church

Saturday, April 29, 2023, 4 p.m. Alleluias and Meditations University Church

Saturday, May 13, 2023, 4 p.m. Wind Symphony concert University Church

Saturday, May 20, 2023, 5 p.m. Spring choral concert University Church