BYU School of Music Journal November 2023

Journal

Sharing the Light November 2023

Gratitudinal Light I believe we all frequently think of sharing light with others as a proactive act of giving. We can share light through things we say and do. We can also share light through simply “being” if we have worked diligently to cultivate a truly luminous spirit.

However, we may sometimes think of such acts of “giving” as requirements or burdens. This burden can take on a feeling of heaviness and ultimately causes us to cease desiring to share our light with others. This can result in us being ineffectual instruments in the Lord’s hands at the very time the world around us needs all the light we can give to it.

Gratitudinal Light to the rescue! If you are feeling burdened and need a way to lighten your load, this is a sure pick-me-up.

All you have to do is say two simple words to someone– anyone–who has shown you a kindness, made your day a little better, or done something so you don’t have to. The two words? Thank You! When uttered with sincerity and, if possible, eye contact, these two little words will share more light than you can imagine. Just these two words can lift the burdens of others and give them a bounce in their step. In return, weight on your shoulders will slide right off and you, too, will be filled with more joy and gladness.

So, in this month of thankfulness, look for ways to share the wondrous joy of Gratitudinal Light every day!

With Appreciation,

Mark Ammons

Contents Recent Events ..................................................................... 2 Upcoming in November...................................................... 4 A Celebration of the School of Music with Itzhak Perlman ............................................................ 8 BYU Student Organizes Utah Valley Refugee’s Music Camp........................................................ 15 Liz Shropshire Reflects on 20 Years of Serving through Music...................................... 18 Alumni Accomplishments.................................................... 23 Edited, written, and designed by Sarah Griffin Anderson and Zoey Diede

Recent Events Belonging Begins with Us On September 26, faculty and students from the School of Music performed in a multidisciplinary concert to participate in a campus-wide series of events, sponsored by the BYU Office of Belonging, to kick off this year’s theme, “Belonging Begins with Us.” The event featured School of Music faculty and students who performed works by minority, marginalized, and underrepresented composers.

Their performances also demonstrated the positive power of collaboration and intercultural exchange.

Photo by Abby Shelotn, BYU Photo

Wind Symohony Performs at Presidents’ Leadership Council The BYU Wind Symphony performed at the conclusion of the President’s Leadership Council meeting on October 6.

They performed a composition by BYU alum, Alyssa Morris, titled “Shine.” The composer weaved together themes of two familiar songs, “This Little Light of Mine” and “The Lord is My Light” to create a composition centered on sharing light and goodness with others.

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Photo © BYU Photo

Itzhak Perlman with the BYU Philharmonic On October 11 and 12, Itzhak Perlman, a world-renowned Israeli violinist, performed with the BYU Philharmonic.

The concert began with the debut of an original composition by Dr. Stephen Jones, conducted by Dr. Nathan Haines.

Kory Katseanes, recently retired director of orchestras, returned to conduct the orchestra with Mr. Perlman. Read more about this event on pages 8–14.

Photo via itzhakperlman.com, © Masterclass.com

Quey Percussion Duo On October 14, The Quey Percussion Duo visited BYU to work with percussion and composition students. The duo presented a workshop about a rhythmic training system intended for all musicians and a composition workshop where they evaluated student compositions and gave constructive feedback. The duo also performed in a recital where they dazzled the audience with their brilliant musicianship and innovative repertoire.

Photo via arts.byu.edu

November 4 Family Concert Series: How to Feed Your Musical Dragon The BYU Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nathan Haines, entertained a family-filled audience as they played musical stories and followed musical maps.

Professor Dunn narrated the concert.

Photo courtesy of the School of Music

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Upcoming in November November 7 Cougar Marching Band Join the BYU Cougar Marching Band for the loudest concert on campus consisting of fan favorites, songs from the season’s halftime shows, and more! Buy tickets for this event here.

Photo © BYU Photo

November 10 BYU Singers BYU Singers, the university’s award-winning chamber choir, presents a curated menagerie of stunning musical gems both ancient and modern. Buy tickets for this event here.

Photo © BYU Photo

November 29 BYU Philharmonic: Folksong and Fate

Photo © BYU Photo

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Join the BYU Philharmonic for a concert featuring folk songs by Aaron Copland and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The evening will conclude with Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony, exploring themes of struggle and triumph over fate. Buy tickets for this event here.

November 30 Jazz Voices: A Swingin’ Christmas

Photo © BYU Photo

What’s better than vocal jazz at Christmastime? Join BYU’s premier vocal jazz ensemble, Jazz Voices, as they celebrate the season with classic tunes that are sure to fill listeners with the Christmas spirit.

Buy tickets for this event here.

November 30 BYU Symphonic Band and University Band in Concert Kick off the holiday season with the Symphonic Band and the University Band in this concert of Christmas classics and band favorites! Buy tickets for this event here.

Photo © BYU Photo

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Photo by Emma Olsen, CFAC External Relations

A Celebration of the School of Music with Itzhak Perlman

By Sarah Griffin Anderson

The BYU Music Building buzzed with excitement on October 11 and 12. Itzhak Perlman, an internationally acclaimed violinist and rock star of classical music, was back to perform with the BYU Philharmonic. For decades, Mr. Perlman has performed across the globe for diplomats, world leaders, and celebrities. But for two nights in a row, Mr. Perlman performed in the intimate vineyard-style Concert Hall at BYU for 1,000 lucky audience members.

As the audience members took their seats before the performance, they were looking forward to hearing Mr. Perlman play, but what they might not have known is that they were in for a special performance that celebrated the School of Music from start to finish.

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The concert, originally planned for February 2023, was rescheduled to October due to delays in construction on the new Music Building. But the original program was preserved: The first half of the concert included two lively pieces that celebrated the composers and faculty who have built the BYU School of Music over the last century. The second half featured Mr. Perlman’s performance of Mendelssohn’s lyrical Concerto for Violin in E Minor with the Philharmonic. Mr. Perlman’s performance was not only an honor but also a testament of the high musical caliber that the School of Music has achieved over the last century. The combination of these three pieces demonstrated the breadth and ability of the BYU Philharmonic, all while honoring and celebrating the School of Music.

Florence and Friends This celebratory concert began with the debut of Florence and Friends: Re-Sounding Voices, a contemporary composition written by Dr. Stephen Jones that honors past composers from the School of Music. When Dr. Jones began writing the piece, he recalls, “I thought it would be so appropriate to look back as we plan to look forward. Not just to look back, but to listen back, and to think about the shoulders we stand on, and to give gratitude for the people who made the BYU School [of Music] what it is.”

To honor these musicians, Dr. Jones researched music written

by BYU composers over the last 100 years to find melodic quotes, small sections of pieces, that he could weave together to create a unified whole. Though the piece is written for orchestra, Dr. Jones pulled quotes from many musical genres, including one special quote from a choral work by Florence “I thought it would be appropriate to look back as we plan to look forward and to give gratitude for the people who made the BYU School [of Music] what it is.”

–Stephen Jones 9

Jepperson Madsen, who served as the head of the music department from 1920 to 1930. Though Florence wrote the piece in 1956, its words are a fitting dedication for the new Music Building: Thy blessing on this house dear Lord, And bless the earth on which it stands; For here is a witness to our faith in Thee, A testament of willing hands; a dream– A cherished dream come true.

The orchestra performed Florence and Friends under the baton of Nathan Haines, the new Director of Orchestras at BYU. Dr. Haines worked with Dr. Jones throughout the summer in preparation for the debut. “It’s so beneficial to have the living composer right down the hall from you,” Dr. Haines said, “It’s been a lot of fun to collaborate.”

The piece required focus and absolute engagement from each player in the Philharmonic. “If you’re going to give the gift of music, you should –Nathan Haines give it your all,” says Dr. Haines. “That is the approach I hope to show audience members, that every time this orchestra is on the stage, they’re giving it their all.” And the Philharmonic was fully committed to every note of the piece, enveloping the audience in contemporary harmonies, rich textures, and interlocking rhythms.

“If you’re going to give the gift of music, you should give it your all. “

Der Rosenkavalier Suite Next, the Philharmonic performed Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier Suite, conducted by Kory Katseanes, recently retired Director of Orchestras. Originally, Kory was to conduct this concert before he retired, but Dr. Nathan Haines was more than happy to co-conduct the concert with Kory. “It’s a dream 10

come true, as a student of his in the past, to see [Kory] work with the orchestra,” Haines says.

Der Rosenkavalier Suite was the first piece Kory conducted at BYU. Performing it once more with the Philharmonic brought Kory’s career full circle and honored his contributions to the BYU School of Music and the Philharmonic over the past 25 years.

Based on a complete opera, the suite tells the shortened story of two young lovers, Octavian and Sophia, and expresses all the emotions that come with falling in love. For Kory, the emotion portrayed in this piece is extremely special, and says, “[The music] is so heartfelt, so moving, aside from being great melodic writing. [The arias] are full of yearning and longing and achieving a higher level of human relationships.” As the orchestra performed, their playing exuded the emotion that Kory loves in the opera. The musicians’ excitement and passion for their music was evident as they crafted each phrase with feeling, often swaying and moving together to the soaring romantic melodies and harmonies.

Even though Kory knew that these performances would be his last, he was very happy to be back conducting the Philharmonic (or, as he told the audiences, “driving the Ferrari”).

Kory says, “It was pure joy to play the music that I love and be with the students that I’ve loved for the last 25 years.”

Collectively, the two pieces on the first half of the program demonstrated the breadth of the Philharmonic’s artistic ability in two very different genres, all while maintaining complete focus and excellent artistry. Before Itzhak Perlman walked on stage, the Philharmonic established that they were a professional orchestra worthy and qualified for such an honor.

Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin At the end of intermission, there was a final rush for audience members to find their seats, quieting in anxious anticipation

as the lights in the Concert Hall dimmed. The hall was silent until Itzhak Perlman appeared on stage, and the audience leapt to their feet, greeting the virtuoso with an enthusiastic standing ovation.

Mr. Perlman was born in Israel, and in light of the recent violence consuming his home country, he shared his hope for peace with the audience on Wednesday evening. “It is quite tragic,” he said in a somber tone. “And I hope that this wild violence will stop soon and that we can find some peace.”

After that, Mr. Perlman let his music speak peace to the hearts of the audience.

The lyrical beginning of Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin in E minor sang through the concert hall in a clear, piercing tone.

Mr. Perlman’s playing looked and sounded effortless—as natural and easy as breathing. At one point during the solo cadenza, Mr. Perlman lifted his bow from the string for a brief pause—in that moment, it seemed like the audience held its breath, not wanting to shatter the moment of stillness Mr. Perlman created.

Throughout the piece, the Philharmonic carefully cradled Mr. Perlman’s solo lines in a rich and perfectly balanced accompaniment. Together, Mr. Perlman and the Philharmonic captivated the audience’s attention as they played. At the conclusion of the piece, the audience applauded Mr. Perlman and the orchestra for nearly ten minutes to express their appreciation for the performance.

Backstage, Mr. Perlman said to Kory, “The orchestra sounded great.” To Kory, the seemingly small complement was extremely meaningful. “He wasn’t surprised, he wasn’t disappointed [by the orchestra’s performance]. In other words, it met his professional standards,” Kory says.

Mr. Perlman may be a man of few words, but he was a delight to work with, says Kory. “Mr. Perlman is a funny, cheerful, and pleasant person. He’s everything you always want from a soloist.

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“Mr. Perlman is a funny, cheerful, and pleasant person. He’s one of the greatest, [most] warm-hearted artists that we’ve ever know.”

–Kory Katseanes He’s one of the greatest, [most] warm-hearted artists that we’ve ever known.”

Listening to Mr. Perlman’s music was certainly a joy and privilege for the audience members, but Mr. Perlman’s example of joyful playing is invaluable to the students in the School of Music. “There is so much that students can learn from watching and rubbing shoulders [with Mr. Perlman], … starting with his unbelievable sound. It’s pretty hard to teach a great sound.

But if you’ve heard a great sound, now you know how to go searching. Having heard [the “Perlman sound”] gives our students in the School of Music the opportunity to go find it for themselves.”

These concerts featuring Mr. Perlman and the Philharmonic were more than just two highly anticipated sold-out shows.

The shows honored the monumental contributions of all the musicians who built the School of Music into the prestigious program it is today. The concerts also celebrated Mr. Perlman’s incredible artistry and allowed the students in the Philharmonic to shine in two incredible performances. Through their excellent playing, the Philharmonic proudly declared that the School of Music is capable of achieving greatness through its music—now and in the years to come.

Photo by Emma Olsen, CFAC External Relations

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BYU Student Organizes Utah Valley Refugee’s Music Camp

By Zoey Diede

Renee Chiu Gastelum, (pictured bottom right) a senior studying organ performance, decided to take action when she saw a need for musical education among Utah’s refugee community.

Renee took inspiration to create a music program for refugees, in part, from her maternal grandparents, who fled from China to Taiwan as refugees. And, having grown up taking music lessons, Renee knows the importance of music education for youth.

Since 2012, Utah has welcomed more than 8,500 refugees to the state, many of whom cannot afford to take music lessons. Renee was first drawn to this demographic when she took a class on community engagement and leadership in music, taught by Professor Jihea Hong-Park. With the help of Professor Park, Renee received a $15,000 grant through the Laycock Endowment for the Collaborative Arts, which enabled her to purchase six pianos, three guitars, and four violins to start a music-teaching program for refugees in Utah.

Within a month, Renee recruited and trained six of her fellow music students to be summer camp instructors. Renee and the instructors met for five months to plan a teaching curriculum.

They decided to teach private lessons for violin and guitar, a combined piano lab, music fundamentals, and a choir class. Just like that, the Utah Valley Refugee’s Music Camp was born. The camp took place in July for two weeks, but Renee and the 15

camp founders still continue to teach private lessons throughout the school year.

Renee was also involved in teaching music lessons in Hualien, Taiwan, during the summer. She and several other students traveled to Taiwan to run a similar program to the Utah Valley Refugees’ Music Camp. They taught music lessons and classes to children who weren’t able to live at home and instead were living at the Good Shepherd Center.

Renee finds it fulfilling to connect people who want to give with people who are in need. She says, “I realized that I really enjoy not just helping people who are under-served, but [helping] people with means to become aware of others who they don’t normally think about.” Renee was astonished at the amount of people in the world who want to give and do good.

Many people were happy and willing to serve at the music camp. “It’s amazing to see how many people will do so much work for free,” Renee states. “They’re not doing it for the money, they’re doing it because they truly love people.”

Renee felt inspired by these Christ-like people who gave their time, money, and effort to do good deeds without expecting anything in return. She was touched by their efforts to share the light of Christ through music.

Renee is grateful for those who made the camp possible, especially the generous donors. Renee showed the donors the difference their gifts made by sending them pictures of the students using supplies that were donated. She describes the entire camp as a very fun and heart-warming experience. Renee expresses her gratitude to those who helped her give refugees the opportunity to bring music into their lives and musicians the opportunity to serve.

Watch this recap video of Renee’s work with refugees in Utah Valley and her music program for kids in Taiwan.

Photos courtesy of Renee Gastleum and the Utah Valley Refugees Music Camp.

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You’re an

outstanding musician.

We’re a

premier music program.

Let’s make beautiful music together.

Come and feel the joy of making great music and great friends. BYU offers three programs for talented musicians ages 14–18: BYU Musicians’ Institute followed

by BYU Musicians’ SummerFestival.

summerfestival.byu.edu

CHORAL AND VOCAL INSTITUTE

June 11–22

MUSICIANS’ INSTITUTE

June 11–15

MUSICIANS’ SUMMERFESTIVAL

June 16–22

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Liz Shropshire Reflects on 20 Years of Serving through Music

By Zoey Diede

Liz Shropshire was living her music career dreams. After graduating from BYU with her bachelor’s and USC with her master’s, Liz landed a job composing film music in Los Angeles. Her life was going exactly as she had planned: Liz spent most of her time composing film scores, going on vacations, and teaching music lessons. But she didn’t feel fulfilled. “It just felt like I should be doing something more with my life,” Liz recalls.

So, Liz began to pray—a simple act she learned to involve in her music when she was earning her undergrad in music composition at BYU. Liz recalls a time when she was struggling to compose, and a peer admonished her to pray before composing. Impacted by this experience, Liz began to incorporate prayer into her musical process.

In 1999, while Liz was looking and praying for opportunities to change her life, she found a wildly cheap airline ticket to Brussels. She bought it, and shortly after heard news of war erupting in Kosovo, a small nation in southeastern Europe. The conflict left 10,000 dead and displaced one million refugees.

Liz resolved to find her way to Kosovo from Brussels and volunteer in the relief effort. Before she left for Brussels, a friend suggested that Liz “do what she does best” in Kosovo—teach music. The idea uplifted and motivated Liz. She receive chari18

table donations from friends and family, packed her suitcases full of instruments, and went on her way. “Within days [of arriving in Kosovo],” Liz says, “I knew it was what I wanted to do with my life.”

The night before her first set of classes started, Liz was inspired to try a completely new style of teaching. She decided to teach the students basic components of music theory, like note names and rhythms, before giving them instruments to play on. After the kids practiced clapping and speaking rhythms, they earned their pennywhistles and harmonicas, easy-to-learn instruments that the kids could take with them wherever they went.

She also began training some of the older kids to teach classes themselves. The results were remarkable and unexpected. The program reduced the effects of trauma, built self-esteem, decreased vulnerability to extremism and intolerance, and brought hope into a refugee culture of apathy and hopelessness.

Liz stayed in Kosovo for six weeks—twice as long as she’d originally planned—but she was determined to return. Back in LA, Liz met several friends from her ward who enlisted their talents in creating the Shropshire Foundation, now known as Peace Through Music International. In the early years of the non-profit, Liz and her friends were living and traveling purely off of donations.

Eventually, the organization established programs in locations around the world serving other children affected by war, including child soldiers in Uganda; Yaziki youth from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq; Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh; and Ukrainian chil-

“I had no idea that it would be like this when I started, and it’s just so much bigger and better than I could’ve imagined.”

-Lis Shropshire 19

dren in Poland. Now, Peace Through Music International has served over 22,000 kids. Liz says, “I had no idea that it would be like this when I started, and it’s just so much bigger and better than I could’ve imagined.”

Even though Liz’s foundation has had great success, she has also faced challenges. She shares that the most important thing in hard times—whether in music or other aspects of life—is prayer. “I am a big believer in prayer. And faith that this is Heavenly Father’s plan—that it’s His program.” Even when Liz didn’t know how things would work out with the program, she always prayed, and things turned out okay.

Liz has felt supported by Heavenly Father through the entire Peace Through Music International journey. She expresses love for not only God but for all others who help keep the program going: “There [are] so many people that make this happen, it’s not “My time me anymore. It’s really beautiful to at BYU was see how many people believe in this so amazing and want to make it happen for these because it children.” opened the world for me.“ Liz has been all across the globe, but her career really began at the BYU -Lis Shropshire School of Music. “My time at BYU was 20

so amazing because it opened the world for me,” Liz says.

She had many unique experiences, such as private conducting lessons, that equipped Liz with special skills and connections, giving her an advantage later in her career.

To all students involved in the School of Music, Liz says, “Don’t limit yourself and don’t assume anything. Keep your mind open, keep your prayers going, and keep asking Heavenly Father what you can do.” Liz took a different course than she thought she would when she graduated, but she is grateful that she did. She encourages students to look for the thing that they can do to share their talents, and says, “We can all do something to make a really big difference in the world.”

To get involved in Peace Through Music International, visit the organization’s website and Facebook page.

Photos courtesy of Liz Shropshire and Peace Through Music International.

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Alumni Accomplishments Kaden Larson (BM ’18, piano) started a full-time teaching position as a piano faculty member at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.

Photo courtesy of Kaden Larson

Ariel Wong (BM ’23, piano) was accepted to the Eastman School of Music where she is pursuing a master’s degree in piano performance.

Photo courtesy of Ariel Wong

Brooke Ballard (BM ’23, piano) was accepted to the University of Oklahoma where she was awarded an assistantship. Brooke is pursuing a master’s of piano performance and pedagogy.

Photo courtesy of Brooke Ballard

Aubrey Odle (MM ’18, classical voice) was the lead role of Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle as an apprentice artist with Des Moines Metro Opera this summer.

Photo via aubreyodle.com, ©2019

John Burton (BM ’23, clarinet) began his master’s program at Arizona State University in the fall.

Photo courtesy of John Burton

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Photo courtesy of Jaycee and Conner Nicholas

Photo courtesy of Chance Thomas

Photo via music.utah.edu

Photo via josephsowa.com

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Jaycee Jensen Nicholas (BM ’23, choral music education) began teaching as a high school choral director at Silverado High School in Las Vegas. Conner Nicholas (BM ’23, choral music education) also began teaching as a high school choral director at Spring Valley High School.

Chance Thomas (BM ’87, composition) released the book Making it Huge in Video Games, a memoir about Chance’s challenges and successes as he has composed music for the worldwide video game industry. Learn more about the book here.

Brian Woodbury (BM, trombone) is currently the associate instructor of jazz studies at the University of Utah. He is also an adjunct music professor at Utah Valley University. Last year, he released a solo album called “House Call.” You can listen to his music on YouTube by clicking here.

Joseph Sowa (MM ’10, composition) wrote an orchestra piece that the BYU Philharmonic first premiered in 2010 called, “Summer Has Ten Thousand Stars.” Recently, the piece was selected for a prestigious EarShot reading with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Photo via dallinbladwin.com

Photo courtesy of Brooke Scott

Dallin Baldwin (MM, choral conducting) was recently appointed as assistant director of choirs at Virginia Tech University.

Dallin received his BM and MM degrees from BYU (organ performance, choral conducting). He is concurrently pursuing a doctorate in choral conducting within the Sacred Music Program at the University of Notre Dame.

Sylvan Scott (BM ’23, piano) and Brooke Scott (BM ’23, music education), recently released two original hymn arrangements: “I Am a Child of God” and “In Humility our Savior.” you can listen to their music on spotify by clicking here.

Lauren Cain (MM ’23, piano) started a full-time teaching position as a piano faculty member at Drake University, a private institution in Des Moines, Iowa.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Cain

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The BYU School of Music seeks truth in great music. We strive to lead in the composition, performance, teaching, and understanding of music and to serve the university, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the world through this divine gift.