MUSIC Notes
The Newsletter of the CNU Music Program
THE incomparable Marching Captains, under the direction of Dr. Mark Johnson, percussion instructor Scott Amman, and guard instructor Jessica Rapone, thrilled the millions of spectators lined up along the streets and those watching their televisions at home who viewed the London’s New Year’s Day Parade. The Marching Captains, along with several of their friends and families who made the trip across the pond, enjoyed visiting the many sites of London, meeting other bands, soaking up British culture, and ringing in the new year.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
With the generous, financial support from our enthusiastic scholarship donors, the Music program continues to attract talented, bright, and dedicated music majors who breathe excitement and passion into our classes, studios, rehearsals, and performances. For the 2025-26 academic year, Friends of Music memberships are over $110,000 with all endowed monies totaling nearly $2,700,00. Through 29 named music scholarships, over $124,000 was awarded to nearly 50 music majors.
MAT Students Awarded Scholarships
Senior music education majors received scholarships toward their pursuit of the Master of Arts in Teaching degree: instrumental music education major Rebecca Kraft received the $2,200 Helen D’Alfonso Endowed Music Education Scholarship, and instrumental music education major Hannah Asuncion was appointed the graduate administrative assistant for the Office of Teacher Preparation.
Trumpet Students Participate IN “A WAKE ON THE LAKE”
The CNU Trumpet Ensemble under the direction of trumpet professor Dr. Kelly Rossum, participated in “A Wake on the Lake,” an outdoor event that included performing in kayaks. Dr. Rossum wrote unique, site-specific works for the CNU Trumpet Ensemble to be performed in the woods and on kayaks floating on the Mariners Museum and Park’s Lake Maury.
VMEA RECEPTION HONORS
Christopher Newport Music
Graduates
The 2024 VMEA Conference included our annual VMEA/CNU Music Reception for our music education graduates teaching in Virginia. It was held Friday, November 22nd, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Blue Moon Tap House in Norfolk, with approximately 40 Christopher Newport music education students, alumni, and faculty in attendance.
Sophomore music majors at signing day in the David Student Union
SARAH ELLIOTT VISITING PIANIST SERIES FEATURES
Outstanding Pianists from Around
the Country
The annual Sarah Elliott Visiting Pianist series presented jazz pianist Bijan Taghavi and University of Pennsylvania piano faculty member Junwen Liang. The series is administered by Dr. Benjamin Corbin, director of keyboard studies. Sarah (White) Elliott is from Newport News, Virginia, and graduated in 1997 from Christopher Newport with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. While at CNU, she played the piano, keyboard, and accordion in a number of recitals, concerts, jazz ensembles, operas, and musicals produced by CNU’s music and theatre departments. After graduating, Sarah was an opera coach and the music director for the educational outreach program at Seagle Music Colony in New York. She also played private events, taught private piano lessons, and taught chorus in a Hampton City public school before taking a teaching assistantship
at the University of Missouri-Columbia, earning a master of music degree in piano pedagogy and collaborative arts. Her career since attending law school in Washington, D.C. has been focused in banking and technology, with experience on Capitol Hill as a bank regulator, in private practice, and building early stage tech companies in California. Sarah still enjoys playing classical piano (including four-hands repertoire) and keyboard in a rock cover band.
GUEST ARTISTS AND CLINICIANS ENGAGE CNU Music Students
In October, sitarist Maestro Alif Laila and tabla player Abhay Kulkarmi, along with members of the CNU University Orchestra, the Hampton University Orchestra, and the York River Symphony Orchestra presented the concert, “East Meets West.” The event was organized by Dr. Eric Reiff, co-conductor of the York River Symphony Orchestra. The head recording engineer was Scott Darden, a retired recording engineer from the Eastman School of Music, The Kennedy Center, PBS, and NPR.
In November was the guest recital by violist Ayn Balija and Vic Firth percussionist I-Jen Fang of the University of Virginia. Pictured left is I-Jen Fang working with CNU percussion performance major Cadence Roberts (BM Percussion Performance) . The masterclass was organized by director of creative studies and UVA graduate Dr. Maxwell Tfirn.
Pictured bottom left is music senior Jonathan Martin (BM Piano Performance and Choral Music Education) with world-renowned pianist Yuja Wang who gave a piano masterclass to the finest young pianists in the region.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL INCLUDES AI COMPOSITIONS AND Composer Nancy Galbraith
The annual Contemporary Music Festival presented, PROMPT, a series of short films using AI generated music and animation. The project led by composer and director of jazz studies Dr. Kelly Rossum and art professor Alan Skees. The Festival included also a guest faculty recital by Croation violinist Vlatka Pelijhan, Croatian pianist Mia Elezović, and Dr. John McGuire, director of opera studies. The
featured composer of the Festival was Dr. Nancy Galbraith, chair of the department of composition at Carnegie Mellon University Performing her works were the flute quintet, percussion trio, Wind Ensemble, featuring guest organist Beth Tomassetti and conductor Maj. (Ret.) William H.L. Garlette,violinist Vlatka Pelijhan,and pianist Mia Elezović.
Dr. Qingyan Tian, visiting pianist Junwen Liang, Dr. Mark Reimer, Dr. Bob Colvin, and Dr. Benjamin Corbin
LifeLong Learning Society SPONSORS PIANO
DAY
Christopher Newport’s impressive LifeLong Learning Society again sponsored CNU’s ‘Piano Day’ workshop on Saturday, April 5th. The event is organized and presented by Dr. Benjamin Corbin, director of keyboard studies, who performs and teaches masterclasses for the participants as well as coaches them on audition and competition strategies and performance practice.
Virginia Organization of KODÁL Y EDUCAT ORS W ORKSHOP
Music education majors and area music educators participated in Christopher Newport’s chapter of the National Association for Music Education professional development workshop held virtually on Saturday, February 22nd. The workshop was presented in collaboration with the Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators (VOKE), and Dr. Alice Hammel, Immediate Past President of the Virginia Music Educators Association, was the featured clinician with her topic, “Teaching Music to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Despite challenging weather conditions outside, online attendees were able to meaningfully reflect on best practices for teaching students with autism. The event was organized by Dr. Kimberly Ankney, director of music education studies at Christopher Newport. .
Two Music Faculty EARN TENURE AND PROMOTION
Dr. Chelsey Hamm, director of music theory and aural skills, was granted tenure and promoted to the rank of associate professor. Dr. Kelly Rossum, director of jazz studies, was promoted to the rank of Professor. Pictured above are Dr. Hamm and Dr. Rossum along with dance professor Anne Mazzocca Bellecci who also was promoted to the rank of Professor.
Christopher Newport University's 33rd Annual Holiday Concert
HOLIDAY HAPPENING Heralds in the Holiday Season
The 33rd Annual Holiday Happening again heralded in the holidays on Sunday, December 8th, in the beautiful Diamonstein Concert Hall. The mighty Tuba Santas, conducted by Dr. Mark Johnson, performed their Tuba Christmas carols in Diamonstein Lobby just prior to Holiday Happening. This was the 51st Anniversary of Tuba Christmas, a beloved tradition for euphoniumists and tubists around the world that was started by tuba professor and legendary performer,the great Harvey Phillips of Indiana University, to honor the memory of his teacher and mentor, the incomparable tubist and Iowa native, William Bell. Tuba Christmas is organized by the always energetic David Shinn, whose son, Nathan, and daughter-in-law are both proud CNU alumni. WHRO announcer Dr. Raymond Jones again served as the master of ceremonies for each concert.
Music Majors WIN AWARDS
Vocal performance majors Grace Farris and Matthew Ryan won First Place and Second Place, respectively, at the Lisa Relaford Coston Scholarship Competition presented by the Norfolk Chamber Consort. Grace won $1,000, and Matthew won $300. Ms. Coston served as an adjunct professor of voice at Christopher Newport up until her unexpected death.
Creative Studies major Zach Gist receiving a 2025 Student Leadership Award, “Person of Honor,” and choral music education major Claire Jones was inducted into the national honor society Omicron Delta Kappa.
International Symposium for Emerging Conductors
PRESENTED BY CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT
Christopher Newport presented from May 7th through the 11th the five-day International Symposium for Emerging Conductors (ISEC). Participating in the Symposium were two undergraduate students from Cyprus (studying in Greece), an undergraduate student from Ukraine (studying in Latvia), two undergraduate students from The College of William and Mary, one undergraduate student from Old Dominion University, and one undergraduate and one graduate student from Christopher Newport University. The conducting clinicians included Professor Janis Purins of Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Dr. Catherine Rand of the University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Richard Marcus of The College of William and Mary, Dr. Tyler Austin of Old Dominion University, Major (Ret.) William Garlette of
Famous Afghan Singer-Songwriter NASHENA S PERF ORMS ON DIAMONSTEIN STAGE
the West Point Band and the U.S. Army TRADOC Band, and Dr. Mark Johnson and Dr. Mark Reimer of Christopher Newport University. The faculty presented lectures in leadership, repertoire, rehearsal techniques, and body movement in addition to giving individual conducting lessons and coachings to each participant.The students rehearsed with the CNU Wind Ensemble, trained in Yoga and Tai Chi, and conducted the Wind Ensemble on the culminating Gala Concert in Diamonstein Concert Hall. Participants also enjoyed performances by The Virginia Symphony orchestra and the numerous instrumental ensembles performing at the Virginia Community Music Festival.
89-year-old Afghan singer-songwriter Nashenas, now living in London, presented a concert on September 26th on the stage of Diamonstein Concert Hall. Musicologist Dr. Mike Levine’s brother-in-law from Detroit performed that evening on the tabla. The event was organized by CNU music alumna Susie Miran (BM Vocal Performance, 1988) who performed with him on the recital and is currently setting his over 200 songs in Western music notation.
Vianne Webb Memorial LECTURE IN MUSICOLOGY
The annual Vianne Webb Memorial Lecture in Musicology Series, founded by the late Dr. Clyde W. Brockett, presented the lecture, Archipelagic Listening, by Dr. Jessica Baker, pictured left, of the University of Chicago. The series is administered by Dr. Mike Levine, director of musicology at Christopher Newport.The lecture was a component of the spring meeting of the Southeast Chapter of the American Musicological Society, hosted by Dr. Levine.
Music Program HOSTS MUSICIANS FROM ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH
The annual Choral Festival, under the direction of director of choral studies Dr. John Irving and assisted by members of Christopher Newport’s chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, hosted a voice workshop for the district’s tenors and basses, All-District VIII Honor Choirs, the 2025 CNU Choral Invitational, and rehearsal clinics with VMEA Blue Ribbon Award-winning choral programs. Dr. Maxwell Tfirn, director of creative studies, hosted a workshop on music technology and the recording and editing of sound using Pro Tools. Dr Benjamin Corbin again hosted Piano Day, a day of masterclasses and performances for students of all levels. The Newport News Public School All-City Music Festival was hosted by Christopher Newport University and included the Elementary School Chorus, Middle School Chorus, Middle School Band, Middle School Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble, High School Chorus, High School Band, and High School Orchestra. Organized by Dr. Mark Johnson, the annual Honors Wind Ensemble included high school musicians from around the Commonwealth. The guest conductor was Michael P. Flynn, associate conductor of the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs. Pictured below is the enthusiastic choral director Dante Perry (BA Music Studies, 2015), Director of Choirs at Peasley Middle School in Gloucester, giving a choral clinic and high school participants rehearsing in the Honors Wind Ensemble.
Dr. Jessica Baker and Dr. Mike Levine
PAIDEA FEATURES Four Music Majors
Under the direction of Dr. Mike Levine, four music majors presented papers at Christopher Newport’s annual PAIDEA Conference Pictured above, left to right, are R.J. Williams, Jonathan Martin, Claire Jones, Dr. Mike Levine, and Parker Hess
Senior Appreciation LUNCHE ON
Dr. Chelsey Hamm, director of theory and aural skills, hosted a senior appreciation luncheon at her home. Pictured in the front row are Dr. Hamm, Rebecca Kraft, Hannah Asuncion, R.J. Williams, and Erin Minner. In the back row are Claire Jones, Parker Hess, David Randolph, and Andrew McDowell
Virginia Community Music Festival GROWING IN ATTENDANCE
The fourth annual Virginia Community Music Festival was held May 3rd through May 11th in the Ferguson Center for the Arts. The event presented free, public concerts by community bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, and chamber musicians in addition to lectures by Daniel Boothe, conductor of Symphonicity, on the marketing of ensembles and Dr. Raymond Jones, radio announcer at WHRO, on the past, current, and future history of radio Participating musicians and ensembles included Soundscapes, Peninsula Youth Orchestra, Peninsula Youth Jazz Ensemble, Higher Ground Big Band, Stan’s Big Band, York River Symphony Orchestra, Peninsula Concert Band, York River Concert Band, Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, Hampton Roads Philharmonic, Courthouse
The board now includes:
Dr. Tyler Austin, Director of Bands, Old Dominion University
Mr. Daniel W. Boothe, Conductor, Symphonicity
Prof. Jerry A. Bracey, Director of Orchestras, Hampton University
Mr. Bruce Bronstein, Executive Director, Ferguson Center for the Arts
Major (Ret.) William H. L. Garlette, U.S. Army Bands (Co-Founder)
Dr. David Grandis, Director of Orchestras, The College of William and Mary
Dr. Raymond Jones, Classical Radio Producer and Host, WHRO 90.3 FM
Mr. Bert Langeler, Chief Conductor, Estonian Conductors Wind Orchestra
Dr. Richard Marcus, Director of Bands, The College of William and Mary
Dr. Yiannis Miralis, Director of Bands, European University Cyprus
Prof. Janis Purins, Director of Bands, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music
Mr. Rey Ramirez, Program Director, Soundscapes
Dr. Mark U. Reimer, Director of Music, Christopher Newport University (Co-Founder)
Community Orchestra, and the CNU Wind Ensemble. Featured chamber musicians and ensembles included Gu Zheng player Louise Wang, Er Hu player Felix Lin, violinist Benjamina Bolger, the CNU Flute Quintet, and the CNU Percussion Trio.The event was supported by the Ferguson Center for the Arts, George and Mary Torggler, Chip Goldstein and Baylee Wang, the American Concert Band Association, Friends of Music, and the Music Program. The board of advisors was expanded this year to include conductors from abroad and university conductors in the region in order to attract future participants from around the globe and to encourage and promote lifelong learning.
The Peninsula Community Band on stage at the Virginia Community Music Festival
Dr. Mark Reimer with 10-year-old violinist Benjamina Bolger who performed with pianist Dr. Benjamin Corbin on the Chamber Music Recital at the Virginia Community Music Festival
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Have National Presence
AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (ACD A)
The American Choral Directors Association chapter has kept up with old traditions and is always paving the way for new ones. They hosted a range of events, including participation in the Newport News All City Music Festival, hosting All-District Chorus, hosting multiple Highschool choirs for clinics, and hosting the annual Tenor-Bass Clinic. At each of these events the chapter sold concessions to help support their chapter. This past Spring semester they worked together to create a new voice-lesson program for CNU students that are not music majors. The program is run entirely by ACDA. Choral Music Education students are given the opportunity to work one on one with a student, putting their studies into reality. The chapter is looking to open up ACDA to nonmusic majors, including anyone who loves to participate in choir or just loves to sing.
NA TIONAL ASSOCIA TION for Music Education
(NAfME)
The Mu Nu chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) was awarded the Chapter of Excellence for Service Award at VMEA in November. Members volunteered in local schools providing ensemble sectionals as well as one-on-one support to students throughout Newport News Public Schools. Special visits this year included Dr. Angela Ammerman on engaging diverse students in the classroom and Helen Martell from The Virginia Symphony Orchestra to talk about the VSO’s partnerships and programming with public schools. Members participated in a sight-singing workshop with Dr. Georgia Newlin and attended the Falk Seminar with Dr. Sean Powell from UNT who spoke on competition in school music programs.
PI KAPPA LAMBDA I
nductees
Junior Zachary Gist (BA Creative Studies) and senior Erin Minner (BM PreCertification Instrumental Music Education) were inducted into Christopher Newport’s chapter, Iota Mu, of Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society. The special guest at the induction ceremony and dinner was Dr. Lindsey Reymore, professor of music theory at Arizona State University, who was also the guest lecturer for the new Music Theory Lecture Series administered by Dr. Chelsey Hamm. Elected by the music faculty, membership in Pi Kappa Lambda requires juniors to be in the top 10 percent of their class and seniors to be in the top 20 percent of their class. All inductees must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and excel in scholarship, musicianship, and service to the University, community, and their profession.
PHI MU ALPHA Sinfonia
The Omicron Nu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (ΦMA) initiated six new brothers into the fraternity who truly demonstrate passion, love for music, and shared ideals. One of the highlights of the semester was getting to sing at Huntington’s Assisted Living. It was a meaningful experience for the chapter and a great reminder of why they do what we do, which is sharing music to uplift others. On top of that, they raised over $300 through fundraising to support more events and outreach in the future. Looking ahead, the chapter is planning to reach out to potential members outside of the music program so that they can keep building a diverse and passionate brotherhood. They also want to host more music events and get involved in more campus-wide activities. The chapter feels that it is growing not just in size but in brotherhood, spirit, and impact.
Society of COMPOSERS, INC.
Society of Composers Inc. at CNU is a student-led organization which is a professional society dedicated to the promotion, performance, understanding and dissemination of new and contemporary music. Members include composers both in and outside academia including students. Throughout the 2024-25 school year at CNU, SCI participated in the Contemporary Music Festival, met with guest lecturers, and students presented on their own topics in weekly meetings to further the compositional progress of our members. They also held both of their biannual Compose-a-thon events this year. In the fall, the chapter continued with its recently established tradition of hosting a composition event in October, called Creepy Crawly Compose-a-thon. This event allowed students outside of the composition department to work directly with a composer in SCI to perform a student-composed piece, adhering to an assigned theme, which had been written and rehearsed in less than a week. Their spring event, called Write of Spring, followed a similar format with the theming of the pieces being Springtime related. SCI is a small society focused on the development of compositional skills among a community of friends and people who can help each other not only become better musicians and composers, but also better presenters, communicators, planners, and friends.
Inaugural Presentation of the Annual Music Theory LECTURE SERIES
Pictured right is Dr. Lindsey Reymore, Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Arizona State University, before delivering her lecture, Timbre: from Sound to Meaning, at the annual Music Theory Symposium held February 13th in the Mary M. Torggler Lecture Hall. The music theory lecture series is coordinated by Dr. Chelsey Hamm, director of music theory and aural skills.
Dr. Chelsey Hamm presenting a paper at a conference in Montreal.
MUSIC JOURNAL Expands Outreach
Christopher Newport University’s Journal of Performing Arts Leadership in Higher Education (JPALHE),founded 15 years ago by Dr Laurence Kaptain of the University of Colorado-Denver and Dr. Mark Reimer, has expanded its outreach to include Europe, Asia, and South America. Performing arts executives recently added to the editorial board include Dr. Deborah Kelleher, director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and president of the Association of European Conservatories, Dr. Mayco Santaella, professor of ethnomusicology and southeast Asian studies at Sunway University (Malaysia), Dr. Diego Scherer of the Tecnologico de Monterrey, professor of media and digital culture, Dr. Jan Philipp Sprick, music theorist and director of the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, Dr. Anne Hogan, professor of dance and dean of the College of Performing Arts and the Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University, and Dr. Peter Tornquist, dean of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at Singapore National University.
Editorial Board (Fall 2024 through Spring 2027)
Seth Beckman, Ball State University
Robert Blocker, Yale University
Abra Bush, Indiana University
Richard J. Giarusso, New England Conservatory
Anne Hogan, Chapman University
Jonathan Bailey Holland, Northwestern University
Laurence Kaptain, University of Colorado-Denver (co-editor)
Deborah Kelleher, Royal Irish Academy of Music
Sabrina Madison-Cannon, University of Oregon
Sandra Parks, Colorado Conservatory of Dance
Mark U. Reimer, Christopher Newport University (co-editor)
Rachel Roberts, Eastman School of Music
Mayco A. Santaella, Sunway University
Diego Zavala Scherer, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Karen Schupp, Arizona State University
James C. Scott, University of North Texas
Kate Sheeran, Eastman School of Music
Jan Philipp Sprick, Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg
Jonathan Sturm, Iowa State University
Peter Tornquist, Singapore National University
Shannon Walsh, Louisiana State University
Students and faculty at the International Symposium for Emerging Conductors
Congratulations to the 2025 MUSIC GRADUATES
BACHELOR OF MUSIC
Instrumental Performance
David Randolph
BACHELOR OF MUSIC
Pre-Certification Choral
Claire Jones
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Creative Studies
Brady Wickham
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Music Studies
Meagan Dewsbury
Roderic Williams
BACHELOR OF MUSIC
Pre-Certification Instrumental
Hannah Asuncion
Rebecca Kraft
Andrew McDowell
The Final CHORD
Director of Lifelong Learning Jane Sulzberger, passed away on January 6, 2025, at her home in Hampton. Jane was a longtime member and supporter of Friends of Music and the Music Program. She joined the LifeLong Learning staff in 1990 and became its director in 1996.
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING Choral Music Education
Bethany Duffer
Sherlese Richardson
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING Instrumental Music Education
Reese Tunstall
CNU Music is ON INSTAGRAM
CNU Music now has its own Instagram page! The account name is, “Music at CNU,” and the username is, @music.cnu. Daily postings include 30-second clips of students practicing, classroom antics, comments on various topics, and more. Postings are under the direction of junior music education major Lilyanna Johnson. Enjoy experiencing the Music Program from the students’ perspective!
Music ALUMNI UPDATES
2025
Bethany Duffer (BM Pre-Certification Choral Music Education, MAT Choral Music Education, 2024/25) was appointed Music Teacher at Gladys-West Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Reese Tunstall (BM/MAT, Saxophone Performance and Instrumental Music Education, 2024/25) was selected as a saxophonist with the NewFound Chamber Winds Chamber Music Fellowship Program in Norfolk, studying and performing saxophone quartet music, mixed-instrument chamber ensemble music, and new music. Reese received coaching from West Virginia University’s Dr. Jeffery Sigfried as well as attending seminars from composition faculty David Biedenbender and Viet Cuong. Reese was also accepted into the Instrumental Conducting Symposium at Shenandoah Conservatory where he conducted their wind ensemble and received coaching from Dr. Tim Robblee as well as Dr. Robert Taylor of Northwestern University.
2024
Regan Craze (BM/MAT Choral Music Education, 2023/24) is Director of Choirs and Music Teacher at King’s Fork Middle School in Suffolk, VA.
Levi Langolf (BM Trumpet Performance and PreCertification Instrumental Music Education/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2023/24) is a band director at both Passage Middle School, alongside Mr. Mike Bell, and Hines Middle School, alongside Mr. Jeffery Lilliston (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2017/18), in the Newport News Public Schools.
2023
Christine Bowser’s (BM Pre-Certification Choral Music Education and MAT Choral Music Education, 2022/23) Eaton Middle School Choir in Hampton earned a superior rating both on stage and in sight
reading for the first time in the school’s history, qualifying the school for the Blue Ribbon Award for the
Kasch (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education and Clarinet Performance, 2022/23 and Emily Grace Louis (BA Music Studies, 2023), pictured above, performed in the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria. In the middle was the conductor of the ensemble, retired Director of Bands at the University of Michigan, Dr. Michael Haithcock.
Amaya Rose (BA Creative Studies/Film Studies, 2023) released her new album, Contemplation 64
Ashley Turner (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2022/23) is an elementary music teacher in Middlesex County, Virginia.
Kasey Watkins (BM/MAT Piano Performance and Instrumental Music Education, 2022/23) performed piano on the album, Inspector Penny, by Hoot & Annie. Guitarist Paul Todd wrote the music and lyrics. She is one of the people who played on the album, and you may listen to it via either YouTube or Spotify.
Sophanit Yohannes (BA Music Studies, 2023) earned her Graduate Certificate and Music Education Licensure from George Mason University.
2022
Hayden Cameron (BM Trumpet Performance, 2022) earned the Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from The Pennsylvania State University and was a guest soloist at the annual Jazz 4 Justice concert.
2020
Charlie Smith (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2019/20) was named “Teacher of the Year” at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he serves as Director of Bands.
2019
Anne (Dunn) Zimmerman’s (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2018/19) symphonic band earned all superior ratings at district band assessment.
2018
Bradly Blair’s (BM Composition and Pre-Certification Instrumental Music Education/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2017/18) orchestra earned all superior ratings at district orchestra assessment.
Jessee Reon (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2017/18) directed the Harrison High School Band program in Colorado Springs, Colorado to third place at the regional competition and was a semifinalist at the Colorado Bandmasters Association State Championship Event. The Jazz Band gave multiple community performances including a partnership with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. The band program will be partnering with the CS Philharmonic again this summer as part of their inaugural 4th of July concert. Jessee was married to Parker Lannom (a non-musical Hokie) on Saturday, June 7th, with their wedding being also a CNU Music reunion with alumni from the classes of 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
2015
Sam Webber (BM/MAT, Flute Performance and Instrumental Music Education, 2014/15) completed her doctoral coursework and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she will continue to work on her qualifying exams and start her dissertation. She presented at the International Society for Music Education Conference in Helsinki, Finland, and the Early Childhood Music
Melanie
and Movement Association Convention. She presented at the New York State School Music Association Conference, the NAfME Eastern Conference, and Mountain Lake Colloquium. She had four publications, one each in Contributions to Music Education, The Orff Echo, NYSSMA School Music News, and Music Educators Journal.
2014
Christian Allen (BM Instrumental Music Education, 2014), played the drumset/percussion book on the Broadway tour of, Elf: The Broadway Musical.
The tour lasted over nine weeks and went to ten cities, including stops at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, and the Milwaukee Marcus Center.
Christian currently is living in New York City where he has been playing for off-Broadway venues as well as jazz and the impro scenes. He will soon be producing an original show at a theatre in the Flatiron district.
Scruggs (BM Vocal Performance, 2014) released her
2013
Morgan Kelso (BM/MAT Choral Music Education, 2012/13) taught lower school general music and middle school choir at James River Day School this past year, an independent K-8 school in Lynchburg. She graduated in May from the University of Lynchburg with the Master of Education degree in clinical mental health counseling and looks forward to incorporating music-based interventions this fall as a resident in counseling.
2012
Charles Crawford (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2011/12) was selected to participate in the Summer Wind Conducting Workshop at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Lucia Schaefer (BM/MAT Instrumental Music Education, 2011/12) was elected in 2024 as the President of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington (FSGW). As part of this role, Lucia is working to expand access to the folk arts in the DC Metro Area with singing, storytelling, and dance programming for folkies of all ages.Under their leadership,FSGW has codified a policy of gender-free dance calling, made their dedicated monthly family programming free, reimagined the Mid-Winter Folk Festival opening it to new audiences in Northern Virginia, created a directory of musicians, singers, callers, sound technicians and more, and is currently planning the return, after a brief hiatus, of the well-loved Washington Folk Festival happening at Glen Echo Park on October 19th, 2025.
Kate Wisbey (BA Music Studies, Voice, 2012) is teaching elementary music at South Hampton
Elementary School in the Richmond City Schools. She built the music program from scratch, creating a music classroom in one weekend in January. Music had been taught on a cart for the past 22 years without materials or instruments. Kate raised money to purchase a bass metallaphone and four xylophones. She was nominated again for the Grammy music educator’s award as a finalist and is currently in the running for it. She presented a spring concert at the school for the band, choir and orchestra and is actively growing the choral program at the school. Kate took six 5th graders to the All-City Choir. She remains active with SAI’s alumni chapter and is now on the nominating committee for students in Richmond who were a part of SAI in college.
2010
Anna Feucht (BM Vocal Performance, 2010) married Jonathan Richards, assistant principal second violin of the Virginia Symphony. She will be joining his string quartet, the New Commonwealth Quartet, in the Fall of 2025 to premiere a work composed for them by Stephen Coxe.
2006
Randall Lawson’s (BM Instrumental Music Education, 2006) Symphonic Band at Poquoson Middle School, in Poquoson,Virginia, was selected to perform at the 2025 Virginia Music Educators Association state conference in Norfolk. Randall serves as Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at Poquoson Middle School.
1997
Jerald Lancaster’s (BM Instrumental Music Education, 1997) band program at Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, earned their seventh Virginia Honor Band (now called Band of Honor) title, and the Bethel Music Department achieved its second title of Blue Ribbon School for Music. Two of his students participated in the All-Virginia Band, including Trinity Horne who was second piccolo in the symphonic band and will be attending Christopher Newport.
Sarah White Elliott (BM Piano Performance, 1997) recently bought a Roland v-kit. She is enjoying learning to play drums and lined up a gig at her local historic bar, the No Name Bar, in Sausalito, CA.
Caroline
new album, Space
MUSIC FACULTY Leading by Example
Dr. Kimberly Ankney, Director of Music Education Studies, presented at the North Carolina Music Educators Conference in October on “Four Ways to Improvise in General Music: Inspired by Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze and Music Learning Theory.” During the two-hour presentation, she demonstrated Dalcroze approaches to improvisation for elementary general music teachers and drew connections to her co-presenters demonstrations of improvisation in the Kodaly, Orff and Music Learning Theory methods. In November, Dr. Ankney led the music education round table at VMEA as President of the Higher Education section (VAMHE) of VMEA. She also led business meetings and chaired sessions sponsored by VAMHE. In January, she performed as a vocalist on the faculty student recital, “Twenty-four Songs and Arias.” While Dr. Ankney’s performance experiences have widely been in string settings as a cellist, the performance was an opportunity to share her vocal training from years of work in graduate school. She thanks Dr. McGuire for inviting her to perform. In March, she adjudicated the District IV orchestra assessments for Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk Counties. While on sabbatical in the spring, she completed a study on Improvisation Professional Development that was supported by a CNU Faculty Development Grant. Analysis will begin this summer and presentations on the findings will be shared in the upcoming academic year. She also began a historical research project on an extra-curricular music education program in Williamsburg in the 1970s that addressed issues related to social justice.
James Cipriano, Adjunct Professor of Tuba/Euphonium, gave the North American premiere of the work, The Vanish O Night, for tuba and band, composed by Joseph V. Samuel, with University Band. Samuel, a former Army Band colleague of Dr. Cipriano, wrote it as a commemoration of the Italian resistance with Allied Forces during WWII.
Dr. Benjamin Corbin, Director of Keyboard Studies and Associate Professor of Piano and Collaborative Arts), enjoyed a year filled with exceptional accomplishments and inspiring student successes. Notably, piano major Jonathon Martin (BM ‘26) won the prestigious CNU Concerto Competition, received an honorable mention at the Hampton Roads Philharmonic Young Artist Competition,and had the rare opportunity to perform in a masterclass led by world-renowned pianist Yuja Wang. In addition, Dr. Corbin’s students participated in guest artist masterclasses presented by distinguished pianists Dr. Junwen Liang and jazz artist Bijan Taghavi, both of whom also visited campus to perform solo recitals as part of the “Sarah Elliott Visiting Pianist Series.” This concert series, generously supported by CNU alumna Sarah Elliott (BM 1997), continues to bring high-caliber pianists to the university. Dr. Corbin also hosted his fifth annual “CNU Piano Day” in the Peebles Theater, a free, one-day workshop that welcomes talented young pianists from across Virginia. This year’s event focused on expanding classical pianists’ exposure to jazz, blues, and improvisation techniques while also presenting multiple classical piano masterclasses and performances. Dr. Corbin had the distinct honor of performing with two artists-in-residence of the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, renowned Israeli cellist Vered Sakal and rising opera star Amara Miles. He also presented collaborative piano recitals at several major institutions, including Central Michigan University, the University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, and Austin Peay State University. As part of the Virginia Community Music Festival, Dr. Corbin shared the stage with 11-year-old
violin prodigy Benjamina Bolger in a stirring performance of Ravel’s Tzigane for Violin and Piano. Over the summer (2024), Dr. Corbin was also on faculty at New England Music Camp’s Core Session and will return this summer (2025) as a faculty member and coach for their Chamber Music Intensive program. Looking ahead, Dr. Corbin will take a sabbatical during the Fall 2025 semester to advance his recital project “Dreaming/Being”, which blends music with audience-created artwork. During this sabbatical, he will pursue a Virtual Reality (VR) recording of the program and organize a gallery showcase at the Torggler Fine Arts Center.
Dr. Chelsey Hamm, Director of Music Theory and Aural Skills, was one of three invited speakers in the field of music theory at the nine-day “Charles Ives at 150” festival, the world’s largest which celebrated Ives’s 150th birthday. The links to her two talks and the sessions at which she served as a respondent can be viewed at https://charlesivesat150.iu.edu. Dr. Hamm also guest-taught a doctoral seminar on the music of Ives while she was in Indiana. Along with several other faculty members at CNU, Dr. Hamm had an article accepted to the Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, titled “From Margins to Mainstream: Strategies for Integrating Community-Engaged Learning into Higher Education.” She also had a paper titled “Intertextuality, Interpretation, and Emphasized Sibilance in the Music of Taylor Swift,” accepted to the 2025 Timbre and Orchestration in Popular Song conference in Montreal. Dr. Hamm continued her work on the Open Music Theory textbook project (https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/), which is receiving hundreds of thousands of unique visitors annually and on which she is working with a music major Summer Scholar in June and July 2025. Dr. Hamm continued to perform on horn in numerous regional ensembles,including the Hampton Roads Philharmonic, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet, and the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, and she performed in numerous on-campus concerts including Le Nozze di Figaro and concerts with the CNU Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and International Conductors Symposium. Dr. Hamm also successfully auditioned into the Tidewater Winds in spring 2025 and her first concerts with the group will take place in July. This year, Dr. Hamm taught an honors seminar on the music of Taylor Swift, which received large amounts of press attention both locally and globally. Dr. Hamm also continued to work with students on undergraduate research programs and projects. Highlights this year included working with two Research Apprentices and one Summer Scholar (2025) as well as working with a student on a summer honors stipend project. Dr. Hamm continued to enhance her pedagogy by attending several workshops on incorporating AI into the classroom, and by continuing her own education by officially declaring a German major at CNU. She was also honored to join the German honors society, Delta Epsilon Phi, this past spring. She continued important service work to the discipline of music theory, such as serving on the Society for Music Theory’s Student Presentation Award Committee, was a member of several editorial boards (SMT-V and GAMUT), reviewed a book for Routledge press, served as the Secretary of MTSMA (Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic), and
MUSIC FACULTY Leading by Example
chaired a session at MTSMA’s annual conference. At CNU, Dr. Hamm led important mentoring programs including the First-year Student Check-in Committee, the Peer Mentor program, and the Music tutoring program; she also served on three department committees, coordinated the Music Major with Distinction program, and served on four capstone and recital committees. She coordinated the new Music Theory Lecture Series, which hosted Dr. Lindsey Reymore from Arizona State University. She served on two University committees, gave presentations to faculty for the Office of Research and Creative Activity and CNU’s Library, and helped the University’s QEP project by serving as a focus group member. Dr. Hamm continued to serve local community partners, most notably as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hampton Roads Philharmonic.
Dr. John Irving, Director of Choral Studies, conducted the University Chorale and Chamber Choir in performances for Family Weekend, Holiday Happening, the Rotunda Concert Series, and the LifeLong Learning Society. Choral concerts featured works by Bach, Britten, Palestrina, Radiohead, Caroline Shaw, and Craig Hella Johnson’s, Considering Matthew Shepard, in collaboration with TheatreCNU. Additional collaborations included Gustav Holst’s, The Planets, with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, Collabaret in TheatreCNU’s Captains Cabaret Series, and the Chamber Choir and University Orchestra in concert. During the spring semester, Dr. Irving welcomed over 900 public school students to campus through a variety of partnerships and initiatives ranging from the Peninsula Tenor/Bass Workshop, the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) All-District VIII Honor Choirs, the 2025 CNU Choral Invitational, and rehearsal clinics with VMEA Blue Ribbon Award-winning choral programs. Irving helped bring together CNU and the Virginia Children’s Chorus Choristers, directed by CNU alumna Taylor Walkup-Amos, in an artistic two-year partnership beginning this fall. As a countertenor, Irving performed Handel’s, Messiah, with the Philadelphia Orchestra led by its music and artistic director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center. In the Hampton Roads, Irving appeared in recital on Morton Feldman’s, Rothko Chapel, with Stephen Coxe at ODU’s Chandler Recital Hall; he joined Kevin Kwan and the Christ & St. Luke’s Parish Choir for Mozart’s, Requiem, with period instruments. At First Baptist Church Newport News, Irving led a multi-denominational consortium of seven choirs in a performance of Fauré’s, Requiem. He led the Ad Astra Music Festival in its 12th season and was invited to lead a conducting workshop at the 2025 VMEA Conference in Norfolk. Drs. Irving and Walker welcomed their son into the world in May.
Dr. Mark Johnson, Director of Athletic Bands, had an incredibly wonderful and busy year at CNU. The Marching Captains debuted their brand-new uniforms in the
fall. They performed at three high school exhibitions: Hickory High School, Hanover High School, and Heritage High School. The season concluded with The Marching Captains traveling to London to march in The London New Year’s Day Parade. Dr. Johnson spent the spring semester traveling across the southeast judging, guest conducting, and guest lecturing. In March, he had the opportunity to judge a music contest in the Cayman Islands for young musicians. In April, Dr. Johnson was invited to guest conduct and lecture at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The semester finished with being an invited faculty member for the International Symposium for Emerging Conductors (ISEC). The University Band performed two phenomenal concerts this spring. The first featured the U.S. premiere of Joseph Samuel’s new concerto for tuba featuring our own Dr. Jim Cipriano. The second concert had two premieres, one by Dr. Johnson featuring Dr. John McGuire. We closed out the semester with Marching Captain performances at admitted freshmen days.
Dr. Seung-Hye Kim , Instructor of Composition, Keyboard, and Theory, performed in collaboration with Dr. Chris Espy, Dr Paul Kim, Dr.Elizabeth Richards,and Erik DeMario at various recitals including the concert series of the National Association of Composers/USA Mid-Atlantic Chapter. She also adjudicated the competition for the music composition division sponsored by the Virginia Music Teachers Association and Wednesday Music Club, Charlottesville.
Professor of Musicology, made significant contributions to scholarship, teaching, and public engagement. In September 2024, he co-hosted an event for legendary Afghani singer Nashenas in Diamonstein Concert Hall, which drew approximately 150 South Asian attendees— many of whom visited CNU for the first time. He also signed an advance contract with the University Press of Florida for his forthcoming monograph, Pegao: Underground Music and the Rise of Reparto in Post-Socialist Cuba . In February of this year, he hosted Cuban film director Fabien Pisani for a screening and discussion of his new film, En la Caliente, followed by a series of workshops and lectures co-organized with Dr. Elena Valdez. That same month, Dr. Levine hosted the Spring 2025 Conference of the Southeast Chapter of the American Musicological Society, which featured Dr. Jessica Baker as the Vianne Webb Lecturer and keynote speaker. In March, he co-hosted a campus event with Dr. Maya Berry as part of the Annual Symposium on African and Caribbean Diaspora. In April, he chaired a Paideia Panel showcasing research by three students from the MUSC 490 Falk Musicology Seminar. In terms of curriculum development, Dr. Levine designed and taught a new course on Cuban Popular Music in Fall 2024 and created an honors course on the artist Bad Bunny, which is scheduled for its first offering in Spring 2026.
MUSIC FACULTY Leading by Example
Dr. John McGuire Professor of Voice and Director
, Associate
of Opera CNU, produced and directed, Le nozze di Figaro , by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for Opera CNU’s Fall 2024 production.The performance was enthusiastically received by the CNU and greater Hampton Roads communities. He presented a preperformance lecture on Mozart’s, Don Giovanni , presented by Virginia Opera at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. McGuire conducted several Masterclasses for the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia. He performed as a soloist for the annual CNU Family Weekend and Holiday Happening concerts and performed as the tenor soloist for Handel’s, Messiah, at St. Thomas Church in New York, NY, and Bach’s, St. Matthew’s Passion, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. In Spring Semester 2026, Dr. McGuire, along with Taiwanese pianist Maggie Chen, his Voice Studio, and several of his colleagues presented a recital titled, “Twenty-Four Italian Arts and Songs,” featuring songs from the famous Schirmer book of the same name. He served as an adjudicator for the Virginia National Association of Teachers Competition. In March, Dr. McGuire performed at the Croatian Embassy in Washington, D.C. with Croatian pianist Mia Elezović and violinist Vlatka Peljhan. John, Mia, and Vlatka also performed a recital titled “Music of Croatia,” in Peebles Theatre at CNU Dr McGuire produced and directed CNU Opera Workshop’s performance titled, “Drinking, Dancing & Debauchery.” The energetic and whimsical production featured students from differing majors across campus was very well received. He performed as a soloist on the University Band spring concert featuring Schumann’s, “Nachtlied,” arranged by Dr. Mark Johnson. He also conducted a Masterclass on “Mozart Arias” and served as an adjudicator for the Classical Singer Convention and Competition in Chicago, IL. In Summer 2025, Dr. McGuire again served on the faculties for both the Franco American Vocal Academy in Angers, France, and the Austrian American Mozart Academy in Salzburg, Austria. He serves as a Voice Professor and Opera Director for both Young Artist Programs, and directed Leçons de Français aux étudiants américains in France and Mozart’s masterpiece Die Zauberflöte in Austria featuring diverse casts of aspiring opera singers from all over the world!
Dr. Mark Reimer, Distinguished Professor of Music, the George and Mary Torggler Professor of Music, and Director of Music, wrote the article, “A Study Abroad Immersion and Reflection of American Liberal Arts Students in Cyprus,” that was published in the December 2024 volume of the Journal of Global Awareness, and his article, “The Influence of Western Music and the Wind Band in the Republic of Korea,” was published in the May 2024 volume of the same journal. In May of 2024, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Global Awareness Society International during their international meeting in Seoul, Korea, where he read his paper, “An Overview of the Influence of Western Music and the Wind Band in the Republic of Korea.”
He presented his paper, “Music and Sustainable Development Goals: Telling the Story,” at the Global Awareness Society International Conference in May of 2025 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He served as coeditor of the Journal of Performing Arts Leadership in Higher Education, the 15th year of the journal that he, along with Dr. Laurence Kaptain of the University of Colorado at Denver, founded. The journal expanded its editorial board this year to include notable arts executives from Europe, Asia, and South America. Dr. Reimer wrote most of the Five-Year Program Review for Music, is currently writing the 10-year Self-Study for NASM reaccreditation, chaired the NASM reaccreditation team for an institution in Maryland, and continued to serve as a Regent (and former president) of Pi Kappa Lambda, the nation’s collegiate honor society for music. In May of 2025, he organized and presented the International Symposium for Emerging Conductors (ISEC) that featured students and conducting faculty from the University of Macedonia (Greece), Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, the University of Southern Mississippi, William and Mary, Old Dominion University, and Christopher Newport University. The CNU Wind Ensemble served as the conductors’ ensemble. ISEC was created by Bert Langeler (Estonia) and Dr. Reimer and now has participating conductors in17 countries around the globe. In August of 2024, Dr. Reimer was one of two conducting clinicians (the other being the orchestra conductor of the famed Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn) at the annual Estonian Band Directors Summer School in Voru, Estonia. Currently, he is organizing the Wind Ensemble tour to Croatia for May of 2026, and was awarded a travel grant as part of the tour’s designation as a Study Abroad course. Dr. Reimer organized the Fourth Annual Virginia Community Music Festival, including 11 performances by area bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, and chamber ensembles in addition to two workshops featuring WHRO announcer Raymond Jones and Symphonicity conductor Daniel Boothe. The Advisory Board of the Festival was expanded to include band and orchestra directors from around Hampton Roads in addition to a few overseas. Dr. Reimer served as an adjudicator and clinician for Festivals of Music, a national music festival for school bands, orchestras, and choirs and was the chief organizer of securing the University’s first official partnership with a community music organization—the Hampton Roads Philharmonic—to provide additional performance opportunities for our students and to strengthen our connections with area school teachers, professional musicians, and the community at large. And, finally, he organized Family Weekend Music Showcase, Holiday Happening, the Nashkenas (well-known Afghan singer) recital, and Commencement performances in addition to overseeing the Music Calendar, writing the weekly Friday Updates and Newsletter, organizing auditions and Music Major for a Day, assigning the personnel for and working at Open Houses and President’s Leadership Program receptions, overseeing Sophomore Check-Point, attending the VMEA reception and the NASM national meeting, managing the scholarship awards, and raising money for Friends of Music.
MUSIC FACULTY
Leading by Example
Dr. Kelly Rossum, Director of Jazz Studies, continues to champion the creation and performance of new music. He imagines everything from AI generated electronic sounds as part of his new work, Space Travel, to his fully acoustic large ensemble jazz compositions, La Vita a Roma and Majestic, Mighty Monarch of the Air, both premiered by the Kelly Rossum Modern Big Band at a sold out show onstage at the Ferguson Center for the Arts. This past fall, Fifth Bridge, an electro-acoustic trumpet ensemble (of which Dr. Rossum is a founding member) recorded their debut album featuring brand-new works. His own electro-acoustic compositions Improvised Landing, Test Flight, Sitting on the dock looking at stars and Space Dust will be featured on that upcoming 2025 release. His piece for solo trumpet and marimba, Roshi, can be heard on Jason Crafton’s new album release “Here and Now: Trumpet Music by Virginia Composers.” Dr. Rossum also wrote unique, site-specific works for the CNU trumpet ensemble to be performed in the woods and on kayaks floating on the Mariners Museum and Park’s Lake Maury.
Dr. Maxwell Tfirn, Director of Creative Studies, collaborated with local Haitian drummer Daniel Brevil on hand drum recordings that were used for a dance recital at CNU and vocalist Douglas Carpenter to record tracks for a theater production. Dr. Tfirn also spent time volunteering at Hampton High School to help build their recording studio and music technology program. On campus, Dr Tfirn provided recording and sound design for CNU’s musical production of Carrie and hosted a memorable concert featuring the Piedmont Duo, with performers I-Jen Fang and Ayn Balija. Additionally, he directed an outstanding concert with the CNU Electronic Music Ensemble (CRISP) that explored John Cage and 1960s experimental music, featuring the relatively unknown work Circus On, which uniquely translates a book into a performance without actors. Dr.Tfirn also served as a guest lecturer for the Screen Dance class, where he discussed compositional process and interpretation of abstract sound and movement. He had the honor of serving as a judge for the Wednesday Music Club student composition competition in Charlottesville, Virginia. In terms of academic leadership, Dr. Tfirn was appointed co-director of the Digital Humanities minor and served on the committee working to establish the Institute for Public Humanities. Additionally, he was awarded a faculty development grant to support his multimedia installation project Sound Prism, a work exploring the intersection of sound and light to create a multisensory experience that will premiere during the second week of September 2025. Dr. Tfirn also received a CNU AI Fellowship focused on teaching about AI and incorporating AI-driven music software into his curriculum. Beyond scholarship and teaching, Dr. Tfirn became a new member of the VMEA Council for Creativity and Innovation. Students have been very engaged with the CNU recording studio this year. Students are currently working on various solo EP and album projects; one particularly notable project being done for the band Space Fi/sh. Additionally, one student secured a sync license deal with a music label and landed a position at a local recording studio, while others have received jobs at studios throughout Virginia and are working in various venues doing live sound.
WELC OME
New Music Faculty
Kenneth Drefke joined the applied music faculty as an adjunct instructor of applied saxophone and the saxophone masterclass in addition to coaching saxophone quartets. He is performed with the Des Moines Symphony, the national Broadway touring musical, “La Cage aux Folles,” Johnny Mathis, Four Tops, The Temptations, Tom “Bones” Malone, Byron Stripling, John Pizzarelli, Lee Greenwood, Cleo Laine, Joe Williams, Arturo Sandoval, and Eddie Danielsbeen. Professor Drefke has also been a featured guest artist and/or clinician with community ensembles, high schools and universities in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, and Italy. A native of Marcus, Iowa, Kenneth earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Iowa State University and then enlisted in the United States Air Force Band Program. During his career in the Air Force, he served as a non-commissioned Officer in Charge and Music Director for jazz big bands/combos, horn bands, and saxophone quartets and performed on multiple instruments in the concert band, ceremonial marching band, clarinet quartet, and woodwind quintet Additionally, Professor Drefke served four years outside the band career field as a First Sergeant. In this role, he assisted squadron, group, and installation commanders in maintaining a mission-ready force and managed numerous personnel programs that focused on Airmen’s health, morale, welfare, and quality of life. While stationed near Omaha, Nebraska, Professor Drefke taught clarinet and saxophone and directed the jazz ensemble at Creighton University.
Allison Kim, a violinist in The Virginia Symphony, began playing the violin after receiving a quarter size violin as a gift from her grandfather for her eighth birthday. She grew up in Asunción, Paraguay, and Busan, South Korea, before moving to Colorado, where she began her formal training under the tutelage of Jesse Ceci, former concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. Professor Kim earned the Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Master of Music degree at Indiana University, and the Advanced Music Studies certificate at Carnegie Mellon University. During the summers, she attended numerous festivals, including Aspen Music Festival as an Orchestral String fellow, National Repertory Orchestra, Brevard Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, Garth Newel Music Center, Encore School for Strings, and Madeline Island Music Camp. She is a substitute of the Colorado Symphony and New World Symphony and has been a member of various regional orchestras in Indiana and Colorado. In addition to Jesse Ceci, Dr. Kim’s teachers have included Lina Bahn, Ik-Hwan Bae, Yumi Hwang-Williams, and Andrés Cárdenes. During her free time Allison loves playing with dogs and cheering on Denver sports teams.
