Music Department Newsletter

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020

In this issue:  Message from Dr.

Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community Outreach  Resources  Memorial

Message from Chair Greetings, I hope that this message finds you all well! Despite circumstances, you all have accomplished so much this academic year in true Eagle fashion you've continued to soar.

Trips for performances to Houston, NYC, MD, VA, and all over North Carolina. IMA, MEAC Championship, Jack Rudin Inaugural Jazz Ensemble Competition, Dreamgirls. Guest artists like the great Charles Toliver and Alvin Atkinson and Zoom masterclasses with legends Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo. You successfully transitioned to online learning after Spring Break. You learned new ways to learn and grow at your crafts, all while working and caring for your families. We Faculty cd releases Mrs. Hammonds For the Love of Big Band, Dr. Lance Hulme's compositions featured on Chris Gekker's cd Moon Marked, Dr. Horton, was awarded a fellowship with the North Carolina Arts Council. Dr. Bailey has received two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Kate Van Winkle Keller Fellowship to continue her scholarly works. Ella 100: Live at the Apollo, which I recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra, was released in April. Recent vocal performance major Ariel Barker has been admitted into the graduate voice program at the University of South Carolina. We honor our other graduates as well and wish them all continued success.

Ariel Barker, Jaedon Harpe, Ethan Prindle, Patrick McGrew Jeffrey Johnson, Christian Sharp, Andrew Powell, Judner Attys, and Isaac Viars, .

As we look forward to the Fall, take time to rest this summer and recharge, learn new things listen to new music, and maybe even find meaningful internships. Above all, remain safe and return to us with the vibrant energy that helped us all thrive this year. You remain in our thoughts, and well wishes. Please have a great summer!!

Best Wishes, Dr. Butler

FACULTY HIGHTLIGHTS Nine years since her last recording hit the charts, Professor Hammonds returns to the recording industry with FOR THE LOVE OF BIG BAND (FTLOBB) featuring Tribe Jazz Orchestra™ in a unique approach to the music of the big band tradition. Set for release on March 9 on Zenzalai Music, the new album is Helm's seventh record and her first leading a big band.

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020, Page 2 In this issue:  Message from Dr.

Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community Outreach  Resources  Memorial

FACULTY HIGHTLIGHTS CONTINUED

I am honored to have been awarded the 2019 NC Arts Council's Artist Fellowship in Music Composition.

Release of "Elegy for a Sultry Afternoon" for trumpet and piano on "Moon Marked" (Métier Records) Winner of the Awea Duo Composition Contest for JethroZen for flute and electric guitar Broadcasts of JethroZen on Classical Discoveries WPRB (Princeton, NJ) on December 29 and March 30.

Congratulations to Professor Lenora HelmHammonds after making tenure.

After a "Culmination of a seven-year journey: Tenure and Promotion. Grateful beyond measure," Leonora

Congratulations to Professor Roberta Laws for her recognition from the College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching in the Department of Music.

2019-2020

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020, Page 3 In this issue:  Message from Dr.

Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community Outreach  Resources  Memorial

FACULTY HIGHTLIGHTS CONTINUED

Congratulations to Dr. Lance Hulme after making tenure!

We are so proud to have you as a permanent icon here at NCCU, and we look forward to exploring your many talents.

We also want to thank Mr. Thurman Hollins for serving as the Intercollegiate Music Association President and all the many other performances directed under his leadership with the support of his Assistant Band Directors, Kalem Graham and Quinton Parker.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

On Jan. 18-19, 2020, NCCU Jazz Ensemble competed against nine other ensembles chosen from amongst prominent university jazz programs in the country. The Jack Rudin Jazz Championship took place at the Lincoln Center in New York.

NCCU was the only historically black college and university (HBCU) represented. We are proud to inform you that Alumni and guests well received the Jazz Ensemble. Our students gained a once in a life-time experience and exposure.

We congratulate Samuel King, who received Outstanding Alto Saxophone Soloist and the Trombone Section for Outstanding Section and the entire NCCU Jazz Ensemble for being our Amplified Eagles.

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020, Page 4

In this issue:  Message from Dr.

Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community Outreach  Resources  Memorial

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED

Congratulations to Ariel Barker was on the A Honor Roll in the fall and B Honor Roll in the spring.

On April 3, 2020. North Carolina Central University, Honors Convocation. Our very own Department of Music proudly recognized Mr. Vernon Lee. Mr. Dexter Moses and Mr. Josh Zaslow.

Job well done!

Congratulations, Fall 2019, Graduates!

Anna R. Beck, MM Jazz Studies Christian L. Manley, MM Jazz Studies Tiyona A. Gupton, BM Music Malik D. Hooks, BM Music Samuel L. King, BM Music

Congratulations, Spring 2020, Graduates!

Ariel Barker, BM Vocal Performance Jaedon Harpe BM Performance Ethan Prindle BM Music Education Patrick McGrew, BM Jazz Performance Jeffrey Johnson, MM Jazz Studies Christian Sharp, MM Jazz Studies Andrew Powell, MM Jazz Studies Judner Attys, MM Jazz Studies Isaac M Viars MM Jazz Studies

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020, Page 5

In this issue:  Message from Dr.

Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community Outreach  Resources

 Memorial

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED Words of gratitude: Good Morning Professor(s), I am happy to share that this summer, I have been selected to be a student of Sir James and Lady Galway as a part of their annual Galway Flute Festival! The original course would have had me spending a part of my summer in Weggis, Switzerland, working alongside fellow flutists, however, due to the current world climate that has changed.

Nevertheless, I am truly honored and grateful for this unique and amazing experience as the Festival will still proceed as scheduled, but online.

I am sending this email as a thank you to you all for working with me this year.

I am truly appreciative of your time, efforts, and grace throughout the school year and, most importantly, for the opportunity to be apart of the program, for without it, I would not have been able to qualify for this unique opportunity.

Thank you again for your time, and have a safe summer.

Sincerely, Lynnette Boschulte

Congratulations to Brandon Seaforth and Jawan Davidson on their awards for the 4-year Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship.

Special thanks to our very own photographer, Administrative Assistant to the Chair, Tannya Artis who offered free cap and gown photoshoots to our graduating seniors before Covid-19.

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020, Page 6

In this issue:  Message from Dr.

Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community Outreach  Resources  Memorial

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Department of Music welcomed Renaissance High School Chorus from Detroit, MI. Students enjoyed a campus tour, a Vocal Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal, University Choir experience, and Vocal Auditions.

Special thanks to Josh Zaslow for his service at Eastway Elementary in Durham, NC, during their Black History Month Celebration. Josh provided hours of live music.

The NCCU College of Arts and Sciences in cultural partnership with St. Joseph's Historic Foundation and the Hayti Heritage Center celebrated the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. featuring the NC Central University Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the Art, Theater and Dance Dept.

Celebrating Black History Month, the University Choir in collaboration with the CSD Chamber Choir performed the "Together We Dream" concerts at First Presbyterian Church of Durham and Universal United Methodist Church of Chapel Hill.

In January 2020, the University Choir was invited to perform " Lift Every Voice and Sing" at St. Joseph AME Church for a night of "Bringing Campus to Community" in collaboration with Duke School of Divinity.

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020, Page 7 In this issue:  Message

from Dr. Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community

Outreach  Resources  Memorial

COMMUNITY OUTREACH CONTINUED

In February, the Department of Music teamed up with the Department of Theatre and provided live music during the showing of DreamGirls.

Our Marching Band was selected for the National Battle of the Bands, Houston Texas (Aug. 2019), and chosen to attend the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The band was a Featured Article in the Campus Echo for publishing "Diary of a Mad Band Director."

So many of our students and faculty volunteer their time or services that we can't name them all. We are making more significant impacts within Durham Public Schools, local non-profits, and we have even served out of this country.

We thank Isaiah Mudd for his contribution to singing the National Anthem during the renaming of Durham County Courthouse in 2019.

Whether we are performing at your church, local events, public affairs, sporting events, musicals, or teaching your middle or high schoolers during a mini-camp or through a campus invitation, you will never forget the experience.

If you want to learn more about our programs, visit https://www.nccu.edu/cas/music

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979

Spring 2020

First Edition, Spring 2020, Page 8 In this issue:  Message from Dr.

Isrea Butler, Chair  Faculty Highlights  Student Highlights  Community Outreach  Resources  Memorial

NCCU RESOURCES https://www.nccu.edu/coronavirus https://www.nccu.edu/frequently-asked-questions-relatedcoronavirus-2019-covid-19-and-university (Office of E-Learning) https://legacy.nccu.edu/oel/index.cfm (Office of Student Health) https://legacy.nccu.edu/directory/ index.cfm?DepartmentID=225 (Counseling Center) https://www.nccu.edu/life-nc-central/ health-and-well-being/counseling-center

We encourage each of you to continue to stay safe and when in public, practice social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands, and don't ever think that you are alone! Together, we will get through this!

COMMUNITY MEMORIAL In 2020 we lost some fantastic figures in the world of music, some of which we hold dear to our hearts. Let us remember them and seek to continue their legacies.

Bill Withers Mike Longo Wallace Rnney Ellis Marsalis Jr. Lee Konitz Jimmy Cobb Bucky Pizzarelli Tony Allen Kenny Rogers Neil Pert Manu Dibango Lyle Mays Krzysztof Pendereck Barry Tuckwell Peter Serkin Mirella Freni Nello Santi Lynn Harell

1801 Fayetteville Street . Ruth Edwards Music Hall Durham, North Carolina 27707 Office (919) 530-6319 Fax (919) 530-7979