Manuscript The magazine of the Northeastern State University Department of Music Spring 2019
CONTENTS 3 Welcome 4 6 8 9
Features
Guest Artists NSU @ OkMEA Piano Repair Project Opera Workshop “The Old Maid & the Thief” 10 NSU Concerto Competition Winner 11 Chorus Tours Ireland 12 Student News 14 Faculty News 16 Alumni Feature 17 Endowments, Scholarships, & Donors
Welcome FROM THE CHAIR
I bring you greetings from the Department of Music faculty, staff, and students after this very active Spring 2019 semester. I hope that you were able to join us for one or more of our many events this semester. Students worked very diligently to achieve several milestones and progress in their musical journey. While we have come to a close of the 2018-2019 academic year, I am inspired and excited for the path ahead for our department. I don’t want to give too much away that I might be able to feature in future editions of this publication, but trust me when I say, “The future is bright.” Success breeds success and our students and faculty have showcased their abilities, talents, and work ethic to the point where opportunities are now coming forward, allowing us to bring NSU before a more widespread audience. I encourage you to read on and learn about the activities of our faculty, students, and alumni. I hope you enjoy staying connected with the NSU Department of Music. Jeffery Wall Chair
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GUEST ARTISTS AT NSU MUSIC The NSU Department of Music hosted many guest artists this Spring 2019 semester. These artists are experts in their respective fields and instruments and collaborated with music faculty to bring their talents and expertise to our students and the community. Instrumental Festival, featuring Carmen Lemoine, flute and Jasob Bergman, trumpet February 4
Vocal Festival, featuring Daniel Belcher, baritone February 17-18
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Green Country Jazz Festival, featuring Tia Fuller, saxophone Also featuring Terence Hobdy, Raul Reyes Bueno, and Frederick Sanders March 3-4
Trumpet Masterclass Vincent DiMartino, trumpet March 29
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NSU Music
at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association conference Every year, NSU’s Department of Music exhibits at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association conference in Tulsa. We reconnect with alumni teaching in the field and encourage high school students in the All-State ensembles to register for auditions and sign up for more information about NSU. We were fortunate enough to have several of our NSU students involved in the Intercollegiate Honor Band and the Intercollegiate Honor Choir.
Members of the Intercollegiate Honor Band pictured with Dr. Adams (behind). From left to right: Colton Tiger, Jace Davison, Brady Hacker, Lilly Lewis, DeNario Shoates, Jackson Washburn, and Bailey Wyckoff.
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Members of the Intercollegiate Honor Choir pictured with Dr. Andrew Clark, left (guest conductor and Director of Choral Activities at Harvard University) and Dr. Jeffery Wall, right (NSU Director of Choral Activities). These four students were all chosen as featured soloists from the mass chorus (left to right): Lacey Franklin, Myklind Reyes-Sosi, Keri Bell, and Joshua Bowling.
Keri Bell and Myklind Reyes-Sosi rehearsing with the Intercollegiate Honor Choir.
Dr. Benjamin Hay at the NSU Music Exhibit Booth
Lacey represented well as the NSU Music Education student representative. Each year, a Music Ed student is chosen to attend OkMEA and they help recruit in the booth.
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Piano Repair Project
Thanks to a generous grant from the Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation and supplemented with the support of gracious donors to the General Music Fund, this Steinway L-model piano was shipped off to Dallas for some long overdue repairs. The pinblock was replaced, as well as new strings, hammers, and damper felts, complete with action work and regulation. Work was completed in late January. This piano is stored and used in Fine Arts, room 301 (Choir Room).
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Opera Workshop presents: Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief
Opera Workshop, under the direction of Dr. Whitney Myers, presented their full production of The Old Maid and the Thief in two shows, April 26th & 27th. A one-act comic radio opera, the storyline focuses around Miss Todd (the old maid, busybody), her employee Laetitia, Miss Pinkerton (the spinster neighbor), and Bob (a wanderer). Throw in some deceit, manipulation, unrequited love, and rumors of a thief in the community, and you have a radio show full of drama and hilarity. The production was accompanied by Mr. Farren Mayfield on piano. The cast included: Miss Todd / Barbara Vanderbilt, Elizabeth Stroud Bob / Herbert Theodore James Smith III, Myklind Reyes- Sosi Laetitia / Priscilla Mayhe, Lacey Franklin Miss Pinkerton / Betty Lauder, Lissie Franklin* Charlie Chadwick the Radio Station Owner, Joshua Bowling Mildred Pierce the Radio Station Assistant, Hunter Coger Gladys Horne as Ms. Vanderbilt’s Assistant. Rachael Dame* * = roles switched for Saturday’s performance. We hope you will consider a charitable contriubtion to help us bring more experiences like this for our students and interesting programming to our community.
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NSU Concerto Competition Winner: Margaret Michka, flute
Each year, students audition in the fall to compete for the NSU Concerto Competition. Winners are afforded the opportunity to perform as featured soloist with the NSU Wind Ensembel in the subsequent spring semester. Coweta, Oklahoma native and senior flute performance major, Margaret Michka, is the 2019 winner. When asked what the experience has been like working with the Wind Ensemble, Margaret said, “There was a learning curve between me, the conductor, and the ensemble at first. I am used to playing with just a piano. I have to project more and lead more now. More people rely on me as the soloist. That’s a lot of pressure to lead. Things have only gotten better since the first rehearsal and I’m looking forward to the experience.” Michka played Poem by Charles Tomlinson Griffes on the Wind Ensemble Concert held May 2, 2019. Flute instructor, Dr. Laura Pillman, had this to say about Margaret and the competition: “Margaret’s hard work and diligent practice leading up to the competition in December and the concert in May led to two stunning performances, and I’m so proud of the artistry and growth Margaret has developed over the past year.” You can support the band program and students like Margaret in a number of ways. Donating to one of the following endowned funds through the NSU Foundation helps support programming like this and scholarships for students. • Dr. Mark S. Bighley Endowed Music Scholarship • Robert Glenn Rapp Endowed Music Scholarship • Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma Band Endowment • William Rauch Band Scholarship Endowment
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NSU University/Community Chorus tours Ireland
The University/Community Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Jeffery Wall, collaborated with the Tulsa Community College Concert Choir, under the direction of Laura Cowan to tour and perform on the Emerald Isle. The chorus performed as part of the American Celebration of Music in Ireland with Music Celebrations International. The chorus sang at St. Mary’s Church of the Sloes in Killarney and at the historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Other stops and impromptu performances included Moll’s Gap, Kilkenny, Jerpoint Park, Blarney Castle and Gardens, Glendalough, and Trinity College in Dublin viewing the Book of Kells. According to our research, no NSU performing ensemble had traveled internationally since 1989. As one student on this trip put it, “I think it was amazing, it was necessary, and it should happen more often.” The chorus was presented with an award for Outstanding Performance by Music Celebrations International. To support travel opportunities like this for NSU Music Students, your generous contributions are welcomed and needed.
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Student News The spring term brought about many student accomplishments. These featured are just a mere representative sample.
Several students passed the junior standing juries this semester. Students in the Bachelor of Arts degree in Performance and Jazz Studies, and the Bachelor of Music Education degree must successfully pass a juried performance exam in front of the entire music faculty before being allowed to enroll in upper level applied lessons or continue in the degree plan. The following students passed their juried exam this Spring 2018 and were awarded junior standing. • Timothy Caputo, trumpet • Juliana Hull, flute • Jacob Martin, percussion • Kaitlyn Ryan, clarinet • Maxwell Sellars, trumpet • Jackson Washburn, trumpet The spring semester brought several student degree recitals. We applaud these students that performed wonderfully and took this step closer to degree completion. Margaret Michka performed her senior flute recital in partial fulfillment for the Bachelor of Arts in Performance degree on March 11th. Margaret is a student of Dr. Laura Pillman.
Jeric Davison performed his final recital as a saxophone Music Education major on March 27th. Jeric is a student of Dr. John Petrucelli.
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The joint voice studios of Dr. Myers and Dr. Bester presented a colloaborative performance of Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin (The Pretty Miller’s Daughter) with the Impressions Dance Company, supervised by Dr. Robyn Pursley. The performance was aptly set at the Town Branch Creek for an outdoor ampitheater-style aesthetic.
Joshua Bowling, Lacey Franklin, and Myklind Reyes-Sosi presented a trio recital, titled Trifecta in partial fulfillment of their degree in Vocal Music Education on April 11th. Joshua and Lacey are students of Dr. Whitney Myers. Myklind is a student of Dr. Christian Bester.
Under the direction of Dr. Ben Hay, The NSU Trumpet Studio played for the Ft. Gibson Band students on April 19th. Faculty, students, and small ensembles frequently use these opportunites to recruit new RiverHawks!
Soprano, Hunter Coger, was a finalist for freshmen women and baritone, Myklind Reyes-Sosi, was a finalist for junior men at the Oklahoma National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition in April. They are both students of Dr. Christian Bester.
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Faculty News Dr. Christian Bester served as music director for The Robber Bridegroom presented by the NSU Drama Department in January. He presented a masterclass in collaboration with Dr. Myers at Tulsa Community College on February 8th. Bester and Myers performed a joint faculty recital on February 1st. He served as a vocal clinician for Muskogee High School on February 19th. He performed the role of Schaunard in Heartland Opera’s production of La Boheme. Bester gave a recital and masterclass at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in March and served as an adjudicator for the Lewisville Lake Symphony Voice Competition. He adjudicated at the Oklahoma chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing contest where he also had two students as finalists. Dr. Bester served early May as a guest artist, lecturer, and adjudicator at the Academy of Arts in Osijek, Croatia. Dr. Ben Hay, Assistant Professor of Trumpet, was promoted this spring to Assistant Professor and he walked with an earned Doctorate from OU. Congratulations, Dr. Hay! In addition, he performed as a soloist with Bixby High School Wind Ensemble at the 2019 Oklahoma Music Educators Association conference in January. His music review of Two Carols for Christmas Time, arranged by William Harbison was published in the January 2019 edition of the International Trumpet Guild Journal. Dr. Hay presented a masterclass for second-round All-State trumpet students.
Dr. James T. Lindroth gave a percussion clinic at Skiatook High School and judged for OSSAA solo and ensemble festival in February. In March, Dr. Lindroth served as adjudicator for the OSSAA high school concert festival. March continued to be a busy month for him as he performed in Boston, Mass. and had an article published in the Kansas Music Review on the “hidden curriculum.” In April, he had another article published in the Rhythm Scene Journal titled, “The Flam Build.” Dr. Lindroth served as chair of the search committee for Director of Bands at NSU.
Dr. Whitney Myers presented a masterclass in collaboration with Dr. Bester at Tulsa Community College on February 8th and performed a joint faculty recital on February 1st. She worked in masterclass with Muskogee High School students in preparation for solo & ensemble contest. Myers also performed with the Tulsa Ballet March 29-31 for their production of Tchaikovsky: The Man Behind the Music. Dr. Myers continued as the site coordinator for the OSSAA vocal solo & ensemble contest and separately, the choral contest for the Northeastern region of the state, hosted at NSU. Additionally, she prepared 2 students that competed in the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing contest.
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In addition to defending her dissertation and finishing up her doctorate, Artist Instructor of Flute, Dr. Laura Pillman, worked with the Tahlequah High School flute students in January, collaborating with Dr. Ben Hay on the visit.
Dr. Jeffery Wall presented choral clinics at Checotah High School and Cushing High School in February. He serviced as adjudicator and clinician for the Tulsa Community College Choral Festival on March 12th. He led a group of fifty on a collaborative performance tour of Ireland with The Tulsa Community College Choir under the direction of Laura Cowan. Upon return, he engaged in choral clinics at Muskogee High School and Inola High School. In April, he hosted a performance exchange with the University of Arkansas Fort Smith Choir, under the direction of Dr. Timothy Workman. Dr. Wall continues his work as conductor with his professional level ensemble, Vox Solaris Chamber Choir.
Dr. Anne Watson served as committee chair for an Appellate Committee that reported to NSU President Turner. She also served as committee chair for the Director of Jazz Studies search. She worked regularly with the Tahlequah High School clarinet section. Dr. Watson performs frequently with the Tulsa Symphony, the Tulsa Signature Symphony, and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Through a national audition, she won the 2nd clarinet position with the Tulsa Signature Symphony.
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Alumni Feature
“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.�
Ginger Allen, a 2001 graduate, was honored as teacher of the year at Greenwood Elementary in Tahlequah. Ginger also teaches for the NSU Community Music Academy and is an avid chorister with the University/ Community Chorus. We are so thankful for her participation and support and we congratulate her on being selected as teacher of the year.
Stephanie Castor is band director at Mineola Middle School in Mineola, Texas. She holds a B.M.E. from NSU and studied Music Performance and Literature for her masters degree at the University of Western Ontario.
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We welcome these Spring 2019 grads to the group of distinguished NSU Department of Music Alumni. We look forward to seeing your launch into the professional world! Kiley Warnock, B.A. Musical Arts Margaret Michka, B.A. Music Performance Jess Wiseley, B.G.S. General Studies Caitlin Felts, B.A. Multimedia Studies, Music Minor
We want to know where YOU are and celebrate YOUR SUCCESS! If you have news to share, please contact us here: https://academics.nsuok.edu/music/Alumni.aspx or email Dr. Wall at wall03@nsuok.edu
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! NSU Music Support Gifts to support the music program through the NSU Foundation play an important role in the lives of our music students. Whether for the Music Scholarship Fund or for music programming, your investment, regardless of the amount, will help our music program remain strong and vital. Please make out your check to the NSU Foundation, marked for the Music Scholarship Fund or music programming and send it to: Dr. Jeffery Wall, Department of Music, 605 N. Grand Avenue, Tahlequah, OK 74464. Thank you. Endowed Music Funds Dr. Mark S. Bighley Music Scholarship Donald E. & Martha Sory Blair Music & COLA Scholarship Joe Davis & Jacob Farinelli Memorial Scholarship Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fund Thelma Parker Memorial Scholarship
Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Music Scholarship Dr. William J. Rauch Band Scholarship Clare M. Stroup & Thomas E. Stroup Memorial Scholarship Lou Summers Memorial Vocal Scholarship
2018–19 NSU Music Contributors Reflected below are donations January – March 2019. Please let us know if we have accidentally left off a donor or placed someone in the wrong category. $50,000+ Donald & Martha Blair
Jeffery & Amanda Wall Anne Watson
$25,000+
$100–249 Joshua & Ginger Allen John Benge James & Jane Bond Perry & Delores Bowling Dr. Sara Brown Mary Jane Dicus Benjamin Hay Elizabeth Higgins Kappa Delta Pi – Kappa Rho Chapter David & Sandra Laney Jim & Letitia Masters Farren & Gail Mayfield Pam Moore Dr. Whitney Myers Cheryl Nobles Donna Roberson Ann Sheldon Linda Spyres St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church – BA Donald Studebaker Steve & Penny Turner
$10,000+ $5,000-$9,999 Dr. William J. & Norene Rauch $2,000–4,999 Bob & Kathy Daniel CH Parker $1,000–1,999 Ernst & Gaye Bekkering Mark Bighley Mike & Robyn Dill Max McCullough David & Robbi Rader John Yeutter $500–999 Virginia Davis Post Oak Lodge $250–499 Mike & Cindy Chanslor Carl & Catherine Farinelli Wayne & April Felts Clark Gibson Jackie Odell
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$1–$99 Jane Bailey Sarah Bailey Frank Ballard Doug & Erica Caputo
Frank & Alberta Carlson Ron & Gayle Cater Craig & Patsy Clifford Amy Combs Peggy Cotten Christopher & Laura Cowan Greg & Connie Curtis Charles & Joanne DeShong Noah Dunlap Tere Feller Kathleen Frank Brandi Girod Matthew Gray Phil & Lori Green Misty Hallum Lavonda Hartgraves Jene Holcomb Steven & Heather Holt John & Janet Howell Charles & Linda Judd Mike King Donna & James Lewis Gail Little Matt Lollman Jonathan & Kittie McBrayer Lori & John Menees Dearie Phillips Carrie Scrivner Bob & Inez Sellers Haley Stocks James & Barbara Storment Cassandra Tenney David & Monica VanDonkelaar
visit www.nsumusic.com to give
Elizabeth West Peggy White Eaton Brandie Wright