SFORZANDO
WINTER/SPRING 2024 Published January, 2024
MAGAZINE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA HUGH HODGSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC
SPRING SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE CHAMBER MUSIC ATHENS FESTIVAL TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Plus: MUSIC THERAPY EXCELLENCE NEW FILM & MEDIA SCORING PROGRAM STUDENT, ALUMNI, & FACULTY NEWS
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WHY
SFORZANDO?
SFORZANDO
Since this magazine launched in July, 2023, this is a question we have gotten a Hugh Hodgson School of Music Administration Director, Hugh Hodgson School of Music Peter Jutras Assistant to the Director Edith Hollander SFORZANDO Magazine Staff HHSOM Director of Public Relations SFORZANDO Editor and Media Contact Shaun Baer Hugh Hodgson School of Music 230 River Road, Ste. 324-A Athens, GA 30602 706-542-4752 | shaunbaer@uga.edu
lot. “Why Sforzando? What does it mean?” To answer that question, sforzando is a term often found as a direction in music that indicates a note should be played “with sudden emphasis.” Another way to think of it is a big, loud noise. Shaun Baer, our new Director of Public Relations and the creator and editor of “Sforzando,” chose that name for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music magazine because, as he said, “it was time for us to make a big, loud noise and let everyone know exactly who we are, what we do, and why we do it.” One of the first, best ways to evaluate a school of music is the quality, variety, and frequency of the performances. From the African American Choral Ensemble to the Wind Symphony, we regularly feature over thirty instrumental and vocal ensembles, along with opera theatre, unique collaborations, faculty performances and student recitals each semester. There is rarely a week without at least one live performance.
Public Relations Team Fall 2023 Natasha Pizarro Guererro Rye Harrison Additional Contributing Photographers Easel Images Camille Hayes SFORZANDO is published by the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. FRONT COVER PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Chinese Music Ensemble performing Nov.15, 2023.
However, we also have incredible performance spaces, cutting-edge equipment for recording, composition, and our newest programming addition the Film and Media Scoring Certificate. This program, as well as our Master of Music in Music Therapy, has graduated some of their first students over the past year. Our faculty is also exceptional, with academic achievements such as Assistant Professor of Music Theory Dickie Lee presenting at Yale’s School of Music, and artistic accolades such as Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano Greg Satterthwaite receiving a South Arts Jazz Road Tour Grant.
Evgeny Rivkin, piano, performing Sept. 7, 2023.
Our spring semester features wonderful performances by three of our talented
Alejandra Sandoval and Minseol Hong sing from La
faculty, a staging of “The Tragedy of Carmen” which is a unique spin on Bizet’s
Traviata during the Fall Opera gala, Nov. 10, 2023.
famous opera, and an astonishing concert at the end of the semester featuring
Women’s Glee Club performing Nov. 2, 2023.
the UGA Symphony Orchestra and combined choirs for “Dona Nobis Pacem.”
UGA Wind Ensemble performs on Oct. 26, 2023.
This concert features over three hundred student musicians across all disciplines.
Brandon Quarles performs with the Wind Ensemble on Oct. 26, 2023
And if you still cannot get enough, the Chamber Music Athens Festival returns in May, taking you around the world of musical styles and history with six
BACK COVER PHOTOS FROM LEFT: Asila Folds sings with the African American Choral Ensemble Nov. 21, 2023. Daniel Bolshoy performing Sept. 12, 2023. UGA Symphony Orchestra performs during the “Power of Prokofiev” concert Sept. 14, 2023. All photos by Shaun Baer
stunning and intimate performances featuring faculty, students, and worldrenowned guest artists. Of course, we could not accomplish any of what we do without the support of our wonderful donors and audience members, including you. Thank you for being part of the foundation that the Hugh Hodgson School of Music has built upon for all these years. We hope you will join us this spring as we continue to make a big, loud noise! Sincerely, Pete Jutras Director, Hugh Hodgson School of Music
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@ugamusic
IN THIS
ISSUE
NEWS/FEATURES 6 CHAMBER MUSIC ATHENS
2023-24 SEASON 14 A THOUSAND WORDS
The popular festival returns in full
Check out some photographic
force featuring faculty, students,
highlights from fall semester’s
internationally-renowned guest
performances and events.
artists exploring music old and new.
16 KNOWING THE FULL SCORE
18 MUSIC THERAPY EXCELLENCE
and Media Scoring Certificate
a prestigious award and the Music
program, and learn about a new
Therapy department graduates
opera by UGA Faculty Emily Koh.
their first Master of Music student.
Take a look at our brand new Film
A Music Therapy graduate receives
PERFORMANCES & TICKETS 4
Spring Semester Calendar
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Spring Ticket Options
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Chamber Music Athens (CMA)
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CMA Guest Artists
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CMA Concerts
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Ticket Policies and Procedures
AT THE CENTER OF THIS MAGAZINE: Spring Semester
20 CONCERTO WINNERS
The winners of the UGA Concerto
21 RECOGNITION ROUND-UP Read about faculty, student, and
Competition are announced.
alumni achievements including new
Learn more about them before
compositions, new albums, awards,
they perform this semester.
and accolades.
Pick-12 and Pick-6 Order Form Choose a savings package and the events of your choice. This form does not include individual ticket order options. Chamber Music Athens (CMA)
FROM LEFT: Kenn Wagner, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, joined a Faculty
Ticket Order Form
Chamber Recital on August 29, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Baer)
Order individual tickets for three of our CMA concerts and learn
Elizabeth Toles (MM ‘23) on solo trombone for the UGA Trombone Choir
about how to order the All-
performance November 15, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Baer)
Festival Pass online or by phone. 3
SPRING SEMESTER 2024 CALENDAR OF EVENTS OVERVIEW FRI 1/12/24 at 5:30 p.m.
TUES 2/20/24 at 7:30 p.m.
UGA Choral Project “Awakening”
UGA Wind Ensemble “Deconstructed & Reimagined”
Ramsey Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Hodgson Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
TUES 1/16/24 at 7:30 p.m.
THURS 2/22/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Anatoly Sheludyakov, piano
UGA Symphony Orchestra Happy Birthday Anton Bruckner
Ramsey Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
Hodgson Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
THURS 1/25/24 at 7:30 p.m.
TUES 2/27/24 at 7:30 p.m.
UGA Symphony Orchestra with Concerto Competition Winners
UGA Glee Clubs Spring Concert
Hodgson Concert Hall $20 adults/$3 UGA students
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
WED 2/7/24 at 7:30 p.m.
FRI 3/1/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Josh Bynum, trombone
British Brass Band
Ramsey Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
MON 2/12/24 at 3:30 p.m.
THURS 3/14/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Repertory Singers
Hodgson Singers “The Poet Sings”
Ramsey Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Hodgson Concert Hall $20 adults/$3 UGA students
TUES 2/13/24 at 7:30 p.m.
TUES 3/19/24 at 7:30 p.m.
University Chorus with Choral Project and Contemporary Chamber Ensemble Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Maggie Snyder, viola
WED 2/14/24 at 7:30 p.m.
THURS 3/21 & FRI 3/22 at 7:30 p.m.
Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band
UGA Opera Theatre “Tragedy of Carmen”
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Hodgson Concert Hall $20 adults/$3 UGA students
THURS 2/15/24 at 7:30 p.m.
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Ramsey Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
FRI 3/22/24
UGA Chamber Music Gala featuring Student Ensembles
Repertory Singers
Hodgson Concert Hall $20 adults/$3 UGA students
Ramsey Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
FRI 2/16/24 at 7:30 p.m.
MON 3/25/24 at 7:30 p.m.
UGA Philharmonia
ARCO Chamber Orchestra Mostly Romantic
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Hodgson Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
WED 3/27/24 at 7:30 p.m.
WED 4/17/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Concert Band and University Band
Combined Bands Concert
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
TUES 4/2/24 at 7:30 p.m.
THURS 4/18/24 at 7:30 p.m.
UGA Wind Ensemble “Ingolf Dahl Sinfonietta”
African American Choral Ensemble Spring Concert
Hodgson Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
WED 4/3/24 at 5:30 p.m.
TUES 4/23/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Jazz Ensembles
UGA Wind Ensemble and Friends “Remixes and Mashups”
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Hodgson Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
THURS 4/4/24 at 7:30 p.m.
FRI 4/26/24 at 7:30 p.m.
UGA Symphony Orchestra An Evening of French Masterpieces
UGA Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choirs “Dona Nobis Pacem”
Hodgson Concert Hall $15 adults/$3 UGA students
Hodgson Concert Hall $20 adults/$3 UGA students
MON 4/8/24 at 7:30 p.m.
MON 4/29/24 at 3:30 p.m.
Don Gillespie Memorial Concert
Repertory Singers
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Ramsey Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
MON 4/15/24 at 5:30 p.m.
MON 4/29/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Opera Scenes
UGA Philharmonia
Ramsey Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
Hodgson Concert Hall THIS CONCERT IS FREE
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE EVENTS Visit our website at music.uga.edu or scan this QR code to learn more about our ticketed concerts and events. You can also refer to our previous issue of Sforzando (July, 2023).
FREE EVENTS ARE ADDED ALL SEMESTER Free events, notated here with a blue background, do not require tickets. Check music.uga.edu for more details throughout the year.
PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL TICKETS Visit our website at music.uga.edu or scan this QR code to purchase individual tickets. You can also call the box office at 706-542-4400.
PURCHASE OUR “PICK SIX” OPTION AND SAVE 10% BUNDLE AND SAVE! Scan this QR code to purchase your “Pick Six” tickets for just $81. You can also call the box office at 706-542-4400 or complete the form at the center of this magazine.
PURCHASE OUR “PICK TWELVE” OPTION AND SAVE 15% BUNDLE AND SAVE! Scan this QR code to purchase your “Pick Twelve” tickets for just $153. You can also call the box office at 706-542-4400 or complete the form at the center of this magazine.
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CHAMBER MUSIC ATHENS: AROUND THE WORLD Story by Shaun Baer | Photo by Camille Hayes
2023-24
NEWS
The Chamber Music Athens “Gala Finale” performing in May, 2022. The Chamber Music Athens Festival is making a full return to town this May. “At the center of what Chamber Music Athens is all about, it is a celebration, a culmination, of so much of what that the Hugh Hodgson School of Music has to offer,” said Liza Stepanova, Associate Professor of Piano, Piano Area Chair, and organizer of the Chamber Music Athens Festival. “It is also a way for the students to share what they’ve learned with the Athens community.” Chamber Music Athens (CMA) is a premier festival that brings together internationally-acclaimed guest artists, UGA faculty, and UGA students for ten days of concerts, public masterclasses, panel discussions, and intensive collaboration in rehearsals and chamber music coaching. Launched in 2019, the 2024 CMA will be the third full festival, after having endured an “involuntary two-year hiatus” before the 2022 festival due to Covid-19. Stepanova is excited to be back again in 2024 with a theme she says is “around the world in music. We sample genres and styles from several continents and we have some amazing guest artists joining us from all over.”
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“This is a very special festival for Athens,” said CMA and HHSOM donor Madeline Van Dyke. “Phil and I are always very excited to support this because these international guests bring such a varied and diverse collection of music to our audience and our students.” Anna Hawkins, DMA in piano (2024), and a two-time participant in CMA agrees. “The thing I enjoyed most about the festival was the multitude of opportunities to play for and learn from the distinguished guest artists.” The next few pages feature short biographies and photos of the CMA 2024 guest artists as well as the descriptions of the concerts themselves. These are overviews. For the full versions of their biographies, please visit chambermusicathens.org.
To purchase tickets, you may call the UGA Performing Arts Center at 706-542-4400, visit music.uga.edu, or use and reference the form at the center of this magazine. Please note: “An Evening in Paris” will not go on sale until February 15, 2024.
CHAMBER MUSIC ATHENS: GUEST ARTISTS
For full biographies of these artists, visit the Chamber Music Athens website at chambermusicathens.org.
Borromeo String Quartet
2023-24
NEWS
Each visionary performance of the award-winning Borromeo String Quartet strengthens and deepens its reputation as one of the most important ensembles of our time. Admired and sought after for both its fresh interpretations of the classical music canon and its championing of works by 20th and 21st century composers, the ensemble has been hailed for its “edge-of-the- seat performances,” by the Boston Globe, which called it “simply the best.” The BSQ has been ensemble-inresidence at the New England Conservatory and Taos School of Music, both for 25 years, and has, for over two decades, enjoyed a long-term relationship with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum where it continues to regularly appear. It is quartet-in-residence at the Heifetz International Music Institute, where first violinist Nicholas Kitchen is Artistic Director. The quartet was also in residence at, and has worked extensively as performers and educators with the Library of Congress.
Juan Pablo Jofre Romarion, bandoneon / composer Born in San Juan, Argentina, Juan Pablo Jofre Romarion, aka JP Jofre, is a 2022 GRAMMY-nominated composer and bandoneon player. Having written several double concertos with chamber and symphony orchestras, and more than 40 chamber music works, Mr. Jofre has been repeatedly highlighted by the New York Times and praised as one of today’s leading artists by Great Performers at Lincoln Center. His music has been recorded by the legendary London Symphony Orchestra, multi-Grammy award winner Paquito D’ Rivera, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra among others. A recipient of the National Prize of the Arts grant in Argentina, Mr. Jofre has been part of many prestigious festivals, including the Celebrity Series of Boston, Umbria Jazz Festival, Great Performers at Lincoln Center, Seattle Town Hall, Hatfield and Sheffield Chamber Music Festival (U.K) and Kasposfest (Hungary).
Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp Elisabeth Remy Johnson was appointed principal harpist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 1995. She holds the endowed Carl and Sally Gable Chair, and also held the honorary UPS Community Service Chair for 2006-07. With the Atlanta Symphony, Elisabeth has performed concertos by Debussy, Handel, Mozart and Ginastera. Winner of first-place awards in competitions of the American Harp Society and the American String Teachers Association, she is also a NFAA/ARTS awardee. She graduated from Harvard University Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in Music and French. Her harp studies were with Ann Hobson Pilot in Boston and Alice Chalifoux at the Salzedo Summer Harp Colony in Camden, Maine. With the ASO, Elisabeth has been privileged to work with a diverse range of the world’s greatest artists, from Yo-Yo Ma to Stevie Wonder, Julie Andrews to Jessye Norman.
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CHAMBER MUSIC ATHENS: GUEST ARTISTS
For full biographies of these artists, visit the Chamber Music Athens website at chambermusicathens.org.
2023-24
NEWS
Joshua Stewart, tenor American tenor Joshua Stewart’s recent appearances include his debut as Rodolfo (La Boheme) with Columbus Symphony, his debut as Son in the highly acclaimed new work Blue at Seattle Opera, and his celebrated debut in the title role Albert Herring at Princeton Festival in the US. Current season engagements include his participation in Sanctuary Road with Chautauqua Symphony during the summer festival, the role of Valcour (Joseph) in L’amant Anonyme, the rarely heard work by Joseph Bologne at Theater St Gallen, an appearance at Oxford Lieder Festival, George Walker’s Mass and A Child of our Time, both with BBC Symphony Orchestra, and his return to Theater St Gallen for the role of Jonah (The Time of Our Singing). In recent appearances, the artist joined conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on tour in the UK, to Paris and to Germany as tenor soloist in Tippett’s A Child of our Time.
Amy Yang, piano A “jaw-dropping pianist who steals the show…with effortless finesse” (Washington Post), pianist Amy Yang aspires to affirm connections between the arts and our inner humanity through her committed expressions of music and leadership on and off stage. In Spring of 2023, she joined forces with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä playing Schumann’s Piano Concerto at Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center. Additionally, she gave the world premiere of Richard Danielpour’s Four Portraits for solo piano at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she is the Associate Dean of Piano Studies and Artistic Initiatives. 2023 summer brought her to Chamberfest Cleveland, Texas Music Festival, Curtis on Tour, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Kingston Chamber Music Festival, and Perelman Music Festival. Her recent appearances include solo and chamber recitals for Hawaii Concert Society, and Coastal Concerts (DE), Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Santa Fe Music Festival.
Itamar Zorman, violin Itamar Zorman is one of the most soulful, evocative artists of his generation, distinguished by his emotionally gripping performances and gift for musical storytelling. Since his emergence with the top prize at the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition, he has wowed audiences all over the world with breathtaking style, causing one critic to declare him a “young badass who’s not afraid of anything.” His “youthful intensity” and “achingly beautiful” sound shine through in every performance, earning him the title of the “virtuoso of emotions.” Awarded the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award for 2014, Zorman is the winner of the 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant. Mr. Zorman has performed as a soloist with such orchestras as the Mariinsky Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, and KBS Symphony Seoul.
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MAY 12-21
2024
AROUND THE WORLD
Festival Opening Concert: “History of Tango” SUN 5/12/24
3 p.m.
TICKETS: $30 - Adults $5 - UGA Students Children 6-18 Free VENUE: Ramsey Concert Hall UGA PAC 230 River Road Athens, GA 30602
GUEST ARTISTS: Juan Pablo Jofre Romarion, bandoneon Itamar Zorman, violin FACULTY ARTISTS: Michael Heald, violin Maggie Snyder, viola David Starkweather, cello Milton Masciadri, bass Alan Woo, piano D. Ray McClellan, clarinet Mark Cedel, conductor
STUDENT ARTISTS: Alexis Boylan, violin (MM ‘25), Thomas LaMon, cello (DMA ‘26) Alvaro Henrique, guitar (DMA ‘26) Bryan Johnson, viola (DMA ‘26) Camden Briggs, percussion (BM ‘26) Additional student artists will be established in the spring semester.
CMA opens its third season with a celebration of the rich international history of tango including fiery and colorful chamber works by Luigi Boccherini and Manuel De Falla as well as original compositions by our special guest JP Jofre, bandoneon (Argentina), performing his double-concertos for violin and bandoneon and clarinet and bandoneon with the CMA Chamber Orchestra. Violinist Itamar Zorman, winner of the 2011 Tchaikovsky International Competition, joins Jofre, UGA faculty and students throughout the concert. World area: South America Southern Europe
“A Celebration of American Music” TUES 5/14/24 7:30 p.m. TICKETS: This event is free. No tickets required.
GUEST ARTISTS: Joshua Stewart, tenor Athens Hip-Hop Harmonic FACULTY ARTISTS: James Weidman, piano Liza Stepanova, piano
STUDENT ARTISTS: Student artists will be established during spring semester.
Reserved seating available with AllFestival Passes. VENUE: Morton Theatre 195 W Washington St, Athens, GA 30601
This concert celebrates African-American musical excellence across styles and genres at the historic Morton Theatre in downtown Athens. Acclaimed guest tenor Joshua Stewart performs operatic and jazz selections with UGA faculty. Members of the Athens Hip-Hop Harmonic, a genre-bending collective bringing together Athens Hip Hop artists and UGA musicians, share their newest musical explorations. World area: United States.
Venue subject to change
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MAY 12-21
2024
AROUND THE WORLD
“Fresh Ink” - New Music at the Georgia Museum of Art THURS 5/16/24 7:30 p.m. TICKETS: This event is free.
GUEST ARTISTS: Amy Yang, piano STUDENT ARTISTS: UGA composers Jacob Skiles, piano (DMA ‘25) Chamber Music Athens soloists and chamber groups
No tickets are required. Reserved seating available for All-Pass Holders. VENUE: Georgia Museum 90 Carlton St, Athens, GA 30602
At the heart of modern chamber musical exploration is the discovery and creation of new music. Join Amy Yang, Dean of the storied Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, alongside UGA student composers and performers, as they explore newly created, multidisciplinary works inspired by poetry, art, and the environment. Among several World Premieres on the program, UGA doctoral pianist Jacob Skiles will perform a piece written for him by a Julliard School composer, and UGA composers will present new music inspired by the exhibits of the Georgia Museum of Art.
“An Evening in Paris”
In Collaboration with The Christopher Durant Ballew Memorial Series, presented by the Friends of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
FRI 5/17/24 7:30 p.m. TICKETS: (includes reception) $40 - Adults $15 - UGA Students $10 - Children 6-18 VENUE: Day Chapel at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia 2450 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605
GUEST ARTISTS: Amy Yang, piano Itamar Zorman, violin Melissa Reardon, viola (Borromeo String Quartet) Elisabeth Remy-Johnson, harp (ASO) FACULTY ARTISTS: Amy Petrongelli, soprano Angela Jones-Reus, flute Liza Stepanova, piano
STUDENT ARTISTS: Gabriella McClellan, cello (BM Performance, ‘25)
Transporting the audience to magical Paris for an evening, this concert is a feast of chamber musical sounds. The centerpiece of the first half of the program is Debussy’s sensuous and rarely heard Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp. The work is flanked by Bizet’s playful Jeux d’enfants (“Children’s Games”) for piano fourhands, Saint-Saëns’s Fantasy for Violin and Harp, and a selection of Francis Poulenc’s most beautiful songs. The second half brings together Zorman, Reardon, Yang and Gabriella McClellan (BM ‘2025, winner of the UGA 2022 Concerto Competition) for Gabriel Fauré’s sumptuous Piano Quartet No. 1. World area: France. The Christopher Durant Ballew Memorial Series was established by the late Ms. Despy Karlas and Dr. Leighton Ballew in memory of their son. The endowed series brings noted authors, lecturers, musicians, and exhibitions to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in celebration of the beauty and splendor of nature.
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MAY 12-21
2024
AROUND THE WORLD The Art of the String Quartet
Borromeo String Quartet with special guest, David Starkweather, cello
SUN 5/19/24 3 p.m. TICKETS: $30 - Adults $5 - UGA Students Children 6-18 Free VENUE: First Baptist Church 355 Pulaski St, Athens, GA 30601
GUEST ARTISTS: Borromeo String Quartet FACULTY ARTIST: David Starkweather, cello Praised by the Boston Globe as “simply the best,” the Borromeo String Quartet has been inspiring audiences for over 25 years as one of the most important string quartets of our time. Their Chamber Music Athens recital includes the passionate String Quartet in D minor by the Nordic master Jean Sibelius and a short work by acclaimed Jamaican-British composer Eleanor Alberga. For the second half, Borromeo team up with UGA professor of cello, David Starkweather for Franz Schubert’s transcendent Quintet, considered one of the greatest works of all chamber music. Starkweather is retiring at the end of this season after over four decades of teaching. Don’t miss this very special event! World areas: Jamaica, Northern Europe-Finland, Western Europe-Germany
“CMA Gala Finale” TUES 5/21/24 7:30 p.m. TICKETS: $30 - Adults $5 - UGA Students Children 6-18 Free VENUE: Ramsey Concert Hall UGA PAC 230 River Road Athens, GA 30602
GUEST ARTISTS: Borromeo String Quartet FACULTY ARTISTS: Michael Heald, violin Maggie Snyder, viola David Starkweather, cello Liza Stepanova, piano Alan Woo, piano
STUDENT ARTISTS: CMA Chamber Ensemble Daijing Ren, harpsichord (DMA‘26) Jesse Hu, piano Further student artists will be established in the spring.
As has become tradition, the last concert of each Chamber Music Athens festival brings together guest artists, UGA faculty and students for a night of musical fireworks featuring some of the most beloved works of the repertoire. Mendelssohn’s Overture to The Midsummer Night’s Dream arranged for two pianos, four hands transports us to the magical realm. Borromeo String Quartet members lead an ensemble of UGA faculty and students in Bach’s exuberant Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. The festival closes with Tchaikovsky’s virtuosic string sextet Souvenir de Florence. World areas: Germany, Russia, Italy
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HOW TO ORDER TICKETS and FAQs ONLINE music.uga.edu Purchase tickets through our website any time for your convenience.
PHONE (706) 542-4400 Call the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
2023-24
SEASON
UGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER BOX OFFICE Tickets for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) ticketed performances are sold and managed by the UGA Performing Arts Center (PAC) Box Office. However, for the most up-to-date information on all of our concerts, including online individual ticket purchases, please visit the HHSOM website at music.uga.edu. For in-person ticket purchases, or to order tickets over the phone, please visit or call the PAC during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., as well as one hour prior to performances. The PAC box office phone number is (706) 542-4400. If ordering our pick twelve or pick six packages or CMA tickets by mail, you can remove the forms from the inside of this brochure, complete the form, and mail it to the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Road, Athens, GA, 30602-7280.
GENERAL ADMISSION
VISIT 230 River Road
With the exception of our Annual Holiday Concert, all of our concerts are general admission seating. This means you may sit wherever you would like in the spaces that are open. However, you may be asked by house management to adjust your seats to make sure everyone with a ticket can find a seat comfortably.
Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. for assistance.
MAIL 230 River Road Athens, GA 30602
Send your order form and payment to the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office.
CANCELED OR POSTPONED PERFORMANCES Tickets purchased for any performance postponed or canceled by the Hugh Hodgson School of Music will be honored on the rescheduled date (if applicable) or will be refunded for the full amount, fees included.
HASSLE-FREE EXCHANGES Patrons may exchange tickets for another performance until 5 p.m. on the business day prior to the day of the performance. We are unable to refund tickets.
DISCOUNTS SUBSCRIPTIONS: Our season ticket options are the very best way to save on our ticketed performances. There are many options to choose from that are detailed on both page 5 and on the order form itself. UGA STUDENTS: UGA student tickets are available for $3 for almost every concert. UGA Student tickets for our Annual Holiday Concert are $10. UGA MUSIC MAJORS: UGA music majors receive an “All-Events” pass at the beginning of each semester. This entitles them to one (1) free ticket for each performance, excluding the Annual Holiday Concert. GROUPS: Save 10% on tickets to most performances when purchasing ten or more tickets to a single event in one transaction. Some restrictions apply. Contact the Performing Arts Center Box Office for details.
Evelyn Raphael plays the harp in the N. Williams Conducts J. Williams concert on October 26, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Baer)
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2023-24
SEASON
HELPFUL INFORMATION WILL CALL
LATE SEATING
Tickets purchased in advance and left for collection at “will call” will be available for pick up at the PAC box office during regular business hours or beginning one hour prior to the start of the performance.
Late seating is subject to the discretion of the house manager.
SEATING
Children ages six and older are welcome to attend all performances, unless indicated for specific events. Children under the age of six and babies are welcome, however house management reserves the right to request a parent step out of the theatre should a child become disruptive. Parents and guardians are encouraged to exercise personal judgment when determining if programs are appropriate for their children. Please contact the School of Music at (706) 542-3737 with questions.
All of our performances are general admission and you are encouraged to sit wherever you feel most comfortable. The only exception is our Annual Holiday Concert, which does have assigned seating. The best seats available will be assigned to each patron as advance ticket orders are received. To request specific seats for the Holiday Concert, order online or call the box office.
FEES Georgia 8% sales tax and restoration fees (PAC only) are included in all ticket prices. Additional service fees for online or phone orders and ticket delivery apply.
PARKING Free parking is available in the two surface lots around the PAC and the HHSOM. There is a charge for parking in the PAC multilevel parking deck Monday through Friday until 10 p.m. For questions regarding parking, please call UGA Parking Services at (706) 542-7275.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING Unless otherwise noted, photography, video, and/or audio recording of any kind are strictly prohibited during all performances.
USE OF LIKENESS Patrons may be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded by Hugh Hodgson School of Music or PAC staff for archival, promotional, and/or other purposes. By choosing to enter any of our performances and venues, you hereby consent to such photography, filming, and/ or recording and to any use, in any and all media in perpetuity, of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in connection with this venue. You understand all photography, filming, and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent given by you by entering this area. If you do not agree to this, please contact the house manager.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES Please silence all mobile phones and other noise-making devices. Texting during performances is prohibited.
CHILDREN
ACCESSIBILITY Venues are accessible to people using wheelchairs or with restricted mobility. Please contact the box office to make special arrangements if you require special assistance. Parking spaces designated for handicap use are located near the entrance to the PAC lobby.
LARGE-PRINT PROGRAMS Large print programs are available by calling the School of Music office at (706) 542-3737 at least 72-hours in advance of the performance.
DIGITAL PROGRAMS: BYO TABLET As part of a green initiative to limit the number of paper programs wasted, we are encouraging patrons to come prepared with their tablets. We will begin using Issuu, an app that makes viewing online programs easier and more convenient. While this app is compatible with smart phones as well, they are best viewed on a personal tablet.
ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES Hearing augmentation headsets are available in the Performing Arts Center and may be checked out with a photo ID at the coat check desk in the lobby.
FOOD AND DRINK Concessions are available for purchase in the Performing Arts Center lobby for ticketed events. Food and drink are prohibited inside the performance venues. Complimentary cough lozenges are available at the coat check desk. Please do not unwrap lozenges during performances.
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A Thousand Words Photos from Fall Semester
THIS PAGE (FROM TOP): Rayvon Love (MM ‘25) conducts the Repertory Singers on September 23, 2023 in Ramsey Concert Hall. (Photo by Shaun Baer) Lauren LaBarre (BMus ‘25, Curtis Scholarship) and Samantha Mishima Friedman (DMA ‘24, Hoveland Scholarship) perform a scene from “Werther” during the “Mythos & Machinations” fall opera performance on November 10, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Baer) Amy Pollard (far right, Professor of Bassoon, Associate Director of Performance) with her studio following the “Halloween Bassoon Spooktacular” October 30, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Baer) OPPOSITE PAGE (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP): The Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers perform with the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mark Cedel (Director of Orchestral Activities) on October 10, 2023. (Photo by Easel Images) The brand new Faculty Jazz Ensemble performed “Birth of the Cool” on November 3, 2023 as part of the Spotlight on the Arts series of performances. The evening featured ten faculty performers and student guest Iris Marcipar (DMA, ‘24). (Photo by Shaun Baer) Two Clone Troopers, visiting from the Georgia 501st Legion, were present in the lobby of the UGA Performing Arts Center for the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble’s “N. Williams Conducts J. Williams” concert on October 26, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Baer)
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KNOWING THE FULL SCORE
2023-24
NEWS
Story and photo by Shaun Baer
Film and Composition Certificate student Gianna Dimuzio in the Dancz Center for New Music working on one of her compositions. The University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) has launched a new Film and Media Scoring Certificate. This certificate is designed to enhance an undergraduate or graduate degree in music composition with specific, hands-on instruction in the art and science of composing music for film, video games, and other media. “The film industry has grown tremendously in Georgia in recent years, and the School of Music is growing right along with it,” said Tom Hiel, Assistant Professor of Commercial Music and Media and creator of the new certificate. “However, it is not strictly limited to music majors,” said Hiel. “As long as a student can demonstrate musical proficiency and a willingness to learn the craft, this certificate can be available to anyone at UGA.” Hiel is no stranger to film and media scoring. Since beginning his professional scoring career in the early 1990s, with the film Swimming With Sharks (1994) with Kevin Spacey being one of his more notable early projects, Hiel has been a prolific composer for film, television, and games. His work on the David E. Kelley series The Practice (1997-2004) won Hiel two consecutive BMI TV Music Awards in 2001 and 2002. “There’s a special art to composing for film media,” said Hiel. “While finding a way to represent your own style and voice, you
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are collaborating with visual artists, actors, and cinematographers to create and enhance a dramatic or comedic tone. There are a number of elements to understand that aren’t specifically explored in the composition degree.” In addition to Hiel, the certificate involves Brett Bawcum, Director of Athletic Bands; Dave D’Angelo, Sr. Lecturer of Jazz; and Gregory Satterthwaite, Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano and African American Studies. These instructors bring experience in commercial music, jazz, and songwriting to round out the certificate classwork. Pete Jutras, Director of the HHSOM, shares Hiel’s enthusiasm for the new certificate. “The Dancz Center for New Music has some of the most state-of-the-art technology being used in music composition, and this certificate can give students practical experience and connections that can lead to professional opportunities.” One such student is Gianna Dimuzio, who is working on her 12th student film. “Being involved with this program, I have not only learned about how to compose music better, but how to apply music to a scene, record live instruments, and create a network of musicians and directors to work and collaborate with. Learning how to compose for media requires a lot of moving parts, and this program has allowed me to learn how to manage this in a professional manner.”
Not only have the connections on campus helped Dimuzio develop a robust resume of student films, but she is also currently scoring tracks for the Food Network while still completing her undergraduate degree. The HHSOM builds these relationships through collaborations with several departments, including the UGA Department of Theatre and Film Studies, as well as different areas within the university at large. Jacob Evarts scored an introduction video for Anna Stenport, the new Dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. A recent report prepared by the Creative Media Industries Institute at Georgia State University indicates that Georgia has the fastestgrowing film industry in the nation. The $4.4 billion industry continues to expand, thanks in part to the state’s tax incentives. With the film industry coming out of two strikes, demand for qualified composers should increase. During this tumultuous moment in the film and television industry, Hiel is confident that now is a great time to pursue this certificate. “So many commercial and independent projects are in production, and the industry is finding its way through this. We want our students ready and able to jump into the business when it does.” Those interested in pursuing the Film and Media Scoring Certificate can find more details and the application on the UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music website at music.uga.edu.
Jacob Evarts during a concert with James Naigus, horn, on October 16, 2023. Read more about Evarts on page 22.
EMILY KOH OPERA “HER | alive.un.dead” SOLD OUT RUN IN BOSTON Story by Shaun Baer Photo by Tim Gurczak Photography/Guerilla Opera
Emily Koh, Associate Professor of Composition, premiered her opera HER | alive.un.dead at Guerilla Opera to four soldout houses May 12-14, 2023 at the Pao Arts Center, Boston, Massachusetts. HER | alive.un.dead is a media opera about three generations of Asian women in a single family. Through birth and death cycles in the family, and encounters in a space called the “in-between,” these women expound on gender biases against women, and discriminatory practices against people of Asian descent. The specific experiences of Asian women in largely Western society and upbringing are brought to focus. This clash between East and West is interpreted differently between the three generations of women in the family. As Koh explained, “HER | alive.un.dead brings together so many of my interests and obsessions, many of which have been central pillars of focus for my creative energies for decades–existential philosophy, female ghosts and horror, the roles and identity of women, filtered Chinese-ness, immigrant stories, and generational trauma.” The opera is sung in English, Mandarin, and Teochew. Guerilla Opera received an award from the Alice M. Ditson Fund to begin a studio album.
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MUSIC THERAPY ALUM RECEIVES AWARD Story by Shaun Baer | Photo provided by Elizabeth Lee Digiovanni
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NEWS
Elizabeth Lee Digiovanni, Hugh Hodgson School of Music alumna, received the Friend of Nursing Award from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on Friday, November 3, 2023. This award is described by St. Jude as going to someone who demonstrates excellence in clinical practice and the support of the nursing profession. They exceed role expectations while working across disciplines to assist in the achievement of quality outcomes to ensure nursing excellence. Digiovanni studied Music Therapy at UGA and completed her music therapy internship at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta from August 2019-Feb 2020. Following her graduation with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy in May 2020, she worked in inpatient neurologic rehabilitation for Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. In September 2021, Digiovanni started as a Music Therapist for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Digiovanni spends her day serving patients with Leukemia, Lymphoma and Hematology diagnoses, providing motor, speech, and developmental support, promoting coping, providing procedural support, supporting pain management, and end-of-life/bereavement support. “I’ve had patients as young as a couple days old to young adults who are in their mid-20s that make up my caseload,” said Digiovanni. While at UGA, Digiovanni studied French horn as her primary instrument while pursuing her degree in Music Therapy. This work “allowed me to have the knowledge and language to develop diaphragmatic breathing tools and instruction for my patients.” Many of Digiovanni’s patients have had respiratory failure. “Using harmonicas and singing as ways to create some sort of resistance that emulates what’s needed to increase lung function with an incentive spirometer has made breathing and respiratory function so much easier and enjoyable for my patients. Pulmonary music therapy has been an extension of my work because of my horn playing.” Digiovanni credits the Hugh Hodgson School of Music for what she felt was a high standard of musicianship instilled in every student. Her confidence in her skills at the performance level allowed her to focus on furthering her medical knowledge and acclimating to serving on a medical team. She also continues to use repertoire she learned from her clinical practicum experiences. “‘See You Later Alligator’ is a song I learned from UGA that has become a hit among many patients and families at my job, and a highly requested song to end our sessions.” Another UGA experience that helped prepare Digiovanni was working as an orientation leader for UGA’s New Student Orientation (NSO) during the summer of 2018. It was through this program she began to realize “how many needs and fears people can have at once. Working with NSO to navigate student-family centered support has transferred directly to developing a patient-centered mindset, yet connecting with those who support the patient.”
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The amount of support and connection Digiovanni provides in her daily work varies from patient to patient based on their needs. However, the basis of all the work starts with the music. “Music holds space uniquely, and I use songwriting, lyric discussions, active music making, and therapeutic conversation to address a variety of concerns and stressors that my patients have. Pain, body image, prognosis, isolation, separation from their home environment, adjusting to the hospital, and missed milestones (like prom, first days of school, marching band seasons, homecoming, relocation, even delaying going to college because of treatment) are some of the many things I help my patients process through. “Shifting attention to music can reduce perception of pain, release pleasure hormones, decrease heart and respiratory rates, and overall helps our bodies to relax and to stop focusing on the pain.” One great joy Digiovanni experiences at St. Jude includes working with patients from all over the world and connecting with them through music. “It doesn’t matter what language we converse in - music reinforces comfort and community in a unique way that allows me to work with and beyond language and cultural differences. “The smiles that we all share when they see me walk into a room with a guitar or ukulele - there’s an understanding that we will be doing the same thing, together, and that they are still a person in the midst of their treatment. No matter where they call home, their socio-economic level, diagnosis or age, my favorite part of my job is reinforcing that patients are still worthy of being human: especially in experiencing joy, comfort, and hope within their treatment journey.” The healing power of music does not just apply to Digiovanni’s patients. “When listening and learning new music, or using music for others, it’s a conscious effort to redirect that back to yourself and to fulfill your own music needs. My recharge time includes sitting at the piano playing Taylor Swift by ear, playing 60s-70s hits on guitar, and keeping up with some of my music school peers and prioritizing listening to their concerts/work in the community.”
MUSIC THERAPY GRADUATES FIRST MASTER’S STUDENT Story by Shaun Baer | Photo courtesy of Ellyn Evans For both a Hugh Hodgson School of Music graduate student and the Music Therapy area, the commencement ceremony in May, 2023 marked significant milestones. Amanda Martin was the first student at UGA to receive her Master of Music in Music Therapy. “What a privilege to be in the Master’s of Music program at UGA. Where else but the Hugh Hodgson School of Music could I learn to compose video game scores with Dr. Koh, study classical guitar with a world class player such as Dr. Bolshoy, be awed by Dr. Farley’s expansive knowledge of the Psychology of Music, gain exposure to the library of jazz that is contained within Dr. Valdez, and daily experience the inspiration of working with NICU babies and their families that Dr. Evans so passionately conveys. To be a part of the culture of excellence contained in the HHSOM will continue to inform my professional practice. Perhaps the most gratifying component of all, the student body, has given me hope for the future of the Music Therapy profession.” This milestone also represents a victory for the Music Therapy area, which had been working on developing this study at the Master’s level for over five years. “This program allows music therapists the opportunity to further their education in clinical training to achieve advance competencies in the areas of clinical practice, research, and clinical supervision,” said Ellyn Evans, Assistant Professor of Music Therapy. “UGA is the only in-person program in the state offering this degree with the unique opportunities to receive frequent mentorship from faculty, expand their learning through the diverse certificates across campus, and grow in their research skills at an R1 institution.” The program continues to grow, with five current graduate students and two teaching assistantships. Applications for 2024 are still open.
SOUTHEASTERN REGION MUSIC THERAPY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ATLANTA THIS MARCH UGA Faculty and students will be attending the Southern Region Conference of the American Music Therapy Association in Atlanta, GA on March 21 – 23, 2024. UGA alumni planning on attending or presenting at this conference should email the music therapy department at musictherapy@uga.edu. “We are planning to host an alumni gathering,” said Ellyn Evans, “Be on the lookout for a save-the-date in your email inbox and our social media soon. We would also love to highlight our alumni that are presenting on our social media and to our students, so let us know if you are presenting!”
UGA Faculty Jenny Denk Stull (Left) and Sally Ann Nichols (Right) celebrate with newly graduated Amanda Martin (Center) following the graduation ceremony in May, 2023. 19 19
CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED Story by Shaun Baer | Photos provided by the artists
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NEWS
The University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) winners of the 2023 Concerto Competition are listed below with their instrument and a brief bio. Full biographical information on these students can be found at music.uga.edu. Michael Chapa, saxophone. Performing with Wind Ensemble February 20, 2024. Michael Chapa (he/him) is an eclectic and passionate artist and educator who has been recognized for his expertise in chamber music and his conception of interdisciplinary programs. Michael is the soprano saxophonist of the saxophone quartet Mixed Media, winner of the Gold Medal at the 2022 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. From October 2020 to August 2021, Chapa traveled to Paris, France to study contemporary music and interdisciplinary collaboration at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Boulogne-Billancourt with saxophonist Jean-Michel Goury. Bailey Hume, clarinet. Performing with UGA Symphony January 25, 2024. Bailey Hume is an Australian clarinetist and saxophonist. Trained in classical performance, his experience spans a diversity of genres, including classical, jazz, contemporary, and commercial. Hume has performed in various settings including orchestras, big bands, theatre pits, and as a studio musician, recording extensively for the University of Melbourne, and for the Australian Army Band as principal clarinet. Bailey’s recordings are featured in the Percy Grainger Museum. Bailey received his Undergraduate degree from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Min-Chen Lee, piano. Performing with UGA Symphony January 25, 2024. Born in Taiwan, Min-Chen Lee, is a passionate and versatile musician. As a soloist, she has performed in Taiwan, Austria, Australia, Korea, and in the United States. She made her concerto debut with the National Chinese Orchestra of Taiwan, performing A River in Spring by Xu Jinxin. She has also won the Tainan National University of the Arts Concerto Competition and played Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the TNNUA orchestra. She was recently invited to perform at Steinway Hall in New York City and the opening concert of the Yilan International Art Festival. Sean Smith, violin. Performing with UGA Symphony January 25, 2024. Sean Smith is an undergraduate violin performance major studying with Dr. Michael Heald. As a fourth-year student, he will graduate in May 2024 and plans to pursue graduate music studies. Beginning his music degree during the pandemic introduced him to his first student chamber ensemble, sparking a love of chamber music. Smith attended the Aspen Music Festival in 2023 and has participated in many student ensembles during his time at UGA. Smith hopes to turn his musical career to orchestral performance after completing his graduate studies. Aly Soriano, piano. Performing with UGA Symphony January 25, 2024. Originally from Atlanta, Aly Soriano is an experienced solo pianist, chamber musician and teacher. She has attended a variety of festivals including the Texas State International Piano Festival and the Paris International Summer Sessions, and chamber programs such as SongFest and the Collaborative Piano Institute. As an active performer and advocate for new music, Soriano frequently premieres new works and has played in the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble at the Hugh Hodgson School. She recently received the Contemporary Fellowship for the 2023 Atlantic Music Festival.
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Xiaoqian Sun, piano. Performing with UGA Symphony January 25, 2024. Xiaoqian Sun began her musical journey at the age of six in her native China, Anhui Province. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music and came to New York City in 2019 to pursue a master’s degree at the Mannes School of Music under the tutelage of Dr. JY Song. While at Mannes, she was invited to perform at the ELC Performance Workshop Recital at the Glass Theater and gave her first solo recital in the United States. Sun is currently in her second year of DMA studies at UGA working with Dr. Liza Stepanova.
FACULTY AND STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
UGA SCHOOL OF MUSIC FACULTY AWARDED SOUTH ARTS GRANT
SHAUN BAER - Director of Public Relations DANIEL ELLIS - Academic Professional in Opera and Theatre September 28, 2023: The short film Heart of Stone, written by and starring Shaun Baer and directed by Daniel Ellis during the pandemic was screened at Cinema Diverse: Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival and won both the “Festival Favorite” award and the “Director’s Choice” award. JENNIFER DENK STULL - Assistant Professor of Music Therapy Spring 2023: Article titled “The impact of a music therapy support group on perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in long-term caregivers: A pilot study” was published in the Spring 2023 issue of Music Therapy Perspectives. July 2023: Co-presented the paper “Student supervision: Theories & strategies for success ”at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Vancouver, Canada. ELLYN EVANS - Assistant Professor of Music Therapy Summer 2023: Authored two book chapters in the newly published 3rd Edition of Evidence-Based Music Therapy for Premature Infants; presented in two pre-congress workshops for the 17th World Congress in Music Therapy in Vancouver, Canada. DICKIE LEE - Assistant Professor of Music Theory April 22, 2023: Presented his paper “Intertextual Rhetoric in Recent Popular Music” at the New England Conference of Music Theorists, a regional music theory society meeting that occurred this year at Yale’s School of Music. BRANDON QUARLES - Lecturer in Saxophone and Allied Areas April 2023: Featured artist at the Roswell Music Club concert series. April 2023: Duo recital with clarinetist Dr. Andy Hudson at UGA. September 15, 2023: Released the album All My Ghosts by The Employment Pages, original music by Brandon Quarles; produced by HHSOM alum Annie Leeth. The album received a write-up in the Flagpole. October, 2023: Performances with ~Nois, a Chicago-based saxophone quartet Quarles co-founded and played with from 2016-2021, at Western Michigan University and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. March, 2024: Selected to judge the national finals of the MTNA Chamber Winds, Senior Woodwind, and Young Artist Woodwind competitions at the MTNA conference in Atlanta. RUMYA PUTCHA Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology and Women’s Studies September 27, 2023: Presented on her book The Dancer’s Voice: Performance and Womanhood in Transnational India at the Department of Music at Columbia University in New York City.
Greg Satterthwaite album cover photo provided by artist. GREG SATTERTHWAITE Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano and African American Studies During the summer of 2023, Greg Satterthwaite was awarded the South Arts Jazz Road Tours Grant. Jazz Road Tours supports small, three- to six-site tours at an array of venue types, often in rural communities and other areas traditionally underserved by the genre. This artist-centric grant program—designed to support approximately 50 tours each year—is made possible with funds from the Doris Duke Foundation with additional support from the Mellon Foundation. “As a jazz pianist, educator and speaker,” said Satterthwaite, “I am proud to bring forth improvisational music that speaks to who I am as a performer and composer. I arranged and composed all compositions on my debut album Who I Am, and my sophomore album Savannah Blue was released on June 9, 2023. Both albums can be heard on major music streaming platforms. I am extremely excited about continuing to perform compositions from the new album Savannah Blue and share my artistry with others around the world.”
We continue to receive updates on our faculty accomplishments throughout the year. Please visit music.uga.edu for updates.
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STUDENT FOCUS 2023 PRESSER SCHOLAR
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS Owen Cotton (BMus ‘25, Performance), Selected to perform in a master class for Pic Sullivan, Professor of Saxophone at Northwestern University, at the 2023 Atlanta Saxophone Day. Jacob Evarts (BMus ‘25, Media Composition and Horn) March 2023: Selected as winner of the US Naval Academy Band Call For Scores with “Sinfonietta” (Chamber Winds) Second place in the Northwest Horn Symposium Composition Contest with “Onward!” (Horn Quintet) August 2023: Finalist in Reno Pops Composer’s Showcase with “Three Nevada Portraits” (Orchestra) Plus, his piece “Nostalgia” for horn choir had the following performances: UGA Horn Choir at Southeast Horn Workshop in Orlando, FL (March 2023) Oklahoma State Horn Choir (Spring 2023) Columbus State Horn Choir (April 2023) SEMO (September 2023) Karen Lee (BMus ‘24, Music Therapy) presented her research titled, “Pre-Professional Healthcare Undergraduate Students’ Perception of Music Therapy: A Pilot Study” at the Southeastern Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association this past spring. She also received the Internship Scholarship award from the Music Therapy Association of Georgia this past spring.
Photo of Dylan Abbott provided by the artist. DYLAN ABBOTT (BMus ‘25) Presser Scholar Dylan Abbott (he/him), is a flutist from Kennesaw, GA, a suburban city about 45 minutes north of Atlanta. Since he began his studies at the University of Georgia, Dylan has transformed as a musician and has found his niche in performing new and contemporary music. As Dylan completes his degree in Music Performance, he looks forward to continuing his development, aiming to attend graduate school where he can continue to collaborate with performers
Leonardo Lopes (DMA ‘25) was appointed double bass instructor on faculty at Kennesaw State University this academic year. Iris Marcipar (DMA candidate, ‘24) was appointed double bass instructor on faculty at University of North Georgia this year. Marcipar also performed and conducted the first performance of the Latin American Music Ensemble on November 14, 2023. (Pictured below, left, with Sebastián Araya, right)
and composers alike. The Presser Foundation has long supported hundreds of schools of music, departments of music, and conservatories across the country through the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award. Undergraduate music programs at selected colleges, universities and independent institutions of higher education are given the opportunity to present this Award, which recognizes the accomplishments and contribution of a music major in their final year of undergraduate study. The Foundation established the Award to celebrate students, selected by music faculty, who have achieved a high level of musical and academic excellence.
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Winnie Mburu (PhD, Music Education) won first place for the graduate student poster/paper presentation (her master’s thesis) “Incorporating Native Music and Instructional Methods in the Kenyan Music Curriculum” at the Kenya Scholars and Studies Association conference, September 8th and 9th in Atlanta, GA.
Sarah Secrist (BMus ‘24, Music Therapy) presented her research titled, “Perceptions of Music Therapy Students on Working with Older Adults: A Pilot Study” at the Southeastern Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association this past spring.
MUSIC EDUCATION PRESENTATION AT INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
From Left: UGA Music Therapy faculty Sally Ann Nichols, Ellyn H. Evans, Alumna Patrice K. Devereaux, and UGA Music Therapy faculty Jennifer Denk Stull. Patrice K. Devereaux (BMus 1977, Music Therapy) spoke at the November music therapy seminar about “Ten Things I Didn’t Learn In College” on November 29, 2023. Devereaux is a retired senior executive officer from what once was the- largest provider of nursing home care in the United States. She’s also a world traveler, interior designer, breast cancer survivor, and a huge advocate for our music therapy program. Luca Lombardi (DMA ‘16) was appointed double bass instructor on faculty at Schwab School of Music at Columbus University, GA. Deborah Stephens (BMus ‘19, Vocal Performance) was recently accepted into the new pro choir Lyyra, a female ensemble that’s an offshoot of the very prestigious Voces 8. Megan Stoltzfus, (MM ‘21, Flute Performance), won a position in the Navy Fleet Band in September 2023. Megan will be assigned to one of nine Navy Bands located throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Japan and Italy. There, she will perform in various ensembles for government officials, international audiences, navy personnel and their families, and the general public. We continue to receive updates on our student and alumni accomplishments throughout the year. Please visit music.uga.edu for updates.
ATTENDING THE GMEA CONFERENCE IN 2024? If you are an HHSOM Alum and will be attending the GMEA Conference this January, please join us for an Alumni Reception Thursday, January 25, at 5 p.m. Please RSVP to Roy Legette at rlegette@uga.edu. If you are presenting at GMEA this January, please email the details to Shaun Baer at shaunbaer@uga.edu so we can share them with your colleagues and visitors to the UGA GMEA booth.
Photo provided by Alison Farley UGA Music Education Faculty Rebecca Atkins (left) and Alison Farley (right) traveled to Warsaw, Poland in August, 2023 and presented at the International Symposium for Performance Science (ISPS) alongside distinguished colleagues and UGA students. Farley, along with Kristen Lynch (faculty/PhD MusEd ’23), Molly Blair (PhD MusEd ’23) and Levi Dean (ABD MusEd) presented “Exploring identity as it impacts the teaching, learning, and performance of music.” Farley also presented “Self-compassion training for music university students: examining a protocol for inclusion in university level programs” alongside Jamey Kelley (collaborator, University of North Texas) and Ian Cicco (collaborator, University of Southern Mississippi). Atkins presented “Practice behaviors and gaze patterns on sight-singing tasks: An eye-tracking study” which explored musicians’ cognitive activities and strategies sight-singing new music passages that increased in difficulty level. Benjamin Brown (Undergraduate CURO Honors Scholar earning his BA in Music and BS in Computer Science) continues to analyze the data in this project and will present further results at GMEA January 26, 2024 at the poster session.
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YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Scholarships and Graduate assistantships funded by donations to the Thursday Scholarship Fund make it possible for students to learn and pursue their passions at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Please consider a tax-deductible gift to the Thursday Scholarship Fund so we may continue to support our students and make their education possible. DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE: Gifts of all amounts are greatly appreciated. However, annual giving at the $1,500 level and higher provides membership in the Director’s Circle, our Hugh Hodgson School of Music Honor Roll. Director’s Circle members are invited to exclusive events and performances throughout the academic year. CONCERT UNDERWRITING: If you are interested in underwriting a concert, please contact: Melissa Roberts at roberts@uga.edu or 706-254-2111.
Please scan the QR code or visit music.uga.edu/giving to make a donation today to the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music Scholarship Fund.
Thank you for your continued support of the UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music. 24