Faculty News

BETWEEN THE LINES

MARK E. BRITT was reappointed as department chair in January 2018. He served this past year as an adjudicator or clinician for the SCGSAH College Audition Workshop, the Archibald Rutledge Scholarships for the SCDOE, the 2018 Central District Music Performance Adjudication for the NC Bandmasters Association, and Festivals of Music at Dollywood and Carowinds. He conducted a performance by the Palmetto Posaunen at the 2018 SCMEA Professional Development Conference, completed his sixth term as the instrumental music director for the Montreat Conference on Music and Worship (where he conducted the premiere of “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem” by Michael Burkhardt). He was also a featured soloist on Anthony Barfield’s “Red Sky” with the Furman Symphonic Winds.

Mark Britt performs with the Furman Wind Ensemble

Thomas Joiner performs with Furman Chamber Strings

KEITH DAVIS performed in October at the 2018 Savannah Jazz Festival with the Savannah Jazz All Stars, under the direction of Teddy Adams, Savannah’s respected Jazz Elder Statesman. The performance was a tribute to the great jazz drummer,

Grant Knox directed Furman Lyric Theater’s spring production of “Hansel and Gretel”. Ben Riley, who was born in Savannah. On Sept. 14-15, he performed at the Jazz Room in Charlotte with clarinetist Janelle Reichman, who presented a tribute to Benny Goodman.

THOMAS JOINER served in July as guest conductor and violin teacher at the 33rd annual Santa Maria International Winter Festival in Vale Veneto, Brazil. He collaborated and taught with faculty from Brazil, the United States, Russia, Argentina and Italy.

GRANT KNOX,

associate professor of voice and director of lyric theater, had a busy year of teaching, performing and directing. This past December, Knox returned to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as the tenor soloist for performances of Handel’s “Messiah” and Mozart’s “Regina Coeli.” These concerts were given in Atlanta’s Symphony Hall and in Athens, Georgia, at the Hodgson Concert Hall.

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In March, Knox made his role debut with the Indianapolis Opera as Lt. Joseph Cable in South Pacific. The Indianapolis Star wrote that Knox delivered “an exemplary rendition of his romantic solo “Younger Than Springtime.” In April he sang Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with the Hendersonville Symphony and directed Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” for Furman Lyric Theater.

In March, DANIEL KOPPELMAN was a featured performer at the national conference of the Society for Electroacoustic Music in the US (SEAMUS), in Eugene, Oregon. In November 2017, he toured the southeast with longtime colleague Christopher Dobrian (University of California, Irvine), performing concerts and giving masterclasses at University of South Florida, Columbus State University, Georgia Southern University, and at Furman’s Herring Center for Continuing Education.

Charles Tompkins practices at St. Paul’s Cathedral

CHARLES TOMPKINS,

university organist and professor of music, was a featured performer on the July 19 and 26 broadcasts of South Carolina Education Radio’s “On the Keys” program, performing organ works of J.S. Bach on the Hartness Organ in Daniel Chapel (Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor) and the Casavant organ of First Baptist Church, Greenville (the chorale prelude “Soul, Adorn Thyself With Gladness”).

As part of his spring term sabbatical, Tompkins spent the month in residence at Trinity

Cathedral (Episcopal) in Portland, Oregon, studying improvisation with the Cathedral’s Organist and Director of Music Bruce Neswick. During the first three weeks in April, he traveled to England, where he presented recitals at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London; the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol; and St. Alban’s Cathedral, St. Albans.

STEVE WATSON, who teaches jazz guitar, jazz combos and jazz history, recently released a new jazz album Reflections with jazz Bassist Ian Bracchitta, drummer Rick Dilling with vocals by Wendy Jones. The album is available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.

Rick Dilling, Wendy Jones, Ian Bracchitta and Steve Watson

STEINWAYS MAKE GRAND DEBUT AT FURMAN

BY TINA UNDERWOOD

When Ruby Morgan retired from Furman this past summer, she left more than the gift of music and mentorship she has imparted to students over her decades-long career. Adding to her already generous contribution to the lives of undergraduate music majors, Morgan has spearheaded an effort to make Furman an All-Steinway School — an initiative that aims to replace aging pianos on campus with artisanal-quality pianos from legendary Steinway and Sons of Astoria, New York and Hamburg, Germany.

Making the inaugural gift to the campaign is Morgan and her husband, retired Furman Professor of Philosophy Doug MacDonald, who hope to inspire the generosity of others. As part of the $2.5 million fundraising effort, up to 50 new pianos will populate Daniel Recital Hall, faculty studios and practice rooms.

Ahead of the official launch of the campaign, Spartanburg-based Case Brothers delivered the first three pianos to campus on July 17. Taking up residence on the Daniel Recital Hall stage is the 990-pound, crème de la crème of concert instruments — a nine-foot Steinway Model D grand. The piano purchase was made possible by Morgan protégé, Lisa Lee Rust ’87 and her husband Kenneth Rust of Lumberton, North Carolina, both devotees of the arts.

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1 Donors Lisa Lee Rust ’87 and her husband Kenneth Rust of Lumberton, North Carolina 2 Ruby Morgan plays one of the new Steinways 3 Furman music faculty John Beckford, Keith Davis, Derek Parsons, Mark Britt and Ruby Morgan with donors Kenneth and Lisa Rust

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In addition to the concert instrument, two 7-foot grand pianos were installed in studios of faculty members Derek Parsons and David Gross.

Becoming an All-Steinway School places Furman among an elite group of learning institutions including conservatories like Oberlin, Yale School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music. With the All-Steinway seal, Furman’s ability to attract talented students and faculty is enhanced.

Learn more about “Pianos for Paladins,” by contacting Director of Donor Relations Allison Foy at 864-294-3704 and allison.foy@furman.edu

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Tenors Byrd ’20 and Toverud ’19 shine at national competition

After impressive performances at both state and regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions held earlier this year, two Furman vocalists won the opportunity to compete on the national stage. Bergsvein Toverud (music education), a senior from Lenoir, North Carolina, and Tyrese Byrd (vocal performance), a junior from Williamston, South Carolina, competed in the semifinals and finals of the National Student Auditions, part of the 55th NATS where they contended among 3300 Poinsett Highway Greenville, South Carolina 29613-1154 Change Service Requested competition held June 22-26 in Las Vegas. And they didn’t disappoint, winning third place in their divisions at the event “Hansel and Gretel” earlier this year.

But before getting a chance to compete in the semis, the two were required to submit YouTube videos for the preliminary round. Having made the cut, the top 14 in their respective divisions, the tenors matriculated to the live semifinal round where they obviously continued to shine.

Only the top three or four singers in each category from the semifinals advanced to the live national final. Said Furman Professor of Voice Grant Knox, “Tyrese and Bergsvein were the only two tenors competing in the college classical competition at this level. This

is remarkable considering the size of our music program.

DON’T MISS THESE SPECIAL GUESTS! 200 vocalists. Toverud appeared as the witch in Knox’s staging of Englebert Humperdinck’s PIANIST AND COMPOSER Gilead Mishory Distinguished Visiting Professor (Professor at Freiburg/ Germany) www.mishory.de It says a lot about the type of student and level of talent we have here.” 18 FURman Music | 2018–2019

SOLOISTS FURMAN ALUMNI

Jacquelyn Stucker, soprano, and Joshua Copeland, baritone

SOUND QUALITY CONCERT SERIES

The 2018-19 Sound Quality Series opened with the Franz Liszt Festival concert Oct. 11 in McAlister Auditorium. The concert, a part of the American Liszt Society Conference held Oct. 11-13, featured Furman pianist David Gross performing the Liszt Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in A major. Additional selections were performed by the Furman Singers and the Furman Symphony Orchestra.

This year’s series offers a number of highlights including the Fall Oratorio Nov. 30, a performance of Haydn’s “Creation”. The production celebrates the career of Bill Thomas, professor of music and director of the Furman Chamber Choir, as he conducts his final oratorio performance prior to retirement at the end of the academic year.

The Furman Symphony Orchestra, the Furman Singers and Chorales, the Oratorio Chorus and distinguished vocal soloists, will present this masterwork by classical composer Franz Joseph Haydn. The production features Furman alumni and faculty soloists: Jacquelyn Stucker, soprano; Professor of Voice Grant Knox, tenor; and Joshua Copeland, baritone.

For more on this performance and the full schedule of events, visit furman.edu/musictickets.

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2018−2019 EVENTS

Music by the Lake Celebrates Golden Anniversary

For 50 years, Furman University has welcomed the community to campus on Thursdays in the summer for the Music by the Lake Summer Concert Series. Families bring their picnics and claim their spots for an evening of music ranging from Big Band, jazz, bluegrass, contemporary, marches and orchestral favorites performed by the Lakeside Band and guest artists.

The program which was begun by Dan Ellis in 1968, originally featured a few concerts performed on the roof of what is now the Trone Student Center. Les Hicken, professor of music and director of the Lakeside Concert Band, started playing in the band when he came to Furman in 1993 and took over for Ellis in 1999. The series moved to Furman’s Lakeside Amphitheater in 2004 and now draws a 1,000 to 10,000 people each week.

Opening the 11-concert series for this golden anniversary was “The Kings of Swing” performed by the Lakeside Concert Band. The celebration culminated in the Lakeside 50th Golden Anniversary Concert performed by the Lakeside Concert Band and conducted by Les Hicken on July 26.

SYMPHONIC WINDS TO PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL

The Furman Symphonic Winds will perform at the Sounds of Spring Festival sponsored by World Projects on Tuesday, March 26, in historic Carnegie Hall. This will be the second appearance at this festival where Furman first performed in 2008. Furman professors Jay Bocook and Matt Olson will be featured in this concert. Les Hicken will conduct.

Furman University Music Department 3300 Poinsett Highway Greenville, SC 29613 furman.edu/music

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