CLA: School of Music News

Alexander Braginsky's (piano) student Henry Wang (Rochester, MN) won the MTNA Junior Division at the regional level in Lawrence, Kansas. Henry has moved on to MTNA Finals at Anaheim, CA to be held in March.

Alex Lubet's (theory/composition) new album Spectral Blues: New Music for Acoustic Guitar (Ravello) was ranked #2 in downloads among "Modern & 20th Century" recordings on Amazon.com, as of January 19. It can be downloaded or pre-ordered on CD on Amazon.

Maja Radovanlija (guitar) recently joined the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet and has begun touring and performing with the ensemble. MGQ was founded in 1986, and is one of the few guitar ensembles in the U.S. Radovanlija is honored to be the first woman to join the quartet. More information and concert schedule. Photo (left to right): Joseph Hagedorn, Maja Radovanlija, alum/current student Wade Oden, and Ben Gateño - photo by Leslie Shank.

Adriana Zabala (voice) sings the role of Sister James in the Minnesota Opera's world premiere of Douglas J. Cuomo's Doubt on January 26, 29, 31 and February 2 and 3 at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. For student tickets and more information, visit the Minnesota Opera website. The opera was featured in the Star Tribune's article, "Minnesota Opera premieres 'Doubt.'" Read the article. Rehearsal photo (left to right): Christine Brewer, Denyce Graves, Matthew Worth and Adriana Zabala.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Colleen Bertsch (Ph.D. candidate, ethnomusicology, student of Gabriella Currie) was awarded a 2013 Artist Initiative grant by the Minnesota State Arts Board. She will be creating a video reference library of her Transylvanian field recordings of traditional fiddle music and give an informational performance and workshop of that repertoire in early 2014.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Paula Gudmundson (D.M.A, 2012, flute, student of Immanuel Davis), visiting assistant professor of flute at the U of M-Duluth, received a Minnesota State Arts Board Community Partnership Grant for 2013-2014 to record her first CD, ¡Viva La Flauta!, featuring works of Latin America for flute. She was a recipient of a 2011-2012 Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board where she traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina in search of neglected early 20th century music. Through this research she presented programs throughout Minnesota and the Midwest featuring solo and collaborative works from Argentina. She was recently featured on Minnesota Public Radio's Regional Spotlight. Gudmundson was selected to present a lecture recital, featuring the works of Amancio Alcorta, at the College Music Society International Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina in June 2013. For upcoming events visit her website.

Iris Shiraishi (Ph.D., 1994), artistic director of Mu Daiko, is a winner of a $10,000 2013 Minnesota State Arts Board Arts Initiative Grant.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 11:15 AM | Permalink

School of Music voice professor Adriana Zabala sings the role of Sister James in the Minnesota Opera's world premiere of Douglas J. Cuomo's Doubt on January 26, 29, 31 and February 2 and 3 at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. For student tickets and more information, visit the Minnesota Opera website. Rehearsal photo (left to right): Christine Brewer, Denyce Graves, Matthew Worth and Adriana Zabala.

Posted by marsh396 at 11:42 AM | Permalink

Two of Sally O'Reilly's (violin) students recently won competitions. Melissa Deal (PSEO) won first prize in the LaCrosse Symphony's Rising Star Competition. She will perform as soloist with the orchestra later this spring. Jason Shu (Blake student) won the High School String level of Music Teachers National Association's divisional competitions in Lawrence, KS. He will compete at the National competition in Anaheim, CA in March. Pianist Garret Ross, former student of Alexander Braginsky, accompanied Shu.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 9:00 AM | Permalink

A small group of students from the School of Music's University Singers recently brought the music of Italian Renaissance composer Palestrina to the U's Gopher Way tunnels. Watch the video.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 9:42 AM | Permalink

Congratulations to the Pride of Minnesota, our University of Minnesota Marching Band, on its December 28, 2012 performance at the Meineke Car Care Bowl! Didn't get to see it? Watch the video. "Like" the UMMB Facebook page to view more video and photos from the big game.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 9:39 AM | Permalink

Sally O'Reilly (violin) was invited to give a master class at the Liszt Academy in Budapest in mid-December. Photo: Sally O'Reilly (center) with violinists who participated in her master class.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 9:28 AM | Permalink