CLA: School of Music News

Laura Hynes (D.M.A candidate, voice, student of Adriana Zabala) will be on Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday, April 22 at noon with host Alison Young to discuss the upcoming recital performance Raise Your Voice: A Social Justice Recital Exploring Violence Against Women Through the Ages, which will take place on April 24. Raise Your Voice is sponsored by a Community Engagement grant through the U of M School of Music and by the Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education. Photo by Brooks Peterson.

Posted by marsh396 at 4:03 PM | Permalink

The University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mark Russell Smith, received positive reviews for their performance with the Joffrey Ballet. Read Caroline Palmer's (Star Tribune) "Joffrey Ballet shows innovation at the Orpheum," and Rob Hubbard's (Pioneer Press) "Joffrey Ballet thrills with lessons on Modern Dance 101."

The U of M Percussion studio had a tremendous presence during the Percussion Showcase at MacPhail Center for Music (Feb 23). SOM faculty Fernando Meza (percussion) performed Bob Becker's Mudra. The U of M Percussion Ensemble (Jake Arndt, Emily Curran, Mark Engelmann, Drew Morrisette, Erik Schee, and Kathryn Yuill) performed Nebojsa Zivkovic's Trio per Uno and Bill Douglas/Michael Udow's Rock Etude No. 7. The Struck Percussion Ensemble - SOM alumni Bojan Hoover, David Birrow (MacPhail faculty), and Adam Rappel - performed Josh Clausen's I'm Sorry, I've Already Forgotten Your Name. Alumni Jennifer Klukken and Krissy Bergmark performed as the Bergmark/Klukken Duo. Joe Churchich and Bojan Hoover, who head percussion programs at Roseville and Rosemount high schools respectively, also performed. Branden Steinmetz (M.A. candidate) performed in the Rappel/Steinmetz duo with Adam Rappel. Alumnus Scotty Horey also performed on drum set.

Jordan Werre (B.A., academic emphasis, student of Sumanth Gopinath) and Marching Band member Jason Gades were commissioned by the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association to compose short works for an innovative music festival in Southeast Minneapolis. The festival, underwritten by a grant from the University's Good Neighbor Fund, revitalizes the traditional role that bells have played in calling communities together, and will take place at 1 p.m. on May 4 at the First Congregational UCC.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 1:24 PM | Permalink

School of Music choral graduate conducting student Matthew Olson will co-present SOJORN Songs Pondering Purpose with Classical Minnesota Public Radio and 89.3 The Current on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis.

The concert, conducted by Matthew Olson, will feature the University Singers and the Sojourn Strings Orchestra performing the music of Kjartan of the Band Sigur Ros. The program will explore the bounds between classical and indie rock music through song and film. Tickets to Sojorn may be purchased at http://sojorn.org/ for $10 or $5 for students with a current ID. More info: Sojorn Press Release.pdf

Posted by marsh396 at 4:57 PM | Permalink

The School of Music was well represented at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter In-Service Clinic (February 13-15).

School of Music professors Akosua Addo, Keitha Hamann, Scott Lipscomb, Michael Silverman, and Laura Sindberg presented sessions. SOM music education graduate students Kinh T. Vu and Casey Clementson presented a poster session hosted by Keitha Hamann.

The U of M Trombone Choir and Jazz 'Bones (pictured above) performed selections by Grieg, Gabrieli, Saint Saens, Mahler, and Haydn and the Jazz 'Bones performed music by Hoagy Carmichael and Dean Sorenson. U of M alumnus and member of the US Army Blues Victor Barranco was guest soloist and guest conductors were Jerry Luckhardt and Henry Charles Smith.

The following School of Music performance and music education students performed in the Intercollegiate Band: Lindsay Cox, Haley Cramer, Camille Galles, Jennifer Minor, Drew Morrisette, Roy Peinaar, Brianna Preblich, Robert Reeve, and Michelle Robertus.

SOM student teacher Cameron Kinghorn conducted a segment of a concert presented by the elementary school students he teaches.

School of Music staff Anne Barnes, Laura Krider, and Anabel Wirt were in attendance representing the SOM.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 10:40 AM | Permalink

The University of Minnesota honorary band service co-ed fraternity Kappa Alpha Chapter won a 2011-2013 Kappa Kappa Psi Chapter Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to band programs. Kappa Alpha will have the opportunity to present their work this summer at the Kappa Kappa Psi National Convention and is eligible for the William Scroggs Founders Trophy.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 10:31 AM | Permalink

Mark Russell Smith (orchestras) conducts the University Symphony Orchestra as they perform Stravinsky's Rite of Spring with the Joffrey Ballet. Learn more about the performance by listening to Mark Russell Smith's talk (given on February 14) or by watching the preview video.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 3:09 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to U of M School of Music student Jing Chang (piano, student of Paul Shaw), winner of the 2013 University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Chang will perform Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major with the University Symphony Orchestra on March 4, 2013 at Ted Mann Concert Hall. Concert information.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 2:34 PM | Permalink

Charles Asch (D.M.A., cello, student of Tanya Remenikova) won the Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition, held by the Concord Chamber Orchestra of Milwaukee, WI in December 2012. He will perform Joseph Haydn's Cello Concerto in D Major on March 6 and 9 with the Concord Chamber Orchestra. More info.

Dale Kruse (D.M.A., voice, student of John De Haan) is the children's chorus master for the Minnesota Opera productions of Doubt and Turandot this season. He is also the music director for the Minnesota Opera: Project Opera, a three-tiered training program for students grades 4 through 12. Project Opera will present three fully staged one-act operas: The Shoes for Santo Niño by Stephen Paulus (U of M School of Music alumnus), Down in the Valley by Kurt Weill, and Noyes Fludde by Benjamin Britten this February.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 2:45 PM | 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

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

School of Music students performed last week at the annual St. Nikolaus Tag gathering sponsored by the U of M Center for Austrian Studies in Ferguson Hall. Photo (left to right): Reyna Sawtell (voice, student of Jean del Santo); Beth Bayley (voice, student of John De Haan) winner of the 2012 Voices of Vienna Competition, a $3,500 award to study at the Mozarteum in Salzburg this summer; Jessica Schroeder (collaborative piano, student of Timothy Lovelace); and Shelby Joy Adams (voice, student of Jean del Santo). Michael Hoffman (voice, student of John De Haan) was the runner-up in the Voices of Vienna Competition.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 9:11 AM | Permalink

These U of M School of Music choral students recently dropped by U of M President Kaler's office and serenaded him with carols. What talent!

Posted by marsh396 at 8:23 AM | Permalink

Elizabeth Steffensen (D.M.A. candidate, voice, student of Wendy Zaro-Mullins) recently sang the role of Belinda with the Minnesota Oratorio Society conducted by Matthew Mahaffey. Steffensen will also sing with the University Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 27 as winner of the Arias and Concerto competition. She will perform Summer of Knoxville: 1915, Samuel Barber. Steffensen sang with the Mill City Opera's production of Pagliacci in July.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 2:48 PM | Permalink

School of Music vocal students recently distinguished themselves at the Minnesota NATS student auditions in Collegeville, MN. Semi-finalists included:

• Julia Ennen, student of Jean del Santo
• Renee Ullrich, student of Jean del Santo
• Tim Murray, student of Jean del Santo
• Laura Modglin, student of Adriana Zabala
• Seth Bovis, student of Philip Zawisza
• Kristin Elliott, student of Adriana Zabala

Finalists in their respective divisions included:

• Ben Dutcher, student of John De Haan
• Stephanie Broussard, student of Jean del Santo
• Shelby Joy Adams, student of Jean del Santo
• Shelly Mihm, student of Philip Zawisza
• David Morgan, student of Jean del Santo
• Brennan Blankenship, student of Adriana Zabala
• Robert Riordan, student of Philip Zawisza

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 3:32 PM | Permalink

Rosalind Leavell (D.M.A. candidate, student of Tanya Remenikova) won the Grand Prize at Mary West String Competition held on November 4. She will be a soloist in the Dvorak's Concerto with the Bloomington Symphony, Spring 2013. Pre-college student Mark Prikhodko won a special Claire Givens prize: Coda bow at the Mary West String Competition. These students performed at the winners recital on Sunday, November 11.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 3:31 PM | Permalink

Watch a video preview of University Opera Theatre's production of Verdi's "Falstaff," which opens next week (11/15-18). Student tickets are only $5! More information on this production can be found at opera.umn.edu.

Video produced and edited by SOM University Opera Theatre student Joseph Okell.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:48 PM | Permalink

Faculty member Scott Lipscomb (music education) traveled with six music education doctoral students to attend the annual meeting of the Committee on Inter-Institutional Cooperation (CIC) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This annual event provides an opportunity for faculty and graduate students from Big Ten institutions to gather together, present research, and develop long-term, professional relationships. This year, four research posters were presented by U of M music education doctoral students:

• Casey Clementson: "The quest for quality: Multicultural repertoire for instrumental music"
• John Stewart: "Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance in the high school band: A case study"
• Kinh Vu: "Music in our schools: Sexual orientation and curriculum"
• Multiple authors: "Two-year college music programs in Minnesota"--The co-authored poster represents a collaborative research project completed as part of Doctoral Seminar (MUED 8900), which was co-authored - under the supervision of all music education faculty - by John Stewart, Yolanda Williams, Kinh Vu, Tracey Collins, Casey Clementson, and David Berberick, with valuable assistance from Jennifer Hawkinson and David Rolandson.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 2:06 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to the following School of Music students who were Thursday Musical Competition winners for 2012. Judges for the competition included SOM alumni Susan Billmeyer and Loren Fishman and former faculty member Lawrence Weller. For a list of all the winners, including private students of SOM faculty members, visit the Thursday Musical Competition website.

• Lauren Lammers, soprano - College Level, Advanced Voice, first place (student of Jean del Santo)
• Tara Loeper, soprano - College Level, Advanced Voice, second place (student of Barbara Kierig)
• Stella Wiering - College Level, Piano, second place (student of Paul Shaw)
• Nathaniel Yaffe, cello - College Level, Strings, first place (student of Tanya Remenikova)
• Angelika Strub, violin - College Level, Strings, honorable mention (student of Sally O'Reilly)
• James Hodges, clarinet - College Level, Winds, first place (student of Alexander Fiterstein)
• Lucas Hopkins, saxophone - College Level, Winds, second place (student of Eugene Rousseau)

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 3:04 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and conductor Mark Russell Smith on being selected to receive this year's Minnesota Chapter of American String Teachers Association (MNSOTA) Meritorious Orchestra Award. The award will presented at MNSOTA's Fall Clinic on October 18 at Capitol Hill Magnet School in St. Paul. Registration information and more.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 1:49 PM | Permalink

Look for University Opera Theatre's production of Robert Aldridge and Herschel Garfein's Parables, directed by David Walsh, on Twin Cities Public Television this fall! The first Parables broadcast will take place on Sunday, October 28 at 8 p.m. Find more times.

Parables on Twin Cities Public Television is a Minnesota partnership production and is a co-production of the University of Minnesota School of Music and Twin Cities Public Television with additional funding from Douglas and Andrew Reeves in honor of their parents, J.B. and Julie Reeves. Learn about University Opera Theatre's current season here.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 2:06 PM | Permalink

Violinist Colleen Bertsch (Ph.D. candidate, ethnomusicology) performed with the Laurels String Quartet for MN Music On-a-Stick, a Grandstand concert sponsored by 89.3 the Current at the Minnesota State Fair. The quartet collaborated with local singer and songwriter Jeremy Messersmith, as well as the internationally acclaimed headliner Semisonic (fronted by Grammy Award winning Dan Wilson) for the event.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 10:33 AM | Permalink

Congratulations to SOM Tiffany Skidmore (Ph.D. candidate, composition, student of James Dillon), who composed the musical score to U of M President Kaler's welcome film, The First Year, "a romance of discovery," screened at the U of M Convocation for 5,500 first-year students on Thursday, August 30, 2012. Skidmore assembled a team of musicians, many of them U of M students, who recorded the music to the picture dada-style - they even named their group 'Insane Gopher Dada Orchestra.' Watch the film.

Posted by marsh396 at 5:22 PM | Permalink

Michael Duffy (staff member/M.A. candidate, composition, student of James Dillon) was one of six composers chosen to work with Ensemble Dal Niente (winners of the 2012 Kranichstein Music Award for interpretation), composer Hans Thomalla, and cellist Lucas Fels of the Arditti Quartet, in a two-part composition workshop culminating in July 2012 at the 46th International Summer Music Courses in Darmstadt, Germany.

This summer Michael J. Krajewski (D.M.A. candidate, guitar and music education, student of Maja Radovanlija, Jeffrey Van, and Scott Lipscomb) accepted two positions teaching guitar at colleges in Minnesota. Beginning in fall 2012, Krajewski will teach full-time as assistant professor of music heading the guitar studies program at Minnesota State University Moorhead and will also revitalize the guitar program at St. Cloud State University teaching as an adjunct instructor.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 11:49 AM | Permalink

Ryan Thompson (M.A. candidate, musicology, student of Peter Mercer-Taylor) was interviewed by Game Informer about ludomusicology: musicology that studies games. Read the full interview.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 3:42 PM | Permalink

Christa Saeger (D.M.A. candidate, cello, student of Tanya Remenikova) is featured on Twin Cities vocalist Connie Evingson's new CD Sweet Happy Life in the song "Adventure." Read the Jazz Police review.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 12:52 PM | Permalink

U of M School of Music student Christa Saeger, cello doctoral student of Tanya Remenikova, is featured in this U of M video.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 2:53 PM | Permalink

Bravo! Advanced Studies for the Serious String Player and Pianist was established in 1989 by Sally O'Reilly to meet the needs of the growing number of young musicians who choose to spend a portion of each summer focusing on their development as musicians and instrumentalists. Bravo! began on Sunday, June 10 and culminates on Saturday, July 7 at the Bravo! Gala concert at Ted Mann Concert Hall. For a complete schedule of events and information about the program, visit the Bravo! page.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 1:30 PM | Permalink

Wei Zheng (D.M.A. candidate, voice, student of Jean del Santo) is the North Central Region winner of the biennial National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award and will represent the U of M School of Music at the national NATS convention in Orlando this summer.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 2:36 PM | Permalink

Current student Jinhee Kim (D.M.A. candidate, piano, student of Alexander Braginsky) and alumnus Denis Evstuhin (D.M.A., 2011, piano, student of Alexander Braginsky) will compete in the San Antonio International Piano Competition among 12 contestants selected in preliminary auditions.

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 2:04 PM | Permalink

Christa Saeger (D.M.A. candidate, cello, student of Tanya Remenikova) performed the first Tiny Desk Music Concert outside Nanette Hanks's office in U of M's Johnston Hall on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Hanks is sponsoring the series and Jerry Luckhardt (bands) is coordinating the performances. Work at the U and want a Tiny Desk Concert at your place? Email professor Luckhardt with your interest. Listen to a few minutes of Saeger's performance.

Posted by marsh396 at 9:27 AM | Permalink

U of M School of Music, University Opera Theatre's production of Parables is featured on Minnesota Public Radio News' All Things Considered. Visit MPR's website to hear the story and view the slideshow.

MPR reporter Dan Olson also featured School of Music graduate voice student Anna DeGraff (student of John De Haan) on the MPR Blog, view the story here.

University Opera Theatre's production of Robert Aldridge's Parables runs from Thursday, April 19 through Sunday, April 22. Ticket information and more. Parables will be directed by University Opera Theatre's director David Walsh and conducted by Kathy Saltzman Romey.

Posted by marsh396 at 5:18 PM | Permalink

Eun-Hye Grace Choi's (D.M.A. candidate, piano, student of Timothy Lovelace) CD with Wonkak Kim (clarinet), François Devienne Clarinet Sonatas, was recently released on the Naxos label. Read more.

Posted by marsh396 at 2:21 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to the following University of Minnesota School of Music musicology students on winning prestigious awards.

Lars Christensen (Ph.D. candidate, musicology, student of Gabriela Currie) has received a prestigious Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (Chinese) for the academic year 2012-2013.

Danielle Kuntz (Ph.D. candidate, musicology, student of Kelley Harness) has received two prestigious fellowships for the academic year 2012-2013: the Fulbright Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship, and the Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowship (Portuguese).

Joe Matson (Ph.D. candidate, musicology, student of Peter Mercer-Taylor) presented his paper "Ungrammaticality in the Music of Weezer" at the conference of the American Musicological Society--Midwest Chapter March 31, 2012. Matson was also named a winner of the 2012 President's Student Leadership and Service Award by University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler. Matson has accepted a position as instructional assistant professor of music at Illinois State University, to begin fall 2012.

Posted by marsh396 at 3:54 PM | Permalink

Listen to the School of Music's artistic director of orchestral studies Mark Russell Smith on Classical Minnesota Public Radio with host John Birge on Britten's War Requiem and the School of Music's Britten Peace Project.

Then read about the Britten War Requiem concert and last weekend's Jazz Festival on the Minneapolis Star Tribune's "Big Gigs for week of 2/24."

Posted by Jennifer Schmitt at 12:04 PM | Permalink

U of M students and faculty leave on February 14, 2012 to perform Britten's War Requiem in Detmold, Germany at the Detmold Hochschule für Musik. Follow their journey on the Britten Peace Project Blog, Facebook, and Twitter. Don't miss out on photos and videos, blogging, and commentary on their travels.

Posted by marsh396 at 3:01 PM | Permalink

U of M School of Music composition student Adam Zahller Brown (student of James Dillon) composed the music for the U of M presidential couple's animated seasonal ecard. Zahller Brown shared that the project got him to think about "how cool holiday music is as an abstract concept. Music can get people in touch with inexplicable things and bring people together." Hear Zahller Brown's beautiful work and find more about Zahller Brown.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 12:49 PM | Permalink

The SOM teamed up with the U of M Carlson School of Management to create a holiday flash mob video like no other. The video features SOM student Greg Wrenn (saxophone); Campus Singers Maroon, Gold, and Mosaic; Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus, University Singers, Kathy Saltzman Romey (coordinator, conductor); with audio by the SOM's own Phillip O'Toole. Watch the video here.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:59 PM | Permalink

This week we meet SOM Super Fan saxophonist Kyle Hutchins! Kyle is currently a master's student studying with Professor Eugene Rousseau. He recently moved to Minnesota from Texas and he's already figured out where to find some of the best vegan food in Minneapolis.

1. Where are you originally from (hometown)?
Stephenville, TX

2. What instrument(s) or do you play?
Saxophone mostly, as well as flute and clarinet. I can also play some pretty sweet four-chord songs on the guitar.

3. Name the last live performance that blew you away.
A few summers ago I saw Coldplay perform live in Dallas. I had the cheap tickets, sitting on the lawn, but they did a set on mini-stage set up in the back, so my "cheap seats" became front row. It was just after Michael Jackson died, so they played a few covers of his music and it was fantastic!

4. Which musicians have influenced you the most?
My high school band director was a saxophone player, so I was raised the right way, listening to the greats like Cannonball, Bird, and Trane. The biggest moment for me though was the first time I heard Michael Brecker play "Delta City Blues" It was basically that moment when I decided that saxophone was what I was going to do with my life. Although I don't play much jazz anymore, I'm not sure I would be doing music at all if it had not been for jazz band in high school and my exposure to all those great musicians.

5. What do you like most about the U of M School of Music?
The tunnels! I am from Texas, we have to leave one building to get inside of another.

6. Name your favorite musical moment at the SOM (if you have one yet).
Well, I just started my Masters here, so I haven't heard or taken part in any performances yet... but so far I would say getting to hear Dr. Rousseau play in lessons and studio class. People all over the world have to settle for recordings and we get it live every week!

7. Where is your favorite place to eat/hang out on campus and/or the Twin Cities?
Hard Times Cafe!

8. What's most frequently on your playlist?
The Garden State soundtrack. It has lived in my car for the last 4 years.

9. What are the first three things that come to mind when someone mentions Minnesota?
"Dont cha know," "You betcha", and "Howya doin."

10. We hear you're vegan. What's your favorite vegan treat?
Cilantro-Lime Hummus!

Continue reading "U of M School of Music Super Fan of the Week: Kyle Hutchins" »

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 9:43 AM | Permalink

The University of Minnesota School of Music was featured in Minnesota Public Radio's (MPR) All Things Considered coverage of new U of M President Kaler's Inauguration on Thursday, September 22 at Ted Mann Concert Hall. In this story, School of Music Professor Peter Mercer-Taylor (musicology) was asked for his thoughts on the Inauguration and shared that he "...walked away from the whole thing just very inspired, and ready to buckle down and move into a new era if we can carve one out." See MPR's photo gallery of the Inauguration "Photos: Pomp and circumstance for new U of M president" to view SOM students performing in the Inauguration ceremony as well as the University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mark Russell Smith.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 9:08 AM | Permalink

New University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and his wife Karen Kaler toured the School of Music on Wednesday, September 21. They met School of Music students in practice rooms, including Sophie Christian (piano, student of Professor Artymiw), Andres Crovetti (percussion, student of Professors Meza and Sorenson), Cole Hanson (clarinet, student of Professor Fiterstein), Esther Peterson (violin, student of Professor O'Reilly), Joseph Welch (collaborative piano, student of Professor Lovelace), and Elizabeth Windnagel (voice, student of Professor Zabala).

They were also paid a visit to Professor Currie's World Music Ensemble rehearsal where they were treated to a Samba arrangement of "Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" by Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson. They visited with the University Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Mark Russell Smith and the orchestra treated President Kaler and his wife with a bit of Brahms's Symphony No. 1.

Check out photos of President Kaler's tour of the School of Music here.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 2:41 PM | Permalink

U of M School of Music faculty and students performed the music for the Inauguration ceremony for new University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler at Ted Mann Concert Hall. The School of Music provided music throughout the ceremony - including works by Brahms, Verdi and the work The Road Home by SOM alumnus/composer Stephen Paulus (M.A. 1976, Ph.D. 1978, composition). Visit the official Inauguration webpage for complete program information.

Congratulations to the School of Music students and faculty who made us proud at the new U President Kaler's Inauguration: Trumpet students, studios of Professors Baldwin and Bordner; Students from Jazz Studies program, conducted by Professor Sorenson; Trombone students, studios of Professors Ashworth and Tranter; String sextet, coached by Professor Konkol; University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Professor Mark Russell Smith; University Singers, conducted by Professor Saltzman Romey; and Combined University Choirs and University Wind Ensemble, conducted by Professors Saltzman Romey and Kirchhoff.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 10:27 AM | Permalink

This week's SOM Super Fan is Brandon Miller (D.M.A. candidate, voice, student of Philip Zawisza). He's a familiar face in Ferguson Hall's Room 100 and his engagement work with homeless teens is currently featured in Tutti magazine. Let's meet Brandon!

1. Where are you originally from (hometown)?
Blacksburg, VA

2. What instrument(s) or do you play (or what voice type are you)?
Voice, baritone

3. What was the last live performance that blew you away?
The Minnesota Opera's production of Wuthering Heights.

4. How long have you worked at the U of M School of Music?
4 years.

5. What do you like most about the U of M School of Music?
I like how relaxed and at home I feel there. It's very welcoming.

6. Name your favorite musical moment at the SOM.
Maestra Marin Alsop at the SOM Fall 2009 Convocation...very moving.

7. Where is your favorite place to eat/hang out on campus and/or the Twin Cities?
In my cubicle: I'm there a lot.

8. What's most frequently on your playlist?
Feist: "I feel it all"

9. What is something you know about the voice program/music ed program that no one else does?
Some of the most talented singers are the ones who keep a low profile!

10. What are the first three things that come to mind when someone mentions Minnesota?
Outdoors, partying, biking.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:13 PM | Permalink

This week we meet Maple Grove native Christa Saeger (D.M.A., cello performance, student of Tanya Remenikova) who knows a good cupcake when she sees (tastes) one.

1. Where are you originally from (hometown)?
Maple Grove, Minnesota

2. What instrument(s) do you play?
Cello! (Piano only when forced and I can hack through Twinkle on any stringed instrument)

3. What was the last live performance that blew you away?
I was visiting SOM alum Brett Lewis at Indiana University and saw the group Time For Three perform. The energy they can create from the stage is so entertaining and inspiring.

4. Which cellists have influenced you the most?
Honestly, my peers in my cello studio. They constantly amaze me both in their musical and technical abilities, not to mention great friends and a MUCH NEEDED support system.

5. What do you like most about the U of M School of Music?
We are located in one of the best arts communities in the country. Very few places have two world-class, professional orchestras to both enjoy and collaborate. I have received some truly unique opportunities at the SOM because of this.

6. Name your favorite musical moment at the SOM.
Easy. Last year, the University Symphony Orchestra did a workshop with Baltimore Symphony Music Director Marin Alsop at Orchestra Hall on Mahler 3. Besides creating a sense of musical energy and cohesion I have never felt before, she gave a wonderful talk about the importance of education and community engagement in the arts.

7. Where is your favorite place to eat/hang out on campus and/or the Twin Cities?
Shout out for Cupcake on University Avenue near the Prospect Park Neighborhood. With 150 different kinds of cupcakes, who could go wrong?

8. What's most frequently on your playlist?
Time for Three, Chris Thile, Beethoven, Usher, and recently getting reunited with Nelly.

9. What is something you know about the SOM ensembles that no one else does?
University Symphony Orchestra Music Director Mark Russell Smith is a complete genius, but he sweats... a lot (can I say that on the internet?).

10. What are the first three things that come to mind when someone mentions Minnesota?
Minnesota nice, the movie Fargo (yeah, yeah, I know it's in ND), and crazy weather (have ya BEEN here this summer?).

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:29 PM | Permalink

Brett Wartchow (Ph.D. candidate, composition, student of Alex Lubet) won the University of Minnesota Graduate School's Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for 2011-12 for "Nexus: Composition for Mixed Ensemble and Interactive Electronics." The Fellowship is a non-service award that carries an academic year stipend of $22,500 plus tuition for thesis credits and/or required dissertation seminars during the academic year and subsidized health insurance. Doctoral Dissertation Fellows participate in a Research Showcase on April 17, 2012 in the Great Hall in Coffman Union.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 12:12 PM | Permalink

This SOM Super Fan Friday brings us current student and music theorist Jessica Narum. If you are interested in being a featured SOM Super Fan or would like to nominate a potential SOM Super Fan (SOM alumni, faculty, students, and staff), visit the SOM facebook page and leave a Super Fan comment.

Let's meet this week's SOM SUPER FAN!

Jessica Narum, currently pursuing a Ph.D. Music Theory, completed her M.A. in Music Theory (May 2011)

1. Where are you originally from (hometown)?
Fargo, ND

2. What instrument(s) do you play?
Piano and percussion, but recently I've taken up mandolin and ukulele, too!

3. What was the last live performance that blew you away?
Steve Schick visited the U last year and gave a really stellar performance of Psappha by Xenakis.

4. How do you view the role of classical music in today's culture?
I think there are important things that people can learn and experience through (and sometimes only through) classical music, and I feel really fortunate to live in Minnesota where the arts are highly valued. I would love to see increased focus on living composers and recent pieces because I also think we have a responsibility to support new music.

5. What do you like most about the U of M School of Music?
I am constantly impressed by my colleagues. They are thoughtful researchers, invested teachers, and just generally cool people.

6. Name your favorite musical moment at the SOM.
I love the everyday musical moments. For example, as an ear-training TA last semester I was the lone audience member for an ensemble of 32 students singing a three-part atonal warm-up that turned out to be really lovely.

7. Where is your favorite place to eat/hang out on campus and/or the Twin Cities?
Near campus I'd recommend Acadia or Town Hall, but when school's out it's hard to beat the riverside patio at Pracna.

8. What's most frequently on your playlist?
Andrew Bird, Inara George, John Vanderslice, and Regina Spektor.

9. How do you explain what a music theorist does to your family at Thanksgiving?
Music theorists try to figure out how music works. We try to figure out why a piece or even just a moment sounds right or weird or surprising or awesome.

10. What are the first three things that come to mind when someone mentions Minnesota?
I'd be lying if I didn't say "winters" first, but the other two are the Minnesota State Fair and "Minnesota nice."

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 9:08 AM | Permalink

It's SOM SUPER FAN Saturday! SOM Super fans are SOM alumni, students, faculty, and staff who are the fabric of our musical community. Follow the SOM on Facebook to find out how you can become a SOM Super Fan. Let's meet this week's SOM SUPER FAN, Bemidji native Joe Henry (M.M. organ performance, 2009; D.M.A. in progress; Dean Billmeyer, major teacher and advisor).

1. Where are you currently working (state, employer) or where is a favorite place where you have worked in the past?
Music director of Delano Catholic Community, adjunct Concordia University, St. Paul.

2. Where are you originally from (hometown)?
Bemidji, MN

3. What was the last live performance that blew you away?
University of Minnesota's performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony in Northrop Auditorium a couple years ago. I was surprised at how good it was.

4. Do you keep in touch with your U of M School of Music classmates and/or faculty mentor?
(Still a student, pursuing a D.M.A.) Yes, Dr. Billmeyer organ studio classmates all got together for lunch last week and we talked about Billmeyer!

5. What's your favorite thing about the U of M School of Music?
The quality of faculty members and students.

6. Where was your favorite place to eat/hang out on campus?
I never had time to eat.

7. What phrase do you still hear your mentor repeating over your shoulder?
Quit bobbing your head and relax- NOW!

8. What's most frequently on your playlist?
Western art-music (all of it)

9. What are the first three things that come to mind when someone mentions Minnesota?
1. Natural resources (water)
2. Friendly people
3. The arts

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 8:57 AM | Permalink

U of M School of Music professor John Snow (oboe), recently won the 2011/2012 McKnight Artist Fellowships for Performing Musicians administered by MacPhail Center for Music. These fellowships are intended to reward artistic excellence and to support performing musicians who have reached a critical point in their career development. A McKnight Fellowship can help an artist set aside periods of time for study, reflection, experimentation, and exploration; take advantage of an opportunity; or work on a new project. Read the press release.

Congratulations to SOM composition student Jeremy Wagner (student of James Dillon) who is a recipient of this year's McKnight Composition Fellowship. These awards, which include $25,000 in unrestricted funds for each recipient, are meant to acknowledge excellence in the field of music composition. Read more.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 11:50 AM | Permalink

The U of M School of Music and the Encore Wind Ensemble's Festival of Community Bands, scheduled for Saturday, April 30, is featured in Kim Ode's article "Community bands offer fellowship of music" in the Star Tribune. School of Music professor Jerry Luckhardt is organizing the festival. School of Music conducting student Christina Chen-Beyers is also featured in the article and online slideshow.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 1:58 PM | Permalink

University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Mark Russell Smith, will give a Pre-concert performance prior to the Minnesota Orchestra's concert at Orchestra Hall on Friday, April 29 at 6:25 p.m. The University Symphony Orchestra will perform Mahler's Symphony #3, movements 3 and 6. Maestra Marin Alsop will lead the Minnesota Orchestra in a performance of Brahms' Third at 8 p.m. U of M School of Music alumus Jonathan Magness will be the violin soloist.

You must purchase tickets for the 8 p.m. concert to attend the 6:25 p.m. Pre-concert with the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra. Ticket information can be found on the Minnesota Orchestra website.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:56 PM | Permalink

University Opera Theatre's (UOT) production of Strauss's operetta Die Fledermaus is featured in Marty Marosi's article "Students bring Golden Age Hollywood to opera's stage" in the Minnesota Daily. Please note that the article erroneously states that the opera opens next week. UOT's production of Die Fledermaus runs from Thursday, April 7 to Sunday, April 10. See opera.umn.edu for details.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 9:14 AM | Permalink

Read School of Music student Colin Holter's article "Dal Niente Plays Dillon" in the Twin Cities Daily Planet. This article focuses on ensemble dal niente's upcoming performance, titled "ensemble dal niente: Music of James Dillon," of School of Music composition professor James Dillon's work. This event will take place at The Southern Theater on Sunday, April 3 at 7 p.m. Visit The Southern Theater website for ticket information (including discounted student tickets).

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 5:06 PM | Permalink

SOM piano students Kate Yeonjoo Bae, Loren Fishman, Min Jung Kim, Kevin Hobbs, Eunhye Choi, Sophie Christian (students of Lydia Artymiw), and Eun Kyung Ahn (student of Alexander Braginsky) along with students of Dean Billmeyer (organ) Brent Nolte, Joseph Henry, and Aaron Hirsch will participate in a day-long sequence of five free hour-long concerts in Saint Paul on Saturday, March 19. This "Before Bach's Birthday" Bash (BBBB) anticipates the coming of spring and celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Minnesota Public Radio's PIPEDREAMS program, in collaboration with the Twin Cities Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (TCAGO) and the Bach Society of Minnesota, are collaborating to produce this all-day event. More info.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 9:00 AM | Permalink

David Walsh (director, University Opera Theatre) is featured in the March issue of Minnesota Magazine in an article titled "Strauss Goes Hollywood" on University Opera Theatre and its upcoming production of Strauss's Die Fledermaus (April 7-10). University Opera Theatre students Brianna Farah, John Grau, Laurent Kuehnl, Laura Lammers are also featured.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 2:08 PM | Permalink

The University of Minnesota's Symphonic and University Bands present the world premiere of Immersion for Symphonic Band by Alex Shapiro on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Ted Mann Concert Hall. This three-movement electro-acoustic work is inspired by water and water-based life and will include multi-media visual film art created by School of Music student Jay'd Hagberg in collaboration with the composer. This event is free and open to the public. Read more.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 1:38 PM | Permalink

Listen to University Opera Theatre featured on Classical Minnesota Public Radio, with University Opera Theatre students performing selections from the current run of the new American opera "Elmer Gantry" and Classical MPR host Alison Young in conversation with "Elmer Gantry" composer Robert Aldridge and librettist Herschel Garfein. "Elmer Gantry" is running at the School of Music's Ted Mann Concert Hall through Sunday, November 21.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 1:17 PM | Permalink

Denis Evstuhin (D.M.A. candidate, piano, student of Alexander Braginsky) was one of five finalists at the Paderewski International Piano Competition and finished the competition in 4th place. As part of the prize, he received invitations to festivals in France and Poland. He performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 on Friday, November 19. The two week long competition, held in Bydgozcz, Poland, began on November 9 with 40 participants selected from applicants from around the world. Evstuhin is currently featured on Minnesota Public Radio's website. Evstuhin was also invited to make his New York debut playing a recital at the International Keyboard Festival at Mannes College

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:00 PM | Permalink

SOM University Opera Theatre is featured on University of Minnesota homepage in the story "'Elmer Gantry' takes the stage at Ted Mann" by Deane Morrison.

The story features a video, which combines rehearsal photos with a duet between Elmer Gantry (Will Bryan) and Sharon Falconer (Bergen Baker) with pianist Joseph Welch. Also in this story, a Q &A with "Elmer Gantry" librettist Herschel Garfein.

Also, hear singers from the production, along with composer Robert Aldridge, librettist Herschel Garfein, and director David Walsh, at noon Friday, Nov. 19, on Classical Minnesota Public Radio, 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 10:52 AM | Permalink

The University of Minnesota School of Music's October and November featured event highlights include University Singers Fall Concert: The Music of Jeffrey Van (11/12), 49th Annual Marching Band Indoor Concert (11/13&14), Faculty Recital: Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet and Timothy Lovelace, piano (11/15), A Conversation with Carter Pann and Frank Ticheli (11/18), University Opera Theatre's Minnesota premiere of Robert Aldridge's Elmer Gantry (11/18-21), and Jazz Ensemble I opening for the JazzMN Orchestra (11/20).

Visit the School of Music press page for the complete release.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 12:28 PM | Permalink

Listen to the University of Minnesota School of Music's Jazz Ensemble I on Jazz KBEM 88.5 FM's "Big Band Scene" hosted by Jerry Swanberg on Sunday, October 3 at 7 p.m. Jazz Ensemble I will be featured alongside other prominent Twin Cities big bands. Dean Sorenson is the director of the U of M School of Music jazz program.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:50 PM | Permalink

Denis Evstyukhin (D.M.A. candidate, piano, student of Alexander Braginsky) is currently competing in the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, one of the oldest and most venerated piano competitions in the world. The competition began with 366 contestants. After surviving the initial cut, Evstyukhin traveled to Warsaw in April for the next selection by international jury where the number of contestants was reduced to 81. Evstyukhin will return to Warsaw in October with the other remaining contestants to continue the competition, with all expenses paid by the Polish government.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 12:15 PM | Permalink

School of Music students were featured on the April 1st 10 o'clock edition of KARE 11 News. View the news story here on the KARE 11 website.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 11:03 PM | Permalink

Denis Evstuhin (D.M.A. candidate, piano, student of Alexander Braginsky) performed Chopin's Scherzo No. 1 and other works live at the Fitzgerald Theater on American Public Media's radio program A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor on Saturday, February 20, 2010. Listen to archival audio of Evstuhin's performance on the Prairie Home Companion website.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 2:13 PM | Permalink

Join us on Sunday, February 21, 2010, from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m., for the University of Minnesota's annual Martin Luther King and Black History Month Celebration in the Ted Mann Concert Hall. The event will feature a program of music, song, readings, and spoken word poetry, highlighted by solos from jazz vocalist, Charmin Michelle, and speech excerpts/readings by actor, vocalist, and educator, T. Mychael Rambo. School of Music violinist LaTannia Ellerbe will also perform with pianist Billy Steele. For complete information, visit the event website.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 2:44 PM | Permalink

Anna DeGraff, a second year master's student of voice (student of Jean del Santo) and the voice department, were featured today on the front page of the MN Daily. The article follows DeGraff through her Master's Recital and discusses the journey of a master's student at the SOM.
Read the article here and listen to some of her recital on the MN Daily's media page. (To get to the the media page from the article, click on the photo.)

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 12:21 PM | Permalink

Get festive and listen to SOM alumna Abbie Betinis on Minnesota Public Radio with host John Birge. For the ninth straight year, Abbie Betinis brought her friends to the MPR studio to sing the world premiere of an original Christmas carol. This year's Betinis original is "Be Like the Bird." The "MPR Carolers," featuring SOM alumnae Carrie Henneman Shaw and Kim Sueok, join Abbie.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 10:41 AM | Permalink

Four SOM students with the Contemporary Music Workshop had their works premiered by the world famous violinist Irvine Arditti on December 4, 2009. Watch the video on the Minnesota Daily website.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 10:36 AM | Permalink

Listen SOM graduate student Jessica Narum discuss violinist Irvine Arditti's upcoming visit to the School of Music on MPR's Art Hounds

The School of Music's Contemporary Music Workshop (CMW) will present a special series of events featuring world-renowned British violinist Irvine Arditti in his first visit to the Twin Cities in more than 15 years. For complete information, read the press release for this special series.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:34 PM | Permalink

Watch as three University of Minnesota graduate conducting students rehearse operas by Igor Stravinsky for the November 19-22, 2009 run of "Stravinsky in Paris" at Ted Mann Concert Hall. Minnesota Daily reporter Tom Johnson goes behind the scenes in this Minnesota Daily video to find out what it takes to prepare for three short operas in one evening. Click here for a related article in the Minnesota Daily.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:09 PM | Permalink

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall
Free and open to the public

Noriko Kawai, piano; John De Haan, voice; Nickolai Kolarov, cello; Rudolph Kremer, violin; and graduate students and members of the School of Music New Music Ensemble perform the works of Thomas Simaku (Albania), Ivan Spassov (Bulgaria), Simeon Pironkov (Bulgaria), Roumen Balyozov (Bulgaria), and Sorin Lerescu (Romania).

Continue reading "Fifth Annual Concert of Balkan Contemporary Music BALKANICUS: Music from Albania, Bulgaria and Romania" »

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 3:03 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to Denis Evstyukhin, who won the University Symphony Orchestra 2007/2008 Concerto Competition! Evstyukhin, a student of Alex Braginsky, won the competition playing Sergei Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2.; he will perform the same piece with the University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Henry Charles Smith on March 9.

Nick Donatelle (student of Tanya Remenikova) and Chen-Yu Hsu (student of Jorja Fleezanis) each received an Honorable Mention in the Competition.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 10:54 AM | Permalink

The Mechelke Competition will not take place this year. Information regarding next year's Mechelke Competition will be posted as soon as it is available. For questions and further information, please contact Professor Rebecca Shockley at shock001@umn.edu.

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 4:08 PM | Permalink

Percussionist Bojan Hoover was announced as the winner of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition on December 16, 2007. He performed the Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra by Ney Rosauro and will perform this work with the orchestra on February 16 and 17, 2008. Bojan is a student of Fernando Meza. (December 2007)

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 4:09 PM | Permalink

Mark Bjork's student Erik Rohde (B.M., violin) was the first place winner in the senior division of the Mary West Solo Competition sponsored by the Minnesota chapter of the American String Teachers Association in October. In addition at the insistence of the judges a special award was created for Erik for the best performance of solo Bach. (December 2007)

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 4:07 PM | Permalink

Denis Evstuhin (M.M., piano) won the 2nd Prize at the 13th International Piano Competition "Principat d'Andorra." He was also awarded special prize for best performance of Spanish music out of the 77 admitted contestants. Denis Evstuhin is a student of Alexander Braginsky. (November 2007)

Posted by School of Music Pubs and Public Rel at 4:06 PM | Permalink