Welcome to our Alumni Class Notes Archive, consisting of activities and accomplishments of our former students in the college division previously published on this Web site from April 2004 through December 2007.

These listings are organized under the last year each alumnus/na attended the School. There is also a section honoring the memory of those who have passed away in the last few years.

For current news and updates, please visit our Alumni News Highlights page.

To read news about alumni who graduated in the following decades, use these jump links, or browse news below:

1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s

In Memoriam

1950s

1952:

John Cannon (BM) has had the premiere of his orchestral tribute to Christopher Reeve, entitled Dauntless Knight, given by the Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Precollege faculty member James Sadewhite. [posted 12/1/07]

Roy Eaton — (BM / MM, piano) of New York City — was the featured pianist in April at the 92nd Street Y in a program called “Scott Joplin and His Generation.” The program featured selections from his Sony release Joplin Piano Rags in the Essential Classics series. On a personal note, Roy and his wife, Barbara, are the parents of two-year-old twins, Ravi and Ari. [posted 10/15/04]

1953:

Joe Wilder — (BM, trumpet) of New York City — was featured in an article entitled “The Gentleman Musician” published in the February 2004 issue of Allegro, the official publication of Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians. The October 2001 issue of Jazz Times magazine also showcased him in an article entitled “Joe Wilder: One of the Glories of American Music.” In the fall of 2002, the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors series paid tribute to Mr. Wilder and his life’s work in a celebration of his 80th birthday. [posted 7/8/04]

1954:

Kenneth Lane — undergraduate studies, voice) of Lake Hiawatha, New York — appeared at the New Life Expo in October at the New Yorker Hotel. The program, entitled "Activist Songs from Biblical Times to the Present," featured songs of alienation, protest, and patriotism, sung in a variety of genres including soul, rock, folk, jazz, musical theater, opera, and pop. (updated on 04/20/05]

1956:

Lloyd Bell — (MM, voice) of Richmond, Virginia — has written a biography of former Manhattan School of Music president John Brownlee, with whom Mr. Bell studied. The 290-page book, entitled Giovanni: The Life and Times of John Brownlee, chronicles the details of Brownlee’s career from being a protégé of Nellie Melba through his leadership at Manhattan School and was published by Xlibris in 2002 (and is found on their Web site). Mr. Bell has graciously donated a copy to the School’s library collection. [posted on 04/20/05]

Nancy Bloomer Deussen — (BM, theory/composition) of Palo Alto, California — performed her piano suite entitled American Images for the Silicon Valley Arts Coalition Showcase in January. In February, she was honored as an outstanding Californian composer at the annual celebrity luncheon of the American Pen Women in San Jose, California. Other spring highlights include: the world premiere of her orchestral work TICO performed by the Mission Chamber Orchestra in San Jose; performances of her Two Pieces for Violin and Piano with Steve Ettinger at the Monterey County Composer’s Forum; the world premiere of her Rhapsody for Two Pianos in Palo Alto; and her Peninsula Suite for solo string quartet and string orchestra, released on a new ERM Media CD entitled Masterworks of the New Era—Volume 2. [posted 4/21/04]

1958:

Jack Reilly — (MM, music education) of Beachwood, New Jersey — gave the London premiere of his Green Spring Suite for piano, bass, and drums at St. Cyprian's Church, central London, on December 22 to raves in the Guardian newspaper by critic John Fordham. The music was composed while he was in treatment for cancer at the Green Spring Station Oncology clinic in Maryland, and is dedicated to the medics, radiologists, and other people who helped him through a troubled period. “Suffice it to say that I am cured and consider it a miracle, a marriage of prayer, music creativity, and science!” states Mr. Reilly. On March 13, 2005 he performed with his quartet in the Chicago premiere at the MacAnnich Arts Center of the College of DuPage of Jazz Requiem Mass (composed in 1968), for mixed chorus, jazz vocal soloist, and jazz quartet. This coming fall finds him at the Brecon, Wales, jazz festival with his trio and a tour of Germany and London. www.jackreillyjazz.com (updated on 04/20/05]

Frances Walker-Slocum (undergraduate studies '55-58, piano) has authored an autobiography entitled A Miraculous Journey, recently published through Author House. Ms. Walker Slocum tells the story of “how one Black woman survived a fire in early childhood managing to stay alive and rise to the top of her profession (as a concert pianist and professor at Oberlin Conservatory) despite insurmountable physical odds.” [posted on 12/5/2006]

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1960s

1960:

Talmon Hertz — (MM, cello) of Canada — is the artistic director of the Calgary Pro Musica Society, a nonprofit organization presenting a series of chamber music concerts in the city of Calgary. Established twenty-six years ago, this society brings international chamber performers to the city and is sold out on a regular basis. [posted 4/21/04]

Fredrick Kaufman — (BM / MM, trumpet / composition) of Miami, Florida — had the New York premiere performance of his String Quartet No. 6, “the Urban,” given in June at BargeMusic by the Amernet String Quartet, who commissioned the work. Lukas Foss described the composition in the following way: “nothing has ever been written like it before . . . a masterpiece.” After the world premiere last November, the Miami Herald called the work “stunning” and the Ft. Lauderdale Sentinal wrote “brilliant, Kaufman at his best.” He is composer in residence in the Florida International School of Music. [posted on 8/8/2006]

1961:

Michael Abene — (BM, theory) of Patterson, New York — was named musical director and principal composer-arranger for the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany. He will be commuting between the United States and Germany while continuing to teach private students in jazz composition. Mr. Abene has also been composing music for the combination of symphony orchestra and big band: two of his compositions premiered in 2003 were Odyssey for Brass for the Metropole Jazz Orchestra in Hilversum, The Netherlands and Fragmentations for RTV Symphony and Big Band of Slovenia based in the city of Ljubljana. Mr. Abene is working on a piece for vocal choir and big band for the Conservatory of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, and continues his position as co-musical director of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop. Mr. Abene is a Manhattan School of Music jazz composition faculty member. [posted 4/21/04]

Richard E. Adams — (MM, French horn) of New York City — has been voted to receive the Ella Scoble Opperman Citation for Outstanding Accomplishment in Teaching and Leadership by Florida State University. He received the award in November. [posted 11/16/05]

1964:

Robert L. Kircher — (BM / MM, voice / music education) of Cincinnati — has had many of his works performed throughout the U.S. His work, “Lest We Forget” was performed in April by the North Lincoln (North Carolina) High School Band of Knights in Washington, D.C., at the WWII Memorial Ceremonial Plaza on the Mall. The performance was part of the 60th celebration of the ending of WWII. He is retired from the New York City public school system and has moved back to the city of his birth. He is published by Lilanes Publishing of Kansas City. [posted 11/16/05]

Carter Nice — (MM, violin) of Sacramento — has been appointed music director and conductor of the Sacramento Metropolitan Orchestra for the 2005 season. In addition, Maestro Nice continues his 23-year relationship with the Bear Valley Music Festival as its music director and conductor. [posted 11/16/05]

1965:

Steve Cohen — (BM, theory) of Aventura, Florida — has had a 10-minute orchestral piece entitled Juggernaut selected as the winner of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra's 2004 Museum in the Community Composer's Award. The piece was given its world premiere on two regular subscription concerts by the orchestra in November 2004 at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston. [posted on 04/20/05]

Capt. Kenneth Force — (BM / MM, trumpet / music education) of King's Point, New York — was instrumental in getting a statue of John Philip Sousa funded and installed at the U.S. Marine Band headquarters in Washington, D.C., on November 5. A plaque honoring Capt. Force’s efforts “and imagination” is found on the statue base. Capt. Force is director of music at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and serves as an active member of Manhattan School of Music’s Alumni Council. [posted 11/16/05]

Peter Horvath — (BM / MM, viola / music ed) of Long Beach, New York — will be starting his 42nd year of teaching in September. He is currently orchestra director of the Jericho High School and Middle School Orchestras and will be honored by the Jericho School District for 40 years of service in November 2007. [posted on 8/8/2006]

1966:

Adolphus Hailstork (BM ’65 / MM ’66) has had his Symphonies nos. 2 and 3 released on the Naxos label, performed by the Grand Rapids Symphony. Hailstork is artist-in-residence at Old Dominion University in Virginia. [posted 12/1/07]

1967:

Andrea Anderson — (BM / MM, piano) of Los Angeles — performed this past spring at New Mexico State University, Angelo State University, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, Bowlus Fine Arts Center, Hill College, and Baker Arts Foundation. She performed in the New York area on September 26 in the Town and Gown Series at New Jersey City University. [posted 7/8/04]

Michael Davidson — (BM, cello) of Overland Park, Kansas — is currently a senior software engineer at DST Systems Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri, and is principal cellist of the Overland Park Orchestra. Michael is mentioned several times in the recently published book Pied Piper: The Life and Times of Noah Greenberg. Mr. Davidson is a cousin of Greenberg, the co-founder and conductor of the New York Pro Musica. [posted 7/8/04]

Rupert Holmes (undergraduate studies 66–67) wrote the book and contributed lyrics for Curtains, the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical, which is playing on Broadway. [posted 12/1/07]

Nancy Marano — (undergraduate studies, piano) of Fort Lee, New Jersey — toured Holland in April promoting the release of her new CD, You're Nearer. Her CD received the highest rating of 5 stars in the most prestigious jazz magazine in Holland in addition to high praise from several newspaper reviewers and on Holland public radio. Nancy performed with the Jazz Millennium Big Band and the Jazzmania Big Band, in addition to giving a master class for big band vocalists with the Central Heat Big Band. She performed with a Dutch quintet at the famed Cristofori concert venue in Amsterdam to a sold-out audience. She gave a master class at the Messiaen Academy in Arnhem and private lessons for the advanced jazz vocalists of the Amsterdam Conservatory. She continues to serve as a member of the jazz voice faculty at Manhattan School of Music. [posted 7/8/04]

Rhoda Scott Sampognaro — (BM / MM, theory) of Coulonges-les-Sablons, France — will conduct a clinic at the forthcoming IAJE conference in New York in January. The clinic will be entitled “Hammond Organ for Pianists: A Specific Approach.” [posted 11/16/05]

1968:

Jim Petercsak — (BM / MM, percussion) of Potsdam, New York — was a 2003 recipient of the Percussive Arts Society Lifetime Achievement Award in Education, an award that recognizes the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion education. Mr. Petercsak has taught at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam since 1968, where he is a distinguished professor, head of the percussion department, and director of the Crane Percussion Ensemble. In addition, he serves as an active member of the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Council. [posted 7/8/04]

Robert Manno — (BM, voice) of Windham, New York — is codirector of the Windham Chamber Music Festival in addition to his work as conductor and composer. Recent premieres of his works include: Three Scenes from the Mountains for flute, clarinet, and piano by Palisades Virtuosi in New Jersey; And Death Shall Have No Dominion for chorus and harp by the Oxford Pro Music Singers in Wales; Sonata for Cello and Piano by David Heiss and John Churchwell in Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall; and Three Nocturnes for Solo Harp by Deborah Hoffman, also in Weill Hall. He was assistant conductor with the Metropolitan Opera from 1997-2004. [posted 7/8/04]

1969:

Rupert Holmes (aka David Goldstein) — (undergraduate studies, clarinet) — has revised and completed the book for the world premiere of the John Kander/Fred Ebb musical Curtains starring David Hyde Pierce. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Steven Richman — (undergraduate studies, horn) of New York City — is conductor and music director of Harmonie Ensemble / New York, and received a 2003 Grammy nomination for the Koch International Classics CD entitled Stravinsky: Histoire du Soldat and 4 Premieres. He also recently received the Classical Recording Foundation Award for his new release on the Bridge Records label, Copland: Rarities and Masterpieces. (updated on 04/20/05]

Joseph Rescigno (MM ’69), pictured, has recently celebrated his 25th year as artistic advisor and principal conductor of the Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee. He conducted Carmen at New York City Opera in October and November. [posted 12/1/07]

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1970s

1970:

Kenneth Knight — (musicology) of Sante Fe — is conducting a preparatory school choir, a men’s chorus, a women’s chorus, and a church choir in Sante Fe. Mr. Knight also teaches voice classes at Sante Fe Community College. [posted 4/21/04]

1971:

Catherine Malfitano — (BM, voice) — appeared in the English National Opera’s new production of Janacek’s Jenufa this October. Critic Simon Thomas wrote: “Catherine Malfitano, in her ENO debut, is haunted and haunting as the baby murderer Kostelnicka ... This is a quite formidable performance of one of the most powerful roles in all opera.” [posted on 12/5/2006]

Anthony Scelba (BM ’70 / MM ’71) is a professor and music department chair at Kean University in New Jersey; he is also director of its concert artist program, which he founded and where he frequently performs. [posted 12/1/07]

1973:

Lucinda Lewis — (BM / MM, French horn) of Kansas City, Missouri — has served as principal horn with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for the past 28 years. In 2002, she published the book Broken Embouchures, which deals with the overuse and performance-related injuries of brass players and is a much sought-after expert in the treatment of such injuries. In June 2005, she was invited to join the faculty of the Performing Arts Medical Association during their annual symposium in Aspen. [posted 11/16/05]

1974:

Paul DeBoer — (BM / MM, trumpet) of Fillmore, New York — serves as associate professor of music at Houghton College. [posted 4/21/04]

Roger J. Ohlsen — (undergraduate studies, voice) of Brooklyn — has been a member of the chorus at the New York City Opera for twelve years and was an associate chorister for ten years before that. In addition, he has served on the AGMA Board of Governors for eight years. [posted 11/16/05]

H. L. Smith, II — (undergraduate studies, organ / theory) of Radnor, Pennsylvania — is the newly elected dean of the southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He is currently organist and master of choristers at Saint Martin's Church in Radnor and is a Sibelius music engraving software specialist. Until last year, he served as choral / vocal / organ / handbell / sacred piano / sacred instrumental specialist for Theodore Presser, which has published his compositions. [posted on 04/20/05]

Walter Simmons — (BM / MM, theory) of Port Chester, New York — announces the publication of his new book, Voices in the Wilderness: Six American Neo-Romantic Composers, issued by Scarecrow Press. The composers featured are Ernest Bloch, Howard Hanson, Vittorio Giannini, Paul Creston, Samuel Barber, and the late Manhattan School of Music graduate Nicolas Flagello. Much of the material included has never before appeared in print. [posted 4/21/04]

1975:

Jesse Rosen — (BM, trombone) — has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the American Symphony Orchestra League. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Jon Frederic West — (graduate studies, opera theater) of New York City — received the following review from Anthony Tommasini in the New York Times on April 19: “Most performances of Wagner’s Siegfried have a void at the center: the tenor singing the title role. Wagner made unprecedented demands on singers regarding power, range and stamina. But he abandoned all sense of the doable when he conceived the role of the brash nature boy, Siegfried, the son of the demigods Siegmund and Sieglinde.... So great credit goes to the feisty American tenor Jon Fredric West, who made his first Metropolitan Opera appearance in the role of Siegfried on Saturday afternoon, a performance broadcast live on the radio.... Mr. West did not just get through the role, he really sang it: with husky sound, pinging top notes, plenty of power and seemingly illimitable energy. Add to this the Brünnhilde of Jane Eaglen in radiant voice; the majestic Wotan of the veteran bass James Morris, called the Wanderer in this work; and the gripping conducting of James Levine; and Ring fans had something to cheer about at the end of a long afternoon.” [posted 10/15/04]

1976:

Steve Cohen — (BM, composition) of Larchmont, New York — has had two works released on CD: his Wind Quintet played by the Pennsylvania Wind Quintet on their Centaur CD, Recent American Works for Winds; and his Saxophone Quartet No. 2, played by the New Hudson Sax Quartet on their Eclectra CD, The American Muse. His Sonata for Soprano Sax and Piano has been performed in Cardiff, Wales, by alumnus and faculty member Paul Cohen at the British Saxophone Congress, as well as in St. Paul, Minnesota, by alumnus James Noyes at the World Saxophone Congress. In addition, Steve toured Israel last year singing with the Zamir Chorale of New York. [posted 7/8/04]

Michael Philip Davis (MM ’76) has recently been seen on public television in The Classic Kurt Weill and American Jewish Composers in Classical Song, as well as in a Kurt Weill concert in San Francisco and Anton Coppola’s opera Sacco and Vanzetti in Tampa. He is resident stage director of the California Opera Association and made an acclaimed directing debut at Virginia’s TodiMusicFest with The Tragedy of Carmen. [posted 12/1/07]

George Manahan — (BM ’73, piano / MM, conducting) — appeared in the gala concert of the New York City Opera held in September to celebrate its 62 year history. George Loomis of MusicalAmerica.com wrote: “As to the music, it began with an energetic account of the ‘Der fliegende Holländer’ overture, led by Music Director George Manahan. He conducted all evening save for two excerpts...” [posted on 12/5/2006]

1977:

Judith Blazer (BM ’77) appeared in the Broadway production of LoveMusik for a limited engagement at the Biltmore Theater this summer. [posted 12/1/07]

Lewis Kirk — (BM, bassoon) of Chicago — is on a leave from the Lyric Opera of Chicago to play second bassoon with the Chicago Symphony. [posted 4/21/04]

Don Mopsick — (BM, tuba) of San Antonio, Texas — is currently the double bassist with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band at the Landing Jazz Club in San Antonio, a position he has held since 1991. Since joining the JCJB, he has appeared on the nationally syndicated weekly public radio show, Riverwalk, Live from the Landing carried on the Public Radio International network. Mr. Mopsick is also the Web developer for the Landing and the Riverwalk series. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is a 7-piece acoustic ensemble dedicated to preserving the sound of jazz as it was played from its beginnings up to the start of WWII. Recently, the band performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a pops program that included Playing With Fire, a 30-minute, through-composed 3-movement piece for orchestra and jazz band. Previous performances have been with orchestras in San Antonio, Denver, Portland (Maine), and Orange County (California). [posted 7/8/04]

1978:

Barbara Curialle Gerr — (BM / graduate studies, piano) — is delighted to announce that she has begun the three-year teacher certification program at the American Center for the Alexander Technique in New York City. [posted on 1/24/07]

Michael Daugherty — (MM, composition) — has signed an exclusive contract with Boosey & Hawkes publishers. According to Boosey & Hawkes, the American Symphony Orchestra has recognized Daugherty as one of the ten most-performed living U.S. composers. His list of forthcoming commissions includes those from the Bournemouth Symphony and Marin Alsop; the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; the Charlotte, Nashville, New Jersey, Rochester, and Syracuse symphonies (a consortium project); guitarist Manuel Barrueco; the Verdehr Trio; and the College Band Directors National Association. Daugherty is professor of composition at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). [posted 11/16/05]

Keith Koons — (MM, clarinet) of Oviedo, Florida — has been promoted to the rank of professor of music at the University of Central Florida, having been appointed in 1990 and serving as interim chair in the 2003-2004 year. His teaching areas include studio clarinet, woodwind ensembles and Early Music Ensemble. Dr. Koons is a frequent performer with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently principal clarinet of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra in Melbourne, Florida. He currently serves as president of the southern chapter of the College Music Society and is the library liaison and chair of the research presentation committee for the International Clarinet Association. [posted on 04/20/05]

Howard S. Meltzer — (MM, piano) of New York City — has recently been appointed assistant professor and deputy chair for music at the Borough of Manhattan Community College on Chambers Street. This summer, he was a staff accompanist for the TransAtlantic Horn Quartet’s seminar at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. He participated in a conference this past September on music and philosophy at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. [posted 10/15/04]

1979:

Robert Bonfiglio — (MM, composition) of New York City — marked his Teatro Colón debut with his 300th performance of the Villa-Lobos Harmonica Concerto, Theo Alcantara conducting the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra. This performance was followed by harmonica concerti with Virginia Symphony, Ridgefield Symphony, and Rotterdam Philharmonic. A critic for the Ridgefield Press wrote that a 2004 performance was “one of the memorable treats I’ve experienced in close to three decades during which I’ve reviewed these concerts.” [posted on 04/20/05]

Elliot Goldenthal — (MM / BM ’77, trumpet / composition) of New York City — has had his first opera premiered by Los Angeles Opera and the Lincoln Center Festival, the co-commissioners of the work. Conceived with and directed by his wife, Julie Taymor, Grendel retells the myth of Beowulf, but from the viewpoint of the monster. Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle called the premiere “a dazzling display of musical and theatrical inventiveness . . . Goldenthal's compulsively resourceful score encompasses a rich variety of moods and strategies, from crisp bardic song to tender rhapsody to percussion driven sonic assaults.” [posted on 8/8/2006] Goldenthal has composed the score and arranged some 33 Beatles songs for the current Sony Pictures release Across the Universe, a film by Julie Taymor. [posted 12/1/07]

George Oldziey — (BM, trumpet) of Austin — was an orchestrator, score producer, and composer for the recent films Spy Kids 2 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, as well as composer and producer for the Playstation 2 video game SpongeBob Squarepants. Mr. Oldziey also teaches the jazz ensemble at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and works as a jazz pianist in the Austin area. [posted 4/21/04]

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1980

1980:

Samuel Cheung — (MM, accompanying) of Brooklyn — is the international recruitment specialist at the New York City Department of Education. In September of 2003 he performed at the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Mr. Cheung appeared in recital with Manhattan School of Music alumnus Li-Chan Chen, soprano, in Vancouver and Seattle this spring. [posted 4/21/04]

Margaret Juntwait — BM, voice) of New York City — is the “voice of the Metropolitan Opera” and can be heard each Saturday on their historic radio broadcast series. She also announces on Sirius satellite channels, and her voice can be heard on museum audio tours. (updated 04/24/06]

1981:

Aaron Minsky — (BM / MM, cello) of Forest Hills, New York — has just released Judaic Concert Suite for solo cello, his thirteenth publication with Oxford University Press. In connection with his rock cello band, Von Cello, he was interviewed four times on radio this past year — twice in Albany, once in Chicago, and once for Scottish radio. Mr. Minsky’s efforts to create a path for the cello in popular music have earned him inclusion in the 2004 edition of The International Who’s Who of Professionals. [posted 4/21/04]

Roberta Rust — (MM, piano) of Boynton Beach, Florida — appeared with the New Philharmonic of Florida in multiple performances of the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto in 2006. She was soloist in the Saint-Saëns Second Concerto with the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia at Mizner Park and soloist in the Beethoven Third Concerto with the Lynn University Philharmonia Orchestra in 2005. Rust serves as artist-faculty and head of the piano department at the Conservatory of Music at Lynn University in Boca Raton. She gave master classes in May 2006 at the China Conservatory in Beijing. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Mary Schmidt — (MM, flute) of Hopewell, New Jersey — currently performs with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Pro Musica, and the Garden State Symphonic Band, as well as other freelance groups in the tri-state area. She teaches instrumental music for grades 6–8 at the Community Middle School in West Windsor–Plainsboro, New Jersey. [posted 11/16/05]

1982:

Dr. Fred Bronstein — (MM, piano) of Dallas — is president and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Association, a position he assumed in July 2002. Dr. Bronstein has succeeded in securing fiscal stability, artistic enhancements, and long-term prosperity for the organization. He has led the organization to recent balanced budgets and surpluses. Dr. Bronstein was one of a select group of national arts executives invited to write for Aspatore Books’ recent publication of The Performing Arts Business, resulting in Dr. Bronstein’s chapter entitled “An American Orchestra.” [posted 11/16/05]

Fung Ho — (MM, violin) of Arcadia, California — is the music director and conductor of the Olympia Youth Orchestra in the Los Angeles area and also serves as a faculty member of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, conducting the string orchestra and coaching chamber music. In the summers, he is a faculty member at the International Institute for Young Musicians. [posted 4/21/04]

Jinny (Hwei Jin) Liu (MM ’82) is chair of the music department at Taipei National University of the Arts and principal flutist of the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra. [posted 12/1/07]

1983:

Dr. Lynne Aspnes (DMA ’83) has been appointed associate dean and professor of harp at the College of the Arts at Arizona State University, in a new position created for her. [posted 12/1/07]

Paul Brantley — (MM, cello) of New York City — has had recent performances of his compositions, including On the Pulse of Morning by the University of Michigan Symphony with Kenneth Kiesler conducting and soloist Andrea Moore; dux, comes by Music of the Spheres (three performances in the San Francisco Bay area); My Dream of the Lost Schumann Romances (which Clara burned) and Jew’s Harp and Arabesque, both premiered by Paul on his Manhattan School of Music faculty recital this past January. His cello playing appears on the recent CDs Little Worlds (Columbia) by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and Bloom (Compass Records) by Jeff Coffin. Paul teaches conducting at Manhattan School of Music. His music is published by Oxford University Press. [posted on 04/20/05]

Vince di Mura — has written a new musical review, a tribute to Tony Bennett, entitled I Left My Heart (for which he created 33 new arrangements). It has been licensed by Summerwind Productions and will have five new mountings around the country during the summer and fall. Other theatre activities include musical direction for Rider University's production of Hair; Muhlenberg Summer Theatre Festival's My Way: A Sinatra Cabaret (another show for which Vince created arrangements and has had nearly 150 productions internationally over the past 6 years); and American Stage's production of Crowns in St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition, he has created a new musical, entitled panto, for People's Light and Theatre, and a new score for Passage Theatre's State Street Project. Vince is currently teaching jazz piano at the Lawrenceville School and serves as a musical consultant for Princeton University's Theatre and Dance Departments. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Donald Hilsberg — (MM, harp) continues to serve as principal harpist of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra. His arrangement of Still, Still, Still for harp and handbells was published this summer by Jeffers Handbell Supply. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Seth F. Josel — (BM, guitar) of Berlin — appears on five CD releases this year including performances of Luciano Berio’s Sequenza XI for solo guitar and Lois V. Vierk’s Cirrus. josel.sheerpluck.de [posted on 8/8/2006]

Ross Novgrad — (BM, saxophone) — recently was accepted as a Performing Artist and Clinician for the Conn Selmer Corporation out of Elkart, Indiana. Roos is a freelance musician in Connecticut and has been for the past 14 years. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Alex Shapiro — (undergraduate studies, composition) of Malibu, California — has been staying very busy in the chamber music world. Her pieces can be found on CDs from a variety of artists, including five different discs that were released in 2005. Alex’s award-winning three-movement work, At the Abyss, appears on the Innova Recordings CD Music for Hammers and Sticks; her unusual flute quartet, Bioplasm, was released on the Los Angeles Flute Quartet’s new CD, Above and Beyond, and heard recently on John Schaefer’s WNYC-FM radio show; Of Breath and Touch and Deep both appear on the Crystal Records CD Beck and Call; her comedic duet, Slip, for violin and harpsichord is featured on the Italian CD La Discordantia from DC Records; and her tuba sonata, Music for Two Big Instruments, is the first piece on Coast to Coast, the debut CD from New York Philharmonic principal tubist Alan Baer, who performs the work with pianist Brad Haag. Alex’s ten-page autobiographical article, “Compose, Communicate and Connect” was published in the spring 2005 issue of the Journal for the International Alliance for Women in Music and reprinted in its entirety in the fall 2005 and winter 2006 issues of Sounding Board, the magazine of the American Composers Forum. Among many subjects, she writes of her positive experiences as a student of Ursula Mamlok and John Corigliano at Manhattan School of Music. Alex is president of the board of the American Composers Forum of Los Angeles and is a familiar moderator at many L.A. music events. She is a member of the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Council. www.alexshapiro.org (updated 04/24/06] Shapiro won the Best Original Composition award for her new piano, mallet, and percussion trio, At the Abyss, from the international music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon.The piece has been performed across the U.S., including a New York City premiere at Carnegie Hall in April 2004, and has been recorded for pianist Teresa McCollough’s new CD, Music for Hammers and Sticks. Alex was named the 2004 California MTNA Commissioned Composer by the California Association of Professional Music Teachers. The commissioned work, Bioplasm, was premiered by the Los Angeles Flute Quartet at CAPMT’s state convention in Long Beach. [posted 7/8/04]

Blair Tindall — (BM ’82 / MM, oboe) of Guttenberg, New Jersey — writes about classical music for the New York Times and continues playing oboe on Broadway, with City Center’s Encores!, the New York Pops, and the New York City Ballet. Her first book, Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music, will be available in major bookstores nationwide in July 2005. www.mozartinthejungle.com [posted on 04/20/05]

Dolora Zajick — (MM, voice) of Reno — was a recipient of the first-ever Opera News Awards, given by the Metropolitan Opera Guild to recognize distinguished contributions from leading opera figures. Other honorees included conductor James Conlon, soprano Régine Crespin, tenor/conductor Plácido Domingo, and fellow alumna Susan Graham. [posted 11/16/05] Zajick sang Amneris in Houston Grand Opera’s production of Aïda and appeared in the title role for Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans with the Collegiate Chorale and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall. [posted 12/1/07]

Blair Tindall — (BM ’82 / MM, oboe) of Guttenberg, New Jersey — writes about classical music for the New York Times and continues playing oboe on Broadway, with City Center’s Encores!, the New York Pops, and the New York City Ballet. Her first book, Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music, will be available in major bookstores nationwide in July 2005. www.mozartinthejungle.com [posted on 04/20/05]

1984:

Li-Chan Chen — (MM, voice) of Iselin, New Jersey — is currently a faculty member of the Visual and Performing Arts Department of Rutgers State University. This November she will travel back to Taiwan to sing the role of Blanche in a production of Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites in the National Theater of Taiwan in Taipei, presented by National Taiwan Normal University. [posted on 04/20/05]

Saul Davis Zlatkovsky — (MM, harp) of Philadelphia — was recently honored with the premieres of two of his compositions at the 2004 National Conference of the American Harp Society. His Suite Provençal for harp duo and American Pictures: Prairie Night were performed on two concerts. (The only other composers to receive as much exposure were Claude Debussy and Carlos Salzedo.) American Pictures: Prairie Night was performed on the new-music program by Emily Halpern-Lewis of the Boston University faculty. The Suite Provençal, a seven-movement work, was previewed at the Curtis Institute of Music under the coaching of Judy Loman and Saul Davis and performed on both occasions by Sonja Wangensteen and Piper Runnion-Bareford. He has been invited to perform for the Philadelphia chapter of the American Harp Society in 2005. He is harp editor for String Notes, the award-winning magazine of the Minnesota chapter of ASTA/NSOA, and contributes to American Harp Journal and Philadelphia Music Makers. He has lived in Philadelphia for ten years, near historic Rittenhouse Square. www.sauldavis.com. (updated 04/20/05]

Lauren Flanigan — (graduate studies, voice) — appeared in the gala concert of the New York City Opera held in September to celebrate its 62 year history. George Loomis of MusicalAmerica.com wrote: “And the unpredictable Lauren Flanigan gave a riveting, dramatically charged account of Lady Macbeth’s Sleepwalking Scene...” Bernard Holland wrote in the New York Times: “Lauren Flanigan tackled Verdi’s Lady Macbeth with wall flattening enthusiasm.” [posted on 12/5/2006] Flanigan added a seventh world premiere opera to her repertoire in June when she took on the title role in Fort Worth Opera’s production of Frau Margot, an opera by Thomas Pasatieri. [posted 12/1/07]

Peter Sanders — (BM ’84, cello) of Cresskill, New Jersey — is currently a member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra and principal cello of the New Philharmonic of New Jersey; he also performs with the Riverside Symphony and the Stamford Symphony. He is a member of the Ariadne Trio and has performed and recorded as a guest artist with the Perspectives Ensemble. Mr. Sanders is artistic director of the Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival. [posted on 04/20/05]

Joelle Wallach — (DMA, composition) of New York City — was a featured composer for Shadows, Sighs and Songs of Longing and The Nightwatch, a presentation of Treehouse Productions’ syndicated NPR program, Theme And Variations with William Everett. This past spring, her work Cloths in Heaven was premiered at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Her CD, Voices of the Iron Harp, can be found on New Aerial Recordings. www.joellewallach.com [posted 4/21/04]

1985:

Brian Doherty — (BM ’84, percussion / MM, percussion) — was the featured drummer for the Bob Dylan/Twyla Tharp show, The Times They Are A Changing, at the Brooks Atkinson Theater on Broadway. [posted on 12/5/2006]

1986:

Nancy Chapple — (MM, piano) — has been a management consultant for a decade, working as translator, editor, and change management. She is now project manager for corporate decision making events. She continues to be based in Berlin with her German husband and stepdaughter, “playing Bach whenever my time schedule allows.” [posted on 12/5/2006]

Gennady Filimonov — (BM' 84 / MM, violin) — is a member of the Seattle Symphony and is first violinist of odeonquartet. "This young, vibrant group has made a Kronos-like commitment to a 20th century music all over the artistic map," (Seattle Weekly) and recently opened the Earshot Jazz Festival along with Wayne Horvitz and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. The ensemble was recently featured Chamber Music America's member spotlight Web page (http://www.chamber-music.org/membership/spotlight_archive.html). [posted on 1/24/07]

1987:

Susan Graham — (MM, voice) — is a recipient of the first-ever Opera News Awards, given by the Metropolitan Opera Guild to recognize distinguished contributions from leading opera figures. Other honorees included conductor James Conlon, soprano Régine Crespin, tenor/conductor Plácido Domingo, and fellow alumna Dolora Zajick. Ms. Graham appeared at Tanglewood this summer as soloist in the Mozart Requiem as well as a concert featuring an extended and difficult concert aria with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. James Oestreich of the New York Times wrote: “She sang it richly and beautifully.” (updated on 8/8/2006]

Dwayne Hollenbach — (BM / MM, trumpet) of Reno, Nevada — is the director of bands at Reno High School and performs with the Reno Philharmonic and the Reno Jazz Orchestra. [posted 4/21/04]

Amy Johnson — (MM, voice) of Kintnersville, Pennsylvania — made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2006, a benefit performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony under the baton of George Mathew (Class of 2003). This historic event raised funds and awareness for the survivors of the 2005 earthquake in South Asia. [posted on 04/24/06]

Roy Mazzacane — (MM, voice) of Hamden, Connecticut — is a member of Cantabile Vocal Quartet, a chamber group that performs throughout the Northeast and on the radio throughout the U.S., South America, and Great Britain. Mr. Mazzacane is music director at Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven, Connecticut, and owns and operates the Mazzacane Studio of Voice and Piano. [posted 4/21/04]

George Robert (MM ’87) has been appointed director of Lausanne Conservatory’s new jazz department, after leading the Swiss Jazz School in Berne for 11 years. He is also continuing to lead an international performing career and has been signed to Blue Note Records. [posted 12/1/07]

Jeffrey Sharkey — (BM, piano / composition) of Cleveland, Ohio — has been appointed director of the Peabody Institute, the music conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. The pianist, composer, and veteran music educator, is currently dean of the Cleveland Institute of Music, and will join Johns Hopkins on October 1st. He succeeds Robert Sirota, who became president of Manhattan School of Music last year. Under Sharkey's leadership, CIM has increased applications by 25 percent; has recruited distinguished faculty members; developed new structures for student affairs and advising; and created exchange programs with the London's Royal Academy of Music and the Paris Conservatoire. He has strengthened CIM's close ties with Case Western Reserve University and worked closely with the institute's president on a $40 million capital campaign that includes funding for a new recital hall and a new education building now under construction. [posted on 8/8/2006]

1988:

Annette A. Aguilar — (graduate studies, percussion) of New York City — toured with her group, StringBeans, as 2003 Latin Jazz Ambassadors for the U.S State Department and the Kennedy Center. The group toured Southern Africa and Rwanda, sharing their knowledge of the music of the Americas and the Caribbean, blending Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian percussion rhythms with harp, guitar, violin, piano, and bass. StringBeans is preparing to release their next CD, No Cheap Dates. www.aguilarstringbeans.com [posted 7/8/04]

Sandy Coffin — (MM, trumpet) of New York City — performed with her group, Prometheus Brass, live on WAMC/Northeast Public Radio and gave a full recital on the Saugerties Pro Musica series in February to critical acclaim. The ensemble has been reengaged for next season. [posted 7/8/04]

Hillary Colton — (MM, voice) of Three Bridges, New Jersey — was named the 2006 Master Music Teacher of the State of New Jersey. She was also selected to receive the 2006 Governors Award for Excellence in Arts Education. Ms. Colton is the director of choral activities at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington. She is also a frequent soloist with the Hunterdon Symphony. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Victoria Dondysh — (BM '86 / MM, piano) of Sayville, New York — has released a CD of the Bach six partitas. Her playing was recently featured on David Dubal’s WQXR program “Reflections from the Keyboard.” [posted on 04/20/05]

Nicole Halmos — (graduate studies, voice) of New York City — played Martha in the Target Margin production of Faust in Love, the second installment of the theater company’s adaptation of Goethe’s epic. She will play Helen of Troy in their next production in New York City in the fall of 2005. In June, Nicole played Julie Cavendish in The Royal Family at the Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is currently playing Elsa Schraeder in Carousel Dinner Theater’s production of The Sound of Music in Akron, Ohio. [posted 11/16/05]

Steven Mayer — (DMA, piano) of New York City — was a featured performer in July at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival held at Mannes College of Music. Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times wrote: "He began this recital with a boldly expressive account of Mozart's Rondo in A minor, followed by a rhapsodic performance of Schumann's early Sonata in F sharp minor ... He was at his best in Ives's "Celestial Railroad," an astounding essay in color, texture and energy that sounded more radical than ever in Mr. Mayer's compelling performance. He also gave engaging accounts of two works by Gottschalk ... (His transcriptions of the three Art Tatum works) emerged as improvisations and always sounded fresh. For all the ferocity of his playing, there was a devil-may-care quality to his style, a seemingly impossible mix of intensity and impishness." [posted on 8/8/2006]

1989:

John Blanchard — (MM '89, flute) of New York City — was co-convener of an international symposium entitled “The Working Musician” at the Royal College of Music in London. Present were over 125 administrators, teachers, and performers from throughout Europe including all the major music schools in the United Kingdom and several from the U.S. Mr. Blanchard was a panelist for the opening discussion along with Richard Morrison, chief music critic of the Times of London; author Hans Abbing; and Angela Beeching of the New England Conservatory. The three-day conference focused on the issues that face the employability of musicians and was an outgrowth of an organization, the Network of Music Career Development Officers, that Mr. Blanchard cofounded ten years ago. [posted on 04/20/05]

Theresa Cincione — (MM, voice) of New York City — has been covering the role of Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Metropolitan Opera. She has recently appeared as Mimì in La bohème for the Anchorage Opera production and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at the Granite State Opera. [posted 4/21/04]

Susan Deaver — (BM / MM / DMA, flute) of New York City — is the 2004 festival director of the 23rd annual C.W. Post Chamber Music Festival at Long Island University, where she is the flutist with the Pierrot Consort. Recent conducting activities include the University Orchestra at SUNY Stonybrook, the North Shore Symphony Orchestra, and guest conducting in Korea. Dr. Deaver is a faculty member of Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege Division. [posted 4/21/04]

Susan LaFever — (PS, horn) of New York City — recently finished a recital tour of the Midwest in October with pianist Ron Levy. Her first stop was Western Illinois University where she and Mr. Levy gave a talk about working in New York and presented a recital that included the horn playing of Randall Faust on his composition Three American Folksongs for two horns and piano. The next stop was the University of Iowa, where in addition to a recital, she gave a master class for the students of Jeffrey Agrell. Finally, she opened the Keokuk (Iowa) Concert Association’s 81st season with a two-hour program (where she was rejoined by Dr. Faust for a reprise of his Folksongs) that included the Gliere Concerto, the Sonata by Bill Holcombe, Moon Lilies by Lydia Busler-Blais, and finished with the Andante e Polacca by Czerny. (updated 12/05/06]

Sunita Staneslow — (MM, harp) of Kfar Saba, Israel — toured the USA in March, conducting workshops and concerts in California, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Connecticut, and her first CD to be released by an Israeli label will be in the shops this autumn. It called White Christmas in Jerusalem, and is a compilation of Christmas music from her three previous Christmas CDs. Sunita has organized a harp arranging competition in hopes of stimulating new and interesting arrangements of traditional music for folk harp. In addition, she has helped established a new non-profit organization called NEVEL, that is devoted to serving the sick and underprivileged, and to promote the use of the harp in Israel. www.sunitaharp.com [posted on 8/8/2006]

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1990s

1990:

Susan Botti — (MM, composition) of Ann Arbor — has won a coveted Rome Prize and will spend 11 months in residency at the American Academy in Rome for the 2005–2006 academic year. She was also announced as a winner of a 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship. Her newest orchestra work, Translucence, premiered with the Cleveland Orchestra (which commissioned the piece) at Severance Hall, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst. A member of the composition faculty at the University of Michigan, Ms. Botti had her work, Cosmosis, premiered at Carnegie Hall in February by the University of Michigan Symphonic Band. [posted 11/16/05]

Gila Goldstein — (MM, piano) of New York City — has been active concertizing as a soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Israel. Her most recent performances included the South Bank Center in London, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, the Tel-Aviv Museum, and the Old First Church in San Francisco. In addition, she has released two commercial recordings on the Centaur label, featuring the complete solo piano works and three chamber works by Paul Ben-Haim. Gila serves as a member of the board of directors of the American Liszt Society and is founder-president of its New York/New Jersey chapter. She often serves as an adjudicator in piano competitions, most recently in Arizona, Maryland, and Hong Kong. www.gilagoldstein.com [posted 11/16/05]

Shuler Hensley — (BM, voice) — is currently starring as Kerchak, the greyback gorilla and Tarzan’s “father” in Disney’s big new Broadway musical Tarzan at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Shuler also has featured roles in two recent film releases: Opa!, which was released at the Toronto International Film Festival; and The Legend of Zorro starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones. In March 2005 he played opposite Patti LuPone in a Kennedy Center Festival presentation of Marc Blitzstein’s Regina. Peter Marks of the Washington Post writes: “The voices are unassailable and some of the acting quite polished, especially by Shuler Hensley as the sickly husband Regina uses and discards.” Recent New York appearances include a Carnegie Hall presentation of a work written and hosted by Michael Tilson Thomas and his portrayal of Norbert in the off-Broadway production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Shuler graciously contributed his time to Manhattan School of Music as a guest panelist for Carolyn Marlow’s Intro to Performing class. http://www.shulerhensley.com [posted on 04/24/06]

Nicole Halmos — (MM, voice) of New York City — is performing in Sweeney Todd at Center Stage Theater. Other performances this year include: A Christmas Carol at the Cumberland Theater; The Sound of Music on national tour with Manhattan School of Music alumnus Burke Moses; the New York workshops of The Fabulist, Criminal, and The Mystery of the Charity of Saint Joan; and Our Town at Triad Stage in North Carolina. [posted 4/21/04]

Erica Dawn Worth — (BM, piano) of England — is editor and publisher of Pianist Magazine, a UK-originated publication on sale worldwide. www.pianistmagazine.com (updated on 04/24/06]

1991:

Jose Ramon Mendez (BM, piano) of New York City — gave a recital of works by Bach, Albéniz, and Turina this spring at the Museum of the American Piano. [posted 4/21/04]

1992:

Kirk-Evan Billet — (DMA, composition) of Lake Forest, Illinois — had the premiere of his six-voice choral work Duo Seraphim given by the Pharos Music Project in New York last October. James Bassi (Class of 1983) conducted the work at the Pharos concert in the Great Music at St. Bartholomew’s series. [posted on 04/24/06]

Robert Cassidy — (MM, piano) of Indianapolis, Indiana — has earned his doctorate in piano performance from Ball State University. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Alfred Fredel — (MM, voice) of New York City — is a new marketing manager for Carl Fischer Music and is contributing editor for the Audiophile Voice. [posted 4/21/04]

Victor Kioulaphides — (BM ’84 / DMA, double bass) of New York City — had his Suite for Viola and Guitar released on CD by Duo Fresco and has recently signed on with the Joachim Trekel Publishing House of Hamburg, Germany. His Riegelsberg Suite was given its American premiere by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra in New York City last November after its world premiere in Germany last year. Concerto per orchestra a pizzico was given its American premiere in Providence, Rhode Island last February and will be recorded by Het Consort, the group for which it was written. Het Consort also performed this work in France and Italy last year. Victor's recent Sonata for Viola and Piano was selected by an open call for scores, and was given its world premiere on the concert series of the neoPhonia New Music Ensemble at the School of Music at Georgia State University in October. (updated on 12/5/2006] Kioulaphides had his Canzona premiered in Madison, Wisconsin, by mandolinist Carlo Aonzo and guitarist René Izquiero, on their tour of the Midwest; the final performance of this tour featured the New York premiere at BargeMusic in March. [posted 1/24/07]

Daniel Sutton — (DMA, piano) of Germany — gave recitals in the fall of 2003 with his wife, soprano Abbie Furmansky. The program featured Mr. Sutton’s own works, Five Songs on texts by Attilio Bertolucci, and Four American Preludes on a Third, as well as music by Puccini, Richard Strauss, Chopin, and his own arrangements of Gershwin melodies. Daniel wrote the musical score for the German film A Small Place and acted as music consultant for the critically acclaimed film The Pianist by Roman Polanski. This spring he gave solo recitals in Pennsylvania featuring works of Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt, as well as the U.S. premiere of his work, Pieces of Light. [posted 4/21/04]

1993:

Pamela (Moore) Armstrong — (MM, voice) — sang the principal role of the Countess in Richard Strauss’s Capriccio at New York City Opera in fall 2005 fall under the baton of fellow alumnus George Manahan. Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times wrote: “The soprano Pamela Armstrong makes a bright voiced, lovely and admirable countess . . . Ms. Armstrong sang (the) ravishing monologue with sensitivity.” Ms. Armstrong appeared along with fellow alumna Beth Clayton in the gala concert of the New York City Opera held in September 2006 to celebrate its 62 year history. They sang the final trio and duet from Der Rosenkavalier. (updated on 12/5/2006]

Anna Garzuly — (MM, flute) of Germany — has been second principal flutist at the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Germany since 1995. Ms. Garzuly is also a member of the Leipzig Flute Ensemble. [posted 4/21/04]

Sang Joon (Fritz) Park — (MM, flute) of New York City — has been awarded the Samuel Baron Award from Stony Brook, an award given every two years to a distinguished alumnus/na of that school, arranged by late Samuel Baron and his widow Carole. Along with an award letter comes a generous monetary award that he plans on putting toward his ongoing research in Spain. (updated 05/30/06]

1994:

Claudia Ayala — (BM ’92 / MM, piano) — is personal assistant to composer Yannis Markooulos and was assistant producer of his last four recordings for the Lyra, Universal, Olympic Airlines, and Legend labels. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Beth Clayton — (MM, voice) — appeared along with fellow alumna Pamela Armstrong in the gala concert of the New York City Opera held in September to celebrate its 62 year history. They sang the final trio and duet from Der Rosenkavalier. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Sara Davis Buechner — (DMA, piano) of Vancouver, Canada — recently recorded another CD for Koch International Classics featuring the chamber music works of Rudolf Friml with violinist Stephanie Chase. She was the subject of a feature on WNYC Radio and was featured on the celebrity chat series on www.myauditions.com. A professor at the University of British Columbia, Ms. Buechner recently performed with violinist Jasper Wood in Campbell River and was featured in the Howe Sound Performing Arts Series in British Columbia. In August, Sara judged the Rudolf Firkusny International Piano Competition in the Czech Republic; while there, she filled in on short notice to perform the Chopin Piano Concerto with the South Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra. Sara received favorable reviews for her “dynamic” and “musical” performance and was engaged for a return appearance. Other concerts scheduled for her 2005–2006 season include performances of the Miklos Rozsa Piano Concerto with the Manila Symphony, as well as concerto performances with Orchestra London; the Victoria Symphony; the Edmonton Symphony; and a tour of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Korea. Her numerous solo concerts include performances in New York; Illinois; Hawaii; Oregon; Washington; Washington, D.C.; and throughout Canada. www.sarabuechner.com [posted 11/16/05]

Susan Deaver (BM ’75 / MM ’76 / DMA ’94) was the conducting coach, with on-screen credit, for actor Freddie Highmore in the film August Rush. [posted 1/24/07]

Gregory D. Evans — (MM, orchestral horn) — has been appointed the new Director of the Concert Division of the Kaufman Center, the multi-arts organization comprising Merkin Concert Hall, the Lucy Moses School, and a New York City public school for musically-gifted children. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Derek-Antoine Harrison — (BM / MM, voice) of Brooklyn — is currently a freelance voice teacher, coach, and artist consultant, having taught for several years in the New York City public schools. He is also busy as a manager for an arts telefunding and telesubscription firm called DCM, whose clients include New York City Opera, American Ballet Theatre, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. (updated 04/24/06]

Tamami Honma — (BM, piano) of England — gave a recital at Wigmore Hall in London in October of 2003. Other recent performances include appearances as soloist with the Moscow Radio Symphony in the Bolshoi Hall in Moscow and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2002, Ms. Honma was nominated for a Gramophone Award. [posted 4/21/04]

Jay Zhong — (BM, violin) of New Rochelle, New York — is currently serving as director of the string program and violin professor at California State University at Los Angeles after holding violin professorship at the Western Illinois University. Jay was recently named as a community advisor to the Grammy-winning Southwest Chamber Music Society of Los Angeles. Besides teaching and performing, Jay is an active composer and is a consecutive winner of the ASCAP Plus Award. His essay on the direction of contemporary Chinese concert music, "Chinese Concert Music, a Renaissance," was published in 2004 by Chinese International Music Journal, a publication of Chicago's Chinese Music Society of North America. It was distributed to musicians in 160 countries worldwide. [posted on 04/20/05]

1995:

Gail Archer — (DMA, organ) of New York City — presented a workshop in historic performance practice for the National Conference of Lutheran Church Musicians this past July in New York City. Her recent concert schedule has included U.S. performances in Kentucky, Idaho, Oregon, and Massachusetts, as well as in Italy, Germany, and Poland. Her concerts in Cracow, Rabka, and Zakopane were sponsored by a grant from the United States Consolate in Cracow. She has released a CD on Cala Records, The Orpheus of Amsterdam, Sweelinck and his Pupils, recorded on the Fisk organ at Wellesley College. [posted 11/16/05] Archer is artistic director of the organ artist and young organ artist series at Central Synagogue, which features the new Gabe M. Wiener Memorial Organ built by Casavant Frères. Two organ works commissioned from Manhattan School of Music composition students of Dr. Nils Vigeland will be performed at Central Synagogue on May 23 and May 30 by doctoral students Jason Roberts and Kyle Babin. During February 2006, Ms. Archer presented four Polish organists in recital: Witold Zalewski at Holy Trinty Episcopal Church, Marek Kudlicki at St. Vincent Ferrer, Robert Grudzien at St. Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University, and Boguslaw Grabowski at First Presbyterian Church under the auspices of the Polish Cultural Institute and the Harriman Institute of Columbia University. Her most recent organ recitals include Music at the Mission in San Jose; the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC; Pacific Lutheran University in Washington; the 10th-anniversary productions of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach in Nashville; Covenant Presbyterian in Alabama and Trinity Episcopal in Reno, Nevada, both sponsored by the American Guild of Organists; St. Helena’s Church, Beaufort, South Carolina; a dedicatory recital for the new Jaekel organ at Emory University in Atlanta; Princeton University; St. Philip’s Cathedral in Atlanta; and Holy Apostles in NYC. Her recent CD on Cala Records, London, the Orpheus of Amsterdam, received a four-star review in the January/February 2006 Choir and Organ of London. The Toronto Star declared, “Archer is above criticism.” (updated on 04/24/06]

Marjorie Bagley — (MM, violin) of Logan, Utah — has been assistant professor of violin and chamber music at Ohio University since 2002 and is cofounder of the Juniper Music Festival with alumnus Michael Carrera. A member of the faculty at the Brevard Music Festival, she will be performing the Beethoven Triple Concerto with Andrés Diaz on Brevard’s opening concert in the summer of 2005. [posted on 04/20/05]

Kelly Hall-Tompkins — (MM, orchestral violin) of New York City — is the founder and director of The Music Kitchen—Food for the Soul. She began the program in March of 2005 in order to bring terrific musicians together to share the inspirational, therapeutic, evocative, and uplifting power of chamber music with New York City’s disenfranchised homeless shelter population. The Music Kitchen is privately funded and based at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Shelter on West 65th and the Olivieri Center on West 30th Street. www.kellyhall-tompkins.com [posted on 8/8/2006]

Beat Kaestli — (undergraduate studies, jazz voice) of New York City — received a four star review on ejazznews.com for his self-titled CD. His recordings were also played in Argentina and Switzerland earlier this year. www.beatkaestli.com [posted on 8/8/2006]

Rodney Lancaster — (MM, trombone) of Rochester, New York — was a faculty member of Northern State University in 2002-03 and is currently a DMA student at the Eastman School of Music. [posted 4/21/04]

Tim Lyddon — (MM, jazz piano) of Brooklyn —released a jazz trio record in January entitled Shades of People, receiving reviews in Jazz Times magazine and All About Jazz. It has also received much airplay, including WBGO-FM and a radio interview on WPBX (Long Island) in July. Tim appeared with drummer Bill Goodwin in May at the Deerhead Inn as well as with Sweet Rhythm, along with bassist Martin Wind, in July. The trio also played at the Priory (New Jersey) in August as well as two dates at Detour in Manhattan. [posted 10/15/04]

Jose Llana — (undergraduate studies, voice) of Manila and Washington D.C. — is currently starring on Broadway in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, having received the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble. He received a Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Ballad of Little Jo at the Steppenwolf Theater and a Barrymore Award Nomination for Best Actor for his work in Candide at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. TV and film appearances include sidekick to Margaret Cho in HBO's Sex & the City and as Eva Mendes's photographer, Ross, in the 2005 box office smash hit, Hitch, starring Will Smith. www.josellana.com [posted on 12/5/2006]

Tonna Miller — (MM, voice) of New York City — sang the title role this fall in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience at New York City Opera. [posted 11/16/05]

Marc Peloquin — (DMA / MM ’89, piano) of New York City — appeared in concert at Symphony Space in June (2006] for a concert by the Friends and Enemies of New Music. Allan Kozinn of the New York Times called his performances of works by Harbison, Del Tredici, and Burke, “technically polished and superbly expressive.” [posted on 8/8/2006]

1996:

Carolyn (Cally) Banham — (MM, orchestral oboe) of Buffalo, New York — recently won the English horn position with the Saint Louis Symphony. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Neal Campbell — (BM ’83 / MM ’85 / DMA, organ) — has recently been appointed Organist and Director of Music of St. Luke’s Church in Darien, Connecticut. He leaves a similar position at St. Stephen’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, where he served from 1985–2006. He was also on the adjunct faculty of the University of Richmond from 1997–2006. In 2006 he concluded a six-year term on National Council of the American Guild of Organists. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Kathryn Cok — (BM, harpsichord) of The Hague, Netherlands — performs with the Caecilia-Concert which recently released their debut CD, Treasury of a Saint, on the Antoine Marchand label. The group completed a successful tour with the Dutch Early Music Network series in May. In addition to her performing activities, Kathryn is also pursuing a PhD at the University of Leiden. She was made a fellow of the University of Leiden Library in 2004, where she compiled a catalogue of all printed music resident in the library from 1590 – 1820. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Lea Lanier — (BM, voice) of Orange Park, Florida — was a soloist recently in the Bach Easter Oratorio and Peasant Cantata with the Jacksonville Symphony. She appeared as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore with the Atlanta Lyric Theatre, as well as Musetta with the La Grange Symphony and Adele with the Cobb Symphony. [posted on 04/20/05]

Katie Lansdale — (DMA, violin) of West Hartford, Connecticut — has toured Europe with her group The Lions Gate Trio and played two Mozart concerti with the Austin Mozart Festival in Texas. Ms. Lansdale also teaches at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford. [posted 4/21/04]

Melissa Mackey — (BM, bassoon) of Fairfield, Connecticut — joined the faculty of Southern Illinois University as asstistant professor of bassoon and music history in 2003. Last summer, she performed a lecture-recital on the bassoon music of Charles Koechlin at the IDRS conference in Melbourne, Australia. [posted on 04/20/05]

Danielle Marks — (BM, flute) of Tustin, California —is the newly appointed director of education at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. She has been a member of the San Jose Symphony and Ballet orchestras, as well as ensembles in Atlanta, Tampa, and San Francisco. (updated 11/29/05]

Frank Pulice — (BM / MM, voice) of New York City — is director of public relations for New York fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo where he has regular contact with such mega-stars as Vanessa Williams, Kim Cattrall, and Queen Latifah. (updated 04/24/06] In addition, he has been pursuing his interest in fine arts. His paintings can be seen at www.gabrielegallery.com. [posted 4/21/04]

Anna Reinersman — (MM, harp) of Scarsdale, New York — frequently collaborates with fellow alumna, Kelly Hall-Tompkins. Recently she performed at Hall-Tompkin’s performance series Music Kitchen at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Michael Salm — (MM, violin) of Switzerland — is assistant principal second violin of the Zurich Opera Orchestra. [posted 4/21/04]

Paul Schleuse — (MM, composition) — is Assistant Professor of Musicology at Binghamton University, SUNY. His critical edition of Orazio Vecchi's collection Selva di varia ricreatione (1590) is forthcoming in the series Recent Researches in Renaissance Music. [posted on 12/05/06]

N’Kenge Simpson Hoffman — (BM, voice) of Brooklyn — is currently singing the title role in Elton John’s musical Aida on tour. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Gregg Wramage — (BM '94 / MM, composition) of Brooklyn — is an active composer in the NYC area. His most recent orchestral piece, La tristesse durera, a 5-minute concert opener (after an early painting by Van Gogh), was written this past January at Copland House. It has been selected for the 2006 Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, and will be premiered in a concert this December by the orchestra and their new music director, Osmo Vanska. [posted on 8/8/2006] Wramage was awarded the American Opera Project’s Mark Adamo Chair in Composition, which will allow him to work with Adamo on works to be premiered by AOP. [posted 1/24/07]

Brad White — (MM, orchestral trumpet) — has won a position as associate principal trombone of the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

1997:

Mie Araki — (jazz percussion) of Stanford, California — is working at Stanford University Music Library. [posted 4/21/04]

Hsia-Jung Chang — (DMA, piano) of New York City — has received favorable press from her recent releases of the complete Chopin Preludes. A reviewer at www.new-classics.co.uk wrote: “(The) Preludes are played immaculately on this CD by the brilliant young pianist Hsia-Jung Chang. (She) performs the works with great delicacy and refinement, allowing a wide spectrum of color and moods to emerge in a way that appears effortless.” [posted 11/16/05]

Bradley Colten — (MM, guitar) of New York City — frequently performs with Manhattan School of Music alumna Heather Holden. Their group, the Arc Duo, is ensemble in residence at the Diller-Quaile School of Music; they gave their New York debut at Weill Hall this past spring. During the 2003-04 season they also performed at the National Flute Convention in Las Vegas; King’s Chapel Concert Series in Boston; and the Caramoor Music Festival in Katonah, New York. In addition to such performances, Mr. Colten also teaches in the New York area. [posted 4/21/04]

Salvatore Di Vittorio — (BM, classical composition) of Italy — has recently worked with the Danbury Symphony (Connecticut), Royal College of Music Symphony (London), Sofia Philharmonic (Bulgaria), Loyola Orchestra (New York), and the Accademia Musicale Siciliana (Palermo). He has signed with Price Rubin & Partners as a conductor, and he is working to establish a new New York-based chamber orchestra. His compositions have been published by Edizioni Panastudio/Carisch of Warner Bros., and he has received an agreement from the Thomas Mann estate and his publisher S. Fisher Verlag in Frankfurt to compose the first opera on Mann’s novel Dr. Faustus. Salvatore generously contributed his time to speak on a Career Awareness panel at Manhattan School of Music in April. www.SalvatoreDiVittorio.com [posted on 04/24/06] Di Vittorio is founder and conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of New York, which had its debut at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in October. He has also joined the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Council. [posted 1/24/07]

Scott Drewes — (BM, jazz percussion) of O’Fallon, Illinois — is a percussionist in the Air Force Band of Mid-America and performs with the Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble, Shades of Blue Sextet, and the Concert Band. [posted 4/21/04]

David Dutkanicz — (BM, composition) of New York City — recently accepted the position of music editor with Dover Publications. Prior to this, he was associate editor with International Music Co. and was winner of six P. Revere Awards for music publishing by the Music Publishers of America. Currently, he is working on various original chamber compositions as well as anthologies for publication. [posted 11/16/05]

Heather Holden Garcia — (MM, flute) of the Bronx — was the first place winner of the Haynes International Flute Competition in June of 2006. [posted on 8/8/2006] Holden frequently performs with Manhattan School of Music alumnus Bradley Colten. Their group, the Arc Duo, is ensemble in residence at the Diller-Quaile School of Music; they gave their New York debut at Weill Hall in the spring of 2004. During the 2003-04 season they also performed at the National Flute Convention in Las Vegas, King’s Chapel Concert Series in Boston, and the Caramoor Music Festival in Katonah, New York. In addition to such performances, Ms. Holden also teaches in the New York area. [posted 4/21/04]

Olivia Gorra — (BM, voice) of Mexico — made her Metropolitan Opera debut this season in the role of Liù in Puccini’s Turandot and was also heard as the protagonist in Lucia di Lammermoor as well as the three heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann with Fort Worth Opera. Her recent orchestral engagements include Mozart’s Mass in C and Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasilieras with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and Britten’s War Requiem with the Ofunam Philharmonic in Mexico City. [posted 4/21/04]

Paul Kogut — (MM, jazz guitar) of New York City — played a series of concerts in New York City, Utica, and Albany recently in support of his debut Blujazz release, Know It? I Wrote It! The CD has been in heavy rotation on the Jazz Week, National Public Radio, and College Music Journal radio charts. Cadence magazine called it “an impressive first time up … just might be the prescription needed.” [posted 11/16/05]

Joseph Klapper — (MM, double bass) of Iowa City — is currently principal bass of the Waterloo Symphony and double bass instructor at the University of Northern Iowa. [posted on 04/20/05]

Joong-Oh Lee — (MM, viola) of Korea — is a faculty member of Chung-Ang University in Seoul and is the principal violist of Na-Mu chamber orchestra. [posted 4/21/04]

Eric Lewis — (BM , jazz piano) — will be performing this fall in New York City at the U.S. Open and the American Museum of Natural History and at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He is working on a commissioned score to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Joffrey Ballet in 2006. He recently performed for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race in Sonoma, California, leading NASCAR.com to pronounce his rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” as “easily the best anthem performance of the season.” [posted 11/16/05]

Misha Piatigorsky (MM ’97) has released a new CD entitled Uncommon Circumstance. He appears as pianist and musical director for singer Mark Murphy and can be heard on the major motion picture soundtracks of four releases: Chaos Theory, Pretty Persuasion, RX, and Danika. [posted 1/24/07]

1998:

Paul Beck — (BM, bassoon) of New York City — is currently assistant music librarian for the Metropolitan Opera Association. Appointed in August of 2002, he is only the twelfth full-time music librarian employed by the Met since 1883. Paul also works as a librarian for the Mostly Mozart Festival in the summers and recently started a small business, called Tempus Music, that rents opera parts to opera companies, conservatories, and music festivals. [posted on 04/20/05] Beck has begun his sixth year as assistant librarian of the Metropolitan Opera. He has also joined the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Council. [posted 1/24/07]

Justin Bischof — (BM ‘90 / MM ‘92 / DMA, organ) of New York City — is the newly appointed music director of the Golden Key Opera Company of Honolulu. His first season will feature productions of Menotti’s The Medium and The Telephone. He continues as general/artistic director of the Modus Opera Company in New York, principal conductor of the new music group the Anechoic Ensemble, and assistant conductor of the Bronx Symphony. [posted 11/16/05]

Frances Duffy (MM ’98) is principal harp of the area orchestras of Wheeling, Allentown, Hudson Valley, and Altoona. [posted 1/24/07]

Justin Hines (MM ’98) was appointed mentor/teacher for the Academy, a new program of Carnegie Hall, Juilliard, and the Weill Music Institute; he is also both principal percussionist and education consultant for the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. [posted 1/24/07]

Brandon Jovanovich (graduate studies ’97–’98) was announced recipient of the 2007 Richard Tucker Award. [posted 1/24/07]

Shira Karmon — (MM, voice) of Colmar, France — was a prizewinner of the 2004 Lied of the 20th and 21st Century competition sponsored by the Kulturkreis der Deutschen Wirtschaft. She has sung at the Komische Oper (Berlin), Neuköllner Oper (Berlin), Kammeroper (Hamburg), Opéra National du Rhin (Strasbourg), and at the Internationales Musikfestival (Chiemgau, Germany). Recent opera appearances include Jenny in Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters by Ned Rorem at the Komische Oper Berlin. www.shirakarmon.de.vu [posted on 04/20/05]

Kelly Kuo — (MM, piano) of Houston — is in his second season as artistic administrator and assistant conductor with Opera Pacific. Mr. Kuo will act as cover conductor for Los Angeles Opera’s upcoming production of A Little Night Music and will be conducting La traviata and The Pirates of Penzance for Opera Pacific in 2005. [posted 4/21/04]

Alexander Laing — (MM, orchestral clarinet) of Phoenix — is principal clarinet of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. He has performed several times as a soloist with the Phoenix Symphony and is also a guest artist with the Downtown Phoenix Chamber Series. In addition to performing, Mr. Laing is a member of the board of directors for the charity Rosie’s House, an organization that provides instruments and private lessons free of charge to underprivileged children in the Phoenix area. [posted 4/21/04]

Carla Lopez-Speziale — (DMA, voice) of New York City — performed with the Bellas Artes Opera in Mexico singing the roles of Isabella in L’italiana in Algeri, the Old Lady in Candide, and Carmen. She also sang with Utah Festival Opera as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Last year she participated in the world premiere of Adamo’s Little Women singing the role of Jo. This fall in New York City she will be performing in the Trinity Church Concerts at One series with soprano Catherine Thorpe and pianist Daniel Daroca. [posted 4/21/04]

Nicholas Mancini — (MM, jazz vibraphone) of New York City — appeared on NBC’s Showtime at the Apollo in the winter of 2003 playing his own composition with the house band. He has recorded a new album, entitled Still Being, released this past summer. It features several of his own compositions. Mr. Mancini has embarked on a cross country-trip to Los Angeles, where he will pursue several new performing and recording opportunities. [posted 4/21/04]

Richard Owen, Jr. — (MM, accompanying) of Brewster, New York — will be taking the position of assistant conductor at the opera house in Düsseldorf and Duisburg, Germany next season. He will continue serving as music director and conductor of Camerata New York orchestra, which he conducted in a gala benefit concert last season in Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall with the soprano Aprile Millo. Mr. Owen was also a visiting conducting associate at the San Francisco Opera, where he worked with Maestro Donald Runnicles on the San Francisco Opera production of Billy Budd. (updated 04/20/05]

Tatjana Ruhland — (MM, orchestral flute) of Germany — is principal flutist of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (SWR), under its chief conductor, Sir Roger Norrington. Ms. Ruhland has also recently performed concerts and taught master classes in the USA, Europe, and Japan. www.tatjanaruhland.com [posted 7/8/04]

Lucy T. Yates — (MM, voice) of New York City — serves as music director for the New York-based vocal quintet ArtSong Nouveau, with whom she tours regularly. Last season Ms. Yates made her debut as Violetta in La traviata in a new production directed by Franco Zeffirelli and conducted by Plácido Domingo. She also sang the title role in Bellini’s Beatrice di Tenda for the inaugural Fletcher Opera Institute at the North Carolina School of the Arts and performed the role of Monica in The Medium in Spoleto, Italy, under the direction of Gian Carlo Menotti. This performance was recorded by EMI for CD and video release. [posted 4/21/04]

1999:

Jamie Baum — (MM, jazz composition) of New York City — appeared with her quintet at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s inaugural Women in Jazz festival in September. In May, Jamie and her group presented the New York premiere of Ives Suite: The Time Traveler which was commissioned by Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Foundation. www.jamiebaum.com [posted 11/16/05]

Jacinta Carvalho (dba Jacinta) — (MM, jazz voice) of Portugal — has released an album entitled A Tribute to Bessie Smith on the Blue Note label. It became a Gold Record in Portugal last December, a goal never before reached in Portuguese jazz. [posted 4/21/04]

Joe Deninzon — (MM, jazz violin) of Dumont, New Jersery — was recently featured in Jazziz Magazine. He has just released his third CD, Live Wires, with his band, Stratospheerius, and arranged strings on a CD by Windup recording artists Sevenwiser, released in June. www.joedeninzon.com [posted 7/8/04]

Brandon Jovanovich — (graduate studies, voice) — appeared as the Earl of Essex in the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis production of Britten’s Gloriana. Sarah Bryan Miller of MusicalAmerica.com wrote: “(Jovanovich) was appropriately good looking, vain and petulant; he sang clearly and, at times, touchingly. . . (His pivotal confrontation with Brewer’s Elizabeth) sizzled with a dramatic energy not often encountered in opera.” [posted 11/16/05]

Georgia Jarman — (MM, voice) of Brooklyn — was featured at Will Crutchfield's Bel Canto at Caramoor festival in a July concert of Rossini's Tancredi, singing opposite Ewa Podles. George Loomis of MusicalAmerica.com wrote: "...The compelling young soprano Georgia Jarman labored successfully to give the hapless Amenaide a measure of credibility, singing with real involvement and showing a fine feeling for nuance and vocal shading. Her ornamentation . . . was also arresting and fluently executed, notably in her Act 2 arias, a lovely prayer and a big double aria." [posted on 8/8/2006]

Pawel Knapik — (MM, double bass) of New York City — performs regularly with several orchestras in the metropolitan area. The summer of 2003 brought the invitation to the All-Star Orchestra of the Bellingham Festival of Music, featuring concertmasters and principals of American and European orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Deutsche Oper Berlin. In addition to performing, Mr. Knapik teaches privately in the New York area. [posted 4/21/04]

Jane Monheit — (BM, jazz voice) of New York City — has recently been signed to Sony Classical has released her first CD for them in September. The CD is produced by Peter Asher and Al Schmitt with performances by Jane and her band, which includes pianist Mike Kanan, alumnus/guitarist Miles Okazaki, bassist Orlando Le Fleming, and alumnus/drummer Rick Montalbano, who is also Jane’s husband. The CD features such guest musical and arranger talent as Michael Bublé, Donald Harrison, Geoffrey Keezer, Romero Lubambo, Mike Manieri, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Alan Broadbent, Jorge Callendrelli, and Vince Mendoza. Jane continues to tour nationally and internationally and recently performed at the Governor's Ball at the Oscars. [posted 7/8/04] Monheit has released her seventh album, entitled Surrender, her first on the Concord Music Group label. [posted 1/24/07]

Patrick Soluri — (BM, composition) was selected to be included in the 2006 Who's Who in America 60th Diamond Edition as a distinguished composer. He was also awarded a second, consecutive ASCAP Plus Award (for 2004 and 2005] by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. During the summer of 2005, Patrick completed his first film score to the indie feature film Dead Serious. In addition to the orchestral underscore for this film, he also produced several dance club and industrial tracks as well as being the film’s sound designer. Currently in the works for 2006 is another ballet commission, collaboration with a DJ and more film scores. www.soluri.com/music [posted on 8/8/2006]

F. Anthony Thurman — (DMA, organ) of New York City — celebrated his tenth anniversary of music ministry at the Irvington Presbyterian Church, Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, this June. The church honored Dr. Thurman by commissioning a new hymn tune by McNeil Robinson — “THURMAN” — to accompany Henry Francis Lyte’s paraphrase of Psalm 103, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven.” The new hymn was presented as a surprise and premiered at the church’s spring choral concert on May 23 with Thurman’s family and the composer in attendance. In addition to serving as director of development and communications of the American Guild of Organists national headquarters since 1998, Dr. Thurman is treasurer of the New York City AGO Chapter and the immediate past chairman of the St. Wilfrid Club of the City of New York. He holds memberships in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the American Society of Association Executives. [posted 10/15/04]

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2000s

2000:

Michael Carrera — (PS ’94 / DMA, cello) of Logan, Utah — has been assistant professor of cello and chamber music at Ohio University since 2002. He has cofounded the Juniper Winter Chamber Music Festival with his wife and alumna Marjorie Bagley. Now in its fourth year, the series presents such artists this season as Pinchas Zukerman, Joseph Kalichstein, the Fry Street Quartet, Amanda Forsyth, and Manhattan alumnus Brant Bayless. [posted on 04/20/05]

Kirill Gerstein — (BM ’99 / MM, piano) — opened the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra's 2006–07 season with a performance of Beethoven's fifth piano concerto, the "Emperor." Earlier this year, the American Symphony Orchestra League's magazine, Symphony, marked Gerstein as one of six emerging soloists to watch. [posted on 12/5/2006] Gerstein appeared as piano soloist with the Houston Symphony in September, performing Liszt’s Totentanz and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. [posted 1/24/07]

Jason Lippmann — (MM / BM ’98, orchestral cello) — has won a position in the cello section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Aaron McDonald (MM ’00) has been appointed principal timpanist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. [posted 1/24/07]

Mauricio O’Reilly — (MM, voice) of New York City and Mexico — appeared last November as Arturo in a production of Lucia di Lammermoor at Mexico City’s Bellas Artes. Other 2004 appearances were with the Bregenzer Festpiele and the Stadtorchester Luzern. He was in residence at the Opernhaus Zurich for the 2003–04 season where he performed in productions of Zemlinsky’s Der Kreiderkreis, Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, and Verdi’s I vespri siciliani. [posted on 04/20/05]

Scott Pingel — (MM / PS, orchestral bass) of San Francisco — has been appointed principal bass of the San Francisco Symphony. [posted 10/15/04]

Don Peretz — (BM, jazz percussion) of the Bronx — is currently awaiting the release of his first CD as a leader for Freshsound Records. He continues to work as a sideman as well as to lead his own group, Foremen. He also maintains an active teaching studio in New York. [posted 7/8/04]

Asaf Roth — (BM, percussion) of Long Island City, New York — gave his Tel Aviv solo debut concert on marimba, the first in a series of solo concerts to be performed througout Israel this year. Asaf's percussion duo, STIX, was featured at the Shalvata beach club hosted by one of the leading Israeli DJs, Shlomi Zidan. In addition, Asaf has just concluded his first year as a conductor with the Tel Aviv Symphonic Youth Band. [posted 7/8/04] Roth gave a solo recital on marimba at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. He has also performed lately in Novosibirsk, Prague, Vienna, and Israel. His latest initiative The Biting Sheep, a live dance-electro-acoustic collaboration, has ended its summer tour with a performance at the Csides international festival. Asaf’s first marimba solo album has just been released under the title Asaf Roth Plays Marimba. Asaf is a MalletKAT endorser. www.asafroth.com [posted on 04/24/06]

Noriko Suzuki — (MM, piano) of New York City — was recipient of the Most Distinguished Musician Award and the Kabalevsky Special Award at the 2002 IBLA Grand Prize Competition. Last season, her performances included a recital at St. Paul’s Chapel, performing works by Mozart, Schumann, and Kabalevsky. [posted 4/21/04]

2001:

Nerva Altino — (MM, piano) of Jamaica, New York — and Robenson Altino — (MM, piano) of Jamaica, New York — appeared at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in a concert entitled “No Boundaries." The program included Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, Ravel's Left Hand Concerto, and original arrangements by the Altino brothers. Also featured was a 100 voice chorus founded by the siblings in 2002. [posted on 04/20/05]

Kyle Barisich — (MM, voice) of New York City — recently finished a six-month run of A Touch Of Vegas, a show he cocreated, that ran at New York’s Dominion Theatre. The show received national media coverage including features in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, as well as on-air raves by Kelly Ripa on the Live with Regis and Kelly TV show. Kyle has also recently appeared in an off Broadway children’s musical, The American Girls Revue with alumni Shira Lissek and Bianca Carragher. Kyle is also a published writer, and he is currently the food editor of Rave*SQ, a national luxury lifestyle magazine. Kyle generously contributed his time to speak on a Career Awareness panel at Manhattan School of Music in April. [posted on 04/24/06]

Stanford Felix — (MM, voice) of Lawrence, Kansas — was assistant professor of voice at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a position he left to pursue a doctorate at the University of Kansas. His recent roles and upcoming roles include the Marquis in Dialogue of the Carmelites and Sir John in Falstaff. [posted 11/16/05]

Vivianne Hagner — (PG / PS, violin) of Germany — is a recipient of the Burletto-Buitoni Award 2004. Her recent performances include a London debut with the BBC Symphony of Unsuk Chin’s Violin Concerto, which she premiered two years ago with the Deutsche Symphony under the baton of conductor Kent Nagano. Ms. Hagner will open the 2004/2005 National Arts Centre season in a performance of the Brahms Double Concerto in collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma this fall in Canada. Pinchas Zukerman, the music director of the orchestra, will be on the podium. [posted 4/21/04]

Drew Hemenger — (MM / DMA, composition) of New York City — has recently started a concert presenting organization with two composers from Philadelphia. In its second season, Chamber Music Now! is fully nonprofit and is dedicated to presenting high-caliber ensembles in programs balanced with new music, as well as standard repertoire, in New York and Philadelphia. Drew continues to receive various commissions and will have a new string quartet premiered by the Serafin Quartet in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in spring 2005. In addition, he is writing film and television music for his production company, HF Music, with partner Philip Carroll, also an alumnus. www.hfmusic.net [posted 7/8/04]

Rolando Garza Rodriguez (MM ’01) was selected for Mexico’s National Youth Award, the highest that the government gives to an outstanding young citizen. His recent projects include the Basel Opera Theater (assistant music director), Atelier of the Opera National du Rhin (assistant conductor), the Schwetzinger Festspiele in Germany, the Acanthes Festival in Belgium, and his recent conducting debut with Le nozze di Figaro in Bourgas, Bulgaria. [posted 1/24/07]

Christianne Rushton (PS / MM ’00, voice) is a winner of the 2006 Canada Council for the Arts prizes for young Canadian musicians. Christianne won the Bernard Diamant Prize, which offers professional Canadian classical singers under the age of 35 an opportunity to pursue their career through further studies. It is awarded in addition to a regular Canada Council grant to an outstanding young classical singer in the Council's annual competition. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Suzanne Schwing — (MM, voice) of Schenectady, New York — gave her Carnegie Hall debut with the New England Symphonic Ensemble under the baton of John Rutter, singing the mezzo-soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah. [posted 4/21/04]

Stephen Slater (BM ’01) has recently been offered a position in the horn section of the Jerusalem Symphony. He worked as a performer/teaching artist with the ensemble Tales & Scales, putting on performances combining music, theater, and dance for family audiences and giving over 200 performances while traveling
the United States. [posted 1/24/07]

2002:

Nancy Chang (BM ’00 / MM ’02) has been appointed to the violin section of the Florida Philharmonic. [posted 1/24/07]

Gino Faraci — (MM, double bass) of New Haven, Connecticut — has been performing with the Verbier Festival Orchestra under the direction of James Levine, Christoph von Dohnanyi, and Yuri Temirkanov. In November he toured with the orchestra in Europe and Asia under the direction of Charles Dutoit and James Levine. [posted 4/21/04]

Bronwen Forbay — (MM, voice) — recently received the prestigious award for Best South African Young Artist for Music and will be featured at the 2007 Grahamstown National Arts Festival, performing in recital, as a guest soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, and as the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Creation with the Yale Alumni Chorus. In June 2006 Ms. Forbay performed the demanding dramatic coloratura role of Orasia, Queen of Thrace, in the American premiere of Telemann’s Orpheus with Wolf Trap Opera. T. L. Ponick of the Washington Times wrote of her performance: “South African soprano Bronwen Forbay was a standout in the strenuous role of Orasia. She displayed a firm, amazingly mature grasp of baroque ornamentation, aided by excellent diction, fine vocal support and an uncanny sense of rhythm… Each year at Wolf Trap, there are one or two young talents that bear watching. Miss Forbay is surely one of them in 2006.” In September, Ms. Forbay performed as the guest soloist with the Durban Symphonic Choir in their 40th anniversary celebration concert accompanied by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra from South Africa. Other recent opera credits include Donna Elvira in the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music main stage production of Don Giovanni and Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario with the Voce Chamber Ensemble Orchestra in London. In April 2005, Ms. Forbay won first place in the opera category of the first UNISA Southern Africa voice competition. This honor resulted in her automatic inclusion as a competitor in the fifth International UNISA voice competition (February 2006] where she was the third prize winner and recipient of the SAMRO award for the most promising South African opera singer. Ms. Forbay received the Sam Adams award for the most outstanding performance in a Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music opera production (2005] for the role of Ginevra, Princess of Scotland, in the main stage production of Handel’s Ariodante. Ms. Forbay performed the role of the First Niece in Peter Grimes at the Santa Fe Opera (2005] where she was a returning apprentice artist. In the Santa Fe Opera apprentice scenes program, she performed the roles of Musetta in La bohème and the First Nun in the Santa Fe Opera premiere of the one-act opera Two Saintes Caught in the Same Act by Philip Wharton. The featured soloist in the 2005 Last Night of the Proms concerts with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Richard Cock, Ms. Forbay’s other performances in South Africa include: J.S. Bach's Cantata No. 51 with the Baroque 2000 Orchestra (Durban, South Africa) and recitals in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria, Franschoek, and Hermanus with South African concert pianist, Christopher Duigan. In the United States she has performed as the soprano soloist in the Haydn Creation with the Cincinnati Baroque Orchestra, Bach B Minor Mass with the Santa Fe Pro Musica Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Plano Symphony Orchestra and Laredo Philharmonic Orchestras in Texas. Ms. Bronwen Forbay is currently a third year Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in voice performance at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. [posted on 12/5/2006]

David A. Gordon — (MM, voice) of New York City — sang his first Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos with the Seagle Music Colony. He has recently begun his first contract with the New York City Opera, engaged to cover several tenor roles this season. [posted 11/16/05]

Kyle Hoyt — (MM, orchestral horn) — has won a position as associate principal horn of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Rafal Jezierski (BM ’02) has been appointed by Maestro Loren Maazel to the post of principal cellist with the Palau De Les Arts Reina Sofia Orchestra in Valencia, Spain. [posted 1/24/07]

Amy Justman — (MM, voice) of New York City — made her Broadway debut this fall in the revival of Sondheim's Company, playing the role of Susan as well as the piano, synthesizer, and orchestra bells as part of the "actor-orchestra" concept of the production. Amy was a 2004 winner of the Kurt Weill/Lotte Lenya Competition and subsequently performed concerts in New York and at the Kurt Weill Fest in Dessau, Germany through the Weill foundation. She has also been a soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra at both Avery Fisher Hall and the Bard Music Festival. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Brynjar Kolbergsrud — (graduate studies, orchestral trumpet) — has won a position as principal trumpet of the Stockholm Philharmonic.

Krzystof Kuznik — (PS, violin) of New York City — is a permanent substitute violinist for the New York Philharmonic. [posted 4/21/04]

Laquita Mitchell — (MM/professional studies, voice) of Houston — won first prize in the 2003 Wiener Kammeroper competition and was a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, held in March. The New York Times wrote of her performance in the Met finals: “Ms. Mitchell’s technique was impressively mature, and her voice was powerful for her age, but her sense of self-possession also made her stand out as if she did not need any committee of judges to tell her that she was a diva.” She appeared as soloist in the opening-night concert at Tanglewood 2004 in a performance of All Rise by Wynton Marsalis. The Boston Symphony Orchestra was under the baton of Kurt Masur. Ms. Mitchell is a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, having recently performed the roles of Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Javotte in Manon, and Water in the world premiere of The Little Prince by Rachel Portman. This season Ms. Mitchell will sing the role of the First Lady in The Magic Flute and the role of Barena in Christopher Alden’s production of Jenufa at the Houston Grand Opera. Laquita appeared at Wolf Trap Opera this last summer as Mrs. Ford in a production of Verdi’s Falstaff. [posted 10/15/04]

Jennifer O’Loughlin — (MM, voice) of Sewickley, Pennsylvania — is a second-year ensemble member of the Vienna Volksoper, where she has performed the title role in Martha, Valencienne in Die Lustige Witwe, Musetta in La bohème, Marie in Zar und Zimmermann, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, and Frasquita in Carmen. Upcoming roles at the Volksoper include Servilia in La clemenza di Tito, Esmeralda in Die Verkaufte Braut, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and Malinka in the Janácek opera Die Ausfluege des Herrn Broucek. Last summer she participated in the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele as Susanna and this summer she will perform with the Bregenz Festival as the soprano soloist in Nielsen's Symphony No. 3, "Sinfornia Espansiva." [posted on 04/20/05] O'Loughlin is scheduled to make her debut this season at the Grand Théâtre de Geneve (Switzerland) as Pamina in a new production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. Other engagements include Tytania in the revival of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the title role in a new production of Carl Orff’s Die Kluge at the Vienna Volksoper. In September 2006, Jennifer participated with the Tonkünstler Orchestra in the making of a recording to be released soon of Leonard Bernstein's Mass. Jennifer was engaged as the rehearsal and performance cover for Anna Netrebko in the role of Susanna for the 2006 Salzburg Festival’s new production of Le nozze di Figaro where she worked with Maestro Harnoncourt and director Claus Guth. Jennifer also participated in the opening ceremony of the Salzburg Festival with the Mozarteum Orchestra, Manfred Honeck conducting. She sang a composition written specifically for the event by Moritz Eggert that included music from all twenty-two operas by Mozart. The opening ceremony was performed in the new "Haus für Mozart" and was broadcast live on ORF throughout Austria and parts of Germany. In December 2005, she participated in a benefit concert in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the AIDS Help House. Critic Oliver A. Lang of the Vienna newspaper Kronen Zeitung wrote: "Jennifer O’Loughlin used her thoroughly compelling soprano voice powerfully and effectively." An interview with Jennifer for Opera Today, entitled “A voice so beautiful, it will break your heart,” can be read on online at www.operatoday.com. (updated on 12/5/2006] O’Loughlin made her Salzburg Festival debut this summer singing Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. [posted 1/24/07]

Erin Porter — (MM, horn) of Gilbert, Arizona — recently completed a season-long appointment as third horn with the Louisville Orchestra. She is now a regular substitute with the Phoenix Symphony. [posted on 04/24/06]

Jerry Wong — (DMA, piano) of Anaheim, California — is assistant professor of piano at Kent State University and performs as a soloist and chamber musician in the U.S. and abroad. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Mateusz Wolski (BM ’99 / MM ’01 / PS ’02)has recently been appointed concertmaster of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra in Washington state. He has also joined the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Council. [posted 1/24/07]

2003:

Jason Arnold — (MM, tuba) of New York City — is the instructor of brass and percussion at Robert F. Wagner Middle School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and will be a director of bands for the Manhattan School of Music summer camp. He also maintains a private studio and freelances in the area. [posted 7/8/04]

David A. Dash — (MM, trumpet) of Lincroft, New Jersey — joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, America’s oldest professional musical organization, in August 2004. [posted 10/15/04]

Jennifer Holloway — (MM, voice) — appeared with Sante Fe Opera in their August 2006 production of Massenet’s Cendrillon. The Denver Post reported: “Mezzo soprano Jennifer Holloway handles the trouser role of Prince Charming with such skill and confidence that it's hard to believe she is a company apprentice.” A reviewer on MusicalAmerica.com wrote: “...mezzo soprano Jennifer Holloway was utterly (and unusually) convincing in every respect playing a young man . . . This is one to watch.” [posted on 12/5/2006]

Stephen Jacobsohn (MM ’03) has been promoted to manager of artistic administration for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. [posted 1/24/07]

Joanne Javien — (BM, voice) of Cerritos, California — made her Shakespeare in the Park debut this summer as part of the ensemble in the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona and was featured in an article entitled “Gypsy of the Month” on broadwayworld.com. Javien had spent the five months before Two Gentlemen in the national tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie. [posted 11/16/05]

Jane Kircher — (MM, orchestral bassoon) — has won a position as principal bassoon of the Auckland Symphony in New Zealand.

Charles Mays, Jr. — (MM, voice) of Hartford, Connecticut — was chosen as a semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions held this spring. He has begun a doctoral program at the University of Hartford in vocal performance and sang the roles of Leporello and Il Commendatore in their spring mainstage production of Don Giovanni. This past summer he returned to the Marlboro Music Festival. [posted 4/21/04]

Alexandre Moutouzkine — (MM, piano) of Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia — was awarded the first prize in the Andorra International Piano Competition. Having received his master’s degree, Alex is currently in our Artist Diploma program, where he studies with Dr. Solomon Mikowsky. [posted on 04/24/06]

Conor Nelson (BM ’03) has been appointed Assistant Professor of Flute at Oklahoma State University. In addition, he was the first wind player ever to win the grand prize at the WAMSO Young Artist Competition, which will give him the opportunity to appear as soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra. [posted 1/24/07]

Amy Shoremount — (BM ’01 / MM, voice) of New York City — was a 2004 national semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. In 2004 she also made her European operatic debut in Spoleto, Italy, performing the role of Ifigenia in Handel’s Oreste. She began 2005 with her Carnegie Hall debut, performing Brahms’s Requiem with the Juilliard Orchestra, under the baton of James DePreist. She will be completing her Artist Diploma with the Juilliard Opera Center this coming May. [posted on 04/20/05]

Kim Thompson — (BM, jazz drums) of New York City — recently became the drummer for pop star Beyoncé Knowles. She will begin touring worldwide soon. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Adam Ward (BM ’03) is in his second season singing countertenor with Chanticleer, the professional all-male chorus, and will be giving over 100 concerts this year around the world. [posted 1/24/07]

Elizabeth Zeltser — (graduate studies, orchestral violin) — has won a position as violinist with the New York Philharmonic.

2004:

Elaine Alvarez — (BM/MM, voice) a Cuban-American from Miami — appeared at Lincoln Center in May of 2003 as a winner of the Lotte Lenya Competition for Singers, sponsored by the Kurt Weill Foundation. Ms. Alvarez was an Eastern Regional Finalist in the 2004 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, after competing in the New York City District Event. She was a winner of the 2004 Marilyn Horne Foundation Competition. This past summer Ms. Alvarez attended the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, where she participated in master classes, scenes programs, was featured in recital with pianist Warren Jones, and was seen in the role of Elena in Nino Rota’s Il cappello di paglia di Firenze. Ms. Alvarez is currently a resident artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in the studio of Ruth Golden. Upcoming performances include Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème. [posted 10/15/04]

Gregory Beyer — (MM ’98 / DMA, percussion) of the Bronx — is a visiting assistant professor of percussion at Northern Illinois University for the 2004–05 year. In addition to his teaching, Beyer remains an active new music soloist, performing throughout the United States. [posted on 04/20/05]

Vanessa Cariddi — (MM, voice) of New York City — made her Pittsburgh Opera debut as Maddalena in Rigoletto, sang Niklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann with El Paso Opera, and appears with Metropolitan Opera as Waltraute in Die Walküre when the company goes on tour in Japan. [posted on 04/24/06]

Brenda Earle (MM ’04) was a finalist in the 2007 Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition held in Washington, D.C. Brenda has also recently become a member of the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Council. [posted 1/24/07]

Lisa Harris — (MM, voice) of Brooklyn, New York — appeared as soloist on the WB network broadcast live from St. Patrick’s Cathedral at Rockefeller Center last Christmas Eve. [posted on 04/24/06]

Sarah Heltzel — (MM ‘03 / PS, voice) — made her Seattle Opera debut this summer as Siegrune in Wagner’s Die Walküre. In an unexpected turn of events, she sang the role of Flosshilde, one of the Rhine Daughters in Das Rheingold, from the pit when the scheduled artist became sick at the last minute. She also recently sang Cherubino with the Seattle Opera Young Artist Program and will return to the program next year to sing Mrs. Grose in Britten’s Turn of the Screw. [posted 11/16/05]

Dan Krekeler — (MM, double bass) of New York City — has been appointed to the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. [posted 11/16/05]

Kuan-Cheng Lu — (MM, orchestral violin) — has won a position as violinist with the New York Philharmonic.

Dr. Jennifer Muñiz — (MM '99 / DMA, piano) of South Bend, Indiana — will be joining the faculty of Indiana University at South Bend to teach keyboard skills, having been a member of the keyboard skills department at Manhattan School of Music for the last two years. In July, she will be teaching piano at the Magistralia Summer Music Festival in Spain. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Dr. Jorge Muñiz — (DMA, composition) of South Bend, Indiana— will be joining the faculty of Indiana University at South Bend to teach composition, having been on the theory faculty at Manhattan School of Music for the last four years. In addition, Jorge has been invited for a five-week stay at Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he will finish the orchestration of his opera Germinal, which will be premiered in Spain in 2008. In July, Jorge will be teaching composition at the Magistralia Summer Music Festival in Spain where Jorge has been the artistic director of the composition course since 2005. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Marco Panascia — (MM, jazz bass) of New York City — recently released his first major label debut on the Sony Classical label. Eldar: Live at the Blue Note features Eldar Djangirov on piano, Todd Strait on drums, and Marco on bass, and special guests Roy Hargrove and Chris Botti on trumpet. www.marcopanascia.com [posted on 8/8/2006]

2005:

Roland Barber (MM ’05) has been awarded a Chamber Music of America New Works Grant, providing funding to write and present new compositions in the coming year. [posted 1/24/07]

Roman Fushanksky — (PS, clarinet) — has recently been appointed as principal clarinet for the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Gabriel Katz (PS ’05) has been appointed to the double bass section of the KZN Philharmonic in South Africa. [posted 1/24/07]

David Morris (MM ’05) has been appointed to the cello section of the New World Symphony in Florida. [posted 1/24/07]

2006:

Pascal Archer (MM ’06) has been appointed principal clarinetist of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. [posted 1/24/07]

Josu de Solaun Soto — (BM ’03 / MM, piano) — has won the top prize of the 15th International Jose Iturbi Piano Competition. His prize includes a cash award of $25,000; recital and orchestral engagements throughout Europe and USA; and a recording contract. Josu is a current doctoral candidate at Manhattan School of Music. [posted on 12/5/2006]

Kristin Ezell — (MM ’06, voice) — made her professional New York debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall through the Osvaldo Golijov and Dawn Upshaw Workshop for Composers and Singers with concerts in April. Kristin performed the world premiere of Scenes with baritone Yohan Yi, composed specially for the duet by Johannes Lauer of Germany. Ms. Ezell was awarded a full scholarship to be one of the eight members of the inaugural Master of Music in Vocal Performance program at Bard College Conservatory of Music under the artistic direction of Dawn Upshaw. [posted on 11/19/07]

Daniel Lippel — (DMA, guitar) of New York City — has released his debut CD on his own label, Focus Recordings, and has earned favorable reviews from publications such as Guitar Review and Gramophone. [posted on 8/8/2006]

Bill Morris (MM ’06) has been appointed to the bass section of the Louisiana Philharmonic. [posted 1/24/07]

Louis Reed (MM ’06) has been appointed to the trumpet section of the New World Symphony. [posted 1/24/07]

Kyle Saulnier (MM ’06) debuted his group, Awakening Orchestra, at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center in March. He has also written the underscoring for episodes of the TV program Hunter & Hunted on the National Geographic Channel. [posted 1/24/07]

Maxine Thevenot — (MM ’01 / DMA, organ) — has recently joined the faculty of the University of New Mexico and had her debut solo recording, Without Boundaries, released on the Raven label. This past season she performed solo organ recitals in New York City, Philadelphia, and Princeton and appeared as concerto soloist with the Adelphi University Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Metropolitan Orchestra (as part of the opening night of the National Convention for the American Guild of Organists). She also presented a lecture recital at the AGO convention on Canadian organ music. In May, she played the premiere of a new anthem by Stephen Paulus, written for the choir of the Cathedral Church of St. John of Albuquerque, where she is the Associate Organist/Choir Director. She then toured with the Cathedral Choir for services at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City and at the Washington National Cathedral. www.maxinethevenot.com [posted on 12/5/2006]

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In Memoriam — Alumni and Former Faculty

Manny Albam — a member of the jazz faculty from 1991–2000 — died in his sleep on October 2, 2001. Richard E. Adams, Vice President/Dean of Faculty and Performance, responds: “One of the major jazz composers and arrangers of our time, Manny brought inspiration not only to his art, but to all of those fortunate enough to know him. This is a great loss to our school and to the world of music as well.”

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Jerome Ashby (orchestral horn faculty, 1991–2007) lost a courageous battle with prostrate cancer on December 26, 2007. He joined the MSM faculty as a founding teacher of the Orchestral Performance Program faculty in 1991. Vice President Richard Adams write: “He will be missed by so many of us in our community as a great artist, enlightened teacher and as a friend of profound dignity and integrity.” Jerome Ashby began his tenure with the New York Philharmonic as associate principal horn in July of 1979 at the invitation of Zubin Mehta. He made his Philharmonic solo debut in April 1982. A native of Charleston, South Carolina,Mr. Ashby began his studies in the New York City Public Schools. After attending the High School of Performing Arts, he attended The Juilliard School, where he was a student of former Philharmonic principal horn James Chambers. An active recitalist and chamber musician, Mr. Ashby appeared at music festivals around the world. He performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and performed regularly with the New York Philharmonic Ensembles. Mr. Ashby was also a faculty member of The Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival School.

Julius Baker — a member of the woodwind faculty from 1982–87 — passed away in August 2003. Mr. Baker was considered one of the world’s great flutists, having been a member of the Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and CBS orchestras, as well as serving as principal flutist of the New York Philharmonic. He was also a member of the faculties at Curtis Institute, New England Conservatory, and The Juilliard School.

Iris Rosalie Maynard Ballinger — (BM ’51, piano / MM ’78, music education) — passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2006 in her Bronx home. She was 80. Iris Ballinger was a native New Yorker and a product of the New York City public school system. Her musical training started early with instruction on the piano by the late Alan Harris and organ lessons soon followed through a scholarship by the late Julian Adger. One year after graduation from high school, Iris entered Manhattan School of Music as a piano major where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in May 1951. She taught piano lessons privately and served as assistant organist at Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Simeon’s Episcopal Church in the Bronx, while a student in college. Iris met her future husband, William P. Ballinger, a violinist, while attending Manhattan School of Music. They were married in 1949 and the marriage produced four sons: William L., Edward P., Malcolm C., and Darrell M. While raising her family, Iris continued her music career by giving private lessons, performing as an accompanist, serving as a church organist and choir director at Butler Memorial Methodist and Crawford Memorial Methodist churches in the Bronx, St. Luke the Beloved Physician in New York City and numerous others. Iris was an active member of the parent associations in all the schools where her sons attended and volunteered at such institutions as the NAACP and the Freedom Fund. She taught general music and chorus at Junior High School 113 in the Bronx from 1968 until retirement in 1989. During that period she also returned to Manhattan School of Music and earned a Master of Music degree in music education. Iris was a member of the Music Educators National Caucus and served with her husband, William, as a co-chairperson for the New York State School Music Association’s Multi-Cultural Awareness Commission. Iris and Williams would often help young musicians prepare for and travel to various music competitions. These young musicians could win music scholarships for college. True to her name (Iris Rosalie), Iris’ favorite hobby was gardening. Every classroom, church or office in which she worked, were decorated with fresh cut irises and roses. Services for Iris Ballinger include a wake on Friday, June 9, 2006, from 5:00 – 9:00 PM at the East End Funeral Home in the Bronx (718-547-0640); the funeral will be on Saturday, June 10, 2006, at 10:00 AM; and a repast following the funeral at 1:00 PM at the Fratelli Italian Restaurant at 2507 Eastchester Road in the Bronx (718-547-2489).

Rose Bampton (member of the voice faculty from 1963–1981) died on August 21, 2007 in Bryn Mawr, Pa. She was 99. Dr. Mercedes Alicea (MM ’77, voice), a student of Ms. Bampton, organized a touching memorial on November 15, 2007, at Columbia University’s St. Paul’s Chapel. Mrs. Bampton's obituary by Allan Kozinn in the New York Times, read: "When Ms. Bampton made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Laura in “La Gioconda,” in November 1932, she had been singing professionally for only three years. But she had a considerable artistic arsenal that included a strong, finely polished voice and a trim, statuesque figure. During her years with the company — she retired in 1950 — her sound was generally regarded as attractive rather than thrilling, but she used it with an intelligence and interpretive flair that made her one of the most distinctive singers of her time. Ms. Bampton was born in Lakewood, Ohio, on Nov. 28, 1907, although during her career she sometimes gave her year of birth as 1908 or 1909. She spent her childhood in Buffalo and began her studies at Drake University, in Des Moines. Originally a soprano, she was pushed toward the mezzo-soprano repertory by her teachers after a bout with laryngitis, and when she made her debut at the Chautauqua Opera in 1929 it was in a mezzo-soprano role, Siébel, in Gounod’s “Faust.” In 1930 Ms. Bampton moved to Philadelphia, where she sang mezzo roles with the Philadelphia Grand Opera and enrolled at the Curtis Institute. One of Ms. Bampton’s fellow students at Curtis was the composer Samuel Barber, who enlisted her to sing in the New York premiere of his vocal chamber work “Dover Beach” in 1933. In Philadelphia Ms. Bampton also sang several times with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra. A recording of one of those — the United States premiere of Schoenberg’s “Gurrelieder,” in which she sang the Wood-Dove — brought her to the attention of the Met. Ms. Bampton’s roles during her first season included Amneris in Verdi’s “Aida” and small roles in “Parsifal,” “Die Walküre,” “Das Rheingold” and “Hansel und Gretel.” Other roles were added over the next few seasons. By the time she married Wilfrid Pelletier, a conductor at the Met, in 1937 (he died in 1982), she was feeling underemployed at the house, and decided to return to the soprano repertory. Ms. Bampton’s first appearance at the Met as a soprano was as Leonora in Verdi’s “Trovatore” on May 7, 1937. Her repertory expanded quickly over the next few years, to include Donna Anna in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” the title role in Gluck’s “Alceste,” and several Wagner roles: Sieglinde in “Die Walküre,” Elisabeth in “Tannhäuser,” Elsa in “Lohengrin” and Kundry in “Parsifal.” She also added the title role of “Aida” to her repertory, and in January 1940 she appeared at the Met as “Aida” one Saturday and as Amneris a week later. In addition to singing at the Met, Ms. Bampton sang with companies in San Francisco and Chicago, as well as in Buenos Aires, where she sang several Strauss roles that she never performed in North America. She was also a recitalist and appeared regularly with the New York Philharmonic and other orchestras. Among her recordings that remain in print is a broadcast performance of “Fidelio,” in which she sang Leonore, with Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra. There are no immediate survivors."

Phyllis Beeson Susen Barbash — (BM ’64, harp) — died July 7, 2002, at her home in Ithaca, New York. She served as a member of the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Council from 1996-2001. After studies with Marcel Grandjany, she was a harpist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Her career as an arts administrator eventually led a position as director of education at Carnegie Hall, having previously served as executive director of the Three Rivers Young People's Orchestras and director of education of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The following remarks are from a letter from Jay Golan, senior director of Carnegie Hall: “Phyllis's contribution to Carnegie Hall during her seven year tenure as director of education from 1994 to 2001 was immense. The Board resolution passed on May 30, 2001, to mark the Hall's acceptance of her departure, noted ‘Phyllis has led the educational work of Carnegie Hall to a level of activity and excellence unparalleled in its nonprofit history.’ She initiated many programs such as reaching out to Head Start and pre kindergarten students and professional development of teachers. Furthermore she spearheaded the drive to use videoconferencing, Web based materials and other initiatives to turn Carnegie Hall into a national forum for arts in education as expressed in music. She leaves thousands more who knew her as a sparkling friend, a person whose passion for and faith in arts education were inseparable from her personality.”

Dr. Ulrich Bauman (BM 1961 / MM 1966) passed away on December 18, 2007 at the age of 71. He had studied violin with Rachmael Weinstock. He had been a faculty member of Lake Michigan College. Dr. Bauman had been a donor to Manhattan School of Music.

Walter Blazer — a faculty member from 1972–1982 — passed away on March 10, 2005, at age 87. Growing up in New York City, Blazer studied at Juilliard and in the American Theater Wing Professional Training Program. His voice teachers included Taussig, Herz, Bertelli, Beltrami, and Favaretto. He was a veteran of World War II, returning to the U.S. with his Italian bride in 1951 to reestablish a music career. He appeared as soloist in opera and oratorio under such conductors as Bamberger, Giulini, and Koussevitsky, and with such ensembles as the Santa Cecilia Orchestra and RAI. He was music director of WDHA-FM in Dover, New Jersey. His New York Times obituary read, in part, “ Walter was a most generous and insightful man, with humor always ready. . . . He leaves us with a legacy to be reckoned with. He was a powerful presence and will be deeply missed.” In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by his daughter, alumna Judith Blazer (BM ’77), a well-established actress/singer on stage and in television.

Giampaolo Bracali (member of the faculty since 1970) passed away on December 16, 2006. Vice President Richard E. Adams, writes: “His contribution to the musical and pedagogical life of Manhattan School of Music will resonate well into the future.” Mr. Bracali had taught at the School since 1970, joining the composition faculty in 1972. There was a memorial service for Mr. Bracali on Sunday, January 21, 2007 at the Church of Saint Paul and Saint Andrew in Manhattan.

John Browning — a member of the faculty in the early 1980s — died in Minnesota in January of 2003 following surgery to correct a chronic heart condition. Richard E. Adams, Vice President/Dean of Faculty and Performance, writes: “Personally, I'll always recall his memorable performances of the Barber Sonata, Barber Concerto and, in particular, a monumental performance of the Ravel Concerto for Left Hand with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. The latter is blasted forever into my musical memory.”

Jaki Byard — a member of the jazz faculty since 1989 — was killed on February 11, 2002 in his house in Queens. He was 76. Mr. Byard was pianist, saxophonist, and teacher who recorded with some of jazz’s most important figures, including Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy, and whose playing spanned the history of the genre. His improvisations, filled with quick stylistic changes, moved from boogie-woogie to free jazz. He was a stylistic virtuoso, and his improvisations had been described as encyclopedic and profound. He was inducted into the New England Jazz Hall of Fame. He is survived by two daughters, Denise and Diane, and a son, Gerald, in addition to four grandsons and six great-grandsons.

Hugh Gerald Clasby — (BM ’64, trombone/MM ’68, trombone) — passed away on April 4, 2004, after a long illness.

John Crosby — president of Manhattan School of Music from 1976–86 — passed away December 16, 2002 in Santa Fe, New Mexico due to complications from a burst appendix. He was 76. Mr. Crosby founded the Santa Fe Opera in 1957 and was general director for 44 seasons. Allan Kozinn of the New York Times, wrote: “Mr. Crosby, whose career also included a decade as president of the Manhattan School of Music, starting in 1976, was revered in opera for his vision and adventurous spirit. At a time when there were few summer music festivals in the United States, he started a summer opera series that, although far from the urban centers where classical music flourished, quickly drew audiences from around the world. Making a virtue of necessity, he filled his casts with young, promising singers, many of whom went on to successful careers. He also started the now common practice of hiring fledgling singers as apprentices, to cover the lead roles, sing secondary ones and perform in the company's chorus.” In addition to his work at Santa Fe and at Manhattan School, he was president of Opera America from 1976 to 1980. He was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 1991. Richard E. Adams, Vice President/Dean of Faculty and Performance, responds: “The passing of John Crosby marks the end of an era.”

Leander Dell'Anno — (DP, piano) a member of the faculty from 1940–1975 — died in Florida the first week of January 2002. Leander Dell'Anno joined the faculty in 1940, where he taught piano and theory. In 1960 he became coordinator of the piano minor department and also acted as student advisor in the 1970s. He also served on the faculties of Finch College and The Juilliard School, as well as serving as music department chair of the Kent School. Mr. Dell’Anno held a diploma from Manhattan School of Music, a BA from Brooklyn College, and an MA from New York University. He studied piano with Harold Bauer, Rudolph Gruen, and Frances Hall.

Walter Engel — (undergraduate composition studies, 1973 – 78) — passed away on April 1, 2007. Jill Sagarin writes: “It is just like Walter to have been born on All Souls Day and leave us on April Fool's Day (it was also Palm Sunday, but he would have liked for us to remember him on April Fool's Day). He certainly made a feast out of a life that could have been otherwise. He made that feast from the recipe that only he could have concocted, full of sweetness, hurnor, caring, high expectations, stubbornness, love and a desire to feed everyone who came to his home. Walter was proud to call people from many different walks of life his friend. Regardless of where you are from or how he had met you, he touched you smack dab in the middle of your heart with those big brown eyes that bored into you. Those were the eyes that blinked his words, that took everything in, that told jokes, that cursed, that conveyed his anger and frustration, that touched the essence of you and that told you, with no words needed and in no uncertain terms, that he loved you and that you were free to love him. He succumbed to heart failure due to pneumonia after a short illness; he was comfortable to the end…We are asking that any gifts be in the form of contributions to the music festival that bears his name — The Walter Engel Festival of Young Performers. Contributions will be used to fund college scholarships and should be payable to: The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood — FYP and sent c/o Dorothy Neff, 349 Graydon Terrace, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.” Walter told us for a feature published in 2000: “My time at MSM was enriching. Music means so very much to my everyday survival in a wheelchair-bound life. I know that attending MSM helped me overcome this new life of mine. I was honored to walk through those marble corridors with such intense musicians. Asking myself which people really made a difference in my existence on this planet is a daily ritual, and I constantly think of some extraordinary MSM faculty members: Ludmila Ulehla, Nicolas Flagello, Giampaolo Bracali, Earl Carter, Daniel Rice, and George Manahan, to name a few. MSM was full of gorgeous sounds to me. Unfortunately, after a short but sweet conducting career, I suffered a brainstem stroke. I am now without a voice. My communication system is done with my eyes; letter by letter, I form a word, then I construct a sentence. MSM ignited and kindled a flame that enables me to build paragraphs of my life. My visual art and haiku continue to be on exhibit and the festival I run for young performers is celebrating a ninth season. I am ever so grateful for the MSM experience!”

Leopoldo Escalante — (BM ’84, piano) — passed away on March 23, 2001, we have recently learned. He was 46 and living in Palm Springs, California. Clas Ekwall, a friend, writes to us: “he had switched from piano to another art form, oil painting, where he had great promise . . . .”

Estella Menes Feldman (graduate studies ’48, piano) passed away on November 19, 2005. She was in her 101st year and living in New York City. Ms. Feldman made her Boston debut at age 16, playing the organ to accompany silent films at the Metropolitan Theater. Having graduated from the New England Conservatory in 1931, she came to New York to study with Harold Bauer, who urged her to pursue a concert career. For several years she was an active member of the LADO organization, helping many young Manhattan School of Music students continue their studies. She served as treasurer for the School's Alumni Association.

Herta Glaz — (member of the voice faculty from 1956 – 1977) — passed away on January 28, 2006. She was 95. Mezzo soprano Herta Glaz, studied at the State Academy of Music in her hometown of Vienna and later at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She made her opera debut at the State Opera of Breslau as Erda in Wagner’s Das Rheingold in 1931, at age 19, before touring Austria and Scandinavia and performing at the German Theatre in Prague. The rise of the Nazis obliged her to leave Europe. Following an American tour with the Salzburg Opera Guild in 1936, she emigrated to the U.S., where she sang with the Chicago Opera and in concerts conducted by Otto Klemperer in Los Angeles. She became a U.S. citizen in 1943. At the Metropolitan Opera between 1942 and 1956, she sang such roles as Annina in Der Rosenkavalier and Mary in Der fliegende Holländer. Glaz, sang over 300 performances at the Metropolitan Opera between 1942 and 1956. In addition to teaching at Manhattan School of Music, she taught in New Haven, Connecticut, where she founded the New Haven Opera Society, and was appointed to the faculty of the University of Southern California in 1977, where she taught until 1994.

Randall Gregoire-Bess — (undergraduate voice ’91) — passed away September 21, 2003. No further information available at this time.

Yoshiko (Yoshi) Ito — (BM ’65, voice) — died on December 8, 2002. As a soprano, she sang on the operatic stages of Germany and Japan. In her later years, she was a faculty member of the Toho Gaken Music School in Tokyo.

Constance Keene — a member of the piano faculty and board of trustees — passed away on December 24, 2005. Allan Kozinn wrote the following which appeared in the New York Times on December 28, 2005: "Constance Keene, a pianist and teacher whose recordings of the Romantic keyboard repertory were highly regarded, died on Dec. 24 at Lenox Hill Hospital. She was 84, and lived in Manhattan. Her death was announced by Debra Kinzler, the spokeswoman for the Manhattan School of Music, where Ms. Keene has taught since 1969. She also joined the school's board of trustees in 1997. Ms. Keene maintained a fairly low-key performing career in recent years, but her influence as a teacher and occasional writer on keyboard topics for Clavier magazine was considerable. She was a juror at several major competitions, and in addition to her work at the Manhattan School, she gave master classes in Europe, Asia and South Africa. Early in Ms. Keene's career, her playing was praised by Artur Rubinstein, who said that her recording of the Rachmaninoff Preludes left him 'completely flabbergasted by the fantastic sweep, color, tone and last but not least, by the incredible technique.' When Rubinstein decided that his children were old enough to take piano lessons, he hired Ms. Keene as their teacher. Ms. Keene was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 9, 1921, and began to play the piano when she was 4. She completed high school when she was 15 and never attended college or a conservatory. But in 1934, when she was 13, she became a student of Abram Chasins, the pianist, composer, writer and broadcaster. She and Chasins married in 1949, and performed and recorded together as a duo-piano team. Chasins died in 1987. Ms. Keene later married Milton Kean, who survives her. In addition to her duet performances with Chasins, Ms. Keene pursued a solo career that was given a boost by her victory at the Naumburg Competition in 1943. She then spent the remaining years of World War II touring Army installations for the U.S.O. At one camp, in Mississippi, she played eight concerts in three days for 65,000 soldiers. She undertook her first professional tour in 1945, and made headlines in 1946 when she substituted for Vladimir Horowitz at a recital for an audience of 4,000. In the several years that followed, she performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and toured with Benny Goodman, as the soloist in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Her recordings included works of Bach, Handel, Griffes, MacDowell, Schumann, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Chasins, as well as widely praised recent discs devoted to the complete sontatas of Hummel and Weber. "

Mandie Johnson Molina — (undergraduate voice ’01) — passed away on September 16, 2002, in her hometown of Greer, South Carolina, from complications due to cancer.

Michael S. Kavalhuna — (professional studies voice ’97) — was killed in a fire at his New York apartment on February 13, 2003. He had recently won the district finals in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He was a 1996 Filene Young Artist at Wolf Trap Opera. He was 33.

Constance Keene — a member of the piano and board of trustees — passed away on December 24, 2005. Allan Kozinn wrote the following which appeared in the New York Times on December 28, 2005: "Constance Keene, a pianist and teacher whose recordings of the Romantic keyboard repertory were highly regarded, died on Dec. 24 at Lenox Hill Hospital. She was 84, and lived in Manhattan. Her death was announced by Debra Kinzler, the spokeswoman for the Manhattan School of Music, where Ms. Keene has taught since 1969. She also joined the school's board of trustees in 1997. Ms. Keene maintained a fairly low-key performing career in recent years, but her influence as a teacher and occasional writer on keyboard topics for Clavier magazine was considerable. She was a juror at several major competitions, and in addition to her work at the Manhattan School, she gave master classes in Europe, Asia and South Africa. Early in Ms. Keene's career, her playing was praised by Artur Rubinstein, who said that her recording of the Rachmaninoff Preludes left him 'completely flabbergasted by the fantastic sweep, color, tone and last but not least, by the incredible technique.' When Rubinstein decided that his children were old enough to take piano lessons, he hired Ms. Keene as their teacher. Ms. Keene was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 9, 1921, and began to play the piano when she was 4. She completed high school when she was 15 and never attended college or a conservatory. But in 1934, when she was 13, she became a student of Abram Chasins, the pianist, composer, writer and broadcaster. She and Chasins married in 1949, and performed and recorded together as a duo-piano team. Chasins died in 1987. Ms. Keene later married Milton Kean, who survives her. In addition to her duet performances with Chasins, Ms. Keene pursued a solo career that was given a boost by her victory at the Naumburg Competition in 1943. She then spent the remaining years of World War II touring Army installations for the U.S.O. At one camp, in Mississippi, she played eight concerts in three days for 65,000 soldiers. She undertook her first professional tour in 1945, and made headlines in 1946 when she substituted for Vladimir Horowitz at a recital for an audience of 4,000. In the several years that followed, she performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and toured with Benny Goodman, as the soloist in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Her recordings included works of Bach, Handel, Griffes, MacDowell, Schumann, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Chasins, as well as widely praised recent discs devoted to the complete sontatas of Hummel and Weber. "

John D. LaPorta — (BM ’56, clarinet/MM ’57, music education) — died in Sarasota, Florida, on Wednesday, May 12, 2004. Born in Philadelphia on April 13, 1920, he was 84. Before beginning a long teaching and composing career, Mr. LaPorta played and recorded with many prominent jazz musicians, including Kenny Clarke, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, and Miles Davis. From 1944 to 1946 he was a performer and composer for the Woody Herman Orchestra. He also performed with Leonard Bernstein, Igor Stravinsky, Leopold Stokowski, and the Boston Pops. Mr. LaPorta composed jazz and classical works in many genres, including film soundtracks, and published some 200 compositions. After earning two degrees from Manhattan School of Music, he taught at the Berklee College of Music in Boston for more than 35 years and was a founding member of the National Association of Jazz Educators, now the International Association of Jazz Educators. In 2001 he published an autobiography, Playing It by Ear (North Country Distributors). His survivors include his wife, Virginia; daughter Donna Marks of Newburyport, Massachusetts; daughter Karen Burnham of Evans, Georgia; daughter Jeanette McCarthy of Winchester, Massachusetts; son, John Jr., of Beverly, Massachusetts; brother, Salvatore; sister, Rose Vissichelli; and five grandchildren. [posted 7/8/04]

Lucile Lawrence — (harp faculty since 1967) — passed away July 9, 2004. She was 97. Born into a prominent New Orleans family, Miss Lawrence was encouraged to travel to the summer music home of the legendary harpist Carlos Salzedo. At age 11, she became the maestro’s major student and exponent of the Salzedo method of harp playing. She graduated from high school at 15 and moved to New York City to continue her studies with Mo. Salzedo. By the age of 20 (1927) she had been appointed associate harp instructor at the Curtis Institute, where a lifelong love of, and commitment to, teaching began. Miss Lawrence’s performing career included appearances with most of the major conductors of the 20th century, including Sir Thomas Beecham, Leopold Stokowski, Arturo Toscanini, and Leonard Bernstein. Richard E. Adams, vice president/dean of faculty and performance, writes: “Lucile once told me that one of her greatest honors and memories was that of being coached by Maurice Ravel in Paris. Personally, I feel so privileged to have known and worked with Miss Lawrence. She honored me any number of times with her laserlike candor and commitment to the very highest musical standard possible. She was a fighter for her causes, and she was a formidable fighter at that. . . . Miss Lawrence was a very special part of America’s musical history of the 20th century.”

John Lewis — (BM ’52, theory / MM ’53, theory) a member of the theory faculty from 1958–62 and board of trustees from 1965-84 — passed away on March 29, 2001, at the age of 80. A founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet, the pianist and arranger was given an almost full-page tribute in the New York Times, a testament to his importance in the music world. Newsweek wrote that same month that he “helped make jazz a capital-A Art.” Serving as a member of the board of trustees at Manhattan School of Music, he facilitated a benefit concert for his alma mater by the Modern Jazz Quartet in 1966. He was awarded the doctor of musical arts degree honoris causa from Manhattan School of Music in 1996.

Ruth Laredo — (member of the faculty since 1992) — passed away on May 25, 2005. Born in Detroit, and a longtime resident of New York City, Ruth Laredo studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with Rudolf Serkin, made her New York Philharmonic debut with Pierre Boulez, and made her Carnegie Hall orchestral debut with Leopold Stokowski and the American Symphony. Her New York recital debut was presented by Young Concert Artists. Hailed as “America’s First Lady of the Piano” (New York Daily News), Ruth Laredo had a distinguished worldwide reputation as a leading soloist, recitalist, and recording artist. While she was particularly renowned for her pioneering recordings of the complete solo piano music of Rachmaninoff and the complete piano sonatas of Scriabin, her broad repertoire ranged from Beethoven to Barber. She created a large and enthusiastic following for her sold-out series at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, “Concerts with Commentary.” She won high praise for her masterly playing and discussions of Brahms, Mendelssohn, Robert and Clara Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. Her video Live from the Metropolitan Museum celebrates her unique Rachmaninoff performances. She recorded a two-CD set of the complete Brahms Piano Quartets with the Shanghai Quartet on the Arabesque Label. Her CD, recorded on an authentic 1893 Bechstein piano from the Metropolitan Museum’s instrument collection, is entitled Such Good Friends and highlights the personal relationships among Brahms, Mendelssohn, and the Schumanns. Noted for her strong commitment to chamber music, Ms. Laredo frequently collaborated with the Tokyo String Quartet and was a founding member of the Music from Marlboro concerts. She appeared with the Guarneri Quartet and the Tokyo Quartet in Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series, as well as with the Vermeer, Shanghai, Emerson, Muir, and St. Lawrence Quartets. In 1996, she teamed up with jazz greats Marian McPartland and Dick Hyman for a wonderfully inventive evening called “Three-Piano Classical / Jazz Crossover,” which made its debut at the 92nd St. Y’s Jazz in July series. A three-time Grammy award nominee, Ruth Laredo was widely praised for her recordings. She was the first pianist ever to record Rachmaninoff’s complete solo works for CBS Masterworks, which earned her a Best Keyboard Artist award from Record World magazine, and a Grammy nomination. Her historic Scriabin recordings, the first of the complete sonatas, have been reissued on two CDs by Nonesuch. She had recently recorded Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 2 for two pianos with her colleague James Tocco on the Gasparo label. Her all-Barber recording on Nonesuch earned her another Grammy nomination. She also recorded Ned Rorem’s Day Music suite with violinist Philip Setzer for Newport Classics. She performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, and the White House, and with such prestigious orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, and the Detroit Symphony. She played with the leading chamber orchestras, including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Orpheus, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Ms. Laredo made a highly successful tour of the United States as soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic, culminating in a performance of the Rachmaninoff first concerto at Carnegie Hall. Prior to the tour, she appeared with the orchestra in Warsaw for a United Nations Day concert which was televised throughout Europe. Her extensive tour of Russia and Ukraine, highlighted by concerts in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Odessa, formed part of a television profile about her on CBS Sunday Morning. In demand as an eloquent and authoritative commentator on the arts and piano literature, she was a regular columnist for Piano Today magazine, a frequent guest critic on WQXR’s long-running First Hearing, and a special arts correspondent for National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. She has also hosted Onstage with Young Concert Artists on radio station WQXR. Ruth Laredo’s life and career have made her a role model for women in the arts. Nominated for the Woman of the Year award by the Ladies’ Home Journal, she was a guest speaker at the Harvard/Radcliffe Women’s Leadership Conference at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She was recently chosen to give the commencement day address at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. The Ruth Laredo Becoming A Musician Book, a guide for aspiring pianists drawn from Ms. Laredo’s own experiences, is available in bookstores around the country. (Publisher: European American Music Corporation). Her work as editor of the complete Rachmaninoff Preludes for Piano, published by C.F. Peters International, is available worldwide. She was the proud mother of Jennifer Laredo, who is married and lives with her husband, the cellist Paul Watkins, in London. Just two days after the attack on the World Trade Center, Ms. Laredo celebrated the 25th anniversary of her Alice Tully Hall debut with a recital there. It was the opening concert of the 2001 Lincoln Center season, and Ms. Laredo addressed the audience beforehand, saying: “It was important for me to play. Great music gives us spiritual sustenance and gives us hope. It is in that spirit that I play tonight.”

Paul Litrenta — (BM ’63, trumpet / MM ’64, music education) — passed away on March 11, 2004. He was 62 years old. He was vice president of Creative Music Productions Inc., a company he cofounded in 1977. Mr. Litrenta was a lead trumpet performer with many big bands and Latin bands in both New York and Los Angeles, appearing with Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, and Maynard Ferguson, among others. Some of Mr. Litrenta’s first professional work was with Tito Puente's Band in New York City, performing on the band’s first tour of South America. He can be heard on many early recordings of the Puente ensemble and is thought by some to have helped create the band’s signature sound. Litrenta was also the first original trumpet player in the Blood, Sweat and Tears band. Prior to attending Manhattan School of Music, he graduated from Monroe High School in the Bronx. He lived in Florida for the last nine years of his life with his friend Susan. Greg Waters, a close friend and business associate, writes: “Paul was a person of character and culture. It is too bad that we have so few people with this level of character in our world.”

Jennifer E. Marquette — (MM ’95, voice) — passed away on December 27, 2000, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City from complications related to her treatment for Hodgkin’s disease. She was 29 years old. A native of Pennsylvania, Ms. Marquette attended several summers of the Interlochen Arts Academy and earned a bachelor’s degree from Hartt School of Music. After graduation from Manhattan School of Music, she was accepted as a Young Art of the Juilliard Opera Center, appearing in their production of Hansel and Gretel, broadcast on the PBS series, Live From Lincoln Center.

Dr. George William Martin Jr. — (BM ’91, organ) — died at Virginia Baptist Hospital on February 23, 2001. In addition to his studies at Manhattan School of Music, Dr. Martin earned degrees at William and Mary, Laval University in Quebec, and Tulane. He retired in 1991 from Pace University in New York City, where he taught Frech and Italian. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, on November 5, 1931, he was the son of the late George W. and Phyllis B. Martin, and is survived by many cousins.

Stephen Maxym — a member of the faculty from 1958–89 — died in October of 2002. As a bassoonist, Mr. Maxym joined the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1937 and was there for two seasons. In 1939, he was appointed principal bassoonist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, a post he held for thirty-seven years. Mr. Maxym served as chair of the woodwind department at Manhattan School of Music in 1967. Richard E. Adams, Vice President/Dean of Faculty and Performance, writes: “Steve was more than an incredible artist and teacher: he was an unparalleled colleague, friend to many, world traveler, and a Faculty Council activist and leader. Those of us who called him a friend were fortunate indeed, and those who did not (know him personally) benefit from the genuine legacy he left in these halls.”

Homer Mensch — (member of the string faculty since 1980) — passed away on December 9, 2005. In May 2005, Manhattan School of Music honored him with the School’s President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Homer Mensch was a member of the bass sections of the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, and other orchestras. He was born in New Jersey on November 30, 1914 and studied at Manhattan School of Music as well as at the Jacques Dalcroze School of Music. His teachers included Anselme Fortier, principal bass of the New York Philharmonic. As a teenager, he performed in the Dick Messner Big Band at the Hotel McAlpin in New York City. Mr. Mensch joined the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1932—after auditioning for Otto Klemperer on the stage of Carnegie Hall—and served as that orchestra’s assistant principal bassist in 1937–38. He joined the New York Philharmonic in 1938 when Sir John Barbirolli led the orchestra. In 1943, he left the Philharmonic to serve in the Army, returning to New York City a year later as a freelance musician, performing with the NBC Symphony under the baton of Arturo Toscanini and as a staff member at CBS playing for Eileen Farrell, Ernie Kovacs, Jack Paar, the Tonight Show, and Ed Sullivan. In 1966, Mr. Mensch returned to the New York Philharmonic during the Bernstein years, remaining with them through 1975. After leaving the Philharmonic, he played with such ensembles as the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, the New York Chamber Symphony, the New York Choral Society, the Little Orchestra Society, and the New York Pops. He performed on recordings of Heifetz, Piatigorsky, Stern, Milstein, the Bach Aria Group, the Casals Festival Orchestra, and the Columbia Symphony as well as with Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Paul McCartney. In addition to Manhattan School of Music, Homer Mensch was on the faculties of The Juilliard School (where he was chair of the double bass department from 2002), Yale, the Mannes College of Music, and other institutions. He taught more than 45 students each week, including beginners, conservatory students, and both classical and jazz professionals. Some of his notable students were New York Philharmonic bassist David Grossman and the jazz bassists Christian McBride and Steve Kirby.

Sue Okada — (BM ’58, piano) — lost her long battle with lymphoma on January 12, 2003 at the age of 73. Ms. Okada was memorialized and buried at Moiliili Cemetery in Hawaii. Sue is survived by her sister, Jean Yamaguchi, and her brothers, Dennis Okada and Albert Okada.

Beverly Peck Johnson — a member of the voice faculty between 1983 and 2000 — died on January 20, 2001, in Manhattan at the age of 96. Richard E. Adams, Vice President/Dean of Faculty and Performance, remarks: “Ms. Johnson was one of the most active and important New York City voice teachers of the past two generations.” In addition to her pupils at Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, she had privately coached such singers as Renata Tebaldi, Anna Moffo, Evelyn Lear, and Giorgio Tozzi. An accomplished pianist, Ms. Peck Johnson also worked and taught as an accompanist. Ms. Peck Johnson also had a background in drama and often coached actors such as Madeline Kahn and Kevin Klein in vocal production. She was born in Portland, Oregon, to Hartwig O. and Cecelia W. Peck in 1904 and has no immediate survivors.

William R. Pell — (undergraduate studies ’75, voice) — died on July 26, 2003. He was 55. Mr. Pell’s international operatic career brought him to houses in North America and Europe, including Bayreuth. He can be heard on numerous recordings including a Deutsche Grammophon release of Tannhäuser with Plácido Domingo and Cheryl Studer and as the tenor soloist in the premiere recording of Wolfgand von Schweintz’s Mass. He is survived by his son, Christopher; ex-wife, Andrea; mother, Helen Pell; and sister, Glenda. A memorial service was held in August 2003 at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church in New York City.

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson — (BM ’53, piano/MM ’54, piano) — died on March 9, 2004, in Chicago. He had been the artistic director of the performance program at the Center for Black Music Research of Columbia College since 1998, in addition to a continually active international career as a composer and conductor. His talent and ability to function in a wide range of musical contexts — concert music, jazz, television, film, theater, and dance — prompted the Chicago Tribune to quote Robert A. Harris, professor of conducting and director of choral organizations at Northwestern University as follows: "Leonard Bernstein is the only other giant I know of who could do everything that 'Perk' could do." After his graduation from Manhattan School of Music, he studied conducting at the Berkshire Music Center, the Mozarteum, and the Netherlands Radio Hilversum as well as with Vittorio Giannini, Charles Mills, Earl Kim, Franco Ferrara, and Dean Dixon. He was the cofounder and a musical director of the Symphony of the New World, the first African-American-led integrated symphony orchestra since the Harlem Renaissance. One of his best-known works, Attitudes, a cantata, was commissoned by the Ford Foundation for tenor George Shirley. More recently, he was the first composer in residence for the critically acclaimed Ritz Chamber Players. His professional associations include Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Negro Ensemble Company, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Goodman Theater, the American Theater Lab, the Dallas Symphony, and the Max Roach Quartet. His commissioned work, Generations, was premiered by the Manchester Chamber Orchestra conducted by Michael Rudiakov, also an alumnus. The Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Music Foundation, Inc., has been established to preserve and present his music and to assist talented composers and musicians. A memorial service was held in June at St. Peter's Church in New York City.

Ted Puffer — a member of the voice faculty since 1994 — died on October 22, 2003 in Reno, Nevada, following a long illness. His unique and remarkable career included appearances as tenor soloist with the Robert Shaw Chorale on national and European tours, as well as leading tenor roles with the Goldovsky Opera Theatre and the Opera Company of Boston. As a pianist, Mr. Puffer performed with orchestras and in recitals, and served as a rehearsal pianist for Fritz Reiner. He was also a well-known translator of opera libretti. In 1968, he and his wife cofounded the Nevada Opera where Ted served as both general manager and artistic director. Although a small company, it drew national attention for its innovative productions and repertoire, which included the U.S. premieres of Busoni's Doktor Faust and Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans. For a number of years, Mr. Puffer served as the chair of the voice department at the University of Nevada. Mr. Puffer held both bachelor of music and master of music degrees from Eastman School of Music. Richard E. Adams, Vice President/Dean of Faculty and Performance, writes: “Ted possessed the unique talent of having insight into the unusual voice which could be developed into a major instrument. He was a complex, varied, outspoken, wise and kind man.”

Douglas Ward Rask — (BM / MM ’87, voice) — died suddenly on January 9, 2001, at the age of 38 from natural causes. Originally from Minnesota, Mr. Rask was a longtime resident of Los Angeles, where he was an independent producer of children’s television. Among his many credits were the hit television series J.J. the Jet Plane and One Saturday Morning.

John B. Richardson (BM / MM ‘56, violin, music education) died June 24, 2004 in Baltimore at age 98. A child prodigy, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute, and, at age 22, joined the Philadelphia Orchestra under Stokowski. In 1935, he became the concert master of Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians. After attending Manhattan School of Music, Richardson composed several musical and theatrical works and was a member of the Dallas and Baltimore symphony orchestras. He taught in New York, Texas, and at the Peabody Institute.

Maxwell "Max" Roach (undergraduate studies, 1950 – 1952 / Honorary Doctorate, 1990) passed away on August 16, 2007. He was 83. Peter Keepnews wrote in the New York Times: “[Roach was] a founder of modern jazz who rewrote the rules of drumming in the 1940’s and spent the rest of his career breaking musical barriers and defying listeners’ expectations.” Mr. Roach’s partnerships ran the gamut of 20th-century innovators and included artists in a variety of fields including: Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton, Sam Shepard, Alvin Ailey, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Donald Byrd, Charles Mingus, Oscar Brown Jr, Abbey Lincoln, Cecil Bridgewater, Kit Fitzgerald, George Ferencz, and the Uptown String Quartet. Mr. Roach has been credited with the development of the form of jazz that came to be known as bebop. In 1972, he became one of the first jazz musicians to teach full time at the college level when he was hired as a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was the first jazz musician to receive a “genius grant” from the MacArthur Foundation. Concerned with the political issues of his time, he told Down Beat magazine after the release of his album We Insist! Freedom Now Suite, “I will never again play anything that does not have social significance… We American jazz musicians of African descent have proved beyond all doubt that we’re master musicians of our instruments. Now what we have to do is employ our skill to tell the dramatic story of our people and what we’ve been through.” Manhattan School of Music awarded Mr. Roach an honorary doctorate in 1990.

Michael Rudiakov — (BM ’61, cello) — died November 17, 2001. Mr. Rudiakov was born in Paris and grew up in Tel Aviv. After graduation from Manhattan School of Music, he became principal cellist of the Indianapolis Symphony. He later returned to Israel and became principal cellist of the Jerusalem Symphony. In 1966 he joined the faculty of Sarah Lawrence College, where he directed a chamber music series. In 1983 he also joined the faculty at Manchester Music Festival and in 1985 became its director. From 1968-75 Mr. Rudiakov was the cellist of the Composers’ String Quartet, an early member of the Aeolian Chamber Players, and a soloist with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. In the 1980s he formed the Rudiakov Duo with his cousin, pianist Shoshana Rudiakov. He later moved to Vermont but continued to play with the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Mr. Rudiakov is survived by his wife, Judith, daughter, Liselotte, son, Ariel, brother, Yair, and stepmother, Grete.

Wolfgang Schanzer — (BM ’47, composition and piano / MM ’52, theory) — died on February 20, 2006. He was 81 and lived in Tequesta, Florida. Born November 8, 1924 in Dortmund, Germany, Mr. Schanzer emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 14. At Manhattan School of Music he studied with Harold Bauer and Vittorio Giannini. From 1948–1951 he was a conducting student of Serge Koussevizky at Tanglewood. From 1969–1980, Mr. Schanzer was conductor at Chautauqua, where he and his stage director wife, Whitfield Lloyd (Class of 1955), collaborated on the world premiere of Barab’s opera Philip Marshall with Theodor Uppman in the title role. Mr. Schanzer held positions as conductor/music director of the Chappaqua Chamber Orchestra in New York (1969–1982) and conductor/music director of the Bergen Philharmonic in New Jersey (1973–1978). He was seen as guest conductor on CBS-TV (Camera Three), NBC-TV (Bell Telephone Hour with Birgit Nilsson) and WNET-TV Opera Theatre’s production of the world premiere of Henze’s opera Rachael, La Cubana in 1973. As a pianist, conductor, and musical director he toured frenquently throughout the U.S. and Canada with Columbia Concerts Management. Mr. Schanzer composed many songs and had recently completed an opera titled Rasputin, The Holy Devil. From 1951–1977 Mr. Schanzer was chairman of the department of music at Marymount College. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Whitfield Lloyd Schanzer, and his devoted son, David Schanzer, who is a jazz musician and recording engineer.

Henry Schuman — a member of the faculty since 1970 — died on May 8, 2001. Long time principal oboist of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Mr. Schuman joined our woodwind faculty and taught woodwind repertoire classes and private lessons, as well as coaching chamber music and being active with the Faculty Council at various times. “We will miss his intelligence, wit and insight in the world around us,” states Richard E. Adams, Vice President/Dean of Faculty and Performance.

Marjorie Kemble Shapiro — (MM ’82, musicology) — died on November 8, 2002, after struggling with brain cancer. She was finishing work on a doctorate at the City University of New York Graduate Center, where her research and dissertation was on the singer Mary Garden. She was married to the late Jerome Shapiro, and leaves two sons, a daughter, and several grandchildren.

Louis F. Simon — (BM ’49 / MM ’50, violin) — died September 3, 2003 in Riverdale, the Bronx. The violinist, conductor, composer, and educator passed away at age 75 from myelofibrosis, a blood disease, reported his wife, Dorothy Simon, an art historian. Born Lajos Ferenc Simon in Budapest, he won a scholarship at the age of eight to the Franz Liszt Academy, where he studied under the supervision of Jeno Hubai and Zoltán Kodály. Having emigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1938, Mr. Simon continued his education at the Manhattan School of Music preparatory division, later earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees. His mentor for violin interpretation was Hugo Kortschak, and he studied conducting with Jonel Perlea. In 1958 he made his Carnegie Hall debut, which Olin Downes reviewed in the New York Times, calling him “a real musician with a flair for his instrument.” A subsequent Times review stated that he “exhibited his virtues of rich, warm, fine-grained tone and the ability to turn an expressive phrase.” Later he obtained a Ph.D. from the City University while teaching there for twenty-two years as a full professor at Bronx Community College and Lehman College. An active freelance musician, Mr. Simon participated in almost all musical endeavors in New York City, such as the Symphony of the Air, the New York City Ballet Orchestra, the New York City Opera Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Little Orchestra Society, and the pit ensembles of many Broadway shows. For twenty years he was a permanent member of the New York Pops under the direction of Skitch Henderson. He founded the Bronx Community and College Orchestra in 1964 and was conductor of the Hudson Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Fine Arts Symphony Orchestra in Westchester and Rockland counties. He participated in tours sponsored by the U.S. State Department, performing in a string quartet for the José Limón Dance Company, which performed in Europe and Asia (where he received a knighthood in Cambodia). He was a champion of young people’s concerts; Folkways Records released two of his works geared toward the young, The Four Musicians (of Bremen) and The Golden Treasure. In addition to his music career he was the founder of Simon World Arts, acquiring and selling Asian, African, and Native American art for which he traveled the United States and the world. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Burry Simon, retired assistant curator, Slide Collection, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University; three daughters, Michelle Simon Kissel, Nadina S. Simon, Louise Simon: and five grandchildren: Amanda Kissel, Margaret Kissel, Robert Simon Kissel, Simon Carmody, and Lucas Carmody. Mr. Simon is quoted as saying, “the one thing that grows more beautiful throughout life is music. We must love it, and respect it, and make it live.”

Jeffrey Schlegel — (undergraduate studies, 1970–1975, horn) — passed away in Sanfa Fe, Argentina, on October 8, 2007. The obituary placed in the New York Times by family and friends, read: “Born in New York, Jeff was a beloved friend and colleague, an exceptionally gifted musician, and teacher. Principal Horn: Orquesta Sinfonica Provincial de Santa Fe; Orquesta Sinfonica de Entre Rios; Banda Sinfonica de la Policia de Santa Fe; Banda Municipal de la Ciudad de Santa Fe. Jeffrey is survived by his children Gabriel, Jonatan, Jennifer and step-son Diego of Santa Fe; sisters Stephanie Manning of Davis, CA, and Sully Bonn of Newton, MA; and many loving friends and colleagues on both continents. He will be remembered for his love of music, his wit, generosity and free spirit. Jeffrey will be grievously missed by all who knew him and we will celebrate his memory as he will continue to live on in our hearts.” A Times Guest Book will remain online for a full year (click here for access). Friend and colleague Howard Heller (Class of 1973) tell us: “Although Jeff had been gone for so long, he remained in touch with a few of us here in New York and he left a lasting impression on all who knew during his time at MSM and while living in his apartment on Claremont Ave.”

Mitchell Stern — a member of the faculty from 1987–2001 — died April 9, 2001. A member of the American String Quartet and frequent coach of chamber music, he was one of New York’s busiest performers, appearing with virtually every musical organization in the city. His solo engagements included the Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Philadelphia symphony orchestras. He was heard in chamber music programs at such festivals as Aspen, Mostly Mozart, and Marlboro, as well as on recordings on the CRI, Musical Heritage, and Nonesuch labels. He had previously served on the faculty of Peabody Conservatory.

Elias Tanenbaum — faculty member from 1971–2001 — died on Thursday, January 10, 2008, in New Rochelle, New York, after a long illness. Mr. Tanenbaum was the founder of the Electronic Computer Music Studio at Manhattan School of Music. He composed over 140 works in all idioms, including music for concert, jazz, theater, television, ballet and electronic and computer music. His music has been performed extensively throughout this country, Europe and Japan and recordings of his music can be found on Albany, New World, MMC and other labels.Born in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Elias Tanenbaum studied trumpet at an early age and played with many jazz bands. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in World War II, and lost his right leg above the knee in Southern France in 1944. After being awarded a Purple Heart, he received a Bachelor’s from the Juilliard School of Music in 1949, and an M.A. from Columbia University, all on the G.I. bill. Besides music, he loved art, movies, reading, cooking, politics and comedy. He lived in New Rochelle, New York from 1959. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, pianist Mary Tanenbaum, his brother Ray, two children, David and Jacob, and three grandchildren, Zachary, Simon and Nicky. 11 AM memorial gathering will be held on Sunday at the George T. Davis Funeral Home (14 Lecount Place New Rochelle, tel 914-632-0324) followed by a 12 PM service.

Louis Y. Topper — (BM/MM ’55, clarinet/music education) — passed away on October 10, 2002. Mr. Topper played the saxophone in Broadway show bands and was a member of the Goldman Concert Band. He served as a president of the alumni association and was a member of the board of trustees at Manhattan School of Music from 1979-81. Mr. Topper is survived by his wife, Selma.

Walter Turnbull — (MM '68 / DMA '84, voice) — who founded the Boys Choir of Harlem, passed away on March 23, 2007. As reported on www.1010wins.com: The Boys Choir of Harlem has announced funeral arrangements for their founder, Dr. Walter J. Turnbull. The wake will be held on Wednesday, March 28 from 2 p.m.until 8 p.m. at the Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church on West 123rd Street. An additional viewing will be held Thursday, March 29 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. and the funeral service will begin at 4 p.m. Here is a profile reprinted and excerpted from a commemorative brochure published at the time of Dr. Turnbull’s being awarded the 5th annual Heinz Award: “Dr. Walter Turnbull receives the Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities for his creation of the Boys Choir of Harlem, an innovative program using music to educate and motivate inner city children to become disciplined, confident and successful adults. Dr. Turnbull himself has traveled a long and difficult road. From the fields of the South where he chopped cotton as a child, to graduating with honors in classical music and vocal performance from Mississippi's Tougaloo College, Dr. Turnbull eventually settled in New York City where he hoped for a career as an opera tenor. But that professional ambition was sidetracked when he took a job teaching music in Harlem to support himself. There he discovered that despite the lure of the streets and unstable home lives, "music caused kids to focus." Thus, the idea for the Boys Choir of Harlem was born. It began 30 years ago, when he gathered 20 youngsters in the basement of Ephesus Church. The Choir moved from being a performing ensemble for church services to one presenting concerts and recitals in public venues. Dr. Turnbull's infectious enthusiasm, his dedication, and his relentless enforcement of discipline paid handsome dividends. With its repertoire of Bach chorales, Mozart, spirituals and hymns, the Choir quickly became the pride of the area. And, just as important, it grew, actively reaching out to the community, opening auditions in local elementary schools, and providing academic tutoring and counseling to its members and their families. By the end of 1979, both a touring choir and the Girls Choir of Harlem had been established. The desire to prove that children from Harlem could succeed academically propelled Dr. Turnbull to create the Choir Academy of Harlem, opened in 1986 as an on-site school serving grades 4 through 8 ... Dr. Turnbull specializes in more than cultivating the love of music in children, he is equally dedicated to turning lives around. He and the Choir give at-risk youths a chance to succeed, an opportunity many of them might never have had without Dr. Turnbull's love and commitment. Most are from single-parent households receiving some type of government assistance. But the Choir teaches these youngsters to walk with pride and to hold their heads high, regardless of their circumstances. Dr. Turnbull has commented, "It's not just about the Choir. It's about discipline. It's about feeling good about yourself. That's hope." It is this spirit, combined with Dr. Turnbull's commitment to his craft, which has transformed a church basement dream into an international success. The path that long ago diverted him from his personal ambitions as a singer has led him instead to create an institution that elevates the art of song, while inspiring hope and pride in young people who otherwise might have none.”

Theodor Uppman — a member of the voice faculty since 1988 — passed away on March 17, 2005 at his apartment in New York after a long illness. He was 85. He was perhaps best known by the public for creating the title role in Benjamin Britten's opera Billy Budd for its Covent Garden premiere in 1951. After being hand-picked by the composer ("Apparently he felt that I was Billy Budd," Uppman recalled), he repeated the role for a broadcast on NBC television in the U.S. Anthony Tommasini wrote in the New York Times: “With his high, lyric yet robust voice, youthful vigor, boyish looks and musical sensitivity, he excelled at the Met in lighter roles.” His Metropolitan Opera debut was the role of Pelléas in 1953, followed by appearances of Mozart’s Papageno, Offenbach’s Piquillo in La Périchole, and Strauss's Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos — with a total of nearly 400 performances with the company. Mr. Uppman also appeared in the world premiere productions of Carlisle Floyd's Passion of Jonathan Wade, Thomas Pasatieri's Black Widow, Leonard Bernstein’s A Quiet Place, and others. Mr. Uppman met his wife, Jean Seward, when they were in high school, singing together in choir and later enrolling together at Curtis. They married in 1943. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Margot Vincent, his son, Michael, and three grandchildren. Richard E. Adams, vice president / dean of faculty and performance, writes: “To know Ted was to experience the manifestation of grace, charm, and the true spirit of the good. He and his wife were visible at many, many events at School and the concerts somehow seemed better for their presence.”

William A. Vacchiano — member of the trumpet faculty from 1937 until 1999 — passed away on Monday, September 19, 2005 at the age of 93. Mr. Vacchiano joined the New York Philharmonic in 1935, became principal in 1942, and retired in 1973, never having missed a performance in 38 years. During his tenure with the Philharmonic, Vacchiano performed under the direction of such musical masters as Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Leopold Stokowski, Arturo Toscanini, and Bruno Walter. In addition to his illustrious career as an orchestral trumpet player, Vacchiano also made an indelible impression on the world of music pedagogy. His teaching career was centered primarily in three schools in New York City: Juilliard (1935–2002), Manhattan (1937–1999), and Mannes (1937–1983). Vacchiano also taught privately up until the year of his death, with his total number of students reaching well beyond 2,000. Frank Hosticka (Class of 1972) said, “The biggest hallmark of what he did was not teaching you how to play the trumpet, but teaching you how to play music.” Mr. Vacchiano was man of consummate character and musicianship. Joseph Wilder (Class of 1953) commented, “Mr. Vacchiano brought to the music business a certain kind of dignity. He carried himself in a certain way; there was a real class about him which rubbed off on all of us. You not only wanted to play as well as he did, but you wanted to be like him as a person.” Capt. Kenneth Force (Class of 1965) states: “Mr. Vacchiano was patient but firm. He had a knowing twinkle in his eye as he carefully listened to every note. In fact, he was such a class act that you didn’t feel so much intimidated by his expertise and reputation as you felt like you wanted to please him.” Mr. Vacchiano’s teaching style was very direct and persistent. He insisted on transposition, musicality, proper style, sight-reading, and the basic fundamentals of trumpet playing. Regarding careers in music, he said, “The ideal situation for the musician today is the one with a university position where he can play solos, give quintet concerts, and play in a local orchestra.” He believed this principle to the extent of going back to school to earn a master’s degree in trumpet performance, which he completed at Manhattan School of Music in 1955. The influence of Vacchiano’s teaching and playing can literally be heard around the world. He will be forever remembered as the ultimate gentleman with an affable, caring, and inspirational spirit. Vacchiano is survived by his daughter, Jo Ann Vacchiano; his daughter-in-law, Barbara Vacchiano; and four grandchildren. (This information has been compiled by Brian A. Shook. If anyone wishes to contribute to any future publications (one of which will be a full biography), please contact Mr. Shook at by e-mail. Mr. Shook wished to thank John Blanchard, director of career development and alumni affairs, for his additional research and assistance.) Additional information on Mr. Vacchiano’s life and influence can be found at the International Trumpet Guild Web site (click here).

David Walter — a member of the double bass faculty 1956–1990 — died July 1, 2003 in New York at age 90. He began musical study on the violin as a child and his appearance as a prodigy led to a recital under Sol Hurok's management when he was 12. Walter turned to the bass and studied at Juilliard with Fred Zimmerman. His appointments included the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (led by Fritz Reiner) as principal bass, the NBC Symphony (under Toscanini), and the Symphony of the Air (serving as both its principal bass and board chairman). In 1956 he became a member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, where he was to remain for more than 30 years, and played at the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico for every summer under Casals's tenure. Walter had a 10-year career in the jazz world that included a two year stint on NBC's Tonight Show. Walter’s renown as a teacher — having positions at Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard (from 1969 until his retirement in May 2002) — led to frequent honors, including the Artist Teacher of the Year Award from the American String Teachers Association and the Distinguished Service Award from the International Society of Bassists. A widely published author of many articles on double bass performance and education, Walter also edited works that included Sperger's Sonata No. 1 and Pichl's Concerto. His volume of solos, titled The Melodious Bass, is widely used by students and teachers. Walter helped to expand the double bass literature, performing with groups such as the Bennington Composers Conference and the Columbia Group for Contemporary Music, and presenting many premieres at Composers Forum in New York. Mr. Walter is survived by his wife, Claudia, as well as a son, daughter, stepson, and several grandchildren. Ron Wasserman (Class of 1984), principal bass of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, wrote that Mr. Walter was “a man of soaring accomplishments who had an influence on the practice of playing the double bass matched by few other people. Not only was he one of the most talented musicians I ever met, but he was one of the most brilliant people I ever interacted with. As a pedagogue, he won a devoted following by all who observed him. His insights into music and his wit were legendary.”

Dr. Jane B. Weidensaul — a member and chair of the harp department from 1967–86 and chair of doctoral studies from 1982-1987 — died on September 15, 2003. For many years, she was the editor in cheif of American Harp Journal and served on the board of the American Harp Society. She held a PhD and an MA from Rutgers, as well as an undergraduate degree from Juilliard. She studied harp with Marcel Grandjany.

Fred Zabin — (BM ’89, double bass) — died in Santa Monica, California, on December 22, 2003, from lung cancer. A staple of the New York jazz scene since 1988, he appeared at clubs including The Blue Note, Knickerbocker, and The Village Gate. Fred was born in Chicago and later worked in San Francisco before moving to New York City. He played with Andrew Hill, Bobby McFerrin, Frank Wess, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Gene Bertoncini, Pete Malinverni, Eddie Henderson, John Handy, Craig Handy, Mark Levine, Vernel Fournier, Valerie Ponomarev, Arturo O'Farrill, Eddie Moore, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Pete Yellin, Frank Gant, the late Herman Foster, among others. He also played with Larry Porter in Europe and founded a group featuring Clarence "C" Sharp. His duo with Mike Howell played weekly at The Village Restaurant for over three years. Fred also performed in several local orchestras including the Greenwich Village Orchestra. In addition to his degree from Manhattan School of Music, he earned a Master’s from New York University. He taught music in the New York City public school system, the Harlem School of the Arts, and directed The Haight Ashbury Workshop funded by the NEA.

Vera Zorina — a member of Manhattan School of Music Board of Trustees in the early 1980s and a teacher of classes in theater arts to voice majors — died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on April 9, 2002. Mme. Zorina had an extraordinary career as a dancer and actress in ballets, films and musicals on Broadway that were often directed by her first husband, Georges Balanchine. Samuel Goldwyn discovered her when she was the star in Leonide Massine's Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo and consequently starred in a number of MGM films, including On Your Toes, The Goldwyn Follies, and Louisiana Purchase. She scored an enormous success on Broadway in I Married An Angel. She was also closely associated with the work of Igor Stravinsky both as an actress and stage director. Since 1990, Vera Zornia lived in Santa Fe with her husband, harpsichordist Paul Wolfe, who served as dean of Manhattan School of Music in the 1980s.

Research, editing, and/or proofing assistance:

Ar Adler
John Blanchard
Yuki Chikudate
Nick Mancini
Susan Meigs
Doris Perlman
Jessica Schmitz
Gina Taglieri

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