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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]
[RETURN TO TOP]
[SEND US NEWS]
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.”
 |
xxx |
|
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.
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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.
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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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