The School of Music made an impressive showing once again at the New York State School Music Association Conference in November. The Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Grant Cooper, performed Stravinsky's Firebird Suite in front of a packed house, and the choir and madrigal singers, directed by Lawrence Doebler, gave an inspiring workshop on using movement in choral rehearsals.
Other faculty clinics and presentations included "Taking Care of the Music Teacher" by Carol McAmis; a performance/clinic by Ithaca Children's Choir, conducted by Janet Galván and accompanied by Jonathan Sokasits '83; "The Adolescent Boy and His Voice" by Robert Zazzara, M.S. '68; "New Directions in Musical Theater" by Beverly Patton; "Incorporating the National Standards into the Band Rehearsal: Research-Based Strategies" by Maud Hickey and Mark Fonder; and "Solving Range and Endurance Problems in Trumpet Players" by Frank Campos.
In addition, music school dean Arthur Ostrander was a panelist for "Preparing Your Students for College Music Auditions," and Dave Riley directed the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
Assistant professor of music education Verna Brummett has been pursuing an interest in alternative modes of student assessment both off and on campus. As a follow-up to a study conducted last spring in her course Music in the Elementary School, she gave a presentation at the NYSSMA conference in November. She and colleague Nancy Tittelbaugh-Riley addressed various alternative modes of assessing student learning at the college level.
Brummett has also been accepted to present a second session at the MENC National Biennial Conference. She and Galván will describe the vocal junior student teaching program in their session "Early Field Experience: A Mentoring Approach."
The School of Music was host this fall to another successful series of competitions. The annual High School Competition brought a record number of students from across the United States to compete for awards in the concerto and solo divisions. The 15th annual Choral Composition Contest saw six regional high school choruses perform premiere works by noted composers.
Flute professor Wendy Mehne was awarded a 1995-96 Dana Teaching Award. This summer she coached chamber music and performed at the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Workshop and at the Skaneateles Music Festival. In addition, she coedited the National Flute Association's convention program book. She performed at the association's convention in August with piano professor Karl Paulnack and saxophone professor Steve Mauk.
In November jazz program director Steve Brown '64, M.S. '68, performed with the Ray Brown Great Big Band at the Juumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, California. He led a jazz guitar clinic at Cabrillo College earlier that day. His "big news" is that he has formed his own record/CD label, Brown Cats Productions, and released his first CD, Night Waves, in early October.
Voice faculty tenor David Parks continues to maintain a national reputation as a solo performer in opera and concert. Last November he was a featured soloist in Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble. His spring schedule includes a chamber music concert on campus, as well as performances with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Piedmont Opera Theater, and the Ithaca Community Chorus.
In October the newest member of the vocal faculty, mezzo-soprano Jean Loftus, performed in the premiere of Never Tickle a Mule at Syracuse Opera Theatre.
The Trombone Troupe, under the direction of trombone professor Harold Reynolds, has been invited to the Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C., this April. At the workshop Reynolds will be performing a solo with the United States Army Band.
At the annual meeting of the College Music Society, held in Portland, Oregon, in November, theory professor Mary I. Arlin '61 chaired the session "Theory and Pedagogy."
Patrice Pastore has had a busy performance schedule to add to her teaching activities. This summer she performed twice at the Cincinnati Conservatory. And for the Hindemith centennial this fall she performed Das Marienleben and Nine English Songs.
Double bass professor Henry Neubert
maintains a heavy adjudication and conducting schedule. Last fall
he visited two New York State schools where he observed orchestra
rehearsals, conducted a cello and bass clinic, and held a workshop
for instrumental conductors regarding adjudication preparation.
During his sabbatical this spring he will conduct several multiple-day
residencies in Pennsylvania and New York. He also has guest conducting
engagements with several regional orchestras.
Bassoon professor Lee Goodhew, who earned her D.M.A. from Michigan State University in October, is having a busy spring semester. In addition to her normal performing schedule, she was featured soloist with the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble on its spring tour of the Northeast. She will also be featured soloist with the Ithaca College Concert Band and the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.
Dana Wilson reports that the National Endowment for the Arts sponsored his residency in Georgia last May, and in September he gave a week-long seminar in Germany on his music. He will also do a high school residency this year supported by the Meet the Composer program. His Deep Remembering, for horn and piano, will be recorded on CD by Gail Williams '73 and Mary Ann Covert, while Dance of the New World will be recorded by the University of Massachusetts Wind Ensemble.
In October assistant professor of clarinet Richard Faria '87 performed with the critically acclaimed Guild Trio as part of the artists in residence program at the Stony Brook University Medical Center. In January he premiered a new concerto for clarinet and chamber ensemble, written for him by Seattle-area composer Joshua Kohl. The performance took place at the Wing Luke Asian Art Museum in downtown Seattle.
Robert Zazzara is busy as guest conductor of several regional band and choral festivals. In January he directed the Dutchess County Junior High Chorus; in March, the Suburban Council Senior High Band and Allegany County Senior High Chorus. Later this spring he will conduct several choruses in upstate New York.
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