Faculty News

On February 14 assistant professor of voice Beth Ray performed Bach’s B Minor Mass as a soloist with Masterworks Chorale in Syracuse. On November 3 she performed Mozart’s Vespers, K. 339, as a soloist at Wells College.

In February associate professor of flute Wendy Mehne gave a workshop on 18th-century ornamentation at the 1997 Florida Flute Festival. She and Karl Paulnack, associate professor of piano, also performed at the festival. Mehne performed Lowell Liebermann’s Flute Concerto with the Ithaca College Orchestra on November 17 and had an article, "Tempo in the 18th Century," published in the May 1996 issue of Flute Talk magazine.

In November professor of saxophone Steven Mauk and pianist Kathy Hansen performed a recital at Schenectady County Community College. Mauk also conducted a master class for high school and SCCC saxophonists, as well as area teachers. Also in November, Mauk and assistant dean Jamal Rossi ’80 performed at a benefit concert in Shillington, Pennsylvania, for David Bilger ’67. They were part of the Saxophone Sinfonia, a saxophone ensemble conducted by Bilger. In 1995 the group recorded a two-CD set of seasonal music entitled Holiday Homecoming. Bilger, who had had a long illness, died in January.

Assistant professor of oboe Mark Hill has received a Dana Research Award from Ithaca College in recognition of his performances. He recently performed with the New England Bach Festival in Marlboro, Vermont. He also performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and appeared on a newly released Delos Records recording of the Bach Brandenburg Concerti with that group.

The Ithaca Wind Quintet performed at the conference of the International Double Reed Society in Tallahassee in June, receiving two very positive reviews. Said one reviewer, "The Ithaca Wind Quintet’s performance of Steven Stucky’s Serenade for Wind Quintet and Mirrors by Dana Wilson was first-rate. Both works are at the top of my list of best new works for wind quintet."

Julie Simon Morse ’93 was named as the sabbatical replacement for associate professor of bassoon Lee Goodhew for the spring semester.

The bassoon class was busy during October with three master classes in three weeks. Giving classes were John Hunt of the Eastman School, Richard Spittel of the Army Field Band, and Barry Stees of Michigan State University. Hunt also played a recital, and Stees gave a mini-recital.

In October assistant professor of theory William Pelto moderated "Theory at Ithaca: The Fall Symposium," which featured papers by assistant professor of theory John W. White, media center coordinator Richard Hoffman, and Brian Robison from Cornell. In February Pelto was the musical director for Strider, a production of Cornell’s theater department.

In November lecturer Robert Zazzara, M.S. ’68, conducted zones 3 and 15 of the Junior High Area All- State Chorus, the Corning Community Band Scholarship Concert, and the Senior High Area All-State Chorus, zone 1.

Alumni Achievements

The National Saxophone Quartet performed a recital in the College’s Nabenhauer Recital Room on November 20. Three of the members of this group -- Connie Frigo ’94, David Yusko ’93, and Todd Morrison ’95 -- are recent School of Music graduates. They also share the distinction of having won the last three national auditions for the U.S. Navy Band, which is stationed in Washington, D.C. The NSQ was in the area as part of a weeklong tour of the Southern Tier.

Allan Naplan ’95 appeared this summer at the Ash Lawn–Highland Festival in the roles of Papageno in The Magic Flute and Top in The Tender Land. Opera News magazine gave him positive reviews, calling him "a sympathetic Papageno with a well-schooled, focused, pleasant baritone."

NYSSMA Conference

The School of Music made an impressive showing once again at the New York State School Music Association Conference, held at the Concord Hotel in December. The Ithaca College Brass Choir, under the direction of Karl Swearingen, performed numerous selections from the standard literature for an appreciative noontime audience. Members of the ensemble were selected to perform with the All-State Mixed Chorus, which played to capacity crowds.

Also appearing at the Concord were the guitar ensemble, directed by Pablo Cohen, and the Ithaca Wind Quintet. Clinics and workshops presented by faculty included "If I Only Knew What I Think I Know Now: Lessons Learned on the Job" by Maud Hickey; "Computerized Marching Band Drill Design" by Swearingen; "Preparing Your Students for College Music Auditions and Placement" by Dean Arthur Ostrander, panelist; "Vocal Jazz Improvisation: Ideas and Techniques for Development" by Dave Riley; and "Warm-Ups for All Vocal Levels" by Robert Zazzara.

Annual Competitions

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. The Ithaca College Choir premiered a commissioned work by Daniel Asia entitled "purer than purest pure," an e. e. cummings set.

Health and Performance Institute

For the fifth consecutive summer, the College will open its doors to professional performers and music teachers with at least one thing in common: they or their students struggle with aches and pains that interfere with their performance.

Ithaca’s Health and Performance Institute for Musicians began when Nicholas Quarrier ’76, director of the physical therapy clinic, combined forces with three music professors -- Carol McAmis, Linda Case, and Susan Bruckner -- to develop an educational program on the care and prevention of music-related injuries. For a week each summer musicians come to Ithaca from across the country to attend lectures and workshops dealing with such topics as basic anatomy/physiology, common injuries, exercise prescriptions, postural stresses, stage fright, and Feldenkrais exercises. Each year the number of participants grows, and the overall response by participants has been enthusiastic. For more information call (607) 274-3143 or send e-mail to xconed1@oa.ithaca.edu.