Meet the Conservatory’s Newest Tenure-Track Faculty</h1> <article> <h1>Meet the Conservatory’s Newest Tenure-Track Faculty</h1> <p>eburnett — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:43:15 +0000</p> <span>Meet the Conservatory’s Newest Tenure-Track Faculty</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-10-04T16:43:15-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - 16:43">Wed, 10/04/2023 - 16:43</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Five members of the conservatory faculty have been granted tenure-track positions beginning this academic year. They span the disciplines of <a href="/node/3326">music theory</a>, <a href="/node/75916">composition</a>, <a href="/trombone">trombone</a>, and <a href="/timara">TIMARA</a>—each of them standout artist-educators who join a highly revered conservatory faculty.</p> <p>And while some are entirely new to their roles, many have deep ties to campus as past visiting faculty, guest artists—and even a former student.</p> <p>Follow the links below to learn more about each of them, from their areas of scholarly and artistic interest to the courses they teach this fall.</p> <p>Welcome—and <em>welcome back</em>—to 91ֱ��, one and all!</p> <script> (function () { document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () { const educationBlocks = [ `<div class="lined-list"> <h2 class="small-headline">Education <ul> <li>PhD, music theory, Indiana University, 2023 <li>BMus, violin performance, 91ֱ�� Conservatory of Music, 2017 `, `<div class="lined-list"> <h2 class="small-headline">Education <ul> <li>BM, acoustic and electronic composition, University of South Florida, 2014 <li>MA, musical composition, Eastman School of Music, 2016 <li>PhD, musical composition, Eastman School of Music, 2021 `, `<div class="lined-list"> <h2 class="small-headline">Education <ul> <li>BME, instrumental music education, Bowling Green State University, 2010 <li>MM, trombone performance, University of Michigan, 2015 <li>DMA, trombone performance, University of Michigan, 2018 `, `<div class="lined-list"> <h2 class="small-headline">Education <ul> <li>PhD in composition and computer technologies, University of Virginia <li>MM in music composition, Bowling Green State University <li>BA in music, Bowdoin College `, `<div class="lined-list"> <h2 class="small-headline">Education <ul> <li>BA cum laude, music (concentration in music theory), Pomona College, 2016 <li>MA, music theory, Eastman School of Music, 2019 <li>PhD, music theory, Eastman School of Music, 2022 `, ] const cardTitles = document.querySelectorAll('.biography-card__content h2 ~ .item-list'); cardTitles.forEach(title => { title.classList.add('list--clean'); title.querySelector('ul').style.marginTop = 0; title.querySelector('li').classList.add('professional-title'); }); const cardLinks = document.querySelectorAll('.biography-card__content .view-more'); cardLinks.forEach((el, i) => { el.insertAdjacentHTML("beforebegin", educationBlocks[i]); }); }); })(); </script> <style type="text/css">.professional-title { font-size: 1rem; /* margin-bottom: 2rem;*/ margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.4; } .biography-card__content h2 { margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } .biography-card__content .lined-list li { font-size: .9375rem; } </style></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Five artist-teachers, many with deep ties to campus, settle into new roles.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-10-04T12:00:00Z">Wed, 10/04/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3341">Conservatory Faculty</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33031">TIMARA</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33331">Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28876">Music Theory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35836">Trombone</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/john-gruber" hreflang="und">John Gruber</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/christa-cole-17" hreflang="und">Christa Cole ’17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/steven-kemper" hreflang="und">Steven Kemper</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/michael-frazier" hreflang="und">Michael Frazier</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/eron-smith" hreflang="und">Eron Smith</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/contemporary-music" hreflang="und">Contemporary Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/music-theory" hreflang="und">Music Theory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mike Crupi</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>Christa Cole ’17</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">Assistant Professor of Music Theory</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/christa-cole-17">View Christa Cole ’17’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>Michael Frazier</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">Assistant Professor of Composition</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/michael-frazier">View Michael Frazier’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>John Gruber</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">Assistant Professor of Trombone</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/john-gruber">View John Gruber’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>Steven Kemper</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">Associate Professor of Technology in Music and Related Arts</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/steven-kemper">View Steven Kemper’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>Eron Smith</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">Assistant Professor of Music Theory</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/eron-smith">View Eron Smith’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Seraph Brass Brings Music with a Mission to 91ֱ��’s Finney Chapel Stage</h1> <p>srasmuss — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:00:08 +0000</p> <span>Seraph Brass Brings Music with a Mission to 91ֱ��’s Finney Chapel Stage</span> <span><span>srasmuss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-10-02T17:00:08-04:00" title="Monday, October 2, 2023 - 17:00">Mon, 10/02/2023 - 17:00</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>It was this interest that prompted her to enter college at 14, ultimately earning her bachelor’s degree at the Curtis Institute of Music and her master’s degree at the Yale School of Music. Bowden won a position with the Richmond Symphony shortly thereafter. But, she longed to play as a soloist and chamber musician. Her dream of forming small ensembles first came to fruition with the formation of the Chrysalis Chamber Players, a collective that is based in south Florida.</p> <p>In 2014, building on the momentum from the experience with her first ensemble, she decided to move forward with a long-standing goal of forming an all-female brass quintet, and Seraph Brass was born. Bowden reached out to a fellow musician she met at Yale, and together they built the first roster of core performers. </p> <p>The ensemble’s mission is to showcase the excellence of female brass players and highlight musicians from marginalized groups both in personnel and in programming. They realize this in part by their roster of core and guest artists, and have gathered a number of up-and-coming artists who perform with the ensemble at various times. The ensemble also consistently programs and commissions works by under-represented composers.</p> <p>The current core members of the ensemble, in addition to Bowden, are trombonist Elisabeth Shafer, trumpet soloists Raquel Samayoa and Jean Laurenz, french horn soloist Rachel Velvikis, and tubist Robyn Black. </p> <p>Their October 13 concert in 91ֱ�� will begin with a new work, <em>Showcase</em>, by 91ֱ�� Conservatory professor Jeff Scott. The <a href="/events/artist_recital_series_seraph_brass">program</a> continues with a number of selections from contemporary female composers and composers of color. Interspersed in the program are classical works from more well-known composers, Edvard Grieg and Franz Liszt. The energetic, propulsive <em>Go!</em> by Anthony DiLorenzo closes the program. The ensemble will engage with the audience throughout the concert and offer commentary from the stage—a model fitting for an ensemble that considers education through performance an integral part of their mission. </p> <p>Bowden and the members of the ensemble have set the bar high for performing ensembles of any makeup. Seraph Brass was awarded the 2019 American Prize in Chamber Music and has been invited twice to Finland’s prestigious Lieksa Brass Week—a goal of Bowden’s when she first envisioned markers of success for the ensemble.</p> <p>“There have been a small number of very influential women brass players in the orchestral world for some time” remarks 91ֱ�� flute professor <a href="/alexa-still">Alexa Still</a>. “This concert is largely repertoire that they are recording this season, so we are being treated to a spectacular group playing really interesting repertoire, and it is wonderful and inspiring to see a brass quintet composed entirely of women enjoying such great success!” </p> <p><strong>91ֱ�� Student Engagement</strong><br> The ensemble will hold four <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/search/events?past=1&search=%22seraph%22">master classes</a> for individual brass instruments and small ensembles between October 11 and 12. These classes will feature performances by students in the Conservatory's Brass Department and they are free and open to the public. </p> <p>Seraph Brass is a not-for-profit organization, with each of the core members providing specific administrative support in addition to performing. This forms the context for the group sharing their expertise and their experiences in entrepreneurship for 91ֱ�� students during a <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/lunch_learn_conversation_seraph_brass_lunch_provided">lunch and learn session from 12:00-1 p.m. on Friday, October 13.</a> This session is sponsored by the Artist Recital Series and the 91ֱ�� Conservatory Professional Development Office. </p> <p>TICKETS<br> <a href="/tickets/event-details?EventId=6001">Reserved seating tickets </a>for the Seraph Brass performance are $35 for the general public. Discounted tickets are $30 for senior citizens, military, and 91ֱ�� College staff, faculty, and alumni. Student admission is just $10. 91ֱ�� students with a valid ID have access to free tickets through our <a href="/artsguide/ticket-information/claim-your-seat">Claim Your Seat </a>program.</p> <p>Tickets are available online and by phone at 800-371-0178. Patrons may also purchase them in person between noon and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 91ֱ�� College's Central Ticket Service, located at 67 N. Main Street, in the lobby of the Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Complex.</p> <p>Learn more about the <a href="http://oberlin.edu/artsguide">Arts at 91ֱ��</a>.</p> <p><em>This program is proudly supported by Ideastream Public Media, official media partner of the Artist Recital Series.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The award winning all-female quintet will perform core classics, original transcriptions, and newly commissioned works in the next installment of the Artist Recital Series on October 13</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-10-03T12:00:00Z">Tue, 10/03/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Shelly Rasmussen</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Mary Elizabeth Bowden, trumpet soloist and founder of <a href="https://www.seraphbrass.com/">Seraph Brass</a>, realized at an early age that she wanted to pursue music as a career.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2364">Artist Recital Series</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2548">Concerts and Recitals</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35266">Trumpet</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37371">Horn</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35836">Trombone</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37356">Tuba</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Ensembles Perform for United Nations at Carnegie Hall</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 21:47:39 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Ensembles Perform for United Nations at Carnegie Hall</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-11-10T16:47:39-05:00" title="Thursday, November 10, 2022 - 16:47">Thu, 11/10/2022 - 16:47</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� student musicians will take to the stage of New York City’s Carnegie Hall in December for a closed concert before the General Assembly of the United Nations.</p> <p>The performance is part of a wide-ranging new partnership between 91ֱ��, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR NYO), and the Global Foundation for the Performing Arts (GFPA). <a href="/news/united-nations-institute-training-and-research-oberlin-college-conservatory-global-foundation">Announced in September</a>, the relationship is intended to promote improved access to education for students around the world and to enhance quality of life through higher education and arts training.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Carnegie Hall in New York City<br> (photo by Ajay Suresh)</figcaption> </figure> <p>The 91ֱ�� Orchestra and 91ֱ�� College Choir, joined by performers representing the conservatory ensembles Musical Union and 91ֱ�� Gospel Choir, as well as musicians of the United Nations, will share the stage of Carnegie’s Stern Auditorium. The concert, held in conjunction with the U.N.’s 77th General Assembly, bears the title “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges.” It features works spanning the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries: Adolphus Hailstork’s vivacious curtain-raiser Fanfare on "Amazing Grace;" Sergei Rachmaninoff’s peerlessly popular Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18; and Ludwig van Beethoven’s groundbreaking Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, commonly known as the “Choral Symphony.”</p> <p>The December 2 concert is a private event presented for the U.N. A <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/musical_union_and_oberlin_college_choir_with_oberlin_orchestra_8604">public performance</a> of the Carnegie Hall program is scheduled for 91ֱ��’s Finney Chapel on Tuesday evening, November 29.</p> <p>“At 91ֱ��, we believe deeply in the power of music, and the arts more broadly, to foster connections between individuals and facilitate expansive new opportunities and access,” says <a href="/node/49511">William Quillen</a>, dean of 91ֱ�� Conservatory. "We are deeply honored to join in the global conversation with our partners at UNITAR and the GFPA, and we are so very proud to share our belief in the transformative power of music through this remarkable concert experience for our students.”</p> <p>Annual concerts are a U.N. tradition, though previous performances have typically featured only professional musicians. This year’s event is made possible through the support of the U.N.’s presenting partners: the Member States of Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hungary, Monaco, Oman, Rwanda, and Singapore.</p> <p>Created in 1963, UNITAR is dedicated to developing high-quality learning opportunities for United Nations delegates. The organization believes that a sustainable world is one where people can escape poverty and enjoy decent work without harming the earth's essential ecosystems and resources. UNITAR’s partnership with 91ֱ�� represents the group’s first major foray into undergraduate cultural arts education. A longtime partner with UNITAR, the GFPA promotes education in the arts and support to individuals engaged in the performing arts through cross-cultural exchange.</p> <p>91ֱ�� is one of a small number of U.S. institutions of higher education invited to take part in the initiative—and the only higher ed partner focused on undergraduate study.</p> <p>The partnership will create new opportunities for students worldwide to know and discover 91ֱ��. The first students selected through the program may begin as early as fall 2023. The agreement may also extend to the implementation of joint programs based on performance, research, conferences, and other experiences. A separate facet of the partnership, focusing on teaching English for speakers of other languages, is also being developed and would be hosted at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>The December 2 concert at Carnegie Hall will be led by 91ֱ�� Professor of Conducting <a href="/node/6636">Raphael Jiménez</a>. It features artist Byron Wei-Xin Zhou as piano soloist for the Rachmaninoff, as well as four accomplished international vocal soloists: 91ֱ�� Conservatory alumni mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis ’05 and tenor Joshua Blue ’16, and a pair of world-renowned artists invited by UNITAR, baritone Marco Chingari and soprano Sarah Tisba of Italy.</p> <p>“We could not be more excited by the invitation to participate in such a special event,” says Jiménez, who also led the 91ֱ�� Orchestra in Carnegie Hall performances in 2019 and 2013. “Every aspect of it makes it a unique experience for our students: the occasion, the venue, the audience, and the repertoire, which includes the awe-inspiring Beethoven Symphony No. 9. I cannot think of a more appropriate occasion and place to play this universal hymn of brotherhood.”</p> <p>“Music is a universal language and a powerful tool for cultural exchange. Its many positive spirits are the elements required for transformative solutions, and it will help to lead us through this watershed moment,” says pianist Zhou, who performed a solo recital for the 2021 U.N. Gala at Carnegie Hall. “As a musician, I firmly believe that utilizing music could promote the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and eventually lead us to a better future.”</p> <p>For 91ֱ��’s student musicians, the December U.N. concert marks the first of two engagements at Carnegie Hall in a span of less than two months: The orchestra and choral ensembles return for a public performance in Stern Auditorium on January 20.</p> <p>Learn more on the <a href="/united-nations-partnership">United Nations Partnership page at 91ֱ��.edu</a>.</p> <hr style="margin: 1.25rem 0;"> <p><em>The <strong>United Nations Institute for Training and Research</strong> (UNITAR) was established in 1963 pursuant to a United Nations General Assembly resolution. UNITAR is governed by a Board of Trustees with the mission to develop the individual, institutional, and organizational capacities of countries and other United Nations stakeholders through high-quality learning resources. Rooted in the goal of enhancing global decision-making and supporting country-level political and social action, UNITAR provides innovative learning resources to individuals, organizations, and institutions, with established programs offering advanced degrees in international leadership, diplomacy, law, and policy, as well as science and business. The partnership marks UNITAR’s first major program in arts and cultural education.</em></p> <p><em><strong> 91ֱ�� </strong>uniquely combines a world-class conservatory of music with a top-ranking liberal arts college. An independent institution in Ohio, 91ֱ�� was the first college to grant undergraduate degrees to women in a coeducational program and, historically, has been a leader in the education of African American students. The 91ֱ�� community is known for its commitment to social and global engagement and diversity. The Conservatory of Music provides flexible programs to prepare students as professional musicians and teachers of music. Deeply committed to academic excellence, 91ֱ��’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a rich and balanced curriculum in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. Recognizing that diversity broadens perspectives, 91ֱ�� is dedicated to recruiting a culturally, economically, geographically, and racially diverse group of students. 91ֱ�� aims to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives essential to confront complex issues and to create change and value in the world.</em></p> <p><em>The <strong>Global Foundation for the Performing Arts </strong>(GFPA) is an international foundation with a mission to provide valuable artistic education and professional support in service of those in the performing arts while fostering a global community and enabling cross-cultural exchange. A longstanding partner of UNITAR, the foundation is dedicated to supporting the performing arts, particularly in the realms of classical music and ballet through education, mentorship, and collaboration. GFPA is centered in the belief that young artists deserve professional guidance from experienced musicians in order to remain true to their artistic practice. The foundation provides advice to artists, competitions, and institutions dedicated to rewarding the world’s future performers. It has been a long-term partner of UNITAR.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">December 2 concert before U.N. General Assembly celebrates new partnership;  public preview in 91ֱ�� slated for November 29.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-11-10T12:00:00Z">Thu, 11/10/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3859">United Nations Partnership</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35596">Voice</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35116">Violin</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=36206">Viola</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35261">Cello</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=36156">Double Bass</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37361">Oboe</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35911">Flute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35881">Bassoon</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37266">Clarinet</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=7491">Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35266">Trumpet</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37371">Horn</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35836">Trombone</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37356">Tuba</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">The 91ֱ�� Orchestra, seen here at Carnegie Hall in 2019, returns to the famed New York City venue in December.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Fadi Kheir</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Alumni Win Grammys at 63rd Annual Awards Ceremony</h1> <p>cstrauss — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 17:09:27 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Alumni Win Grammys at 63rd Annual Awards Ceremony</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-03-15T13:09:27-04:00" title="Monday, March 15, 2021 - 13:09">Mon, 03/15/2021 - 13:09</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Winners of this year's Grammy Awards include 10 91ֱ�� Conservatory alumni across five different categories. These graduates hail from 91ֱ��'s vocal studies, composition, strings, woodwinds, and brass performance programs. They have forged careers on operatic stages, in orchestras in leadership positions, in the chamber music realm, and in new music.</p> <p>Best Opera Recording: <strong>Denyce Graves '85</strong>, for the Metropolitan Opera's recording of <em>Gershwin: Porgy and Bess</em></p> <p>Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: Bass-Baritone <strong>Dashon Burton '05</strong> and Experiential Orchestra Music Director <strong>James Blachly ’02</strong> for <em>Smyth: The Prison</em></p> <p>Best Chamber Music Performance: Pacifica Quartet first violinist <strong>Simin Ganatra '96</strong>, for <em>Contemporary Voices</em></p> <p>Best Contemporary Classical Composition: <strong>Christopher Rouse '71</strong> (1949-2019), a Pulitzer- and multi-Grammy-winning composer, for his Symphony No. 5</p> <p>Best Orchestral Performance: The numerous 91ֱ�� alumni of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for <em>Ives: Complete Symphonies</em>, including Principal Clarinet <strong>Boris Allakhverdyan '06</strong>, Bass Trombone <strong>John Lofton '77</strong>, Associate Principal Oboe <strong>Marion Arthur Kuszyk '88</strong>, Solo English Horn <strong>Carolyn Hove '80</strong>, Assistant Principal Viola <strong>Ben Ullery '04</strong></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Winners of this year's Grammy Awards include 10 91ֱ�� Conservatory alumni across five different classical music categories.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-03-15T12:00:00Z">Mon, 03/15/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2974">Conservatory Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33331">Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35596">Voice</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35116">Violin</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=36206">Viola</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37266">Clarinet</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37361">Oboe</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35836">Trombone</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/contemporary-music" hreflang="und">Contemporary Music</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Grammy-winning albums that feature the performances of 91ֱ�� alumni.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">91ֱ�� Conservatory</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Steve Parker ’02 Awarded Rome Prize for 2020-21</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 12:32:24 +0000</p> <span>Steve Parker ’02 Awarded Rome Prize for 2020-21</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-08-07T08:32:24-04:00" title="Friday, August 7, 2020 - 08:32">Fri, 08/07/2020 - 08:32</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.steve-parker.net/">Steve Parker</a>, a 2002 graduate of 91ֱ��, has been awarded a prestigious Rome Prize and Italian fellowship in design for 2020-21.</p> <p>Parker is a member of the faculty at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he directs the trombone studio, Trombone Choir, and New Music Ensemble, and teaches courses in electronic music, sound art, new media, and music business. An avid collaborator in new music circles, he has performed at the Lucerne Festival, the Bang on a Can Marathon, and in numerous other major venues and festivals worldwide. He also serves as curator of SoundSpace, an innovative music series at the Blanton Museum of Art.</p> <p>Parker’s Rome Prize, awarded for the project “Futurist Opera,” includes a stipend and an opportunity to live and study in Rome for a six-month period slated to begin in January 2021. He plans to create a series of sound sculptures, wearable listening devices, and tactile graphic scores to be used in a new form of opera.</p> <p>A double-degree graduate in trombone performance and mathematics, Parker arrived in 91ֱ�� with the goal of becoming an orchestral musician, but soon became enamored of opportunities to indulge his interests in computer programming, neural networks, and more.</p> <p>“Like a lot of 91ֱ�� students, I felt pulled in a lot of different directions,” he says. “Being an orchestral musician was the path that required the least amount of imagination. It offered a clear trajectory, and having a practical plan made a lot of sense as a high-schooler. But eventually I started to think about the skills I had and how I could make a greater impact.</p> <p></p> <p>“Everything I do is largely a product of my 91ֱ�� education,” he says. “I’m lucky that I get to do a variety of things—and that I <em>enjoy</em> doing a variety of things.”</p> <p>Parker’s recent studies involve research on sound as a weapon and listening as a surveillance tool, as well as the Italian Futurist movement.</p> <p></p> <p>“In Rome, I’ll be continuing that exploration to write an opera—not necessarily an opera in a conventional sense, but an opera in that it involves movement and spectacle that is realized in a gallery context by viewers who interact with objects and devices that facilitate new modes of listening.”</p> <p>Parker will be joined in Rome by an eager collaborator: his 5-year-old son, Eliot. “He’s my beta-tester!” Parker beams.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Installations of Parker's instrument creations<br> (top and middle) and a wearable instrument.<br> (photos courtesy Steve Parker)</figcaption> </figure> <p>The Rome Prize is awarded annually by the American Academy in Rome, the oldest American overseas center for independent study and advanced research in the arts and humanities. In addition to design, it is presented for composition, visual art, architecture, literature, and medieval studies, among other disciplines. Winners of the Rome Prize are determined by independent juries of distinguished artists and scholars. In 2020, a total of 22 Americans were awarded Rome Prizes.</p> <p>Parker’s honor follows that of 91ֱ�� Conservatory alumni composers who have also won the Rome Prize—Courtney Bryan ’04 (2019), Ashley Fure ’05 (2017), and Keeril Makan '94 (2008). 91ֱ�� composition professors Stephen Hartke (1992) and Jesse Jones (2012) also are past winners of the prize.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-08-07T12:00:00Z">Fri, 08/07/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Musician and educator to focus on creation of sound sculptures and wearable listening devices.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35836">Trombone</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy Steve Parker</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Shansi Announces Summer 2019 In-Asia Grant Recipients</h1> <p>eulrich — Wed, 29 May 2019 14:11:13 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Shansi Announces Summer 2019 In-Asia Grant Recipients</span> <span><span>eulrich</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-05-29T10:11:13-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 10:11">Wed, 05/29/2019 - 10:11</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In-Asia grant recipients receive up to $1,500 to complete internships with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and conduct independent study on topics of their choosing. Upon returning to 91ֱ��, grant recipients present their projects to their peers. First, second, third, and fourth-year double degree students are encouraged to apply for In-Asia grants.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Leina Fieleke ’21<br> Photo credit: Yevhen Gulenko</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Leina Fieleke ’21, an art history and psychology double major with an East Asian studies minor, will work as a curatorial intern at the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels in Saitama, Japan. She will be working under the supervision of Yukinori Okamura, director and curator of the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels. Her project is titled “Anti-Nuclear Art Activism in the Context of the Maruki Museum.” At 91ֱ��, Fieleke works as a curatorial assistant of Asian art, a docent at the Allen Memorial Art Museum, a student assistant for the <a href="https://cilc.oberlin.edu/liase/" target="_blank">Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE)</a>, is a <a href="/node/157836" target="_blank">Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow</a>, and is cochair of the Japanese Student Association.</p> <p>“Thinking about what I want to do with my life, I realized one of the most important things to me was to go to Japan and improve my language abilities,” she says. “I think this experience could be transformative for me not just in terms of my language abilities and art historical learning, but also in how I include Japan in my life in the future.”</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Charles Cui ’20<br> Photo credit: Courtesy of Charles Cui</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Mathematics and computer science double major Charles Cui ’20 will explore the social and cultural dimensions of bookstore culture in Taiwan in the digital age through his project, “Nightclubs for Literature: Bookstore Culture in Taiwan.” Cui will interview bookstore owners and customers in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. An international student from China, he is looking forward to developing connections between Asia and 91ֱ��, as well as learning about the continent from a different perspective.</p> <p>“Opportunities like this will really help me understand social phenomena in a comprehensive way and help me become a better communicator through foreign immersion,” Cui says. “What excites me the most is the unknown. I always learn the most from the unexpected.”</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Lea Watkins-Chow ’22<br> Photo credit: Chris Schmucki ’22</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Lea Watkins-Chow ’22 is an environmental studies major and will be working with Tian Shen Ling Organic Farm in Central Taiwan through <a href="https://wwoof.net/" target="_blank">Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)</a>. Watkins-Chow will learn about generational relationships and knowledge of agricultural systems through her project, “Growing in Taiwan: Interactions Between Generations and Agriculture.” She is looking forward to improving her Mandarin and connecting with Taiwanese culture.</p> <p>“Exposure to permaculture and sustainable food systems, in addition to Mandarin and Taiwanese culture, will enhance my academic and extracurriculars here at 91ֱ��,” Watkins-Chow says. She is a member of 91ֱ�� College Climate Lobby and Sunrise, an on-campus environmental organization.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Neko Cortez ’20<br> Photo credit: Courtesy of Neko Cortez</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p>Jazz trombone major Neko Cortez ’20 will study traditional Philippine instruments and pedagogical techniques in Quezon City, Philippines. In his project, “Finding My Unique Voice Through Musical Syncretism,” he will explore the intersections of music and community with other art forms. As the culmination of his project, Cortez will compose a musical piece that blends traditional Southeast Asian music forms with jazz music. He will give a performance of his work upon returning to 91ֱ��.</p> <p><strong><a class="view-more" href="https://www.shansi.org/iag2019" target="_blank"> Read more about previous In-Asia grant recipients</a>.</strong></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-05-29T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/29/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erin Ulrich ’18</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Funded by <a href="https://www.shansi.org/" target="_blank">91ֱ�� Shansi</a>, In-Asia grants enable students to immerse themselves in winter term and summer projects in East, Southeast, and South Asia.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2397">Shansi</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2563">Grants</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2378">Allen Memorial Art Museum</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25301">Art History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35836">Trombone</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25321">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/art" hreflang="und">Studio Art</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">91ֱ�� Shansi Open House</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Pang Fei Chiang ’19</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Trombonist John Gruber Appointed to 91ֱ�� Conservatory Brass Faculty</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:09:53 +0000</p> <span>Trombonist John Gruber Appointed to 91ֱ�� Conservatory Brass Faculty</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-04-02T11:09:53-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 2, 2019 - 11:09">Tue, 04/02/2019 - 11:09</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/node/157991">John Gruber</a>, an avid performer and teacher of trombone, has been named Visiting Assistant Professor of Trombone at 91ֱ�� Conservatory. He will begin in fall 2019.</p> <p>Gruber arrives in 91ֱ�� after most recently serving as trombone lecturer at Ohio State University. His decade-plus teaching career has also included stints with Siena Heights University, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles, and the public school system in Barnesville, Ohio, where he served as band director. He is also a faculty member of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.</p> <p>In addition to teaching, Gruber maintains an active performing career as principal trombonist in the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, as well as second trombone in the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestra engagements have included the Toledo Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Adrian Symphony, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, the Galliard Brass, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek.</p> <p>A trombonist for more than 20 years, Gruber was the National First Prize winner in the Brass Division of the 2010 Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition. Born and raised in Bowling Green, Ohio, he earned a BME in instrumental music education from Bowling Green State University. He added an MM and DMA in trombone performance from the University of Michigan, where he also completed a cognate in wind conducting.</p> <p>Gruber’s teachers have included David Jackson, William Mathis, Dan Saygers, Michael Haithcock, and Garth Simmons.</p> <p>“It is an honor to welcome John Gruber to the 91ֱ�� Conservatory family,” says William Quillen, acting dean of the conservatory. “John’s musicianship and passion for teaching will serve as a source of inspiration to his students, and we are delighted that he has joined the faculty."</p> <p>Since childhood, Gruber says, he had known of 91ֱ��’s standout reputation for music and liberal arts. He even considered attending 91ֱ�� Conservatory, though having two parents who worked for Bowling Green ultimately led him to undergraduate studies there.</p> <p>Now he is honored to experience 91ֱ��’s commitment to young musicians firsthand.</p> <p>“I have been struck not just by 91ֱ��’s wonderful reputation for the conservatory and the college, and that it is a place of truly high standards and a nurturing place for students,” he says. “Now I am getting to actually meet people for the first time and find out how warm and welcoming everyone in this community is. That has really moved me.”</p> <p>John Gruber is an Edwards Artist.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-04-02T12:00:00Z">Tue, 04/02/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Erich Burnett</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Active orchestral performer and teacher to begin in fall 2019.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2414">Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35836">Trombone</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/john-gruber" hreflang="und">John Gruber</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy John Gruber</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>