Director of Acting and Associate Professor of Theatre J.J. Ruscella, M.F.A., shared a special presentation on March 28, at the Lincoln Center in New York City, on the use of virtual reality and augmented reality/mixed reality to create the Augmented Reality Chamber (ARC). Read more here.
Performing Arts Leadership and Management Program Director and Associate Professor of Performing Arts Leadership and Management David Edelman, M.F.A., was recently featured in the new book “Grassroots Leadership and the Arts for Social Change” (Emerald Publishing) with his chapter titled, “Acting Up and Fighting Back: How New York’s Artistic Community Responded to AIDS.” Edelman will appear at the book launch event at the People’s Voice Cafe in New York City on April 22 to read from his chapter.
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Voice (Soprano) Aimé Sposato, D.M.A., recently completed the third and final level of strategic planning training with the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). The SCUP Planning Institute provides leaders with the tools to help further an institution’s vision and mission.
Assistant Dean for Student Learning, Charlotte A. & Verne E. Collins Endowed Professor, Director of Music Education and Associate Professor of Music Education Jeffrey Marlatt, Ph.D., conducted the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) District VIII All-Virginia S.S.A.A. Chorus on Feb. 11. The chorus consisted of 160 treble singers from 22 high schools in and around the Williamsburg, Virginia, area. Throughout the two-day event, Dr. Marlatt rehearsed repertoire including “Libertango” (Piazzolla/Esclada), “Arise My Love” (Szymko), “Sing Me to Sleep” (Hill) and “Voice on the Wind” (Quartel). The event culminated with a public concert. Marlatt also conducted the VMEA District VI All-Virginia Middle Chorus on March 11. The chorus consisted of 120 middle school singers from 15 middle schools in and around the Roanoke, Virginia, area. Throughout the one-day event, Marlatt rehearsed repertoire including “Gloria Jubliate” (Wilson), “Oceans and Stars” (Bernon), “Music Brings Joy” (Robinson), “The Bird’s Courting Song” (Miller) and “I Shall Not Live in Vain” (Gray). The event culminated with a public concert. Marlatt also presented a paper titled, “A Song of Ourselves: Assessing Music, Dance, and Theatre in High Education” at the 6th International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education (ISAME6). The symposium occurred April 18 through April 21 in Birmingham, England. Marlatt served as co-chair for the 5th International Symposium (Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2015) which garnered participation from 380 music educators representing 18 different countries. He also served as co-editor of the Symposium Proceedings published in spring 2016 through GIA Publications.
Auxiliary Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Jazz Piano Mike Maher, M.A., completed his first year as the musical director for the Gridiron Club. The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C., with members representing major newspapers, news services, news magazines and broadcast networks. Membership is by invitation only and has traditionally been offered almost exclusively to Washington newspaper bureau chiefs, although it has opened its doors to prominent non-print journalism figures.
The Gridiron Club is best known for its annual dinner, which features the United States Marine Band and satirical musical skits performed by select professional soloists and Gridiron members, accompanied by a professional pit band. Every U.S. President since 1885 except Grover Cleveland has spoken at the dinner. Working in conjunction with Colonel Jason Fettig, the current director of the Marine Band, Maher leads the nine-piece show band, coordinates with the club’s creative team, provides arrangements for the band and rehearses the soloists, band and club members in the weeks preceding the dinner. John Philips Sousa was the first musical director of the Gridiron club. This year’s Spring Dinner was held on March 4 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. Vice President Mike Pence was in attendance. Featured speakers included congresswomen Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and Mia Love (R-Utah).
Adjunct Associate Professor of Jazz and Classical Trombone Matthew Niess, D.M.A., took The National Jazz Workshop All-Star Jazz Orchestra to New Orleans in January for a performance at the Jazz Education Network and at the Old U.S. Mint. In February he directed the Calvert County Maryland Honors Jazz Band and, in April, the Loudoun County, Virginia, District Honors Jazz Band. He and the Shenandoah Conservatory trombone studio also performed in March at the American Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C.
An article by Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Production and Recording Technology Mike Sokol, A.A., was published on rvtravel.com recently. The article identifies and explains an electrical safety issue Sokol calls a “Reflected Hot Skin Condition.” While this article is specifically about campground safety, the same principles apply to electrical safety for musicians on performance stages.
Christina Halpin Chair in Dance, Chair of Dance Division and Assistant Professor of Dance Maurice Fraga, M.F.A., presented part of his thesis research, “Audience Emotion and Experience as a Source for the Development of New Marketing Strategies for Concert Dance,” at the 2017 Popular Culture Association’s National Conference in San Diego, California, April 12 through April 14. The mission of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association is to promote the study of popular culture throughout the world through the establishment and promotion of conferences, publications and discussion.
Assistant Professor of Dance Tiffanie Carson, M.F.A., and ten dance students traveled to the University of Maryland, College Park, to attend the American College Dance Association (ACDA) in the Mid-Atlantic North Regional Conference March 8 through March 11. ACDA’s primary focus is to support and promote the wealth of talent and creativity that is prominent throughout college and university dance departments. Its conferences also provide the unique opportunity for students and faculty to have their dance works adjudicated by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals in an open and constructive forum. Carson brought her 2016 work, “nexUS,” and senior Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance major Rachel Shaver brought her self-choreographed solo work, “Antlers,” to present for adjudication. “nexUS” was described as “powerful and exciting,” and Shaver’s work as “beautiful, committed, and took risks.”
Master Teacher in Acting and Professor of Theatre Larry Silverberg was elected to join the very select membership of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers. The National Alliance of Acting Teachers was launched in 2014 as an independent offshoot from The Actors Center. Expanding its programming to now include an annual congress, a professional society, regional events and workshops, and the forthcoming launch of PARODOS—a publication devoted to teaching acting—their work is born from a collective desire to maintain excellence in its craft, while providing a creative home and ongoing dialogue for those in the field of actor training.
Professor of Theatre Kirsten Trump, M.F.A., performed with three acting majors for The Contemporary American Theater Festival’s 2017 season sneak preview on March 24. The acting majors included Leah Harrell ’17, Tyler Clarke ’18 and Joanna Whicker ’17.