Nineteen Music Production & Recording Technology (MPRT) students, along with Director and Associate Professor of MPRT Golder O’Neill ’92, M.M.E., and Associate Professor of MPRT Adam Olson, M.A., went to the 143rd Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention in New York City this fall. Students attended workshops, seminars, lectures and demonstrations regarding the latest technology and practices in the audio recording industry. Adjunct Assistant Professor of MPRT Daniel Shores ’99, B.M., presented a demonstration of 9.1 immersive audio that was well received by convention attendees. Junior Music Production & Recording Technology student Christopher Fenton entered the Audio Engineering Society student recording competition and came in fourth (honorable mention, photo above) out of 60 entries from various schools around the world. There were four categories: Traditional Acoustic Recording, Traditional Studio Recording, Modern Studio Recording & Electronic Music, and Sound for Visual Media. Fenton came in fourth for Traditional Acoustic Recording category. In other MPRT news, the program welcomed visiting professor Dr. Alejandro Bidondo, an acoustical engineer and scientist from Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from Oct. 24, through Oct. 26. During his visit, Bidondo presented a masterclass in acoustics and worked with students performing acoustical testing in Armstrong Concert Hall.
Pianist Richard Jeric ’18 was accepted to the 2017/18 The Song Continues at Carnegie Hall in New York City, from Jan. 23, through Jan. 28, 2018. This all-expenses-paid opportunity allows Jeric to perform for soprano Renée Fleming, collaborative pianist Graham Johnson and mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne. Jeric was encouraged to apply for the program during the Jesse Blumberg (baritone) and Martin Katz (piano) collaborative residency in October 2016. Jeric is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance under the tutelage of Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chair of Keyboard Division and Professor of Piano John O’Conor, Mus.D.
The Shenandoah Conservatory Vocal/Choral Division hosted Dr. Irene Bartlett in a three-day residency featuring a masterclass, lecture and Q&A session from Nov. 1, through Nov. 3. Bartlett is the coordinator of contemporary voice, voice pedagogy and jazz voice at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University (Australia), where her teaching centers on the development of foundational technique, sustainable vocal health and performance excellence for both undergraduate and postgraduate singers.
A.J. Milligan ’21 placed first and Kurt Cox ’21 placed third in the Senior Division at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Virginia Competition, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, in October. Saxophonist Drake Stoughton ’18 placed first in the Young Artist Division. Both Milligan and Stoughton will advance to the Southern Division Competition in January 2018, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Milligan, Cox and Stoughton are currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Bachelor of Music in Performance (Saxophone) and Bachelor of Music in Music Education, respectively. All three students currently study with Professor of Saxophone Timothy Roberts, D.M.A.
The Shenandoah Conservatory Trumpet Studio, under the guidance of Adjunct Associate Professor of Trumpet Chuck Seipp, D.M.A., performed a mock wedding at Christ Episcopal Church in Winchester, Virginia, with organist and former Shenandoah Conservatory professor Dr. James Kriewald.
Several flute students from the studio of Professor of Flute Jonathan Snowden, A.G.S.M., traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend a masterclass and concert on Oct. 23, with the principal flute of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Denis Bouriakov. Graduate student Christina Raczka ’19 was selected to play in the masterclass. Raczka is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Performance and studies with Snowden.
Los Angeles-based flutist and author of “Clubbing for Classical Musicians,” Sarah Robinson presented a workshop, on Nov. 10, on how classical musicians can build career opportunities by expanding their performances into alternative venues and provided resources on how to design, book, market and fund these alternative-venue shows. Robinson has been quoted in the New York Times about the phenomenon.
Shenandoah Conservatory announced sixteen student winners for the 2017 Bach-Handel Festival Competition. These student winners performed on the Abendmusiken program of the 2017 Bach-Handel Festival on Oct. 29, in Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall. Solo performers included Nicole Bohnett ’21, Aaron Chow ’18, Sean Dye ’19, Colin Johnson ’19, Catherine Lupien ’19, Angelina Lynne Davey ’20, Cahal Masterson ’19 and Sarah Saul ’17. Ensemble performers included Anna Dye ’18, Angela Garcia-Clark ’19, Harry Grossman ’18, Walter Litzenberger ’19, Maya Lončar ’18, Gerson Medina ’18, McKenzie Smith ’20 and Audrey Weatherstone ’19.
Students Charles “Logan” Smith ’21 and Roman Banks ’21 are current winners of the the National YoungArts Foundation competition in theatre.
Brody Grant ’21 performed at the prestigious 54 Below in the “Broadway Back To School Benefit” that pairs students singing with the original stars of Broadway musicals. Grant sang from “Memphis” alongside Tony Award nominee Chad Kimball. (Fun fact: Director of Musical Theatre and Assistant Professor of Theatre Kevin Covert, B.F.A., was in the original Broadway cast of “Memphis”.)
On Sept. 14, actress Mary Page Nance of Broadway’s “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” and “Finding Neverland,” served as a guest teaching artist and presented an extensive music and dance workshop followed by a Q&A session for Shenandoah Conservatory musical theatre students.
Shenandoah Conservatory guitar majors won top-tier prizes at the Classical Guitar Festival & Competition in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sept. 9. Maya Lončar ’18 was awarded second prize and Jan Marie Laman ’21 was awarded third prize. The first-prize winner is a guitarist from Brazil who is pursuing her doctoral studies at James Madison University. The collegiate competition included current undergraduates as well as master’s and doctoral students, with 10 contestants all within one category. The regional festival included concerts, presentations and the competition. Lončar and Laman are currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance (Guitar) and study with Director of Guitar Studies and Professor of Guitar Julian Gray.
A dance piece by Dani Maloney ’18, “It’s Raining,” was selected for presentation at the Small Plates Dance Festival in Newburgh, New York, in September. Set to “Earth Song” by Frank Ticheli and “It’s Gonna Rain” by Steve Reich, her dance involves projection and a full choir, presenting her views on bombings and the impact that such weapons have on the Earth, society and human beings. Maloney is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
This fall, the organ and church music department has added one undergraduate church music major, one graduate church music major, two undergraduate organ majors and one graduate organ major. Looking back to church music news from earlier in the year, the Church Music Institute (CMI), held from June 18 through June 23, and June 25 through June 30, included special recitals and programs featuring Director and Associate Professor of Organ and Church Music and Director of the Church Music Institute J. Thomas Mitts, D.M.A., as organist; Scott Allen Jarrett as conductor; soprano Aimé Sposato; and organist Dudley Oakes. The CMI Festival Chorus with orchestra and organ featured Jarrett as conductor and performed Fauré’s “Requiem” and anthems from the English Cathedral tradition. The intensive also featured the CMI Festival Children’s Choir. Participants led a Festival Service of Vespers. The Festival Children’s Service featured the CMI Children’s Choir and work by CMI participants. The CMI program included daily masterclasses in conducting, working with choruses and orchestra and welcomed the largest number of attendees in recent years.
The fifth annual Shenandoah Conservatory Instrumental Conducting Symposium held in June 2017 hosted over 30 conductors from the professional and teaching fields. Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Conducting Tim Robblee, Ph.D., was joined as clinician by special guest Craig Kirchhoff from the University of Minnesota.