Assistant Professor of Voice Fotina Naumenko, D.M.A., in collaboration with conductor Nadège Foofat and Director of Composition, Coordinator of New Music and Associate Professor of Composition Jonathan Newman, M.M., has been awarded a major grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to support the performance and recording of Newman’s new song cycle for soprano and mixed chamber ensemble, “Bespoke Songs” (2022). This recording will be included on Naumenko’s upcoming album of all newly commissioned chamber music pieces.
Shenandoah faculty members involved in the project include Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Production & Recording Technology Dan Shores ’99, B.M., (recording engineer); Anna Lee van Buren Endowed Chair in Clarinet, Coordinator of Winds and Percussion and Professor of Clarinet Garrick Zoeter, M.M., (clarinet); Chair of Instrumental Division and Professor of Saxophone Timothy Roberts, D.M.A., (saxophone); Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy and Performance Marika Bournaki, M.M., (piano); Associate Professor of Cello Julian Schwarz, M.M., (cello); Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin and Associate Professor of Violin Akemi Takayama, M.M., (violin); and Assistant Professor of Percussion Karlyn Viña, M.M., (percussion). Two Shenandoah alumni are also involved in the project, recording producer Dan Merceruio ’06 (Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Commercial Music) and guitarist Mark Edwards. Edwards attended Shenandoah Conservatory from 2013 to 2016 and pursued a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance.
