Naumenko Releases ‘Bespoke Songs’ in Collaboration with Conservatory Faculty and Alumni

Associate Professor of Voice (Soprano) Fotina Naumenko, D.M.A., recently released the new album, “Bespoke Songs,” on July 5, on the New Focus Recordings label. The album features a collection of works she commissioned for voice and ensembles with various instrumentations that set texts by female authors. In pieces by Director of Composition, Coordinator of New Music and Associate Professor of Composition Jonathan Newman, M.M., Benedict Sheehan, Carrie Magin and Jennifer Jolley, Naumenko’s crystalline voice leads the ensembles through varied aesthetic territory, displaying a broad snapshot of contemporary vocal ensemble composition.

The album is a celebration of the art of collaborative chamber music featuring voice, and was created in collaboration with 13 other conservatory faculty and alumni:

• Marika Bournaki, M.M., Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy & Performance
• Julietta Curenton, D.M.A., Assistant Professor of Flute
• Colin Davin, M.M., Director of Guitar Studio; Associate Professor of Guitar
• Mark Edwards, (attended Shenandoah Conservatory from 2013 to 2016 and pursued a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance)
• Josh Frey ’19, ’20 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology, Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership & Management) (recording assistant)
• Dan Merceruio ’06 (Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Commercial Music) (producer)
• Tim Roberts, D.M.A., Chair of Instrumental Division; Coordinator for Conservatory in the Community; Professor of Saxophone
• Ryan Romine, D.M.A., Associate Professor of Bassoon
• Dan Shores ’99, B.M., Adjunct Associate Professor, Music Production & Recording Technology (recording and mastering engineer)
• Julian Schwarz, M.M., Associate Professor of Cello
• Akemi Takayama, D.M.A., Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin; Professor of Violin
• Karlyn R. Viña, D.M.A., Assistant Professor of Percussion
• Garrick Zoeter, M.M., Anna Lee van Buren Endowed Chair in Clarinet; Coordinator of Winds and Percussion; Professor of Clarinet

It is streaming now on every major platform, including Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Bandcamp and more. CDs are also available for purchase from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

The project was supported in part by faculty development grants provided through Shenandoah University.