The Big Little University Rising
“Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions in Neurology: Perspectives on Research and Practice,” a book co-edited by Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Therapy Kerry Devlin ’17, M.M.T., LPMT, MT-BC, and colleagues at Johns Hopkins, was recently published by Humana Press. Devlin currently serves as the senior music therapist at Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine.
Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Conducting Tim Robblee, Ph.D., conducted the National Honor Festival Band for the Korean International Music Education Association (KIMEA) in Seoul, South Korea, this month. KIMEA gathers annually in Seoul for its National Honor Festival (NHF), which includes band, string, and choral students from international schools throughout Korea. Robblee is the first conductor to have conducted the honor band twice, having first served as the NHF guest conductor in 2014. Prior to the weekend festival, Robblee served as a clinician for three high school programs around the greater Seoul area.
Photo by Juhie Suh at Seoul Foreign School
Nitin Anish ’26 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development) released “Finish Line” on Feb. 23; the new song is available on all streaming platforms. The song evokes the celebratory feeling of leaving a sticky situation or relationship.
“I remember dreaming of releasing my own music a couple of years ago, so releasing ‘Finish Line’ is a dream come true,” said Anish. “I feel grateful and blessed to have found the right people to bring this song to life.”
Anish collaborated with a number of Shenandoah Conservatory students and alumni on the project, including Wayne Romero ’24 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology) as the mixing engineer and Tom Preston ’23 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology) as the mastering engineer, as well as singer-songwriter Bobby Bays ’26 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development), bassist Nick Walker ’27 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development) and pianist Gary Garlic ’24 (Bachelor of Arts in Music) as instrumentalists and singer-songwriter Isabella Mesfun ’26 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development), singer-songwriter Bailey Lehfeldt ’24 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development) and Aidan Oberle ’26. The group also collaborated with Jairus Thurston as an instrumentalist.
Shenandoah Conservatory students, alumni and faculty traveled to Japan for a Global Experiential Learning (GEL) trip in January that fulfilled coursework in the Shen Ed Navigating Difference Sphere: Cultural Understanding. They visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanazawa and Fuji during the trip, immersing themselves in the culture, history, customs and architecture of Japan. Students also performed at Fuji Sanctuary, Sachi House (a kind of hospice care), also in Kanazawa, and collaborated with Senzoku Gakuen Music students. The entire group was invited to a performance by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. After the performance, everyone was invited backstage to speak with both the concertmaster, Tatsuya Yabe, and the conductor, Tatsuya Shimono. The trip was coordinated by Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin and Professor of Violin Akemi Takayama, D.M.A. with Associate Dean for Academic Success and Professor of Dance Ting-Yu Chen ’19, Ed.D. providing the academic support.
“One of the most memorable parts of the trip to Japan was the honor of performing at the Fuji Sanctuary and Sachi House,” said Maximiliano Fernández Escalona ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Music Education). “Both places were very sacred and special to visit, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share music with others. I also really enjoyed how much of Japanese culture we got to experience firsthand. Everything planned was very intentional, and I can’t wait to return someday.”
“Overall, each performance was met with such warmth and appreciation it made me realize how impactful music is,” said Madison Clark ’19, ’21, ’21 (Bachelor of Music in Performance, Master of Music in Performance, Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership & Management). “I am particularly fond of our performances at Fuji Sanctuary and Sachi House as I hope our music was able to uplift and replenish their energy.”
“We believe the trip was an incredible blend of cultural exploration and learning about the performing arts, spanning everything from ancient traditions to modern innovations,” said Dr. Takayama. “Japan definitely exceeded our expectations, leaving us with countless unforgettable experiences and some amazing new friendships.”
Members of the Shenandoah Conservatory trumpet studio have advanced to the live round portion of the large group category at the National Trumpet Competition (NTC). NTC will be held at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus from March 8, through March 11. They will perform “Thermal Whiplash” written by Chris Evan Hass. The following individuals will compete in the ensemble: Sam White ’24 (Bachelor of Music in Performance), Taylor Losey ’24 (Master of Music in Performance), Jaya Dickson ’24 (Master of Music in Performance), Vanessa Rivera ’25 (Master of Music in Performance), Mark Barr ’25 (Master of Music in Performance), Imer Ramirez ’ 26 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) and Alyson Zieg ’24 (Bachelor of Music in Performance). The trumpet studio is led by Assistant Professor of Trumpet Mary Elizabeth Bowden, M.A.
Jamie Shegogue ’23, LPMT, MT-BC, (Bachelor of Music Therapy) has been appointed as the first Pediatric ICU Music Therapist at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Maryland, expanding the presence of music therapy at Johns Hopkins. Shegogue’s appointment focuses on critical care and end-of-life support for children and their families and is an exciting expansion of the music therapy program.
Sam Barthel ’24 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, Minor in Film Studies) produced, directed and starred in his independent project, a production of “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,” the award-winning play by John Patrick Shanley. It was presented from Feb. 16 through Feb. 18 in the Harold Herman Lab Theatre. The story follows two broken souls who meet in a bar and begin a passionate relationship that explores each other’s vulnerabilities. The violent, gritty, emotionally raw play shows that no matter how shameful one may be, there is always a chance for forgiveness.
“It’s a story about redemption – that even the most ugly of us can find new life when we are given the gift of forgiveness,” said Barthel.
Associate Professor of Music Theory and Embedded Music Theory Tutor Coordinator Rachel Short, Ph.D., presented “Songs from the Heart,” a special Valentine’s Day concert at the Godfrey Miller Center, on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Pianist Connor Crotzer Scartascini ’24 (Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre Accompanying) performed alongside Short. The event was very well attended by the Winchester community, and many of the audience members were singing along with the music, which included Broadway and jazz standards.
The Godfrey Miller Center is dedicated to serving older adults of the community by providing benevolent services, fellowship programs and community events in the historic Godfrey Sperry Miller house and the Woltz pavilion.
Visit Facebook to watch video excerpts and to follow Dr. Short.
