school of music newsletter vol 5 music …school of music newsletter 5 andrew staniland demonstrates...

MUSIC at MEMORIALSCHOOL OF MUSIC newsletter VOL 5

MEMORIAL HOStS IntERnAtIOnAL COUnCIL FOR tRAdItIOnAL MUSIC WORLd COnFEREnCE 3research 3 NeWs 6 sTUDeNTs 8 FacULTY 10 aLUMNI 14 cOMMUNITY eNGaGeMeNT 16 DeVeLOPMeNT 18

from the DEAN

MUSIC at MeMOrIaL is a publication of Memorial University’s school of Music. We welcome all comments, submissions,

story ideas and letters.

Editors: ellen Waterman, Dean, school of Music [email protected]

Lisa riggs, Division of Marketing and communications

Danny hayward, Development Officer, [email protected]

Graphic dEsiGn: helen houston

covEr photo: William Lau performing at the sound shift Festival. Photo by Jared reid.

additional photos: rich Blenkinsopp; chris hammond (Peters scholarship); Danny hayward; Linda Litwack (Duo concertante); cameron

Ogilvie (andrew Dunsmore); Jared reid (IcTM).

storiEs: ellen Waterman, Tom Gordon, Janet harron

‘After a year of hard work, I’m pleased

to say that we have completed our

new curriculum and I’m very proud

to be part of such a thoughtful and

collegial faculty.

‘

ovEr thE past yEar, we’ve been having intensive conversations at

the school of Music about the meaning of music today. our goal? to do

a comprehensive review of our curriculum in order to ensure that we

are giving students the tools they need to communicate effectively in

today’s world. We’ve talked about core values, skill sets, technology,

innovation, critical thinking, and good citizenship. after a year of hard

work, i’m pleased to say that we have completed our new curriculum

and i’m very proud to be part of such a thoughtful and collegial faculty.

as our mission statement notes, “the school is committed to the

development and growth of the highest standards of musicianship and

musical research within the university and beyond...” new innovations

in our program will build on our proven strengths to enhance this

mission. For example, a core music technology course will ensure that all

students will be fluent in basic tools such as notation software and audio

editing. With the opening of the MEarl — our state of the art Memorial

Electroacoustic research laboratory — we will provide students in our

new applied composition major with advanced training in digital music.

We’ve continued our commitment to providing four full years of applied

music training for every student, and we will enhance the professional

development of performers through an intensive career skills course

and the opportunity to get credit for community-engaged projects

such as touring. our core training in classical music remains deep, but is

enhanced by new offerings in jazz, popular and world music. the stories

in this edition of Music at Memorial are a testament to the confluence of

tradition and innovation that energizes our school, and to the amazing

community support that we receive!

Dr. EllEn WAtErmAn, DEAn

School of muSIc

Where Tradition and Innovation Meet – Educating Musicians for the 21st Century

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research

Conference Brings the World to St. John’s

saltwater Joys concert, sound shift Festival

from July 13-19, 2011, Memorial University and the city of st. John’s, NL, were honoured to host the 41st World conference of the International council for Traditional Music (IcTM), an organization recognized worldwide as an eminent society for ethnomusicology and ethnochoreology research. Newfoundland and Labrador won the privilege of hosting the world conference through a competitive bidding process. The st. John’s meeting was the first IcTM world conference to take place in canada since the renowned folklorist Marius Barbeau hosted a meeting in Quebec city in 1961. With more than 460 presenters from 57 countries, the 2011 conference was the second largest in the history of the organization. IcTM 2011 received funding from Memorial University, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the atlantic canada Opportunities agency, heritage canada, the social sciences and humanities research council and the canada council for the arts among many others.

The event, which was co-organized by ethnomusicology professors Dr. Beverley Diamond and Dr. Kati szego, also featured the sound shift Festival of music and dance that brought together performers from many world traditions. Indigenous cultures were given special recognition with performances and workshops by representatives of Inuit, First Nations, Métis, saami, Maori, south african and australian Walpiri music. The festival demonstrated the exceptional capacity for local collaboration in Newfoundland and Labrador. artists were shared with Festival 500, the Wreckhouse International Jazz and Blues Festival, NL Folk arts society Folk Night, and the seamus creagh Festival. community engagement was outstanding with 98 volunteers and about 2000 attendees at concerts, workshops and films. Diamond and szego are now busy editing two special journal issues that emanated from papers presented at the conference.

3SCHOOL OF MUSIC newsletter

thErE mAy not bE rED cArpEtS, but there will be fanfares when Till We Meet Again receives its world premiere on Monday March 5th in hopedale, Labrador. This new feature-length documentary film subtitled Moravian Music in Labrador is one of the results of a community outreach project led by professor of musicology, Dr. Tom Gordon. Produced and directed by noted filmmaker Nigel Markham, Till We Meet Again is a moving exploration of the choral singing traditions of the Labrador Inuit who transformed the complex sacred music brought to them by Moravian missionaries into an expression of their own spirituality and culture. choral performances, archival images, interviews with Inuit musicians and snapshots of contemporary life in Nunatsiavut combine to tell this remarkable story with insight and compassion.

Funding from sshrc’s Public Outreach/Dissemination Program allowed Gordon and co-investigator Tim Borlase,

director emeritus of the Labrador Institute, to develop a series of workshops and performances that form the basis for the documentary. The Innismara Vocal ensemble under the direction of school of Music alumna, Kellie Walsh, joined church and community choirs in Nain, hopedale, Makkovik and happy Valley, Labrador across 10 days of easter celebrations in 2011. From Inuit musicians and elders the southern musicians learned their unique musical tradition and joined in the communal celebrations.

The hopedale premiere has been scheduled to coincide with the official opening of the new Nunatsiavut assembly Building. Other screenings with opportunities for community dialogue around the film will follow in Nain and happy Valley before Till We Meet Again moves to the little screen for its television debut on cBc during easter weekend, 2012. check local listings for the screening time in your community.

research


Film Documents Music in Labrador

tom Gordon leads the labrador choral traditions tour

Exploring the Healing Properties of Music

bESt knoWn for hEr Work on 18th century music, Dr. Jane Gosine, associate professor of musicology, is branching out in new directions. she is working on three interdisciplinary research projects in music therapy and entertainment education. In collaboration with music therapist, susan LeMessurier Quinn, Gosine is looking at how community Music Therapy, cultural identity, performance, and therapeutic goals in a music therapy program are connected. In a second study with LeMessurier Quinn and Dr. Greg radu (Faculty of Medicine) Gosine is examining the impact of listening to music versus watching television on clients in the clinic waiting room to see which is better at relieving anxiety. a third project, funded by the

Newfoundland and Labrador centre for applied health research, is led by Dr. Wendy Young, and comprises researchers from Nursing, Medicine and community health as well as Gosine. The team is examining the effectiveness of entertainment as a means of conveying important lifestyle information to older adults living with diabetes. Gosine extols the benefits of interdisciplinary research. “I am really grateful for having the opportunity to work alongside researchers from various disciplines who have shared their expertise in order to have a better understanding of the diverse ways in which music can be used to benefit various members of society.”


andrew staniland demonstrates new frame drum controller

New Electronic Music Studio home for Innovative Research

Dr. AnDrEW StAnIlAnD, assistant professor of composition, has put a new spin on an old instrument through his research on electroacoustic performance interface solutions. One of the first products of this interdisciplinary team research with engineering professors andy Fisher and Nicholas Krouglicof has taken shape as an electroacoustic frame drum controller (Irish bodhran) with several integrated sensors. The drum will allow a performer to interact with a computer to trigger musical sounds. staniland’s research is funded by a $100,000 grant from the research and Development corporation (rDc). One of the principle outcomes of the project is a new research facility for electroacoustic music at the school of Music: the MearL — Memorial electroacoustic research Laboratory. and thanks to a grant from Memorial, the facility also boasts cutting edge digital technology that will allow music students to study the latest developments in computer music. For staniland it has been a dynamic start to his career at MUN. “It has been a joy to see how much interest has grown around the project, both on a student and faculty level.” The project has also attracted a team of four senior engineering students who have opted to make this project part of their capstone graduation projects.

Bridging the Distance through E-Music Lessons

in an incrEasinGly intErconnEctEd world, technology is changing how people communicate. E-music lessons make it possible for musicians to teach one-on-one music lessons in real time via video conferencing technology. in collaboration with Memorial’s distance Education, learning and teaching support office, and supported by the newfoundland and labrador department of Education, the school of Music is exploring best practices for teaching e-music lessons. the team, led by dean Ellen Waterman and dr. Jason caslor, includes music faculty, graduate and undergraduate students and staff. participating students across newfoundland and labrador receive free weekly music lessons on an array of instruments from piano and violin to voice and saxophone. the lessons are taught by graduate students in the master of music program, observed by ethnomusicology students, and recorded by undergraduate student technicians. rich Blenkinsopp, the school’s music technology specialist, runs interference in what can be a challenging technological environment. in March, a summative event will bring students and teachers together for a face-to-face meeting at the school of Music. sarah comerford, a graduate student in the master of music program and administrative assistant for the project says that, “this project gives students opportunities they wouldn’t have if this technology was not available. While teacher and students are miles apart, they’ve developed a relationship similar to face to face instruction and students are experiencing progress.”

from the dIRECtOR


School of Music Celebrates Major Scholarship Endowment

news

president Gary Kachanoski, dominic Greene, nancy dahn and dr. david peters at gala concert

Dr. DAvID pEtErS has established the largest scholarship endowment ever given to Memorial’s school of Music. The Dorothy and David Peters scholarship in Music consists of three renewable full tuition scholarships, given to the student who displays the best aptitude, ability and passion for concert performance. Violinist Dominic Greene was awarded the inaugural scholarship at a gala

concert held Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. In 2012 and 2013 a new award will be given to a second-year student until all three scholarships are held. a dentist by profession, Dr. Peters and his late wife Dorothy have been involved with the school of Music in numerous ways since its inception in 1975. In his speech, Dr. Peters said he hoped his gift would allow students to perform the work of the great

masters to audiences in the province and beyond, “from cappahayden to Kapuskasing to copenhagen.” It is a sentiment reinforcing his philosophy of philanthropy begetting philanthropy. “When winners of this scholarship graduate from university, they will have far greater options in regards to going on to higher things, such as preparing for a career as a performing artist,” said Dr. Peters.

Spectrolite Debut

thIS WIntEr SAW thE DEbut of a new trio made up of school of Music faculty and alumni. Dr. Vernon regehr, associate professor of cello, pairs up with alumni sean rice, clarinet and Patrick cashin, piano in what promises to be a superb ensemble called spectrolite. cBc recorded the trio’s debut concert for national broadcast in D.F. cook

recital hall in January, just prior to spectrolite’s inaugural tour of Ontario and Quebec. regehr is delighted with the collaboration. “It’s incredibly satisfying to be able to work with former students as equal colleagues in a musical collaboration such as this. Pat and sean have developed into absolutely first-rate artists.”

Opera RoadShow Premieres Enchanting New Opera

WhAt Do you get when you make fun of an angry witch? You get a world turned to ice. That’s where a new opera, inspired by an acadian fable from the Port au Port Peninsula, begins. In Le Nez de la Sorcière (The Witch’s Nose) we meet an enchanted blue fox and two singing cod while we follow one person’s search for inner beauty. For nine years Opera roadshow has been instrumental in providing arts enrichment to over 50,000 children in this province and the Maritimes. The annual five-week tour provides talented performers in undergraduate and graduate voice programs with professional

touring experience. In 2011, Le Nez de la Sorcière had its inaugural tour of provincial schools, performing for both French and english stream elementary-age audiences in central Newfoundland and the avalon Peninsula. The 50-minute French-language opera was a collaborative project with L’Université de Moncton. Opera roadshow’s second opera commission, the work was composed

by Newfoundland native, Dean Burry and acadian playwright, Mélanie Léger. The spring 2012 tour will include the French-language schools of the conseil scholaire Francophone de Terre-Neuve et Labrador. st. John’s audiences can see a family matinee at D.F. cook recital hall on sunday March 25. www.mun.ca/musicatmemorial


Jeffrey taylor as the Blue Fox in Le Nez de la Sorcière

Suncor Energy String Fellowship Program

chelsi Walsh as a singing cod fish in Le Nez de la Sorcière

suncor EnErGy, in partnership with the newfoundland symphony orchestra and the school of Music has created an innovative string fellowship program that combines professional development with graduate training in performance and service to the community. through a generous donation to the newfoundland symphony orchestra, suncor Energy will provide a fellowship worth $24,000 (over two years) to each of the four players. When combined with funding from the school of Graduate studies at

Memorial university, the players will be exceptionally well supported in their studies. during the pilot program from 2011 through 2015, the fellowships will support the professional development of two violinists, one violist and one cellist. the musicians will play a full season with the newfoundland symphony orchestra while undertaking their master of music degrees at Memorial university. the next suncor Energy strings Fellowship competition will take place in 2013. For information see www.mun.ca/nsosuncorstrings/.

students


Innovative Community Engagement Scholarship Helps Make Wishes Come True

it taKEs talEnt and dedication to achieve the dream of being a musician. now, school of Music students Jon hicks and alyssa hodder are giving back. having first-hand experience of the children’s Wish Foundation, hicks, a percussionist, had the idea of mounting a benefit concert for the charity. the children’s Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money to grant wishes to terminally ill children to add a little optimism to their lives. along with vocalist hodder, hicks galvanized fellow students to mount the show. Making Wishes happen took place in october at

d.F. cook recital hall and included a mix of classical music, jazz and even a few disney tunes performed by school of Music students for an appreciative audience. hicks received support for the concert from an innovative new scholarship at the school of Music, the norah and leo healey Memorial award in Music. Established in 2011, by their granddaughter noreen Greene-Fraize and her spouse thomas W. Fraize Qc, the award is given to a qualified student who proposes a community engagement project.

Music Student Advocate for Memorial Students

muSIc StuDEntS are nothing if not dedicated. Their professional program demands many evening and weekend hours spent in the practice room, in rehearsal, and hitting the books. even so, some students still find time to participate in university governance. amber haighway, a fifth-year student in the demanding conjoint bachelor of music/bachelor of music education program is

no stranger to student politics. as MUNsU’s executive director of advocacy she helps students to prepare academic appeals, keeps them informed about university policies, and serves on a number of senate committees including: senate committee on Undergraduate studies, executive committee of senate, Undergraduate re-admissions committee and the university senate.

amber haighway (left) works hard for students as Munsu director of advocacy.

Student Music Society Gala Concert and Auction

“WE provED thAt we can pull off a major event,” said one beaming, tuxedo-clad student with justified pride. On saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 the student Music society (sMs) mounted their first gala concert and silent auction to create a new scholarship at Memorial University’s school of Music. and a highly successful event it was, raising $7,000 – over one-half of the total amount needed to endow the needs-based scholarship. Local restaurants, music stores, artists and salons generously donated attractive gift certificates, products, arts and crafts and even a couple of guitars. Following a reception with cash bar and music by a cool school of Music jazz combo, the audience enjoyed a high-energy concert hosted by cBc radio’s Francesca swann. With this year’s gala, the sMs achieved its goal of funding an endowed scholarship.

rEbEccA SImmS had her work cut out for her when the school of Music commissioned the undergraduate to compose a work as a gift to the town of st. Lawrence, N.L. The assignment? To create a new choral work suitable for school choir, with the dignity to honour an important historic event. On Feb. 18, 1942, more than 200 american sailors died when the U.s.s. Pollux and U.s.s. Truxton ran aground near the small town on the Burin Penninsula. Mayor Wade rowsell contacted the school of Music with the request for a new piece of music to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the tragedy. simms composed a piece for choir on a text by Newfoundland poet e.J. Pratt. her work, simply entitled February 18, 1942, references bleak winter storms and the bravery of Newfoundlanders and navy men alike in the face of disaster. The MUN chamber choir, directed by Dr. Douglas Dunsmore, recorded the work. The school of Music sent the cD as a gift to the Town of st. Lawrence. Mayor rowsell describes it as inspiring.

CBC and School of Music partners in New Amateur Chamber Music CompetitionthE fIrSt Memorial University school of Music amateur chamber Music competition was held in October 2011. Nine student ensembles competed in the first round by submitting recordings of their performances to a faculty panel. Four finalist ensembles were selected to perform in D.F. cook recital hall in front of a faculty panel, live audience and even cBc radio microphones. The school of Music’s co-ordinator of chamber music, Dr. Nathan cook, said that, “selecting only four groups for the finals was hard enough for the panel, but picking a winning ensemble was even tougher. I was very happy that we had Francesca swann working her magic at the cBc because all four groups, none of which was very far out of the running for a first-prize designation, got the feather in their cap not only for being finalists, but for having earned some cBc radio air time!” Performances by the guitar quartet, trombone quartet, piano quartet, and piano trio chosen as finalists were aired on cBc radio’s Musicraft. The piano trio of carole Bestvater, violin, rachel Gauntlett, cello and haeyoung Yoon, piano performing smetana’s piano trio in G minor, Op. 15, was the winning ensemble for 2011.


haeyoung yoon, piano, carole Bestvater, violin and rachel Gauntlett, cello, win chamber music competition

st. John’s band the pre-raphaelites performed at the 2011 sMs Gala

Music student rebecca simms composed choral piece for the town of st. lawrence

Student Composition Commemorates Historic Newfoundland Tragedy

faculty


School of Music Welcomes New Instrumental Conductor mEEt Dr. JASon cASlor, the school of Music’s new assistant professor of instrumental conducting and leader of the Wind ensemble. caslor recently completed his doctorate of musical arts (conducting) at arizona state University. he also holds the master of music (conducting) from the University of Manitoba and a bachelor of music and bachelor of music education from the University of saskatchewan. his early experience teaching school band means that he has keen insights into the challenging working lives of school music teachers. along with his expertise as a band conductor, caslor has worked with orchestras, both at the royal Winnipeg Ballet and during a three-year stint as resident conductor of the Thunder Bay symphony Orchestra. already active in atlantic canada as an adjudicator and clinician, caslor is an energetic advocate of music education and band. In addition to MUN’s successful honour Band program, caslor also plans to start a summer intensive music camp at the school of Music. “Beyond the technical mastery of an instrument or the in-depth knowledge of curriculum, it is a sense of community and collaboration that I think students need in order to succeed in the arts,” notes caslor.

New Music Librarian for Renovated Music Resource Centre

nAturAl lIght, green plants, pleasant surroundings, and excellent computer resources are all part of the newly renovated Music resource centre, a satellite of the Queen elizabeth II Library housed in the school of Music. We’re very grateful to head librarian Lorraine Busby for her support of the facility, and even more so for her inspired hiring of Ms. rebecca smith — our new music librarian. smith holds the master of library and information studies degree from the University of British columbia (May 2010), a bachelor of music education from Memorial University of Newfoundland (2005) and a bachelor of music from Mount allison University (2003). smith is a strong advocate for student research and has already made major additions to the music collection.

Jason caslor is Memorial’s new instrumental conductor

Music librarian rebecca smith relaxes in the newly renovated Music resource centre

Maureen volk garners atlantic region teaching award

“Best job in the world”– Award Winning TeacherDr. mAurEEn volk received an association of atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching award for 2011. a faculty member since 1979, Dr. Volk teaches piano, piano literature, studio pedagogy, piano pedagogy, aural skills and considers hers to be, “the best job in the world — it’s hard to imagine anything more fun.” she emphasizes the pleasure derived from working with students when they are young and figuring out what to do with their lives. Dr. Volk was commended by the association for the time and attention she devotes to her students and the resources she has developed to enhance students’ learning. currently, Dr. Volk is associate dean of the school of Music with a special mandate for student advising and fostering student success.


Accolades for Teaching and ResearchDr. kAtI SzEgo has won the President’s award for Distinguished Teaching for 2010. The award recognizes the teaching excellence in the university community. each winner of the teaching award receives a $5,000 grant contributed by the Memorial University alumni association. at the undergraduate level, szego teaches courses in world music, and at the graduate level she is one of the core faculty members in Memorial’s highly regarded Ma and PhD programs in ethnomusicology. she is currently serving as interim director of Memorial’s research centre for the study of Music, Media and Place. szego has also been recognized for her excellence in research. her article The sound of rocks aquiver? composing racial ambivalence in Territorial hawai’i published in The Journal of American Folklore won the 2011 Jaap Kunst award. The award recognizes the most significant article in ethnomusicology written by a member of the society for ethnomusicology and published within the previous year. Ethnomusicologist Kati szego wins

awards for teaching and research

Memorial Composer Receives Juno Nominationdr. clarK ross, professor of composition, is well known for his eclectic use of musical styles — in 2011 it netted him a Juno nomination for classical composition of the year. Last Dance, a passionate tango-based composition for piano, was commissioned through the newfoundland and labrador arts council by Memorial university pianist Kristina szutor who recorded it on her cd Bookends in Time. the Juno nomination came as a result of the work’s release on Barbara pritchard’s Piano Atlantica cd (centrediscs label), in 2010. you can listen to Last Dance at www.clarkross.ca/Progr-LastDance.htm.

WhEn vIolInISt nAncy DAhn AnD pIAnISt tImothy StEEvES (Duo concertante) commissioned a work from internationally renowned canadian composer r. Murray schafer, they were excited to be the artists who would play that composer’s very first piece for the combination of violin and piano. schafer works very closely with musicians, and the duo spent time at his Ontario farmhouse playing for him and discussing ideas. They recorded the work on their recent cD Wild Bird and the Duo for Violin and Piano was subsequently nominated for a 2011 JUNO award. Much to their delight, Dahn and steeves found themselves performing the work in Toronto’s roy Thomson hall when it won in the category of best classical composition. commissioning partners in the work included the Tuckamore chamber Music Festival, the Ottawa chamber Music Festival and cBc radio.

nancy dahn, timothy steeves and producer david Jaeger at the 2011 Juno awards

Duo Concertante commission wins JUNO for best classical composition

Après Scarlatti

DomEnIco ScArlAttI, an exact contemporary of J.s. Bach and handel, is known for his extraordinary output of keyboard music (550 sonatas!) that influenced the emergence of the classical style of composition. In 2012, Kristina szutor, professor of piano, released her second solo cD entitled Après Scarlatti, a recording that brings together a variety of contemporary piano pieces written in homage to the Baroque keyboard master. The album features two newly commissioned works by composers clark ross and clifford crawley, both residents of st. John’s along with several other premier recordings. The album is distributed by centaur records. szutor says that, “This project has been a labour of love for the past four years or so and combines my affinity for the light, sparkling music of Domenico scarlatti with my enjoyment of the fresh sounds of contemporary music.”

faculty


Sirocco

guItArISt SylvIE proulx believes that the classical guitar is closely linked to other guitar traditions around the world, as evidenced in her latest recording, released by centaur records in 2011. “Sirocco includes solo works that I have particularly enjoyed performing over the last few years. although each one is different in character, they all share a strong jazz, ethnic or folk music influence. The featured composers, who are also guitarists, have brilliantly illustrated the many facets of the guitar — from the use of its rich textural palette to the exploration of new harmonic territory.” Proulx loves seeking out eclectic works for the classical guitar, and the album includes Memorial composition professor clark ross’ Variations on McGillicuddy’s Rant, An Idea by afro-cuban composer Leo Brouwer, and the folk-rock and spanish inflected title piece Sirocco by andrew York.

Guitarist sylvie proulx

pianist Kristina szutor

At thE bEgInnIng of the 21st century First Nations, Inuit and Métis music in canada is dynamic and diverse, reflecting continuities with earlier traditions and innovative approaches to new musical sounds. Aboriginal Music in Contemporary Canada: Echoes and Exchanges reflects both the struggles and successes of aboriginal musicians in canada as they negotiate their identities and musical expressions at the start of the 21st century. The book was co-edited by Dr. Beverley Diamond, MUN’s canada research chair in ethnomusicology, along with Dr. anna hoefnagel and is published by McGill-Queen’s University Press. The contents of this anthology demonstrate that music continues to be a powerful tool for articulating the social challenges faced by communities and an effective mode of affirming Indigenous strength and pride.

New Book Explores Aboriginal Music in Contemporary Canada

Beverley diamond is canada research chair in Ethnomusicology and trudeau Fellow


soprano Jane leibel in performance with Maureen volk, piano

Songs of the Bubble Ring

Dr. JAnE lEIbEl, associate professor of voice, released her new album Songs of the Bubble Ring, in February 2012. The cD is a selection of songs with both piano and chamber ensemble accompaniments that centres on the whimsical and lyric voice of the soprano. It features works by John Greer and clifford crawley, two compatible spirits in the current world of canadian music. On this disc, John Greer performs the roles of composer, pianist and lover of contemporary canadian music. Leibel’s collaborators include school of Music faculty Vernon regehr, cello; Michelle cheramy, flute and rob Power, percussion along with bassist Frank Fusari and MUN alumnus sean rice, clarinet.

Music from the Big Land

FroM The Big LAND: MuSic oF MAkkovik, featuring Gerald Mitchell is a new archival cd released by the research centre for Music, Media and place (MMap) at Memorial university in 2011. Many of Gerald’s songs, particularly those with lyrics by Byron chaulk, became labrador hits when they were first released on two lps in the 1970s. the new cd includes a number of tracks from those decades-old lps as well as a number of new tracks recently performed by Gerald and others. the repertoire reflects dramatic changes in the

community over the course of the 20th century. accompanying the cd is a 40-page booklet with detailed song notes and a history of music in the labrador community. researched and produced by Joan andersen (lead researcher), tim Borlase, Gary Mitchell, and Beverley diamond in collaboration with Gerald Mitchell, the cd and booklet present a fascinating story of music in a unique labrador community. the cd is part of the Back on track archival cd series.

muSIc IS AbovE All an art of performance, so it makes sense that Dr. Paul F. rice, professor of musicology, applies his research on 18th century British music to innovative recording projects. rice’s work is profiled in two cDs released in 2011 on the centaur label. Thomas A. Arne: Overtures and Cantatas includes four cantatas and four overtures composed in the period of 1748 to 1771. arne was the leading english theatrical and song composer of his generation. The year 2010 marked arne’s 300th birthday, and the cD celebrates the event with a selection of works that were chosen by Dr. rice. In addition, he edited the music, creating modern editions and the performing parts.

The second cD, Great Britain Triumphant! contains music composed about the French revolution, but from the British perspective. The repercussions of the French revolution were felt throughout all of europe, and British musicians were quick to respond in musical terms to the events as they unfolded in France. The works chosen and edited by rice relate to the fall of the Bastille, the removal of the French royal family from Versailles and their subsequent imprisonment, the preparations for war, and the battle on the seas. all are first recordings. The recording is a companion to rice’s book, British Music and the French Revolution, released in 2010 by cambridge scholars Publishing.

Musicologist Records Revolutionary Music

Top Orchestra Jobs for Alumni

tWo rEcEnt grADuAtES from Memorial’s school of Music have already reached what many musicians would consider to be the pinnacle of professional achievement. Both aNDreW DUNsMOre (a percussionist) and clarinettist seaN rIce have won prestigious full-time positions in major canadian orchestras. Mr. Dunsmore was appointed percussionist with the Montreal symphony Orchestra, fulfilling his long-standing dream of becoming an orchestral musician. The son of Memorial professor Dr. Douglas Dunsmore, who specializes in choral music, the younger Dunsmore took up percussion while still in high school and has studied with Don Wherry (founder of the scruncheons percussion ensemble) and associate professor of percussion Dr. rob Power of the school of Music.

a clarinettist since the age of 10, sean rice was born and raised in st. John’s and graduated with his bachelor of music from Memorial’s school of Music in 2005. after

studying with professor Paul Bendzsa, he received his master’s from the prestigious Julliard school in New York and is now a doctoral candidate there. he won a position as second clarinet with Ottawa’s National arts centre Orchestra in November 2010. Memorial’s school of Music receives raves from Mr. rice with regards to the way it allows students to grow and excel at their craft. “I think Memorial

offers unique opportunities where both an individual and an ensemble can have access to the resources and teachers of the school but also the resources of the community in st. John’s. The opportunities to perform and build professional experience are readily available to students and these invaluable experiences are what separate the school from other musical institutions,” he said.

alumni


andrew dunsmore is percussionist with the Montreal symphony orchestra

sean rice wins clarinet position in national arts centre orchestra

‘ ‘I think memorial offers unique opportunities where both an individual and an ensemble can have access to the resources and teachers of the school but also the resources of the community in St. John’s.

Violist wins 2011 Concert Artists Guild CompetitionanGEla picKEtt’s roots are in newfoundland traditional music (her dad is renowned button accordionist stan pickett) but she’s certainly travelled a long way. the violist, an alumna of the school of Music who studied with dr. nancy dahn, is currently based in new york and is a member of the red-hot string quintet sybarite5. the group is known for its adventurous and hip take on chamber music repertoire, mixing the classics and new commissions with fresh takes on songs by radiohead and led Zeppelin. in a field of 347 competitors, sybarite5 won the 2011 concert artist Guild (caG) competition, a coveted prize with this artists’ management group whose mission is to discover, nurture and promote young musicians. pickett and her colleagues will be represented by the caG, and achieve the kind of visibility and support that can catapult young artists to fame.


Composer wins Festival Wind Orchestra Competition

toronto’s FEstival Wind orchEstra is celebrating its 15th anniversary during the 2011-2012 season, and school of Music alumnus aidan hartery has been chosen to compose a new piece in celebration of the event. hartery is a composer and trombonist who was born and raised in labrador city, newfoundland and labrador. he has recently completed his bachelor of music (honours) in theory and composition and is enrolled in the bachelor of music education as a second degree program at Memorial. this is not the first time that hartery has won accolades for his compositions. he’s a two-time winner of the terra nova Gower Band composition competition and in 2011 won the newfoundland and labrador arts and letters award in senior Music composition. hartery has also composed for the paddywagon trombone quartet, his own student ensemble at the school of Music, and for the Mun Brass Ensemble.

Dean Ellen Waterman interviews Alumna NANCy DAWE

i First MEt nancy daWE for coffee while on a business trip to toronto. What was meant to be a short meeting turned into a fascinating conversation! nancy is a ph.D. candidate in music Education at the university of toronto. She graduated with an honours b. mus. in 2000. below is an excerpt from our interview; you can read the complete interview on our website at www.mun.ca/music.

nancy dawe

ELLEN WATERMAN how did you decide to make music education your path?NANCy DAWE heading into my fourth year, I had been planning to apply to MBa programs and pursue a career in arts administration. Dr. rose convinced me that staying an extra year to do music education would provide me with valuable transferable skills even if I did not continue with a career in education. I stayed and completed the Bachelor of Music education in 2001, and I’ve never looked back. I have been in the music education field ever since.

EW can you tell us a bit about your research interests?ND My doctoral thesis is a narrative inquiry that explores the professional knowledge of three choral music educators from st. John’s. They each shared their life stories with me and welcomed me into their choir rehearsals. Through my thesis work, I have become increasingly interested in how to use narrative and personal story as tools for teaching music. It can be a powerful way of engaging students in meaningful conversations about how they experience music in their lives.

EW i understand that you have also been very active in student government, winning the Gordon cressy student leadership award at the university of toronto in 2008. did you develop any of your leadership skills at Memorial?ND Many of my experiences at Memorial contributed to the development of my leadership skills. I held positions on the student Music society and the Women’s studies society and I sat on a number of search committees, program committees, and appeals committees. Those experiences taught me that I love problem-solving with a team, and I really do enjoy playing a direct role in decision-making processes.

EW you’ve been very active in connecting alumni of the school of Music. What made your time at Memorial memorable?ND I loved my time at Memorial for many reasons. a few things that stand out the most are the community feel of the school, the relationships with professors, and the access to a wide variety of performance opportunities. I met some of my closest friends at Memorial — a couple of them live in Toronto as well. We became friends in the lounge, while taking breaks from practicing, and years later we are still close.


A Mighty Wind! MUN Honour Band attracts students from across the province

Jason caslor and the 2010-2011 honour Band in d.F. cook recital hall

on thE WEEkEnD of Nov. 18-20, 2011, the school of Music welcomed 105 high school band students from 21 schools across Newfoundland and Labrador for the fourth annual MUN high school honour Band. ambitious high school band students enjoyed an intensive weekend of rehearsals, workshops and concerts with faculty mentors. One of the highlights of the weekend was the MUN Wind ensemble’s fall concert at D.F. cook recital hall, on saturday. Under the baton of conductor Dr. Jason caslor,

the concert featured percussionist evan Bowen, winner of the 2011 MUN concerto competition performing David Gillingham’s Concerto No.2 for Marimba. The weekend concluded with a grand finale concert by the honour Band at the arts and culture centre on sunday. honour Band works because of the passion and volunteerism of MUN faculty and students. as caslor states, “I am dedicated to building bridges between the university and the music community at large.”

engagement


International Conductor Provides Professional Development for Music Educatorsdr. dalE lonis, an internationally respected conductor and educator visited the school of Music on Friday, sept. 30 to deliver a professional development day for music educators, a partnership between the newfoundland and labrador teachers’ association Music special interest council, long and McQuade Music and Memorial’s school of Music. over fifty band teachers took advantage of the opportunity to refresh their skills through interactive workshops and lectures such as Why We teach, conductor Boot camp and rehearsal techniques. instrument repair expert chris Ward from long and McQuade flew in from halifax to give tips on instrument maintenance and emergency repair. the day concluded with the Mun Wind Ensemble reading over 15 new works for young band.

New Composition Competition for Band

tWo collEAguES at Memorial’s school of Music have established an innovative competition to encourage emerging canadian composers to write music for band. “It’s a way of bringing together people who want to play the music and people who want to write the music,” said Jason caslor, assistant professor of instrumental conducting and co-creator of the canadian Band association composition competition. emerging canadian composers 35 years of age or younger are encouraged to submit compositions which are then judged by a three member jury created from the five participating organizations — Memorial University, Brandon University, the University of saskatchewan, the sackville community Band of Nova scotia and the Festival city Winds of edmonton. each of the five ensembles then rehearses, performs and records the winning piece. andrew staniland, assistant professor of composition, is the other half of the creative impetus behind the competition. he says that the competition is completely unique in canadian music circles. The winner will receive five performances across canada as a prize (along with $1,000 in cash) but staniland explains that the real currency for composers is the performance. “We are aiming to increase the dialogue between composers and conductors and to create a knowledge base,” he said. The winning pieces of the inaugural competition were premiered at the school of Music’s Newfound Music Festival IX in January 2012.

Chamber Music Program for youth

ovEr A DEcADE Ago Dr. Nancy Dahn, violin and Dr. Timothy steeves, piano — the Duo concertante — started an intensive summer festival. The Tuckamore chamber Music Festival has since become a destination of choice for national and international musicians. Now Dahn is bringing that experience to young musicians in the st. John’s area through a new chamber Music Program for Youth at the school of Music. each sunday, serious young players from 10 to 18 years of age work in small groups and receive professional coaching. “chamber music requires a lot of independence, creativity and responsibility, and that really empowers the kids.” students also have the option of taking a music theory class with David chafe. Graham hunt, a cellist and Grade-12 student, finds the program inspiring. “It’s a brilliant outreach program which provides st. John’s youth with an inside experience of the intensity of MUN school of Music while broadening their horizons and strengthening their musical comradeship.”

Feeling the Love

Music student Ben alstad with 1933 Mougenot cello

development


DErrIck hutchEnS IS A mAn WIth A vISIon. as executor of the estate of Mrs. rita Love, responsible for directing her generous bequest to Memorial University, Mr. hutchens knew that one of Mrs. Love’s great passions was music. Thanks to Mr. hutchens’ vision for how the bequest might support excellence in musical performance, the school of Music is the grateful recipient of several major gifts from the Love estate. In 2007, the estate supported the school’s purchase of a steinway concert grand piano for D.F. cook recital hall. an additional gift made in 2009 has made it possible for the school to complete its Prestige Quartet of concert quality string instruments. a 1933 Mougenot cello and a 2004 viola by the award winning Italian luthier Tadioli complete the set. These instruments join the school’s fine pair of violins (a heinecke and a Pilat) which were also donated by friends of the school, Mrs. helen MacLeod and Dr. David Peters, a few years ago. each fall, students compete for the privilege of playing on one of the instruments for an entire year. Given the significant expense of string instruments,

the opportunity to spend many hours a day developing their technique, sound and musicianship on such a fine instrument has a significant and permanent effect on the player. Violin and viola professor, Dr. Nancy Dahn points out the importance of this opportunity for emerging artists, “these instruments have made a huge impact in terms of our students’ development as artists and their ability to successfully audition for major graduate school programs.”

In 2012, a specially commissioned Indonesian gamelan orchestra will arrive at the school, again thanks to Mrs. Love. Dean Waterman explains that, “Gamelan is the classical music of Indonesia, and is a set of keyed percussion instruments, gongs and drums. It will make the perfect in-house world music ensemble to complement our graduate programs in ethnomusicology.”

Mrs. Love was a passionate supporter of Memorial University and she also gave generous gifts to other programs within the university. Generations of music students will have much to thank her for!


School of Music Launches Keys to Success Campaign

EvEry sinGlE studEnt who comes through the school of Music must become proficient on the piano. pianos in the school of Music are used constantly, seven days a week: for concert performance, classroom demonstration, studio teaching and in every single practice room. they are as essential to the delivery of our program as the space itself. it is not an exaggeration to suggest that piano keys are the keys to success for students in the school of Music. thanks to generous friends, our concert halls are well equipped with three excellent concert grand pianos. Behind the scenes, our pianos are like a stable of workhorses that are ready to be put out to pasture. of the 56 high quality pianos in the school only one has seen less than 20 years of service. pianos in practice studios and classrooms are played for many hours every day; in fact, pianos in practice rooms may get up to 12 hours of use in a single day. Five of our pianos are downright geriatric, having given over 40 years of service! the Keys to success campaign will raise $500,000 to effect renewal of our entire piano fleet through rebuilding and replacement. Memorial university will offer a generous matching fund to support the campaign. For more information contact danny hayward, the school’s development officer at [email protected] or 709 864 7539.

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS established since the last newsletter (July 2010):

thE dorothy and david pEtErs scholarship in Music

thE roGEr sKinnEr/Music nl MEMorial aWard in Music

thE Juno lEGacy GraduatE scholarship in Music

thE norah and lEo hEalEy MEMorial aWard in Music

2%

Gifts to the School of Music: July 2010–February 2012

■ Enrichment ■ Endowed Funds

■ Area of greatest need ■ Scholarships, bursaries, awards

■ In memoriam ■ Equipment

Gifts to enrichment

34%66%

42%

9%

47%

www.mun.ca/music

AUGUST 8–12, 2012REUNION 2012

havin’ a timeMEMORIAL UNIVERSITY | NEWFOUNDLAND

If you ArE onE of the over 800 school of Music alumni, then you do not want to miss reunion 2012. We have lots of events planned with food and drink and laughter and, of course, what school of Music event would be complete without music!

It’s what we do best! We will be hosting:

. Meet-and-greet reception

. Special family activity, Fun on the Farm (Lester Farms)

. School of Music BBQ lunch

. Spirit of Newfoundland Dinner Theatre with special guest School of Music Alumni speakers

. Jazz at the Ship night

. Fabulous Final Concert

and who will be the star studded entertainment for this final concert? Well yOU of course! Just bring along your instrument and your singing voice and we will take care of the rest! Now, do not fear, we have rehearsals built in to your fun so you will feel confident and refined by the time you take to the D.F. cook recital hall stage sunday afternoon.

Feel the nervous graduation recital energy?

MeMOrIaL UNIVersITY ceLeBraTes 50Th aNNIVersarY OF The sT. JOhN’s caMPUs

alumna and voice instructor shelley neville is spearheading school of Music reunion

Come on and join us Aug. 10-12, 2012 at the School of Music’s 2012 havin’ a time reunion!

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/207109596048609/