Winter 2016

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Dear Alumni and Friends of the School of Music,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce Notes, our inaugural School of Music newsletter. Inside you will find information about recent School of Music events as well as updates about our students, alumni, and faculty. This publi-cation will be released at the end of each semester and will recap recent news in our community.

As we begin 2016 we have many exciting events planned for the spring se-mester. Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, present the second recital in the Arts Alive Concert Series in February. The Rose Ensemble, from St. Paul, Minnesota, also joins us in February and will present the program ‘Il Poverello’ - Exploring the Life and Deeds of St. Francis of Assisi. In March, we welcome the Chica-go-based entrepreneurial chamber music group the Fifth House Ensemble. They will be on campus for a three-day residency culminating in a multime-dia performance of Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht. Their visit marks the first residency of our Entrepreneurial Artist Residency program. In April, the Ball State Symphony Orchestra joins the Ball State Opera Theatre in two performances of Johann Strauss, Jr.’s Die Fledermaus. Both performances will be held in Sursa Performance Hall. The American Brass Quintet will also join us in the month of April. The quintet will work with our students for two days and will present the final performance of the 2015-16 Arts Alive Concert Series. In addition to these events, the School of Music continues to host a wide-range of performances including guest artist recitals, large ensemble and chamber music concerts, and student and faculty recitals. You can view our entire events calendar at bsu.edu/music/events including our live streaming concert schedule.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Rebecca Braun who put this wonderful publication together as well as Andy Hunt and Zach Bretz for their invaluable assistance.

On behalf of the School of Music, I wish you and your family a healthy and harmonious new year.

Sincerely,

Letter from the Director

Ryan HouriganDirector, School of MusicBall State University

College of Fine ArtsRobert A. Kvam, dean Michael O’Hara, associate dean

School of Music Administration Ryan Hourigan, director Rebecca Braun, assistant to the directorLinda Pohly, coordinator of graduate programs in musicKimberly Inks, coordinator of undergraduate programs in musicKeith Sweger, coordinator of undergraduate admissions and scholarships

Advisory Board Richard Baker Ayriole FrostMichael GagliardoCraig GigaxJeffrey GreenDavid HelmsTimothy LautzenheiserErwin & Barbara MuellerMichelle OylerMatthew Rooney

Faculty News

Alumni News

Fall Event Highlights

Student News

Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition

Fourth Annual Showcase Concert

A Discussion About the New Jazz Concentration

Hastings International Piano Concerto CompetitionThis past November the School of Music had the unique opportunity to host the first-ever North Amer-ican preliminary round of the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition. Now in its 12th year, the Hastings competition is recognized as one of the most prestigious European international piano competitions. Ball State was among four preliminary round sites which included Tokyo, Japan; London, England; and Hamburg, Germany. 

The preliminary round took place in the critically-acclaimed Sursa Performance Hall, where 25 pianists from across the United States and Canada came to compete. The participants hailed from the United States, South Korea, China, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Thirteen pianists from the Ball State auditions were among 48 pianists selected to advance to the final stages of the competition in Hastings, England, scheduled for February 25-March 5, 2016.

Two of the participants, Eric Zuber and Samuel Deason, were selected as the top two preliminary round winners and will receive complimentary airfare to England courtesy of the Ball State College of Fine Arts.

Frank Wibaut, the competition’s artistic director, chaired the jury alongside Miwako Hosono and Ball State’s own Robert Palmer who will represent North America on the jury in Hastings in February 2016. The six competition finalists will perform with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and will receive cash prizes. The first prize winner will receive £10,000 (approx. $15,000), a concerto performance with the RPO on one of its subscription concerts, and addition-al performance engagements. In addition, Ball State will welcome the 2016 winner as one of the featured artists on the 2016-2017 Arts Alive Concert Series.

Competition Jury MembersFrom left to right:

Robert Palmer,Miwako Hosono,

and Frank Wibaut

Photo Credit:Jared Sullivan

“...Ball State was every bit as much a winner as the

pianists who advanced...”

Robert Palmer, the Ruth Weldy and Mary Weldy Porter distinguished professor of piano, met Mr. Wibaut two years ago in Malaga, Spain at the Musical Summer Festival. They became fast friends, and Wibaut invited Palmer to sit on the jury for the 2015 competition in Hastings, England. Following the competition, Wibaut expressed his desire to hold live preliminary round auditions for the 2016 competition. When Palmer suggested that Ball State University host the North American auditions Wibaut agreed without hesitation.

Mr. Wibaut was so pleased with the facilities and organization of this year’s preliminary round that he has asked Ball State to host next year’s North Ameri-can auditions. In a recent interview, Palmer remarked, “Certainly Ball State was every bit as much a winner as the pianists who advanced out of our preliminary round auditions to the Hastings competition.”

In June of 2015, Robert Palmer traveled to Hamburg, Germany to select a 9-foot concert grand piano from the Steinway factory. The instrument he selected is featured above, and was played by each of the compe-tition participants.

Photo Credit: Ball State University Creative Services

The rainy weather over Homecoming weekend didn’t prevent people from attending the School of Music’s fourth annual Showcase concert. For those unfamiliar with the event, the Showcase is a benefit concert for School of Music student scholarships and features many of Ball State’s exceptional ensembles and soloists in a fast-paced collage performance. This year’s ensem-bles and performers included the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber and Concert Choirs, Women’s Chorus, Statesmen, Fanfare Trumpet Ensemble, and Viola Choir, as well as a tuba/euphoni-um quartet, flute soloist, bassoon quintet, and special guest Jace Wittig (BM ‘04).

Wittig was this year’s Alumni Achievement Citation Award recipient and led the choirs in a performance of Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria” following the acceptance of his award. The citation award is presented annually to an outstanding School of Music alumnus who has demonstrated notable achievements in the music field. A sought-after baritone, teacher, clinician, and ar-ranger, Wittig most recently served as interim director

of the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Chan-ticleer for the past three years. Prior to his

appointment as interim director, he spent five years singing in the ensemble.

Fourth Annual Showcase ConcertAndrew Crow, director of choral activities, was the mastermind behind the production, which raised $6,640 in ticket revenue. In addition, Conn-Selmer, a national leader in instrument manufacturing and distributing based in Elkhart, Indiana, underwrote 100 tickets. Its generous support not only benefited our own student scholarship fund, but allowed for students from Burris Laboratory School, Central Noble Jr./Sr. High School, Muncie Central High School, Northside Middle School and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of East Central Indiana to attend the concert free of charge. It should be noted that the School of Music maintains a long-term partnership with Conn-Selmer and is currently partnering with the manufacturer on an immersive learning class to create new content for a website which will provide continuing education for music teachers.

After the concert, the School of Music hosted an alumni and friends reception. Jace and his family were in attendance, as were a number of current and emeriti faculty, and alumni including Rebekah Weaver (BA ‘04, MM ‘06), Matthew Rooney (BS ‘08), Ayriole Frost (BM ‘10), Geoffrey Hutton (MM ‘15), Jeremy Sterk (BGS ‘05, BS ‘08), Michael Davis (DA ‘01) and James and Michelle Byrn (MM ‘09).

Jace Wittig, the fall 2015 recipient of the Alumni

Achievement Citation Award, conducting the

Chamber and Concert Choirs.

Photo Credit: Larry Douthitt

1. School of Music faculty and staff attended the Alumni and Friends reception following the Showcase concert. From left to right: Kerry Glann, associate director of choral activities; Andrew Crow, director of choral activities; Mihoko Watanabe, associate professor of flute; Caroline Hand; associate director of bands; and Patrick Stauffer, coordinator of music promotional services.

2. The über Horn Quartet was this year’s guest ensemble at Horn Day. Featured above are its members; Gene Berger, assistant professor of horn; and Ball State students and guests.

3. Raúl Prieto Ramírez, instructor of music performance (organ), opened the L. A. Philharmonic’s 2015-2016 Organ Recital Series at Disney Hall.

4. The Fanfare Trumpet Ensemble, a newly formed ensemble under the direction of Brittany Hendricks, performed at a number of university-wide events this fall including the university’s convocation and commencement ceremony. The photo above shows the ensemble opening this year’s Showcase concert.

5. Bassoonist Peter Kolkay, a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, presented a master class in Sursa Hall. He is featured above with graduate students Hilary Janysek and Clayton Dunaway. Kolkay performed with the Chamber Music Society on the first Arts Alive concert of the season.

6. The Ball State Symphony Orchestra performed Jody Nagel’s newly composed work the Director’s Overture in honor of Ryan Hourigan’s appointment as the director of the School of Music. Pictured above is Douglas Droste, director of orchestras, and Ryan Hourigan, director of the School of Music.

Discussing the New Jazz ConcentrationThe Ball State School of Music is excited to announce a new concentration in Jazz Studies. Andy Hunt, a graduate student in clarinet performance, spoke with Mark Buselli, director of jazz studies, about the new program.

Q: What is the official title of the new jazz program? A: It’s a music performance degree with a concentration in Jazz Studies.

Q: What are the goals of the new program?A: To prepare students for a life in the music business. That includes being able to perform on their instrument in a multitude of genres, being able to teach, having a working knowledge of playing in a recording studio, having the ability to compose and arrange in the jazz idiom, and to negotiate wages, contracts, as well as deal with marketing yourself.

Q: What will the classes look like? How many classes will students need to take to obtain a jazz concentration? A: The classes follow a logical progression culminating in students writing/arranging their own music, recording it, and having a professional copy ready to go at their senior recital.

Faculty Jazz Combo: Scott Routenberg, piano

Nathan Bogert, saxophone Mark Buselli, trumpet

Nick Tucker, bass Cassius Goens, drums

Photo Credit:Ball State University

Creative Services

Q: How do you foresee the addition of the concentration affecting the current jazz program?A: We are going to get more students who are serious about the art form. They will in turn give us betterensembles. We may even have to add another large ensemble!

Q: Will the program offer classes for both undergraduate and graduate students?A: Currently only undergraduates can enroll.

Q: What are some of the advantages of having the jazz concentration?A: We’ll have better students, better ensembles, and better classes ... a whole culture is about to be born and I am very excited.

Q: Where do you envision the program in five years? A: In five years I’d like to have a master’s degree in Jazz Studies. When that happens this program will really take off.

Q: Has there been a lot of interest from current and prospective students?A: I am fielding all kinds of questions from parents and students. I have had 5 current students matriculate into the program.

Q: How many students would you like to see enrolled in the program?A: Right now my goal is 20. If it goes higher than that, great!

Q: Can you talk about the entrepreneurial focus of the concentration and what that means?A: The entrepreneurial focus is the gem of this program! Students take a 3-hour class that deals with business, management and marketing. Things that many music schools do not teach today but are so important. The students will work on their project starting the last half of their junior year. That includes writing/arranging the music, contracting players, organizing rehearsals, booking the studio, being involved in post production, and designing the cover artwork for their final professionally recorded CD. This can also be used as a calling card for employment and getting into graduate programs.

Q: Will there be additional performance opportunities for those in the program?A: The students in the program will be first call for gigs around town and I will personally recommend them for gigs outside of Muncie.

Q: Is there anything else you would like us to know?A: Yes! Even without a jazz concentration I have had a total of 5 students win $1000 scholarships from the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation. I had a trumpet player place third in the International Jazz trumpet competition last year competing with the best jazz programs in the country and I just had a saxophone player win a national touring gig with In The Mood.

Student NewsJames Middleton, a senior saxophone performance major with a jazz and commercial minor, was the recipient of a 2015 Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Education Scholarship in the amount of $1000. The scholarship was presented at the Jazz Foundation Legacy Showcase on Thursday, November 19 at the Jewel Center in Indianapolis where James performed with the Indianapolis Jazz Collective.

In addition, on January 17 James traveled to Florida to begin a 16-week national tour playing tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute with In The Mood, a 1940’s musical revue now in its 22nd year of touring. The show features vocalists, dancers, and a big band performing jazz classics from the swing era. The 2016 tour will include 125 performances in 24 states and 60 cities. In The Mood will come to the Palladium in Carmel, Indiana on April 3.

Jaclyn Wappel, a doctoral candidate in harp performance, was appointed to the faculty of the Hong Kong Harp Academy this past May and will present a recital with faculty member and School of Music alumnus Nathan Bogert at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2016.

Robert Rouch, a senior organ performance major, attended the 4th International Summer Organ Festival and Academy in Barcelona, Spain this past summer. At the festival he performed two concerts with musicians from the Moscow Conservatory, and won the festival’s organ competition, competing against students from Poland, the Netherlands, and Russia. In addition, Rob-ert accepted the organ position at High Street United Methodist Church in Muncie where he oversees one of the largest organs in the state of Indiana.

Quanisha Vaughn was the third place winner of the 1st-year college women’s division at the Indiana National Association of Teachers of Singing festival. Valerie Weingart received an honorable mention at the festival in the 3rd-year college women’s division.

From Left to Right: Anthony Knepp,

Melissa Lund Ziegler, Julie Stuckert,

Amanda Smith, and Marcus Maciel.

Photo Credit:University of Tennessee

James Middleton was the recipient of a 2015

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Education

Scolarship

Photo Credit:Lauren Dahlhauser

Photography

Salvatore LoCascio, Carter Rice, Stephanie Kisselbaugh, George Karst, alumnus Nathan Daywalt, and faculty member & alumnus Michael Pounds had their compositions selected and featured at this year’s 50th Annual Society for Composers, Inc. National Conference. The conference took place from November 12-15 in Gainesville, FL.

Clayton Dunaway, a doctoral candidate in clarinet performance and music theory, presented two papers and performed a work by Eric Mandat at this year’s 58th National Conference for The College Music Society. The conference was held in Indianapolis this past November. Clayton was joined by a number of Ball State faculty presenters and performers including Robert Willey, Linda Pohly, Jim Rhinehart, Elizabeth Crawford, Scott Routenberg, Caroline Hand, Mihoko Watanabe, Elizabeth Richter, Katrin Meidell, Amy Kaplan, Aryn Sweeney, Da Camera Brass Quintet, Craig Priebe, James Helton, Mei Zhong, Kathleen Maurer, Jody Nagel, and Eleanor Trawick.

The Ball State University Viola Choir, under the direction of Katrin Meidell, won first prize in the Viola Ensemble Competition: Collegiate Division at this year’s 9th Annual Viola Day Celebration at the University of Tennessee. Members of the ensemble include Anthony Knepp, Melissa Lund Ziegler, Marcus Maciel, Amanda Smith, and Julie Stuckert.

Pianist Yi-Hsuan (Nina) Lee and mezzo-soprano Lauren Walker were this year’s winners of the Grad-uate Solo/Concerto Competition. Pianist Keying An received an honorable mention. Nina and Lauren will perform with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra on February 9 in Sursa Hall. Harpist Kiersten Alcorn, pianist SunJun Hwang, and flautist Susanna Smit were this year’s winners of the Undergraduate Solo/Concerto Competition. They will perform with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra on March 2 in Sursa Hall. Soprano Andrea Mellum received an honorable mention. Kiersten Alcorn, who placed first, will travel to Japan this summer as part of the School of Music’s exchange program with Mukogawa Women’s University.

From Left to Right: Salvatore LoCascio,

Stephanie Kisselbaugh, George Karst,

Michael Pounds, Carter Rice, and Nathan Daywalt.

Photo Credit: Michael Pounds

Faculty NewsMark Buselli, director of jazz studies, and Nick Tucker, instructor of music performance (jazz bass), performed on the sound track for the award-winning animated film Claire & the Keys, written and directed by John Ludwick, assistant professor of art at Ball State.

Brett Clement, assistant professor of music theory, presented on the music of King Crimson at the Ann Arbor Symposium IV conference on Teaching and Learning Popular Music.

Douglas Droste, director of orchestras, guest con-ducted the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Ballet production of Giselle and conducted the 2016 Louisiana All-State Orchestra.

Heather Platt, professor of music history and musi-cology, was selected to present the pre-concert lectures for the Palladium’s Classics in Context series. These pre-concert discussions introduce ticketholders to the works being performed on each concert. Upcoming concerts and artists include Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and a solo recital by pianist Jeremy Denk.

Michael Pounds, assistant director of music media production and associate professor of music theory and composition, was featured in the article “15 Outstand-ing Professors Every Audio Enthusiast Should Know” on Recording Excellence’s website. Here is the full story.

Raúl Prieto Ramírez, instructor of music performance (organ), made his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut this past November kicking off the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 2015-16 organ recital series.

Elizabeth Richter, professor of harp, has been appointed to the editorial board of the American Harp Journal, the official publication of the American Harp Society.

Christoph Thompson assistant professor of music media production and School of Music alumnus, has established a new international audio workshop series at Ball State in which he’s attracted numerous indus-try professionals such as Ted Fletcher, Larry Fricke, and Christoph Hessler. In addition, Thompson had his composition “Borchert Quintets” performed by

members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and inducted into the Borchert Archive of the

German State Library in Hamburg.

Jon Truitt, associate professor of voice and director of opera, directed a professional production of Don Giovanni with Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis in July, 2015. In October, Truitt directed a three-state tour of The Barber of Seville, traveling from Indiana to Tennessee and North Carolina.

Robert Willey, director and associate professor of music media production, is reinstating the student-run record label Beneficence Records for faculty and School of Music projects.

The School of Music would like to welcome and introduce its new faculty from last fall.

Nathan Bogert (BM ‘08), assistant professor of music performance (saxophone) Eli Fieldsteel, assistant professor of music media production & industryLindsay J. Fulcher, assistant professor of music educationCassius Goens III (BGS ‘08), instructor of jazz percussion (drum set) Caroline Hand, associate director of bands and assistant professor of musicAmy Hourigan, instructor of music educationHyery Hwang, assistant professor of music (vocal coach)Irina Mueller (DA ‘15) is serving as a part-time in-structor of violin. Christoph Nils Thompson (MM ‘11, DA ‘14), assistant professor of music media production & industry - recording engineerC. Michael Palmer, assistant professor of music education Jim Rhinehart (DA ‘12), assistant professor of music theory Jen Siukola is serving as a part-time instructor of jazz studies. Daniel Swilley, assistant professor of music theoryElizabeth Truitt is serving as a part-time instructor of voice. Nick Tucker, instructor of music performance (jazz bass)

New Faculty

Kevin Ray (BM ‘09) and his band Walk the Moon were recently featured in a video titled “Billboard No. 1s” for their hit song “Shut Up and Dance.”

M. Dee Stewart (BS ‘57) returned to campus this fall for a guest artist recital and Q & A session. Stewart is professor of trombone and euphonium at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

Aura Strohschein (BM ‘02) performed as a soloist with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra (BSSO) in September. Strohschein played Jody Nagel’s Concerto in B for Piano and Orchestra. She is currently pursu-ing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa in piano performance and pedagogy with a secondary emphasis in music theory. Her DMA thesis is entitled Practice Techniques and Analysis of Jody Nagel’s Concerto in B for Piano and Orchestra.

Christoph Thompson (MM ‘11, DA ‘14) had six of his works premiered this fall in Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana. Three of these premieres featured pianist Yukiko Fujimura (MM ‘08, DA ‘12) and bassoonist Eric Heidbreder (BM ‘12). Heidbreder will return to campus in March 2016 as part of an entrepreneurial artist-residency program with the Fifth House Ensemble.

Alumni NewsMichael Hall (BM ‘91) returned to campus this fall as the guest artist for Viola Day. He presented a lecture, master class, and recital. Hall was the recipient of the 2014 School of Music Alumni Achievement Citation award.

Kohl Kitzmiller (BS ‘15), Kyle Kitzmiller (BM ‘09), and David Zimmerman (BS ‘10) were the 2015 International Quartet Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Their quartet Instant Classic has performed all over the United States and Canada.

Adam Marchand (BM ‘15) won third place at the 2015 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition in Columbus, Ohio.

Tyler McCoskey (BS ’14), Jonathan Solomon (BS ’14), and Patrick Weaver (BS, ’15) assisted with the production of R.S.V.P., the second major album for Gunnar Mossblad and CrossCurrents. The album was recorded in the Ball State School of Music recording studios in March 2014 and was released in July 2015.

Joshua Palkki (BS ‘04) and Mark Boyle (BM ‘02, MM ‘07) had their articles published in the November issue of the Choral Journal.

Grace Eunhey Park (AD ‘14) presented a guest artist recital in the fall semester with the Secreta Piano Trio.

Photo Credit:Nicole DeGuireAlumnus Aura

Strohschein performs Jody Nagel’s Concerto in B for Piano and Orchestra

with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra

at a run-out concert in Fishers, IN.

Alumnus Michael Hall works with freshman

violist Julie Stuckert at this year’s Viola Day.

Photo Credit:Katrin Meidell

The School of Music will host two artist residencies this spring. The Fifth House Ensemble will be in residence from March 29-31 to kick off our Entrepreneurial Artist Residency program. The American Brass Quintet will be in residence from April 4-5. Both ensembles will present concerts on the final evening of their residencies. The American Brass Quintet will present the final performance on the 2015-2016 Arts Alive Series.

In May, the School of Music will host the first Sursa American Organ Competition in partnership with the Mos-cow Conservatory’s IV International A. F. Goedicke Organ Competition. The first and second prize winners will receive cash prizes and advance to Moscow for the final stages of the Russian competition.

The School of Music wishes to acknowledge members of its community that passed away this fall. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of those listed below.

Carla Maltas, former faculty memberJeff Manns, School of Music graduatePia Sebastiani, former piano instructor

Notable Upcoming Events

In Memoriam For information about all of our upcoming events, visit bsu.edu/music/events

or contact us at music@bsu.edu

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