2016-2017

LamonΩ SocieΩy

amont School of Music

Making Career Dreams Come True

Lamont Society donors have made the difference for countless alumni and current students by making it possible for them to attend Lamont and by enriching their experience during their time with us. As a donor, you will be invited to appreciation events such as Day at Lamont and Showcase Lamont, but more importantly, you will support Lamont, a dynamic place

with extraordinary people doing exciting things. On a personal note, I can think of no more gratifying position to hold than that of Director of the Lamont School of Music. I hope you will choose to make a gift or to consider increasing your contribution. Thank you for being an important and essential part of the Lamont family!

Nancy CochranDirector, Lamont School of Music

When students first arrive at Lamont, they have early plans and aspirations for their future in music. These ideas become refined when Director Nancy Cochran, the faculty and staff provide the education and tools that they need to meet their goals. Your support of the Lamont Society has a direct

influence on students. The funds that we raise help to bring in guest artists for performances, lectures, and master classes; send students to conferences, festivals, and competitions around the country; and produce musical events that would not be possible without our help. Lamont and the students are grateful for this support. It is meaningful, beneficial, and helps them realize their career dreams as alumni.

With sincere thanks,

Steve JohnsonPresident, Lamont Society

Cláudio Ribeiro, conductor (MM 2008 in Conducting)A Brazilian conductor, Cláudio’s dream was an international career. He was a winner in Brazil’s second National Competition for Young Conductors in 1983 and soon started his international conducting career, covering both

symphonic and operatic repertoire. In 1993 he became Music Director of the Orquestra de Câmera de Blumenau and also held the position of Music Director for the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre. Cláudio has conducted distinguished orchestras around the world in Bulgaria, Germany, Portugal, Uruguay, Mexico, Italy and the United States. Recently he has appeared as a guest artist, conducting and lecturing at the University Federal of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Nate Wooley, jazz trumpeter (MM 1999 in Performance) Nate’s solo playing has often been cited as “being a part of an international revolution in improvised trumpet.” His dream is coming true as he gathers international acclaim for his idiosyncratic trumpet language. Time Out New York has called him “an iconoclastic trumpeter” and Downbeat’s Jazz Musician of the Year, Dave Douglas, has said, “Nate

Wooley is one of the most interesting and unusual trumpet players living today, and that is without hyperbole.” Nate was recently named one of just 14 recipients of a major grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.

Sarah Cambidge Chastain, soprano(MM 2013 in Performance, BM 2011 in Performance)Sarah reached her dream of performing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in 2015 as the winner of the Rocky Mountain Region and as a national semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This summer, Sarah will join participants from around the world in the 2016 Merola Opera Program, San Francisco Opera’s extremely prestigious training program.

(Cover Photo by © Fay Fox, courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions)(Nancy Cochran's photo by Terry Shaprio)

Lamont Society 2016-2017

Donor Appreciation Events Thursday, October 13, 2016, 9:00am - 3:00pm, Newman Center Day at Lamont Visit classes and rehearsals in an up-close and personal way that is only for Lamont Society members on this unforgettable day. A lunchtime performance is also available. Make your donation by September 1 to receive an invitation to this event.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016, 7:30pm, Hamilton Recital Hall Recital – Stephanie Cheng, piano Stephanie Cheng has performed at major music centers across the world to critical acclaim. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and was the recipient of the Prix-Ville de Fontainebleau in France. Stephanie joined the Lamont faculty from Kuwait where she served on the faculty of the American University of Kuwait.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, 5:00pm, Hamilton Recital Hall Backstage Lamont – Steve Wiest, The Mystery of CompositionHow do composers create and arrange music? Lamont Jazz Studies faculty member and Grammy-nominated composer Steve Wiest explores the mysterious world of musical composition. Using his critically acclaimed recording The High Road, Wiest takes you from concept to completion of his take on the Fred Rogers classic “Please Don’t Think It’s Funny.”

Thursday, February 23, 2017, 7:30pm, Hamilton Recital Hall Recital – Martin Kuuskmann, bassoon Grammy-nominated Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso Martin Kuuskmann’s charismatic and command-ing performances have made him one of the leading solo instrumentalists today. He received his MM from the Yale School of Music and BA from the Manhattan School of Music. Martin has taught at the Manhattan School of Music and is actively giving master classes worldwide. He joined the Lamont faculty this fall.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 5:00pm, Hamilton Recital HallBackstage Lamont – Michael Schulze, The Sounds of MusicAn oboe and a clarinet play the same note, but they sound different. Why? And what does this have to do with an 18th-century French nobleman’s experiments with cannon balls? We will use 21st-century computer analysis to pull apart the components of musical timbre and find out! Michael Schulze is a faculty member in Recording Technology and coordinates all recording and production at Lamont.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 6:45pm, Newman CenterShowcase Lamont The highlight of the season is the sparkling black-tie event showcasing our outstanding student performers with a champagne toast, exclusive concert and reception. This event always sells out – RSVP as soon as you receive your invitation.

Stephanie Cheng

Day at Lamont

Michael Schulze

Steve Wiest

I n appreciation for making the dreams of our students and alumni come true, you are invited to attend this series of exclusive events. RSVP when you receive your personal invitation in the mail. Respond early, as some events fill quickly.

Showcase Lamont Martin Kuuskmann

CouncilJudi Newman, Honorary Chair Nancy Cochran*, Director, Lamont School of MusicSteve Johnson*, PresidentPaul Brooks,* Past PresidentJan Friedland*, President Elect Mark Barczuk*, SecretaryPhyllis Ward*, Membership Co-Chair Maradith Wilkins*, Membership Co-Chair Paul Docktor, MDPhyllis GoodmanJennifer HeglinHilary JohnsonDon LeachMichael McGoldrickKeith PockrossRichard ReplinSandra Walling Linda YoungChris Wiger*, Ex-Officio, Director of PR, Lamont School of MusicJennifer Garner*, Ex-Officio, Executive Director of Development for AHSS*Executive Committee

Emeriti VolunteersAndrea Howland CobbJane Gibson Barbara Goldburg Bill StolfusAnn Richardson Stolfus Henry SangerJoyce Berman SangerKathy Eggleston Shirley Smith

Honorary BoardDr. Charles and Kathleen BrantiganLucia B. CowperthwaiteF. Joseph Docksey and Nancy C. DockseyPhilippe and Cynthia DunoyerEdward and Charlotte Estlow*Margot Gilbert FrankJanet and Gary FriedlandBarbara GoldburgDr. María GuajardoC. Stephen GuyerDave and Peggy HectorJennifer A. HeglinAndrea Howland CobbHilary and Ken JohnsonLouisa Craft JornayvazAnn C. LevyJohn and Merry LowMichael McGoldrickTrygve and Victoria MyhrenJohn and Kathleen NessRobert and Judi NewmanJane M. QuinetteMaxwell L. SaulHarvey and Joanne SenderMarlis and Shirley SmithWilliam and Jodi SorensenJohn and Marilyn StoddardBill Stolfus and Ann Richardson StolfusJim and Jenene StookesberryHao Jiang Tian and Martha LiaoJeff and Martha WelbornDr. Robert A. Yekovich

LamonΩ SocieΩy2016-2017 Academic Year

Patrick Sutton, classical guitarist (MM 2010 in Performance)Patrick and his fiancée, Kimberly Patterson, formed their cello and guitar duo in 2011 as doctoral students at the University of Colorado in Boulder. This collaboration has led to fulfilling his dream of recitals, residencies and lectures throughout the United States and abroad. In May of 2013, the duo released their debut album, Cold Dark Matter: Music for Cello & Guitar on

the MSR Classics label, which The Strad praised for its “wit and imagination.” In January of 2014, Patrick and Kimberly held a guest artist residency at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, where they worked with the budding generation of young Afghan musicians and gave a performance at the Canadian Embassy of Afghanistan.

Michael Van Wirt, percussionist (BM 2010 in Performance) In just a few short years, Michael has made his dream come true as an emerging professional percussionist across the United States. In addition to winning the audition for the Section Percussionist position in the Colorado Symphony, he has performed with the Houston Symphony and was a New World Symphony Fellow. Michael is an alumnus of the Aspen Music

Festival, Colorado College Summer Music Festival and the Alan Abel Summer Percussion Seminar. He has studied in Denmark at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, in Japan at the Nagoya Institute for the Arts and performed in Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Portugal.

LamonΩ SocietyLevels of Giving2016–2017 Academic Year (June–May)

Prelude (individuals only) $60+ Romanza $120+Overture $250+Suite $500+Sonata $1,000+Concerto $2,000+Symphony $5,000+Oratorio $10,000+Cantata $25,000+Opera $50,000+Members are recognized in perpetuity for cumulative gifts to Lamont School of Music above $50,000

PLEASE NOTE: The $60 Prelude level is designed for individuals only. Couples may join at the $120 level and above and will be recognized together in listings and invitations.

To become a member or to establish an endowment or scholarship, contact Chris Wiger, Director of Public Relations at 303.871.6499 or chris.wiger@du.edu

I want to thank the Lamont Society for all they have done for my family and me. Lamont has given me the greatest support to be the musician I want to be. Every day I receive amazing instruction from the best in the field. I’m extremely grateful for the financial support that my family receives to support me through these most exciting years. The Lamont Society deserves their own round of applause. Cristina Montoya, double bass

I am so honored to be a member of such an astounding community of musicians here at the Lamont School of Music. I am enjoying each moment of this fantastic experience, and none of this would be possible for me without the support of the Lamont Society. Because of your generosity, I am able to continue to chase my dreams in music. I am forever grateful.

Christiana McMullen, soprano

Lamont is such a wonderful place to learn and grow, and without the generosity of the Lamont Society, so many young musicians would not get the opportunity to be here. I have noticed the most rapid and expansive growth in my ability since coming to Lamont, and the faculty is always willing to work with me in order to make my time here more useful and comfortable. In addition to all these great things, I have also met so many amazing musicians and lifelong friends. Thank you for your continued support of our musical and artistic endeavors at Lamont. Dylan Vessel, jazz trumpet

Thank you so much for your generous contributions to our school and to the student body. With your support, there is always a guarantee that I will see a familiar face in the audience at my performances. It’s been fun socializing with you after performances and at Lamont Society events. Also, because of you, school has been made more affordable, allowing me to be where I want to be without a huge financial burden. You all ARE the Lamont School of Music! Without you, we wouldn’t have a beautiful school and an excellent education. I am truly blessed and thankful for all you do.

Heather Church, percussion

Without the help of the Lamont Society, I would not be in the same place that I am in today. I am very thankful for all that you have done to help support us musicians at the Lamont School of Music. I have had so many great opportunities here at Lamont and every one of those opportunities contributed to helping me spread the word of music. I greatly appreciate all of the support the Lamont Society has provided me along the way to help my musical career blossom! Guillermo Ramasasa, clarinet

Dear Lamont Society:

It is always nice to see the same faces at our concerts and to know that there is this special group that is always supporting us and making the Lamont experience something that is truly life-changing.

Josh Goo, clarinet

It has been such a privilege to study at the Lamont School of Music for the past five years. The Lamont Society contributes so much to the high quality of this school and I am very grateful to have had an unforgettable experience here! Thank you so much! Virginia Limbird, oboe

Throughout my time at Lamont, as both an undergraduate and certificate student, your incredible generosity and kindness have been instrumental in helping to provide a grounded foundation for us to learn and to grow as musicians, students and citizens of the world. Without your generosity and support, it would have been impossible to experience the incredible depth and breadth of knowledge, wisdom and heart present here at Lamont, and for that I am infinitely grateful. Thank you! Julia Emery, cello

I write to express my gratitude to each of you for your patronage of the Lamont School of Music. During my two years here as a graduate student, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to study with Alan Hood on trumpet and Warren Deck in brass classes, both of whom have provided me with an array of resources that have substantially improved my abilities as a trumpet player, and with pedagogical knowledge that has already influenced my own teach-ing. I’ve also had excellent experiences in academic classes and in the myriad performing ensembles with which I’ve played here at Lamont. This school is truly a world-class organization, with skilled and talented professors and a wonderful building in which to rehearse, practice and perform. I know that the efforts of Lamont Society members, both past and present, have been vital to everything I’ve mentioned and more. Without the support of each of you and your commitment to the musical arts, I perhaps would not have been able to have these life- and career-changing experiences. I’m indebted to the school and to the Lamont Society for having given me the opportunity to realize my potential and pursue my passion.

Ryan Spencer, trumpet

Selecting a graduate program in 2012 was the most monumental decision I had ever faced. In choosing Lamont I was trusting that my education would be top-rate, the experiences would be bountiful, and my support from the school and the community would be strong. Four years after making this initial decision, I can say that I was absolutely right. After completing my Master’s in 2014 I was offered the opportunity to serve as the Interim Director of the Lamont Women’s Chorus, an opportunity that challenged me and helped me grow immensely. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Lamont Society in allowing me to continue as a student in the Artist Diploma program. Thank you for your dedication to our school, for being present for our many performances, and for continually creating opportunities for young aspiring musicians. Your support makes an incredible and lasting impact! Taylor Martin, choral conducting

Robert & Judi Newman Centerfor the Performing Arts2344 E. Iliff Ave.Denver, CO 80208303.871.6400

Lamont’s Vocal Jazz Messengers, Winners of the National 2016 DOWNBEAT Award for Best Performance by a College Small Vocal Jazz Group

Join theLamonΩ SocieΩy

www.du.edu/lamontConcert Line: 303.871.6412www.LamontLyrics.com

(Photo by Paul Docktor)