Faculty

Brian Abrams (Associate Professor—Music Therapy) published a theoretical paper in Arts in Psychotherapy. The paper proposes a way of understanding music, in the context of music therapy, as a temporal-aesthetic way of being, not limited to the concrete medium of physical sound. As an extension of this theory, he prepared a chapter for a new e-book on the theory of music therapy edited by Kenneth Bruscia for Barcelona Publishers. In addition, he traveled this summer to South Korea to initiate and develop an affiliation between Montclair State and Dankook Universities around the interdisciplinary area of the health humanities. While there he presented a paper at the World Congress of Music Therapy. Prof. Abrams noted that several graduate students applied to the Cali School as a result of his presence at the conference. He is also planning a study exploring the role of relationship in a music-based, cancer survivor support group.

Magdalena Baczewska  (Adjunct Faculty—Piano) presented a piano recital in the American Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia. She was on the faculty of the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York.

Robert Butts (Adjunct Faculty and Alumnus—BS ‘72) was the first recipient of the 2011 citation by The American Prize for his education, outreach and conducting work. In addition to the citation, he was a finalist for the 2011 award for opera conducting excellence; and the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey was named one of the three top community orchestras in the country.

Mansoon Kim (Adjunct Faculty—Piano) gave a master class at Pianofest held at Nyack College in May. She taught and performed there with pianists Barry Snyder from Eastman, Lisa Yui and Tammy Lum. This September, she performed a recital with violinist Soh-Hyun Park Altino at the Cali School’s Leshowitz Recital Hall.

Mary Ann Mumm (Adjunct Faculty—Violin) performed a commemorative tribute to the 10th Anniversary of September 11 in the opening concert of the New York Chamber Music Festival at Symphony Space. She performed the New York premier of Laura Kaminsky’s Transformations II and Samuel Barber’s Adagio, both for string quartet.

George Spitzer (Adjunct Faculty—Voice) sang the Schumann Liederkreis, Op. 39 accompanied by Artis Wodehouse on an 1828 square grand piano at the Ann Goodman Recital Hall in the Kaufman Center of the Arts. They were the editor’s choice in the New York Time Out magazine. Also, he sang a concert of Stephen Foster and New Orleans Creole songs at the Boston Early Music Festival.

Tanya Witek (Adjunct Faculty—Flute) appeared with musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra on the Lenape Chamber Ensemble’s Summer Gala Concerts in Buck’s County, PA. She is a member of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Lincoln Center, and appeared in the festival throughout the month of August. She appears on the televised broadcast of the opening concert on PBS Live from Lincoln Center.

Students

Vincent Ip (BMus ’15—Piano Performance), a student of Mark Pakman, received excellent reviews for his performance of the Mendelssohn First Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 25 with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey in August. He was the winner of the orchestra’s Pearl and Julius Young Rising Stars Music Competition.

Jamin Kim (BMus ’15—Piano Performance), a student of Magdalena Baczewska, successfully participated in the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York, working with renowned pianists and pedagogues from all over the world.