Faculty, Student and Alumni News: Fall-Winter 2014

Faculty

Patrick Burns (Adjunct Professor, Theory/Composition) conducted the 2014 New Jersey All-State Orchestra in November 2014 in two performances, in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and at the NJPAC in Newark. The program consisted of works by Sibelius, Walton, Leo Weiner and Nancy Galbraith.

In January 2015, Robert Butts (Adjunct Professor, Introduction to Music) conducted performances of his two chamber operas at the National Opera Center, Opera America (New York). He wrote the libretto and music for The Cask of Amontillado. He composed the music to a libretto by Jewel Seehaus-Fisher for Mark Twain and the General.

Lorraine Ernest (Adjunct Professor, Voice) performed the role of Violetta in La Traviata with La Boheme Opera. Lorraine is recording an album based on the famous Le Six.

Since September 2014, Marsha Heller (Adjunct Professor, Oboe) has performed with the Queens Symphony, Bronx Arts Ensemble, New York Pops, and Double Entendre, a double reed ensemble that performed a Christmas program at Grand Central Station.  Double Entendre also released its new CD entitled Double Take.

Mike Lee (Adjunct Professor, Jazz) performed and toured with Oliver Lake’s Big Band and Octet, with Josh Evan’s Big Band at Smalls Jazz Club and Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, performed frequently with Loston Harris Trio at Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel, played with the “Giants of Jazz” with Wallace Roney, Renee Rosnes, and Lenny White, in tribute to McCoy Tyner, and performed and recorded the Music of Stanley Turrentine with Montclair State University Guitar Faculty member Dave Stryker for Dave’s upcoming CD release. Mike continued his weekly residency at Hat City Kitchen, in Orange as host of the weekly jazz jam.

Anthony Mazzocchi (Cali School Associate Director, Trombone professor) premiered a concerto with the Peabody Wind Ensemble under the direction on Harlan Parker in December. He performed Frank Gulino’s “Capriccio” for Trombone and Wind Ensemble with the composer in attendance.

Thomas McCauley (Associate Professor, Director of Bands) had his book, Adventures in Band Building, accepted for publication by G.I.A. He appeared as a guest conductor with the Westchester Symphonic Winds in Tarry town, NY. He directed the Montclair State University Wind Symphony in performances at Carnegie Hall (for annual November “Season of Giving” concert) and with the Ridgewood Concert Band (Ridgewood, NJ). He directed the Wind Symphony in recording music for a PBS television special on renowned entertainer Dick Van Dyke.

Peter Stewart  (Adjunct Professor, Voice) sang with the vocal chamber group Pomerium, presenting concerts of early music at Yale University, Vassar College, and at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles (a musical context for their exhibition of Rubens tapestries from the royal palace in Madrid). He also developed a music theater piece called Edwin about the Booth family (including John Wilkes) by Anna Rozett in New York. He also sang the Waverly Consort’s Christmas Story in December at the Cloisters Museum in New York.

Sondra Tammam (Adjunct Professor, Piano) performed on the Leschetizky Association Concert Series at the Tenri Cultural Institute (NY, October 2014). She performed a concert of piano trios with Ariel Shamai and Alex Bacelar. She was also an adjudicator of the Connecticut  MTNA Festival Competition at Steinway of Westport, CT.

Students

Students performed on-campus, off-campus and internationally: Vocal Accord performed with the Richard Alston Dance Company in Kasser Theater for the 10th Anniversary of Peak Performances (Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2014); University Singers performed Handel’s Messiah with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Jacques LaCombe, conductor (Dec. 19 – 21, 2014); and Vocal Accord performed in London, England, with the Richard Alston Dance Company for its 20th Anniversary performances at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre (Jan. 26 & 27, 2015).

Montclair State University Wind Symphony members have auditioned for major positions around the United States. Bass trombonist Benjamin Clymer (MA’16, Performance) auditioned for the Boston Lyric Opera Orchestra in November and will soon audition for the United States Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass in March, 2015. Trumpeter Joseph Christianson (MA’15, Performance) auditioned for both the United States Navy Band and the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, and will soon audition for the St. Louis Symphony. Clarinetist Megan Alston (MAT ’16) auditioned in December for the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

Cali School students in the Montclair State University African Drum and Dance Ensemble, led by Robert Levin (Adjunct Professor, Music Education), gave a workshop and performances for students at Memorial Middle School in Cedar Grove. Eight middle school student musicians attended an hour-long workshop in African drumming, singing and dancing with the Montclair State University ensemble. Those boys and girls (grades 5 through 8) then joined the Montclair State University group to perform in both assemblies, which ended with a gym full of students and teachers singing and dancing along.

Alumni

Bassist Nicholas Lenchner (BMus ’09, Performance), composed a new work for bass and orchestra that was premiered by the Chelsea Symphony in January 2015. Nick studied with Linda McKnight (Adjunct Professor, Double Bass).

Mezzo-soprano Kimberly Prins-Moeller (MA ’10, Voice) completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) from the University of Arizona, Tuscon in fall 2014. She studied with Lori McCann (Assistant Professor, Voice).