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DR. MECKNA AND THE GROVE
TCU’s School of Music students and faculty are well acquainted with the various Grove music dictionaries. The most recent generation of users have benefited from an online version and various spin-offs--opera, jazz, musical instruments, women composers, and American music. So where does Dr. Meckna come in? Well, as a lowly grad student in 1980, he contributed 19 articles to The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, and in 2000 he wrote another 73 entries for the all-encompassing New Grove Dictionary, 2nd edition. Now he’s been promoted to a Contributing Editor of The Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd edition. Nicknamed Amerigrove II, the project will contain approximately 9,000 articles in six volumes. The content will also be published online in installments as a regular part of the content of Grove Music Online. Don’t hold your breath, though. The project is not scheduled for completion until the year 2009.
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TCU DRUMLINE WINS PASIC COMPETITION
The TCU Drumline, under the direction of Dr. Brian West, won the prestigious PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) Marching Percussion Festival College Drumline Competition in Austin, TX. Winning this competition is equivalent to winning the 2006 "national championship" in the field of college marching percussion programs.
TCU's Percussion Ensemble won the "concert" competition last year and was featured in a Showcase Concert at PASIC 2005. Winning the "concert" competition and the "marching" competition in back-to-back years further establishes TCU's program as one of the world's elite.
The annual PASIC convention and competitions are open to all collegiate percussion programs in the world. PASIC is attended by more than 7,000 percussionists annually.
Long a fan favorite at TCU football games,the TCU Drumline also performed their PASIC show together with members of the Horned Frog Marching Band at the State Marching Band Competition in San Antonio.
Congratulations to Dr. West and all the members of the TCU Drumline and staff on this stellar accomplishment!
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TCU PIANISTS IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS
Alexey Koltakov received the Gold Medal at the recent San Antonio International Piano Competition. Alexey is an Artist Diploma student who was the 6th Prize winner of the 2001 Van Cliburn Competition.
Last week, Yuan Jie received the Fourth Prize in the China Shenzhen International Concerto Competition. The international jury unanimously voted his performance of the Chopin Concerto No.2 the highlight performanceof the event.
Congratulations to Alexey and Yuan Jie!
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YEOMANS PUBLISHES BOOK
Piano Music of the Czech Romantics: A Performer's Guide by TCU adjunct musicology professor
David Yeomans has recently been published by Indiana University Press.
The book is a comprehensive and insightfully analyzed range of the works of Czech composers from the late-18th through the early-20th centuries Piano Music of the Czech Romantics collects and analyzes the piano music of Czech composers from the late-18th through the early-20th centuries. Ranging from well-known composers—JanEcek, Smetana, and Martinu—to more obscure composers—Benda, Stepan, and Suk—each chapter contains a selection of each composer's most interesting pieces prefaced by a biographical and analytical essay. Some of the pieces are still available, but they are in various international editions, and some are out-of-print entirely, making this an invaluable collection for all pianists. In addition to the full piano scores, this collection contains scholarly essays that will be useful for liner and program notes, and for pedagogical and performance insights.
David Yeomans is retired from the faculty of Texas Woman's University, where he was Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy. He current teaches muslogy at Texas Christian University. He is the author of Bartok for Piano (IUP, 1998).
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SCHOOL OF MUSIC WINS NATIONAL AWARD ..... again
The National Federation of Music Clubs has again given its 2006 First Place Award for the Promotion and Performance of American Music to TCU’s School of Music. The School previously won the award in 1966, 1988, 1997, 2000, 2002, and 2004. (A school cannot win two years in succession.)
The NFMC commended the TCU SOM for its annual celebration of American Music Month in November, its annual jazz festival in March, its biennial Latin American Music Festival in April, its several regional conferences, and its numerous premieres. Noted NFMC American Music Division Chair Angie Greer: “Your programming was exceptional, your publicity outstanding, and the number of people you reach with American music is terrific.”
During the period covered (June 2005 to May 2006), TCU musicians gave a total of 235 performances of works by 149 American composers on 84 programs. Twenty-two of the programs were “all-American,” 21 composers were present for the performance of their works, and 19 works were given their premiere performance. In addition to concerts and recitals, 11 visiting artists and lecturers participated in seminars, workshops, or master classes which focused on American music. Discounting a considerable radio and tour audience, approximately 9,150 people attended these events. Four festival-like events featured American music, and a CD of commissioned works was issued.
The TCU School of Music has been a member of the 105-year-old NFMC since the early 1950s.
TCU music professor Dr. Michael Meckna gathered the material and prepared the
application for this year's competition.
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Veda Kaplinsky appointed to the faculty of TCU School of Music
FORT WORTH, TX (May 3, 2006) - Yoheved Kaplinsky, chair of the piano department at The Juilliard School in New York City, juror for the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and internationally recognized teacher and lecturer has joined the School of Music faculty at Texas Christian University.
Dr. Kaplinsky has served on the Juilliard piano faculty since 1993. In addition to her affiliation with Juillard, Dr. Kaplinsky will spend several weeks in residence each semester at TCU teaching a limited number of piano students, giving master classes and lecturing. When in New York, she will continue to work with her students via ultra-high speed internet.
Dr. Richard Gipson, Director of the TCU School of Music commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Veda to our faculty. A musician of her caliber and international stature further enhances the School of Music's already prestigious piano faculty. Our students and faculty eagerly anticipate this opportunity to work with her.”
A native of Israel, Dr. Kaplinsky began her performing career as a winner of the J.S. Bach International Competition in Washington, D.C. She holds both the master's and doctorate from The Juilliard School, and is widely known for her insights into piano technique and pedagogy. In demand internationally as a lecturer, she has presented master classes in universities, conservatories and music conferences in the U.S., Europe, Israel, and the Far East. In addition to Juilliard, she has served on the faculties of The Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, The Manhattan School of Music, and various summer festivals.
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TCU PIANIST PLACES SECOND NATIONALLY
TCU PIANO student Natalia Katyukova won the South Central Division of the MTNA Young Artists Competition and subsequently won second place in the grand finals at the MTNA National Convention in Austin. TCU piano students have performed in the finals each year since 2000 including ive finalists and one grand prize winner. Natalia studies with TCU professor Dr. Tamas Ungar.
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TCU ORGANISTS EXCEL AT COMPETITION
TCU graduate student organist Elisa Williams won first prize in the 35th Annual Wm. C. Hall Organ Competition held in San Antonio on March 4, 2006. The competition is open to all students studying organ at Texas universities. In addition to the first prize, Williams won the prize for the best hymn playing. Another TCU organist, Simon Sheung Chi Chan of Hong Kong, received Honorable Mention.
Chan and Williams are students of H. Joseph Butler. Judges for the
competition were James David Christie (Oberlin), Pamela Decker
(University of Arizona), and John Chappell Stowe (University of
Wisconsin, Madison).
student Natalia Katyukova has won the South Central Division of the MTNA Young Artists Competition and moves on to the grand finals at the National Convention in March. This means that the piano program is again in the lights both nationally and within Texas.
Just for your information my record of placing TCU piano students in the finals since 2000 is four finalists and one grand prize winner.
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THOMAS HAMPSON PRESENTS MASTERCLASS
Baritone Thomas Hampson presented a voice
masterclass to a large audience of TCU students,
faculty, and guests from the community and
other universities. Tuesday evening Hampson
performed at Fort Worth's Bass Hall on the
Cliburn Concert Series
as part of the Library of Congress' "Song
In America"
tour.
Included in the masterclass were performances
by TCU students Clorise Gray and Humberto
Gonzalez (below).
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DR. MECKNA GOES TO WASHINGTON
SOM musicologist Dr. Michael Meckna has
been invited to go to Washington, D.C.,
to serve as a panelist at the National Endowment
for the Humanities. There he will help advise
the government on some $50 million in applications
submitted to the Endowment's Division of
Preservation and Access. This is Dr. Meckna's
fifth trip to the NEH since arriving at
TCU in 1990.
Dr. Meckna's "Satchmo: The Louis Armstrong Encyclopedia," published last year, continues to get excellent reviews. The latest appears in the March 2006 issue of the International Trumpet Guild Journal, where Bryan Proksch (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) writes that "the sheer depth of this book's information is astounding." Dr. Proksch continues: "Satchmo" stands as an example of a well-researched and useful source."
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JUILLIARD PROFESSOR VISITS TCU
Juilliard piano division chair Veda Kaplinsky
visited TCU for several days of lectures
and masterclasses. A regular visitor to
Fort Worth and to the TCU/Cliburn Piano
Institute, Kaplinsky worked below with Artist
Diploma student Matt Bowers.
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TCU MUSIC MAJOR COMPETES ON NATIONAL TELEVISION!
TCU music major Corrie Donovan has been
chosen as a contestant in the USA World
Showcase to be broadcast July 25 on PAX-TV.
The talent competition was held at the MGM
Grand in Las Vegas in June but audience
favorites will be selected by online voting
at www.usaworldshowcase.com between July
25 and Aug. 6.
Please watch if you can and wish Corrie
the very best.
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TCU PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE SELECTED FOR PASIC
2005!
Following a blind/refereed selection process
open to all university percussion ensembles
in the world, the TCU Percussion Ensemble,
conducted by Dr. Brian West, was selected
as one of only two university percussion
ensembles to perform at the prestigious
PASIC next fall (Percussive Arts Society
International Convention). Winning this
competition and performing at this international
convention attended by more than 7,000 percussionists
is equivalent to winning the "national
championship" in their field.
Congratulations Dr. West and TCU Percussionists!
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DR. MECKNA'S "SATCHMO" NOMINATED
FOR TWO AWARDS
With all the commotion over Emmys, Grammys,
and Tonys, some of us may have missed the
news that TCU SOM musicologist Dr. Michael
Meckna's "Satchmo: The Louis Armstrong
Encyclopedia" has been
nominated for a Duckles and a Lowens. The
Music Library Association's Vincent H. Duckles
Award is given for the year's best research
tool in music, and the Society for American
Music's Irving Lowens Award is given for
the year's best book on American music.
Both awards will be announced this Fall.
Good Luck, Dr. Meckna!
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SECOND TCU PIANIST NAMED FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR!
TCU senior piano major Paul Sanchez has
been named a Fulbright Scholar for 2005-2006.
Paul will be studying classical Spanish
piano music in the Master of Spanish Music
program at the Academia Marshall in Barcelona,
Spain, under the tutelage of the legendary
Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha. Paul
and Sandra Doan, TCU's other Fulbrighter,
are students of Dr. Tamas Ungar.
Congratulations Paul and Dr. Ungar on
this spectacular accomplishment!
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TCU PIANIST NAMED FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR
TCU senior piano major Sandra Doan has
been named a Fulbright Scholar for 2005-2006.
She will take her Fulbright in Budapest,
Hungary where she will study both solo piano
and chamber music at the Liszt Academy under
the guidance of Professor Gyorgy Nador.
Sandra is following in the footsteps of
another Fulbright Scholar, Ben Quine who
also went to Budapest after graduating from
TCU. Sandra and Paul Sanchez, TCU's other
Fulbrighter, are students of Dr. Tamas Ungar.
Congratulations Sandra and Dr. Ungar on
this spectacular accomplishment!
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TCU MUSICOLOGIST SELECTED FOR SATCHMO SUMMERFEST
TCU Chair of Musicology Dr. Michael Meckna
has been invited to be a featured speaker
at the
Satchmo SummerFest in New Orleans, August
4-7. This has become an annual event since
the Armstrong Centennial in 2001, and it
includes (in the words of the promoters) "musical
performances, lively discussions, jazz exhibits,
a jazz mass, activities for budding young
jazz fans, a club crawl, 'red beans and
ricely yours' foods, and a star studded
line-up
of performances."
The title of his presentation is "'Ravel
and Mahler? Don't Forget Fats
Waller': Louis Armstrong in the Movies,
1931-1969." For details, visit http://www.satchmosummerfestival.com/sched.html.
Congratulations Dr. Meckna!
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TCU CELLO STUDENT HONORED
TCU cellist Taide Prieto was just accepted
into the Youth Orchestra of the Americas
for
the
Summer 2005 International Tour. This highly
selective program brings members from all
countries of the Americas together to work
with prestigious conductors and perform
at renowned
venues. (http://www.youthorchestraoftheamericas.org)
Congratulations Taide and Dr. Castro-Balbi!.
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TCU JAZZ STUDENTS HONORED
Kurt Shafer and Cameron Summers from the
TCU Jazz Ensemble made the national "cut" and
have been chosen to perform in the Disneyland
Band in Anaheim, CA this summer. Kurt, Cameron,
and Nathan Madsen were also selected to
perform in the Collegiate All-Star
Band at Baylor University for the IAJE Southern
Regional Conference in April.
Congratulations Kurt, Cameron, and Nathan!
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TCU PIANIST WINS GRAND PRIZE
Sergei Kuznetsov received the Grand Prize
at the Entergy Young Texas Artist Music
Competition in Conroe, Texas this weekend.
Last year Adam Jackson, student of John
Owings won the same prize.
Congratulations Sergei!
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TCU STUDENT WINS 2ND PRIZE IN PIANO COMPETITION
On Sunday, February 6, 2005 Emily Hirsch
won 2nd prize in the
JANICE K. HODGES CONTEMPORARY PIANO COMPETITION
IN SAN ANTONIO.
Congratulations Emily!
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TCU GRADUATE STUDENT WINS COMPOSITION AWARD
Zvonimir Nagy has won third prize in the
Music Teacher's National Association National
Collegiate Competition in Composition. Before
reaching the national finals, his composition
was chosen as the winning entry on the state
and regional levels. Zvonimir has earned
the Artist Diploma in Piano and is now completing
the MM in Organ. He plans to do doctoral
work in composition in the fall.
Congratulations to Zvonimir for his excellent
work at TCU!!
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TCU STUDENT PUBLISHED IN INSTRUMENTALIST
TCU graduate student Nathan Madsen's article "Teaching
Musicality Through Familiar Songs" is
featured in the January 2005 issue of THE
INSTRUMENTALIST (p. 55).
Congratulations Nathan!
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TCU STUDENT WINS COMPOSITION PRIZE
TCU graduate student Zvonomir Nagy has
won the first prize in the Texas MTNA Composition
Competition. His work will now advance to
the Divisional round.
Zvonomir studies with Drs. Blaise Ferrandino,
Gerald Gabel, and Joseph Butler
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TCU GRADUATE STUDENT PLACES IN WIDEMAN
COMPETITION
TCU graduate piano student Yevgenia Truksa
placed 4th in the Wideman Competition held
in Shreveport, LA during the weekend and
was invited to give a recital in the Phillips
Collection, Washington D.C. during the 2005-2006
season.
Yevgenia studies with Dr. Tamas Ungar.
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TCU GRADUATE STUDENT SELECTED FOR ORCHESTRA
TCU graduate violinist Mauricio Olivares
was selected to perform with the Youth Orchestra
of the Americas on their Boston Tour
in December. Mauricio will perform at the
10th Anniversary of the David Rockefeller
Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard
University.
Conductor Benjamin Zander will be conducting:
Bernstein's "Candide
Overture", Canteloube "Chant
D'Auvergne", Gershwin "Rhapsody
in Blue", Piazolla "Oblivion",
and Marquez "Danzon
No. 2". The
52 piece orchestra will tour with guest
artist Gabriella Montero,
Pianist and Christina Martos, Soprano.
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SATCHMO AND DR. MECKNA
TCU Musicologist Dr. Michael Meckna's "Satchmo:
The Louis Armstrong Encyclopedia," published
last summer by Greenwood Press, continues
to get excellent reviews. Booklist/Reference
Books Bulletin calls it "A comprehensive
compendium of the life and work of one
of the most influential and pervasive
jazz entertainers of the twentieth century....
Should become the premier source for information
on his style, legacy, critical reception,
films, writings, and recordings." -- "Meckna
has compiled an incredible body of information
into an interesting and approachable format," wrote
Thomas Dust in the October issue of The
Instrumentalist. "Meckna's text
provides insight regarding the nature
of musical genius, the growth of jazz
music, and the history of race relations
in the United States during the 20th century." M.D.
Garrett expresses similar sentiments in
the November issue of Choice Magazine,
summing up: "Highly recommended!"
Kudos to Dr. Meckna!
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TCU STUDENT PERFORMS WITH FW CIVIC ORCHESTRA
TCU student pianist Paul Sanchez will be
performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue Saturday
evening at 8:00 P.M. with Dr. Kurt Sprenger,
conductor, and the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra.
The concert, entitled "Dances and Blues," will be held at Trinity
Valley School Theatre, 7500 Dutch Branch Road, Fort Worth 76132, and $10 adult
tickets and $5 student tickets will be available at the door.
The program includes:
Johann Strauss: Blue Danube Waltz
George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue -- Paul Sanchez, piano
Leroy Anderson: Blue Tango
Alexander Borodin: Polovetsian Dances
http://www.fwco.org
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GERMAN GUTIERREZ FEATURED IN EL NUEVO DIA
The Colombian newspaper (El Nuevo Dia)
has an extensive article today about Professor
of Music and Director of Orchestra German
Gutierrez, his career and family. Today
Prof. Gutierrez' home town, "Ibague," is
celebrating its 480th anniversary.
The web page is http://elnuevodia.com.co/jueves/ibague1.htm
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PERCUSSION PROFESSOR VISITS TAIWAN
TCU Professor of Percussion Dr. Brian
A. West recently returned from a two
week trip
to Taiwan where he performed at the National
Concert Hall in Taipei and taught at the
Taipei International Percussion Summer
Camp. The camp included over 300 students
from
all over the globe in an intensive 10-day
study program. Six artists from various
countries are invited each year to teach
at the camp and then come together for
a concert of percussion music representing
many different cultures. This year performers/instructors
were invited from Germany, Poland, Uzbekistan,
Bali, and the United States.
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SCHOOL OF MUSIC WINS NATIONAL AWARD
The National Federation of Music Clubs has given its 2004
First Place award for "The Promotion and Performance of American Music" to
TCU1s School of Music. The award commends the School for its annual American
Music Month (November) celebration, 27th Annual Jazz Festival, and the hosting
of a variety of regional and national conferences.
During the period covered by the award (June 2003 to May 2004),
TCU musicians gave a total of 311 performances of works by 192 American composers
on 172 programs. Five percent of the programs were " all-American," and
at least one American work was heard on over 50% of the programs. Forty-eight
composers were present for performances of their music, and 34 works were given
their premieres. In addition to concerts and recitals, 16 visiting artists
and lecturers participated in seminars, workshops, or master classes which focused
on American music. Various School of Music faculty members also published
two CDs and one book.
Discounting a considerable radio and tour audience, approximately 20,335
people attended these events, and the average audience was 118. Commented
NFMC Chairman Angie Greer, "your support for American musicians
and American music is outstanding."
The TCU School of Music has been a member of the 105-year-old
NFMC since the early 1950s, and in 1966, 1988, 1997, 1999, and 2002 also won
First Place awards for supporting of American music. The 2004 First Place
award carries with it a cash prize of $500.
TCU music professor Dr. Michael Meckna gathered the material and prepared the
application for this year's competition.
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SOM FACULTY AND STUDENTS FEATURED
IN BUDAPEST
TCU composer Curtis Wilson's composition "RAINBOWS" (Elegy
for
tuba soloist and wind band) was performed (European premiere)
at
the 2004
ITEC (International Tuba/Euphonium Conference) in Budapest, Hungary.
The work was performed by German tuba artist Markus Theinert of Cologne, Germany
(with a professional concert band) on the opening evening concert at the Liszt
Academy of Music.
TCU School of
Music students JEREMY
LEWIS - TUBA and ELISA HARVEY- EUPHONIUM performed
by invitation in
the ITEC Artist Solo Competition.
Only 20 students internationally were
selected to compete in each category.
TCU SOM voice
faculty members Sheila Allen, David
Brock, Richard Estes, and Colleen
Mallette, along with Coordinator of
Accompanying Janet Pummill performed
a chamber music concert at the prestigious
Lizst Academy, repeating a concert
of Schumann artsongs performed on
campus in February. The faculty members
participated
in the TCU Summer Faculty Abroad Program
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5/16/04
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ARTIST DIPLOMA STUDENT WINS PRIZE
Piano Artist Diploma student Sergei Kuznetsov received the
Third Prize in the Second China International Piano Competition in Beijing, China.
He has been asked to remain in China for an additional two weeks to tour several
cities giving concerts.
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TCU Cellist Premieres New Work
Jesús Castro-Balbi, Assistant
Professor of Cello, gave the world
premiere of the "Concierto
Indio" by Peruvian composer
Edgar Valcarcel on April 22, 2004
at TCU, with the TCU Symphony, Dr.
German Gutierrez, conducting. This
piece was a commission for the TCU
Latin American Arts Festival. On
May 28, 2004,
Dr. Castro-Balbi was a featured
soloist with the Dallas Symphony
Orchestra and German Gutierrez at
the Meyerson Symphony Center. And,
on June 8, 2004, Dr. Castro-Balbi
joined violinist Arnaud Sussman
as a soloist with the Orchestra
of Cannes, France, in Brahms' Double
Concerto, Philippe Bender, conducting.
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8/7/04
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