School of Music High Notes: December News
Welcome to the fourth issue of High Notes: News from CFA School of Music. High Notes is intended as a monthly information column that highlights the high notes achieved by our students. Feel free to pass along any items of interest, especially related to our students and alums, directly to Cami Sylvia.
December 2020
Moving On
For many of us, the concept of “moving on” means carrying forward what we’ve learned while adopting new strategies. As we begin to plan in the CFA School of Music for the upcoming Spring semester at BU, many of our efforts are informed by the lessons (many hard, many joyous) we learned during the past semester. At such times we take a deep breath to reflect on how friends, colleagues, and professors all contributed to our progress. Our alums continue to move forward in new and exciting directions, and I want to thank all who have “reached back” to let us know the ways in which they take a bit of BU forward with them in their life journeys.
I walked through the 855 Concert Hall the other day and paused for a moment as I looked down at the wooden slats that form the interconnected stage floor. How many of us over the years have stood, performed, and learned our craft on these weathered planks that support us? While we look forward to renovations on the Concert Hall in a post-COVID world, we will not disturb this wood. Each board contains many memories, so many dreams, so many hours of practice and performance. All of you carry that stage with you in your lives and careers. Please consider reaching back to us to share the directions you have taken since leaving the CFA SoM. All stories are welcomed! You can email me at: barz@bu.edu.
Calling All CFA School of Music Alums Out There!
We’d like to hear from all alums. What are you up to? New jobs or positions? New creative projects, compositions, performances? Any awards? We want to hear from you. Please communicate directly with Director Gregory Melchor-Barz at barz@bu.edu with your degree and class year please.
Updates from 3-Time CFA Grad Anne Harley
Dr. Anne Harley (CFA’94,’96,’06) earned her Master of Music in Voice Performance, Opera Certificate, and Doctor of Musical Arts in Historical Performance (voice) while at Boston University. She studied with Professors Penelope Bitzas and Sharon Daniels, and her doctoral thesis advisor was Andrew Shenton. Dr. Harley presently serves as Associate Professor of Music at Scripps College in California. She continues to collaborate with SoM faculty, including Prof. Richard Cornell, whose piece she commissioned was performed at Tsai Performance Center last fall.
Most notably, Dr. Harley is the founder and director of Voices of the Pearl, a project which commissions, performs, and records musical works from composers across the globe, setting text by and about female esoterics from world traditions throughout history. They’ve recently released their third album, which you can listen to clips of here. Harley shares, “Two pieces on that album were awarded the National Endowment for the Arts ‘ArtWorks Grant’, and one of them was commissioned by the Canada council for the Arts. These are competitive grants that mark our work as being of national importance.” You can also learn more about this third volume by watching this video here.
DMA Piano Grad Performs at Major Performance Halls in China
Pianist Dr. Jin Yu (CFA’18) has recently concertized in major performance venues in China, including Changsha and Shenzhen Concert Halls; Hangzhou and Zhuhai Grand Theatres; and Suzhou Culture and Arts Center. Dr. Yu studied with Professor Boaz Sharon and currently serves as Assistant Professor at Jin’an University in China.
DMA Music Education Candidates Present Dissertations
We congratulate Emelyne Bingham on the successful completion of her DMA dissertation seminar, “Practicing Phonomimetic (Conducting-Like) Gestures Facilitates Vocal Performance of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children: An Experimental Study.” Dr. Karin Hendricks shares “it was a delightful event where Lyn utilized her research and teaching skills to prepare, share, and enrich. Her work offers important implications for music education and we are proud to have her now as one of our alumni. Thanks especially to John Rieser for his expert supervision, and to Tawnya Smith for her insights as 3rd reader.”
We also extend our congratulations to Brandon Zanardelli on the successful presentation of his DMA Dissertation Seminar, “Social Identity in Adolescent Peer Groups: A Collective Case Study of Adolescents’ Use of Music as an Identity Resource” (committee members Ron Kos, Karin Hendricks, Ruth Debrot). Brandon’s work was theoretically sound and highlighted the social connections of middle school students in meaningful and compelling ways. Special thanks to Ron Kos for his expert supervision, to Ruth Debrot for her insights as 3rd reader, and Kinh Vu (Dissertation Progress Coordinator, guest) for offering further insights during the seminar.
2020 Ellalou Dimmock Honors Recital
On Friday, December 4, 2020, the School of Music presented the annual Ellalou Dimmock Honors Recital virtually. This Memorial Award is presented each year to students who demonstrate excellence in vocal performance throughout their undergraduate studies. What a fabulous recital! Heartfelt congratulations go out to SoM students Tara Dougherty (student of Prof. Lynn Eustis) and Tara Palazuelos (student of Prof. Penelope Bitzas) for their performances. Accompanying Tara and Tara was Prof. Shiela Kibbe, whose playing allowed the singers to perform at a high level. Prof. Douglas Sumi provided a wonderful introduction to the event. Fabulous job everyone. Thanks go to the SoM staff for making this recital happen.
Dr. Eustis and Dr. Chia—Evening Prayer
As we conclude the season of finals, juries, and end-of-term projects, a bit of musical reflection is most welcome. Here’s another faculty/student collaboration. Prof. Lynn Eustis and countertenor alum Dr. Wee Kiat Chia perform the “Evening Prayer” from Humperdinck’s Märchenoper Hänsel und Gretel. A much-needed moment of beauty and solace this month.
Alum Keith Carrick Publishes Article
An article written by SoM alumnus Keith Carrick (BM‘06) was published last week in the Salt Lake Tribune. Keith was a student of Tim Genis and is currently Principal Percussionist of the Utah Symphony. “Musicians, actors and dancers will play an essential role in the emotional healing and celebration that will take place when we can safely congregate again. Our community must not let these treasured cultural institutions and artists fall victim to the pandemic.” You can read his article here.
BU SoM Annual Bach Competition Winners Announced
The SoM String Department announces the winners of its annual Bach Competition. These wonderful young artists will be presented in a streamed Winners’ Concert, Date/Time/Link TBA. In concert order:
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- Michael Frontz (Cello Prize) performing Suite No. 5, BWV 1011
- Clara Montes (Violin Prize) performing Partita No. 2, BWV 1004
- Rayna Yun Chou (Viola Prize) performing Suite No. 3, BWV 1009
These performers study with Professors Michael Reynolds, Dana Mazurkevich, and Michelle LaCourse, respectively.
Voice Department Presents: Latin American Song Project
We are excited to share a semester-long project from the Voice Department. Under the guidance and direction of Dr. David Guzman, and along with collaboration from Prof. Douglas Sumi, both undergraduate and graduate voice students present a collection of Latin American art songs. As Dr. Guzman illustrates, “It is of vital importance that we as an academic community join efforts to research, curate, and program the Latin-American art song repertoire, to understand the musical idiosyncrasies of racial mixture throughout the Americas – keeping the sounds of our ancestors alive.” Read more and watch the hour-long presentation here.
Current SoM Student & Alum Successes in Recent Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
Several SoM students and alums have achieved significant honors in recent Met Opera Auditions.
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- Mezzo-soprano Gabrielle Barkidjija (OI’22) competed in the Boston MONC District audition and received the Encouragement Award. Ms. Barkidjija is a student of Prof. Penelope Bitzas.
- Soprano Caroline Corrales (MM’20, OI’22) is a district winner in Boston District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and will advance to the New England Regionals. Ms. Corrales is a student of Prof. Lynn Eustis.
- Soprano Emilie Faiella (MM’19) is a District Winner for the Utah Metropolitan National Council Auditions and will continue to the Rocky Mountain Regionals. Ms. Faiella studied with Prof. Penelope Bitzas.
- Soprano Ashlee Lamar (PD’18, OI’20) received the Encouragement Award from the Connecticut District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Ms. Lamar studied with Prof. Penelope Bitzas.
- Tenor Jangho Lee (OI’22) is a district winner in the Illinois District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and will advance to the Central Regionals. Mr. Lee is a student of Prof. Penelope Bitzas.
- Soprano Kaileigh Riess (OI’21) is also a district winner in the Boston District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and will advance to the New England Regionals. Ms. Riess is a student of Prof. Penelope Bitzas.
- Tenor Hyungjin Son (OI’22) competed in the Boston District audition and received the Encouragement Award. Mr. Son is a student of Prof. Sharon Daniels.
Congratulations to all and best of luck to those advancing to the next stage of the competition.
Founded in 1872, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music combines the intimacy and intensity of traditional conservatory-style training with a broad liberal arts education at the undergraduate level and elective coursework at the graduate level. The school offers degrees in performance, conducting, composition and theory, musicology, music education, and historical performance, as well as artist and performance diplomas and a certificate program in its Opera Institute.