Music @ K-State 2012 FALL NEWSLETTER - Kansas State University

Faculty News
Welcome to the following new faculty
in the music program:
Joshua Britt received his Ph.D. in music
composition from Texas Tech University.
He teaches Music Fundamentals.
Neil Dunn earned a Master of Music
with percussion emphasis from the
University of Arizona in 2002. He is
principal timpanist for the Topeka
Symphony Orchestra and the Arizona
Opera Company orchestra. He teaches
Rhythmic Notation for Dancers,
Composition 1 for Dancers, Dance and
Technology, West African Music, Applied
Percussion and percussion ensembles.
Matthew McCoy is completing his Ph.D.
in music education from the University
of Oklahoma. He teaches elementary
and secondary general music methods,
as well as supervises student teachers at
K-State.
Elizabeth Robinson holds a Doctor of
Arts degree from Ball State University,
as well as a Master of Music from
San Francisco State University and a
Bachelor of Music degree from Drake
University. She teaches Introduction to
Music.
Rod Walker has come out of K-State
retirement to teach applied voice. He
received a Bachelor of Music Educator
from the University of Nebraska, a
Master of Music Education from the
University of Wichita, and has done
advanced study at the University of
Colorado, University of Iowa and Indiana
University.
Ben Worcester holds a Master of Music
in composition/theory from K-State,
a Bachelor of Music Education from
K-State and a Bachelor of Science in
Bible from Manhattan Christian College.
He teaches music theory.
Current faculty news:
Jana Fallin has been chosen as
interim director for K-State’s Center
for the Advancement of Teaching and
Music
Learning. Fallin has been a professor
and division chair in the university’s
music education program since
1988. She was the Coffman Chair
for Distinguished Teaching Scholars
in 2002-2003, and now works with
colleges, departments and faculty in
all matters related to teaching, from
conducting seminars or workshops to
individualized teaching consultation.
Director of jazz studies and professor
of music Wayne Goins’ book, “That’s
All Right: The Jimmy Rogers Story,”
is scheduled to be published by the
University of Illinois press in early 2013.
Goins is currently working on a new
solo jazz CD project, and he wrote two
entries that were included the “New
Grove Dictionary of Jazz,” published by
Joshua Britt
Neil Dunn
Matthew McCoy
Oxford University Press.
New Faculty
Left to right
Elizabeth Robinson
Rod Walker
Ben Worcester
Clarinet professor Tod Kerstetter was
appointed to the Board of Directors of
the International Clarinet Association,
and is currently serving as the
association’s treasurer. He was invited
to perform a duo with Hutchinson
clarinetist Jeff Pelischek at the
association’s international convention
held in Lincoln, Neb., last summer.
He also served as interim principal
clarinetist of the Topeka Symphony
during the 2012 spring semester.
Assistant professor of flute Karen
Large was awarded a K-State Research
Grant to create the Virtual Flute Choir
website, with collaborative performance
contributions from flutists across the
Composer Lansing McLoskey with the
Konza Winds
country. Visit the site at http://www.
virtualflutechoir.com.
David Littrell, distinguished
professor of music, took the Gold
Orchestra, composed of students in
grades 5-10, on a tour of Memphis and
Nashville in Tennessee during May
2012. The orchestra performed at Laura
Ingalls Wilder’s adulthood home in
southern Missouri, at Graceland and
outside the Grand Ole Opry. They also
made a recording in the historic Studio
B in Nashville. The Gold Orchestra will
perform in Carnegie Hall for the third
time in 2014.
Steven Maxwell, assistant professor
of music, and Paul Hunt, professor of
music, presented a guest artist recital at
the International Tuba and Euphonium
Association Conference held in Linz,
Austria, in June 2012. Maxwell and
Hunt performed “Sonata for Trombone,
Tuba and Piano” by John Davidson.
Maxwell premiered a new work titled
“Absurdities for Tuba and Digital
Media” by Paul Hunt. The work was well
received by the audience and was given
a great review in the International Tuba
and Euphonium Association Journal.
Steven Maxwell and Susan Maxwell,
instructor of music, performed at the
University of Memphis in September,
giving master classes and working with
students from the tuba/euphonium
and bassoon studios. Steven Maxwell
performed a solo recital in the evening
with Susan Maxwell joining him for a
premier of a new arrangement of the
work “Conversations” by Barbara York.
The Konza Wind Quintet was invited to perform “Hardwood,” a new work for wind quintet
by Lansing McLoskey of the University of Miami, at the International Clarinet Association’s
2012 convention in Lincoln, Neb. The composer was the winner of the Joint Wind Quintet
Project, sponsored by the International Clarinet Association, the International Double Reed
Society, the National Flute Association and the International Horn Society. The journal The
Clarinet described the Konza Wind Quintet’s performance as demonstrating “commanding
precision, tremendous color, and extraordinary character variation.” Members of the Konza
Winds are assistant professor of flute Karen McLaughlin Large, assistant professor of oboe
Nora Lewis, professor of clarinet Tod Kerstetter, instructor of bassoon Susan Maxwell and
associate professor of French 2 horn Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter.
Music
3
K-State acquires organ, makes way for more practice space
To accommodate the steady growth of the organ studio, the Reuter organ housed in McCain 102 was sold
back to the Reuter Organ Co., and McCain 102 was divided into two separate organ practice rooms. The
fine Werner Bosch mechanical action organ was moved from its former home in McCain 106 to the newly
designated McCain 102B. The room McCain 102A soon will be home to a Martini model practice organ
built by the Holtkamp Organ Co. in 1976 for Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. This practice organ
was a gift to Morningside, and the donor’s son was very gracious in allowing K-State to acquire this fine
practice organ for moving costs only. The organ is still in fine condition and has many more years of life left,
and K-State organ students will lovingly use it for many years.
Assistant professor of organ David
Pickering was a featured recitalist on
the Dome and Spire Recital Series at
the Community of Christ Auditorium
in Independence, Mo., where he
conducted a book signing for his
first book, “The Auditorium Organ,” a
history of the 1959 Aeolian-Skinner
organ housed in the auditorium. He
also performed at the Stiefel Theater in
Salina, Kan., with K-State colleague Amy
Rosine, assistant professor of voice, in
songs by Bernstein, Hoiby, and Rodgers
and Hammerstein.
Associate professor of voice Reg
Pittman was elected vice president
of regions for the National Opera
Association during the 2012 national
convention held in Memphis, Tenn.
In June, Pittman conducted the Flint
Hills Masterworks Chorale during its
Italy trip. The choir performed at St.
Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, St. Mark’s
Cathedral in Florence, St. Francis of
Assisi Cathedral and St. Peter’s Basilica
in Rome.
Craig Weston, professor of music
theory and composition, presented
a paper titled “Some Properties of
Non-Octave-Repeating Scales, and
Why Composers Might Care,” at the
2012 Society of Composers Inc.
Region VI conference at West Texas
A&M University. Papers were selected
through a national peer review process.
Anna Marie Wytko, assistant
professor of saxophone, and Amanda
Arrington, piano collaborative artist,
presented the international premiere
of noted American composer Karen
P. Thomas’ “When Night Came,” for
Soprano Saxophone and Piano, at
World Saxophone Congress XVI at the
University of St. Andrews in Scotland
in July. Wytko and Arrington also
presented the world premiere of Craig
Weston’s “Intensity 8.5” at the Wichita
Art Museum in September. Weston’s
Intensity 8.5 at the Wichita Art Museum
in September.
Student & Alumni News
Sarah Bernard-Stevens (Master of
Music Education 2012) is an instructor
of band, music theory, ear training and
bassoon at Kansas Wesleyan University.
Joshua Bonilla, senior in music
composition, had two pieces performed
at the 2012 Society of Composers Inc.
Region VI conference at West Texas A&M
University: “Upon the Waters” for piano,
and “Spring Has Begun” for mixed vocal/
instrumental chamber ensemble.
Megan Cahoj (Bachelor of Music
Education 2012) is teaching band at
Stockton High School.
Greg Coffey (Master of Music Education
2012) is performing and working as
a recording engineer in Nashville,
Tenn. Check out his website, http://
www.gregcoffeymusic.com, for more
information.
Alex Cook (Bachelor of Music Education
2012) is teaching at Jayhawk-Linn Junior
High/High School, Mound City.
Zack Corpus (Bachelor of Music 2009)
graduated this spring from the University
of North Texas with a Master of Music in
tuba performance. He was awarded the