Student Guillermo Muñoz of Harrisburg Chosen for Prestigious Conducting Master Class

Guillermo Muñoz of Harrisburg, a senior music major at LVC is one of only three student conductors in the Eastern United States chosen for an American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) master class in February with Joe Miller, D.M.A. Miller is the conductor of two of America's most renowned choral ensembles, the Westminster Choir and the Westminster Symphonic Choir. The selection committee chose Muñoz for the honor based on what they called his “impressive application,” which included his rehearsal video, a written statement, and a letter of recommendation from Mark Mecham D.M.A., the Clark and Edna Carmean Distinguished Professor of Music at LVC, and director of the College’s auditioned Concert Choir, which Muñoz serves as president. Muñoz is also a member of LVC’s select Chamber Choir and LVC’s Guitar Quartet. Muñoz, a native of Chile, is also a classical guitarist.

As director of choral activities at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, N.J., Miller oversees an extensive choral program that includes eight ensembles. His 2009-2010 season includes collaborations with the New York Philharmonic, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the San Francisco Symphony.

The Mansfield University Concert Choir, which has been chosen each of the last 17 years to perform at conventions or festivals around the world, will serve as a “demonstration choir” for Muñoz and two other student conductors at Miller’s master class Feb. 11 in Philadelphia at the ACDA conference. The conducting session will focus on pedagogically sound approaches to training the choral ensemble, including strategies for responding to what the conductor hears; techniques for solving vocal, rhythmic, and harmonic problems; the use of verbal and nonverbal communication; and utilizing gestures to shape and nurture the composer's musical idea.

October 21-23, 2009

Every Fall, all sophomore music majors begin the process of sophomore evaluations. The process is in three parts:

• Performance in a recital
• A reflective paper about being a music major, studies, and future plans
• An interview with a group of music faculty, resulting in a letter to the students (and parents if viable) with recommendations and suggestions about their progress.
  

 The recital spans three evenings with a multitude of sophomores playing music ranging from classical to jazz.

Each evening, music faculty observe, judge, and make comments about each performance on a form that is then collated and placed with the reflective papers.

Though sometimes stressful, the process is beneficial for the students to take a moment to reflect on their chosen academic paths.

On October 8, The Music Department was honored to be visited by an 11-member delegation of Ukrainian classical music managers. Dr. Mecham and Professor Snyder served as hosts and tour guides.

LVC was part of a tour put together by the INTERNATIONAL VISITORS COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA (IVC), a part of the State Department. Other stops on their tour included, in Philadelphia: Kimmel Center, Academy of Music, Mann Center, Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company, PA Ballet, Temple University Boyer School of Music, Curtis Institute, Musical Fund Society , Phila. Music Project/Pew Center for Arts and Heritage at UArts, GPCA , Arts and Business Council, International Artist Managers Association, American Composers Forum, Phila. Chapter, Wolfbrown, Peter Dobrin, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ballard Spahr law firm (representing the Phila. Orchestra and other arts organizations), and in NYC Carnegie Hall and Young Concert Artist. After visiting LVC they met with the Harrisburg Symphony, Harrisburg Youth Orchestra and the Harrisburg Symphony Society.

Accompanied by two translators, the group included some powerful Ukranian musicians including the Director of the National Symphony of Ukraine, the Director of the Regional Philharmonic of Zhytomyr, the Director of the Center for Music Information, the Chief Specialist of the Department of Music at the National Ukrainian Music Union, and others.They asked many questions of their hosts and 2 students about the music department, music major requirements, the expectations of US music majors, and the LVC music industry degree.

On 9/30, the members of the succesful Cypress String Quartet talked to two music industry classes about how to be succesful as performing musicians.

They emphasized the importance of not only being disciplined as musicians, but also functioning as a business, rather as a rock band or a classical quartet.

This was just a part of the quartet's interaction with LVC and its students. During the whole week, underwritten by the Newton and Adelaide Burgner Endowed Fund for
Chamber Music, the quartet served as part of a residency program giving a recital featuring:

 Beethoven Quartet Op.135

Griffes Two Sketches Based on Native American Themes

and Dvorak's  Quartet Op.96 "American"

They also gave master classes for LVC students and for a select group of high school string players

For more info about the quartet, go to http://www.cypressquartet.com/

On Tuesday, September 29, 2009, internationally renown jazz trombonist Jiggs Whigham gave a master class during the common hour.

The night before, he had been the featured soloist with the Musikkorps der Bundeswehr (the Concert Band of the German Armed Forces).

Tuesday morning, he was joined by LVC teachers Jim Miller, bass; Andy Roberts, piano; and LVC alum Dave Lazorcik '81, drums. 

 Whigham prevailed on Jim Erdman (below) to play Tenderly for the 40+ students gathered for the event, and then concluded the class with a mass improvisation.

Sunday, October 4, 2009.

LVC was well represented by the Marching Band at the 14th Annual Collegiate Marching Band Festival at the J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, PA. Most of the 21 participating ensembles were from colleges and universities in PA, but there were also bands from New Hampshire, Maryland (Towson), West Virginia, Massachusetts & Delaware. Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Heffner, members of the band staff, and the 117 playing members. The picture was taken by Dr. Ed Kolonsky.

The college newspaper, La Vie, posted a video about the 2009 LVC marching band.

La Vie's Webpage is at http://lavieonline.lvc.edu/ 

On Sunday, September 20, 2009 the auditorium at Northern Lebanon (formerly Fredricksburg) High School was named the Harlan A. Daubert Performing Arts Center. Mr. Daubert is a 1949 graduate of Lebanon Valley College, who taught at NLHS from 1949-1986. The place was packed and an alumni band of nearly 150 played for the dedication, which was conducted not only by Mr. Daubert, but by Galen Walmer ‘73, who taught at NLHS from 1986-2007, and current conductor Greg Innes. The Lebanon County Commissioners declared September 21, 2009 to be Harlan A. Daubert Day.

Dr. Christopher Daubert served as Master of Ceremonies.

Hon. Rose Marie Swanger, State Representative-102th Legislative District spoke.

From left to right:

Galen Walmer ‘73 (NLHS band director 1986-2007)
Harlan A. Daubert ‘49 (NLHS band director 1949-1986) for whom the auditorium was named.
Suzanne Daubert Fox ‘77 (LVC adjunct associate professor of French horn, NLSD elementary music teacher)
Wayne C. Fox ‘73 (Music Chairman, Cornwall Lebanon School District)

 

From the front page of the Lebanon Daily News. 9/15/09

Ann Safstrom of Cleona holds a picture of herself riding a horse, a photo she said was taken when she was 8 or 9 years old. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS - BRAD RHEN)

ANNVILLE - When she was 6 years old, Ann Safstrom asked her dad if he would buy her a horse if she could spell "horse."
Soon after, her dad bought a horse, but Safstrom said she doesn't know if it was because of her spelling.
"We got one right after that," she said. "We got Thunder. I think he probably was going to do that anyway, but I thought I had something to do with it."
And, more than 50 years later, Safstrom is still riding strong at age 59.
She competed when she was younger, but she doesn't anymore. Now she just rides for fun at Jerry Frankhouser's barn in Reinholds
Safstrom's daughter, Sarah, also rides. She too got into riding at a young age and now also takes lessons with Frankhouser.
"She's the fourth generation of my family that's involved with horses," Safstrom said.
Safstrom's grandparents, Charles "Motz" and Nellie Erdman, were part of the group that helped found Quentin Riding Club in 1934. During World War II, they held the bonds to the club to keep it from folding, and sold them back to the members after the war.
Two sisters and a brother are also involved in horses.
"I don't know - there's just something wonderful about being around horses and being able to ride them," she said. "I think once you get involved with horses, there's just nothing else like it. There's always that love that just stays with you."
When she gets on a horse these days, however, Safstrom said she can tell she's getting older.
 
"But the love of it is still there," she said. "It's a challenge each time you ride to see if you can find the connection with the horse. I've ridden a lot of horses ... and it's a challenge. But it's very rewarding when you can find the key, when you can figure out what it is that you need to do to work together. It's very satisfying."
In February, she broke three ribs and punctured a lung in a fall. She said she was able to get right back up on the horse after recovering.
"It's just a way of life," she said. "I think there were a lot of people who were surprised, but it's a part of who I am. It's what I do and what I love."
Despite the fall, she has no plans to stop riding anytime soon.
"I think they'll probably have to drag me out," she said. "Hopefully I'll be able to hang in there for a while yet. As you get older, you don't do things quite as recklessly as you did when you were younger. I think it's good exercise, and it's a good way for people to stay in shape."
She has been a member of the Quentin Riding Club her whole life and still goes there frequently. She said the club has changed quite a bit over the years.
"They still have all the horse shows," she said. "They don't have as many horses boarded at the club right now as they have in the past. It's changed and evolved, and they're trying to hang on. It's a tough time with the economy and everything, but they're doing well.
Safstrom works as a secretary in Lebanon Valley College's music department. She's been at the college for 20 years, 15 in the music department.
She lives in Cleona with her husband of 31 years, John.

In May (2009), while on sabbatical leave, Dr. Renee Norris traveled to China for two weeks. While there, Dr. Norris, a musicologist, researched local music.

The first picture is of a Tibetan mandolinist who helped her sight-read cipher notation (not as easy as it looks).

The second picture is the exterior of the Beijing opera house where she watched two short pieces.

PIANO MASTERCLASS BY SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ

Santiago Rodriguez will give a piano masterclass in Lutz Hall at Lebanon Valley College on Saturday, September 26, 1:00-3:00 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.   
Concerto #2, first movement-Beethoven (Michael Nelson)
Prelude in C # Minor-Rachmaninov (Matthew Topping)
Odeon- Nazareth (Cedric Sanchez)
Spanish Dance #1-Granados (Nicholas D’Angelo)
Danzas Argentina-Ginastera (Margaret Taylor)
Suite de Danzas Criollas #5-Ginastera (Justin Weilnau)

 
 PIANO RECITAL BY SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ

Lebanon Valley College is proud to present pianist, Santiago Rodriguez, for the inaugural Distinguished Artist Series with a recital on Sunday, September 27 at 3:00 p.m.  The performance will be held in Lutz Hall of the Blair Music Center on the college’s new Steinway D concert grand piano.   Santiago Rodriguez,  described as “a phenomenal pianist” by The New York Times and “among the finest pianists in the world” by the Baltimore Sun, has performed internationally with leading orchestras.    Rodriguez, an immigrant as a child from Cuba during Castro’s reign, has had an illustrious career since his winning the silver medal at the Van Cliburn Competition in 1981.   Rodriguez will be performing Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, K. 330, Chopin’s Sonata No. 2, Rachmaninov’s Prelude in C-sharp minor, and Schumann’s Carnaval, op. 9

Tickets are available in advance at the Music Department Office for $10 or online and at the door for $15.   For more information on programs and tickets visit www.lvc.edu/music or call 717-867-6275

His discography can be found at http://www.cduniverse.com/classical.asp?performer=Santiago+Rodriguez

Studio A was renovated this summer with new paint and a brand new mixer.

For more about the updates, go to  http://mrtaudioblog.wordpress.com/

Just because it is summer, it doesn't mean that a lot isn't happening in Blair.

The Music Technology for Educators class, a part of Masters of Music Education program, featured Doug Gould who instructed the class of music teachers about microphones, setting up PAs at their schools, and more.

Doug is currently the CEO of Worship MD, and formerly served as Technical Training Associate Manager at Shure, Inc, U.S Manager Market Development at Shure, Inc, and Eastern Regional Sales manager at TASCAM.

[copied from www.lvc.edu]

Two members of Lebanon Valley College's Music Department will be inducted into the Central PA Friends of Jazz (CPFJ ) Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 31 at the Harrisburg Hilton as part of the organization's annual Jazz Festival. Associate Professor of Music Tom Strohman and Adjunct Professor of Music Jim Miller, along with local pianist Katie Rudolph, will be honored. Strohman and Miller are also founding members of Third Stream, one of the mid-Atlantic region's finest music ensembles.

The Hall of Fame Awards were established in 1992 to honor those who support the efforts to present live jazz. Nominees are selected for outstanding service in one of three ways: by providing volunteer support to the organization, by providing service to the CPFJ as a musician, or by presenting and preserving jazz in the region. Strohman and Miller were recognized in all three categories.

The annual Central Pennsylvania Jazz Festival, held every June since 1981, takes place in downtown Harrisburg, and includes over 20 bands that perform a variety of Jazz styles in many different venues in the Hilton Harrisburg and surrounding area. The three day event includes concerts, instrument clinics, youth concerts, historic films, a Riverboat Jazz Cruise, a JazzWalk (typically held nightly in various downtown restaurants), Jazz in the Sanctuary, a Jazzy Sunday Brunch and much more.

Strohman has performed for entertainers Patti Page, Al Martino, Sonny and Cher, Eddie Fisher, The Four Aces, Della Reese, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Vinton. As a solo performer, he has had the pleasure of working with the following musicians: Bobby Rosengarten, Ira Sullivan, Buddy DeFranco, Al Grey, Steve Gilmore, Bill Goodwin David Schnitter, John Blake, Jonny Coles, Steve Rudolph, John Von Ohlem, and Vasser Clemens.

Miller has toured the United States with various bands and has performed with Jimmy Heath, Art Taylor, Herb Ellis, Barry Harris, Buddy DeFranco, and many other top artists. He was voted “Bassist of the Year” for three consecutive years by TV Host Magazine. In addition to performing, Miller has produced and taught clinics on “Jazz History,” “Emotions in Music,” “Jazz Improvisation,” “Math and Music,” and Bass Master Classes.”

Third Stream has released five recordings and has performed in concert with Herbie Hancock, Stanley Turrentine, Livingston Taylor, Jeff Beck, Deodato, Spyro Gyra and Phil Wilson.

For more info about Third Stream, go to http://www.thirdstream.com/

Each year the Lebanon Valley College Symphony Orchestra holds a
Concerto-Aria competition, with winners invited to perform with the
orchestra at a festive, spring concert. This year the program included four
student soloists.

Chase VanDuzer, tenor, performed "Lenski's Aria" from the opera Eugene
Onegin by Tchaikovsky.

Anthony Good performed a movement from Rosauro's concerto for Marimba and
String Orchestra

Jennifer Bocian, mezzo-soprano, performed "Cruda sorte!" from L'Italiana in
Algieri by Rossini.

Saray Strouse concluded the concertos with Rossini's Introduction, Theme and

Variations for clarinet and orchestra.
     

Senior Kyle Martin (on left) gives a presentation about his independent study in which he placed sound effects, music, and dialog in an original animation created by a DigiComm student.

LVC students, both current and former, can be found all around the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg PA (PA state capital).

Music Business major Jennifer Payne '09 interned at the Whitaker Center in spring '09 during her senior semester. As an intern she did everything from running to the grocery store to pick up items that visiting musicians had listed in their contract riders, to helping wrap cables and set up the sound system with the production team. She worked with contracts and talent ranging from blues great Buddy Guy to rock band Third Eye Blind.

Here she is pictured with Stephen F. Krempasky, Vice President, Theater Operations

At the same time, Jennifer was in good LVC company with the production team consiting of Music Recording graduates Mat Edgcomb '00 and Andrew Jackson '03. Mat is the production manager for all of the concerts, plays, etc. This after coming off of the road  serving as engineer and road manager for nationally known bands.To read a Mix magazine interview with Mat, go to http://mixonline.com/mixline_live/Edgecomb-Lee-Tour-07190518/

Pictured below are Andrew on the left, Mat on the right, as they set up the lights for the evening event.

Any performance is preceded with hours of preparation and set up, especially when the stage is filled with percussion instruments.

Adjunct Professor Bob Nowak, percsussion instructor, knows where everything must be placed. MRT major Brain Dempsey leans on Mr. Nowak.

LVC music stands have heard it all...

  Big drum on Big stage.

Click to see the program: Percussion Ensemble 4.22.09.pdf (20.53 kb)

WGAL TV in Harrisburg did a feature about LVC's Jim Erdman. The trombone instructor at LVC for 26 years, Jim previously served as the trombone soloist in the distinguished United States Marine Band.

From the marineband Webpage: "Established by an Act of Congress in 1798, the Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Our primary mission is unique—to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. Now in our third century, the Marine Band continues a tradition of excellence that earned the title “The President’s Own” from President Thomas Jefferson. As the only musical organization charged to perform for the President, “The President’s Own” views its rich history as a foundation for an even greater musical future. Whether in White House performances, public concerts, or national tours, the music of the Marine Band is the music of America...Jim played trombone and joined “The President’s Own” in 1956 at age 17. He also followed in the band’s tradition of outstanding trombone soloists highlighted by former members such as Robert E. Clarke and Robert Isele. After a tremendously successful career as principal and soloist, he retired in 1976."

Jim has served five presidents, but even more than that, he is a great teacher.

Click on the picture below to watch the video interview.

  Dr. Dennis Swiegert after performing Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with the LVC Orchestra.

Music meets technology

Bill Floyd of Nationwide Insurance talks to the Music Industry Entrepreaneur class about commercial insurance and music businesses.

Spring beckons outside Blair

Dr. Mecham Choir Rehearsal  

Ghosts of hundreds of students (since 1974) occupy the orange seats in Lutz hall. 

handbell ensemble performance