EKU

Mr. Haddix is currently the principal trombonist with the Owensboro Symphony where he has been a member since 1986. He has also been a member of the Bowling Green/Western Symphony Orchestra from 1999-2001, and has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, the Evansville Philharmonic, and the Lexington Philharmonic. He is active as a soloist, adjudicator, and clinician.

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Dr. Eun-Hwan Bai was appointed professor of violin and viola at EKU this semester. Dr. Bai is a musician with a vast amount of experience as a performer and a teacher. Dr. Bai was a professor of violin at the Kon-Kuk University in Seoul, Korea. He has received bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in double major (violin, viola) from The Juilliard School. Among his many concerts, he has performed the complete unaccompanied works of J.S. Bach's, Paganini's Caprices, and Ysaye's Sonatas both in New York and in Korea. Dr. Bai has won numerous competitions, including competitions at Juilliard and the Aspen Music Festival. In Korea, he has won the Kyo-Dae, E-Hwa, and Korea Times competitions. Furthermore, Dr. Bai has performed with KBS, Juilliard Orchestra, Korean Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, the ARS Chamber Orchestra, L.A. Downey, and Aspen Festival Orchestra. Dr. Bai has made the recordings of Paganini's Concerto, Ernst's Etude No. 6, The Erlking, and Paganini's Caprices on the KBS and SKC labels. Moreover, the recordings of Bartok violin concerto & viola concerto were released in fall of 1996. He was a member of Kum Ho Asiana String Quartet from 1994 to 1996. His teachers include Dorothy DeLay, William Lincer, Kyung-Hwa Chung, Dong-Suk Kang, Jae-Hun Lee, Byung-Ho Bai, Suk-Chul Park, Hyo Kang, and George Kast.

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EKU SYMPHONIC BAND TO PERFORM AT KMEA IN-SERVICE CONFERENCE

The Eastern Kentucky University Symphonic Band has been selected to perform at the 2002 Kentucky Music Educators Association In-Service/Professional Development Conference. The ensemble, under the direction of EKU Director of Bands Dr. Joe Allison, will perform at Louisville's Kentucky International Convention Center on Saturday, February 9th at 12:20pm in the Cascade Ballroom. This will mark the second time in the history of the EKU program, and the second time in the history of the Conference that the ensemble has appeared for the state's music teachers. The world premiere of Fostorian Sketches, commissioned by and dedicated to the EKU Symphonic Band and Foster Music Camps will be presented. The new work by South Carolina Composer-Laureate Dr. Gordon Goodwin is based on themes from the Stephen Collins Foster repertory, for which the 67 year old music camp at Eastern is named. This piece is the first major work for band commissioned by the EKU program in the 96 year history of the institution. The forty-minute presentation will also include a new setting by Conductor Allison of Aaron Copland's "Laurie's Song" from The Tender Land, featuring soprano Dr. Joyce Wolf of the University's Vocal Program. Also included in this premiere of the selection will be the EKU Faculty String Quartet, as well as other faculty soloists.

A multimedia presentation of David Gillingham's latest composition, Internal Combustion, will involve members of the EKU Dance Studio, under the direction of Dr. Marianne McAdam. Interested Alumni and friends are encouraged to attend, and a reception is planned for after the concert presentation at a location to be announced.

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Eastern Kentucky University Clarinet Festival

Connie Rhoades, associate professor of clarinet at Eastern Kentucky University, hosted the first Eastern Kentucky University Clarinet Festival on Saturday, April 7, 2001. Attended by middle school, high school, and college-aged clarinetists, the EKU Clarinet Festival featured the world-renowned Verdehr Trio, in residence at Michigan State University, and Kristina Belisle, professor of clarinet at the University of Akron. The festival began with a host recital by Connie Rhoades which included an arrangement of Be Thou My Vision by John Purifoy, Sonatina for Clarinet Solo, Op. 27 by Miklos Rozsa, and Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 115 by Johannes Brahms. The morning concluded with clarinet choir rehearsals. After lunch, the participants were treated to a delightful recital given by Kristina Belisle with Laura Silverman playing the piano. The program began with an exciting performance of Four Hungarian Dances by Reszo Kokai which contrasted nicely with the Pastoral for Clarinet and Piano by Arthur Bliss which followed. Bernstein's Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and Paul Jeanjean's Carnival of Venice brought the recital to a rousing conclusion. Following another clarinet choir rehearsal, the participants attended a masterclass given by Belisle in which three participants performed solos and received excellent comments. In addition, Belisle stressed the importance of playing long tones and having a warm-up routine on the clarinet. The afternoon session concluded with a clarinet choir dress rehearsal followed by a clarinet choir recital. The Festival ended Saturday evening with an absolutely wonderful performance by the Verdehr Trio, who played music written in a variety of styles from Mozart to McAllister. The recital began with Mozart's Divertimento; K. 240a, and was followed by Fanny Mendelssohn's Three Romances and Joan Tower's Rain Waves. After intermission, Menotti's Trio, and X3 by McAllister brought the recital to a close. The attention to detail, musicality, blend, balance, and beautiful sound of the Verdehr Trio was greatly appreciated by the audience who was delighted to hear them play an encore. The EKU clarinet studio is looking forward to the second EKU Clarinet Festival which is scheduled for April 20, 2002. For more information, please contact Connie Rhoades at (859) 622-1342 or connie.rhoades@eku.edu.

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A Night of World Music

On Tuesday November, 13th all are invited to attend a music concert sponsored by the Richmond Live concert series entitled "A Night of World Music," featuring the EKU Percussion Ensemble, EKU Steel Band, EKU African Drum and Dance Ensemble, and the EKU Salsa Band. Also featured in the program will be guest vibraphone artist and composer John Piper, who will be soloing as well as performing his original composition "Brainforest" with the EKU Percussion Ensemble. The concert will be held in Brock auditorium at 8PM - tickets are $2 for students and $4 for adults. Please contact Jason Koontz, Director of Percussion studies at EKU for more information at (859) 622-1334 or email at Jason.Koontz@eku.edu.

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EKU Jazz Festival April 27, 2002

The EKU Jazz Ensemble had a very successful year in 2000-2001, highlighted by a trip to Nashville, where the band recorded a compact disc in one of the top studios in the area. Last years' Jazz Festival brought in area high school bands that were treated to a clinic and performance by sax great Bob Berg. This year's festival, which will be held on April 27, will feature pianist/composer Maria Schneider. Any interested directors who would like to have their bands participate in the "comments only" formatted festival, please contact Joe Van Fleet at (859) 622-1356.

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EKU Trumpet Ensemble

The EKU Trumpet Ensemble performed at the 2001 International Trumpet Guild Conference which was held in May at the University of Evansville. The group performed two works, including Sphere by EKU faculty member Dr. Richard Bromley. The performance received outstanding reviews and was considered a highlight of the conference. Two June graduates received scholarships to excellent graduate programs. Phillip Johnson is continuing his studies at the University of North Texas, and Denver Dill is at the Julliard School of Music.

Trumpet Ensemble conducted by Dr. Joe Van Fleet. Members are Phillip Johnson, Becky Ledden, Andrea Adams, Chris Wootin, and Denver Dill.

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EKU Vocal Jazz

Nov. 15 The 2001 EKU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Hunter Hensley, looks forward to the November 15 concert at 8:00 PM in Brock Auditorium. Members of the ensemble include 10 singers and a 4-piece rhythm section. The group is made up of 4 freshmen, 5 sophomores, 3 seniors, and two graduate students. The ensemble emphasizes quality musicianship and high artistic demands while learning to master the many complexities of singing jazz vocal literature. Featured on the Fall concert will be vocal jazz arrangements of many well-known jazz educators. In addition, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble relishes the opportunity to perform at their Fall concert with the excellent and well-established EKU Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Joe Van Fleet.

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Faculty News

Two former faculty members died this year. They were Dr.Richard Hensel and Robert Oppelt. Dr. Hensel was chair of the Theory Area and Professor Oppelt directed the orchestra.

Rob James, Chair of the Department of Music accepted the position of President of the Kentucky Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. Professor James held this position in the past and has served as an officer for the past 12 years. As President of this organization, he will help in the design and plan of the 2002 Day of Percussion, which will be held on the campus of the University of Louisville on Saturday, March 23. Rob will also represent the state at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention this November.

In January 2002, Rob James and several Music Merchandising students will travel to Anaheim, California to attend the National Association of Music Merchants. Among these students are two NAMM Scholarship recipients, Kate Trame and Ariana St. Clair. By receiving these awards, both Kate and Ariana get their trip to the convention paid for by NAMM and will be presented an award during the convention. Other trips to be completed with the merchandising area include a trip to Nashville this November. Students will visit recording studios, talent agencies, and major recording companies. Under the additional leadership of alumnus April Brumfield, we have formed a Music Merchandising Club. This club is open to all students and is dedicated to promoting on campus events, recording concerts, producing compact disks, and providing a service while gaining hand-on experience to the department, college, university, and community. Thanks April.

Hunter Hensley's voice studio is experimenting with an Early Music Ensemble which meets weekly to study and experience vocal music from the 12th - 17th centuries. French chanson, Italian and English madrigals, 12th century plainchant, and Renaissance mass and motet excerpts are on the musical pallet for this semester. Students from all applied areas, both instrumental and vocal, are welcome to attend this weekly meeting of the studio class. Dr. Dan Duncan has, for many years, directed the Madrigal Band at EKU for those interested in performing with the early instruments used in the Medieval and Renaissance eras. In an effort to give a similar offering to his vocal students, Hensley decided to revise his usual studio class of solo vocal performances. He notes that "Chamber music from the early music era is wonderful training ground for the vocal development of young voices who may not be ready for the strong vocal production required for the performance of 19th and 20th century opera and art song literature." The experience of a cappella sight reading, is also good, basic training for the vocal music major. Judging by the plethora of Early Music Festivals and Workshops across the country, there is a resurgent interest in the performance of Early Music.

Hensley, tenor, presented the first EKU faculty recital for the 2001 Fall semester. Performing with Hunter on his first full recital since arriving at EKU last Fall, were Betty Gene Bowling, pianist for the Brahms Magelone Songs. Hensley, Donna Boyd-harpsichord, Deborah Isenstadt-recorders, and Dr.Mark Chambers-cello (also EKU Orchestra Conductor) combined in various groupings to perform music of Telemann, Cavalli, and Stradella. Dennis Davis, EKU guitar instructor, joined Hensley in the performance of several of the Benjamin Britten Folksong arrangements. Richard Crosby's article "The Piano Music of William Grant Still" was published in the spring of 2001 issue of the Kentucky Music Teacher, and his review of the new Dover edition of piano music by Amy Beach will appear in the December/January issue of the American Music Teacher.

Crosby maintains a busy schedule serving on the National Executive Committee of Phi Mu Alpha as Chairman of the Province Governors Council and maintains his role as governor of the fraternity's Province 25 (Kentucky, Southern Indiana). He is also serving as Chairman of the Professional Organizations Council of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. In October of 2001 he will serve as host for the KMTA convention on the EKU campus, and during this convention he will accompany Scott Dewese on several of his new art songs, including Ships That Pass In The Night (Paul Laurence Dunbar) and Evening Star (Edgar Allan Poe.) At EKU he is currently teaching private piano, class piano and music history and is the Director of the Stephen Collins Foster Piano Camps.

Dr. Mick Sehmann performed at two national horn conferences this past year. In February he performed in recital as principal horn with the Central Kentucky Horn Quartet at the Southeast Horn Workshop at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. This quartet, which has performed at numerous events throughout the region, is a professional group that also includes Dr. Karin Sehmann (EKU) and David Elliott and Joanne Filkins, (both from UK). In June Mick and Karin Sehmann took a group of eight EKU horn students to the 33rd International Horn Symposium, held this year on the campus of Western Michigan University. The Symposium, sponsored by the International Horn Society and held at a different international location each year, is a weeklong festival showcasing top horn players from throughout the world.

In addition to attending recitals and masterclasses by the world's leading professional players, EKU's contingent of hornists performed as members of The Central Kentucky Horn Club which presented a full recital of ensemble works at the Symposium. Here at home Mick continues to maintain a busy playing schedule, performing with the EKU Woodwind and Brass Quintets, the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, and playing many freelance jobs throughout the region.

EKU's Music Department was well represented at the Athena 2001 Festival of Women Composers held at Murray State University February 28 through March 3, 2001. Soprano Joyce Hall Wolf, organist Kay Dawn McFarland, and musicologist Thomas J. McFarland (Union College) presented the lecture recital Early Music for the Modern Vocalist: The Solo Motets of Sister Isabella Leonarda. The Athena Festival is a national conference on women's keyboard and vocal music. It draws performers and scholars from across the United States, including this year's featured speakers Adrienne Fried Bock, Eugenie Rocherolle, and master teacher Barbara Honn. In addition to performances, lectures, and masterclasses, the Festival includes a competition. EKU graduate student Emily Tulloch, soprano, competed in the Advanced Category and received third place. Also attending the conference, as representatives of EKU were Danny Jones and Brandon Owens.

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