Dr. Sara M. Ernst is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Piano Inspires Kids, a new quarterly print magazine published by the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy. This magazine has launched with its first issue, Autumn 2023, and already has an international subscription base. Piano Inspires Kids contains engaging content for piano students, offers a space for student-created ideas and submissions, and provides the teacher with activities and curricular materials for use in teaching.
We are proud to announce that Dr. Melissa Baughman (Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education), Dr. Christopher Baumgartner (Associate Professor of Instrumental Music Education), Lane Folds (PhD Candidate), and Jessica Haley (2nd year MME student) will present their research at the upcoming Symposium on Music Teacher Education (SMTE) in Salt Lake City, Utah this week. Congrats on representing OU Music Education on the National stage!
Dr. Damin Spritzer performed as part of the 2nd Dallas International Organ Festival at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, TX.
October 10th, 2023 is the publication date for Dr. Jake Johnson's edited volume, "The Possibility Machine: Music and Myth in Las Vegas," now available through the University of Illinois Press. This collection of essays looks with wonderment at the role music plays in sustaining Las Vegas's lore for the fantastical, the deceptive, and the possible, while also showing how the city shapes musical tastes and values and habits far beyond its borders.
The Possibility Machine is available here: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/
The OU Piano Area collaborated with the OKC Philharmonic in hosting a piano master class with Dmytro Choni in Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall. Four collegiate performers from various Oklahoma institutions were invited to participate in the class. Congratulations to Shara Sun, third year DMA Piano Performance and Pedagogy student, for representing OU in the master class!
The OU Men's Glee Club performed for the students of Armstrong Middle School in Plano, Texas. The Director of Choirs at Armstrong is OU music alumnus Jacob Waters (BME, 2018). Jacob is past president of the Glee Club. Congrats Jacob and OU Men's Glee Club! Boomer Sooner!
We had a great time collaborating with the Norman North band in preparation for their fall musical! Thanks to alumna Anna Fitzgerald (BME, 2022) for inviting our future educators to play and teach alongside these wonderful musicians!
Michal Brauhn Damm, Ian Hetherington, and Derek Johnson performed the National Anthem at the home opener of the Oklahoma Warriors hockey game last week. Way to represent OU percussion!
The Piano Area welcomed concert pianist Spencer Myer to campus on September 26-27. Dr. Myer performed an inspiring recital of Debussy's Twenty-Four Preludes, presented a workshop on memorization and practice strategies, and presented a master class. Congratulations to Nathaniel Maxwell, Savannah Self, and Qishan Shi for their master class performances!
OU School of Music doctoral student, Joshua Smith, was appointed as Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Music at the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Congratulations Joshua on your new job as professor!
The Women Have Something to Say, a piece conceived and co-written by Dr. Nicole Kenley-Miller as a lyricist with composer Madeline Styskal, has tied for 3rd place in The American Prize - Vocal Chamber Music Composition division. The original version of the piece premiered in Houston in 2021 and excerpts appeared on the Kennedy Center's pandemic livestream in 2020, followed by a revised version which received its off-Broadway premiere in New York this past May. Congrats Dr. Nicole Kenley-Miller!
Michelle Jaluvka (DMA clarinet) was accepted to present her paper “Tulsa Opera’s Prima Donnas and the Popular Press” at the American Musicological Society Southwest Chapter’s Fall Meeting. Congrats Michelle!
Dr. Damin Spritzer has published a monograph on the subject of the life and organ music of Alsatian-American composer Rene Louis Becker (1882-1957). She has also recorded three world premier commercial CDs of Becker’s music, two discs in France and one in the United States, and has been called to lecture frequently upon Becker for conferences, conventions, and chapters of the American Guild of Organists.
Publication available here: https://theleupoldfoundation.org/product/spitzer-damin-rene-louis-becker/
Taylor Dawkins (MM student, double bass) won a contract section bass position with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic! Congrats Taylor!
Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ardmore, OK recently welcomed new music minister and OU alum, Landon Johnson. He was working on a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma when he got the call earlier this summer about the job opportunity at Emmanuel. Congrats on your new job Landon!
Dr. Joel Burcham was recently featured as an expert guest on “The Alarmist Podcast” with writer/comedian Rebecca Delgado-Smith, discussing The Day the Music Died, the tragic plane crash that killed American rockers Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson Jr. (aka The Big Bopper), and Ritchie Valens.
The Alarmist Podcast approaches history’s greatest tragedies, along with a different special guest, and dissects the event, its impact, and who or what is to blame. Both Marie Claire and the Thrillist have given The Alarmist Podcast favorable reviews.
Congrats Dr. Burcham and give the episode a listen here!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dsz0xbDhFIVyUraKD8gvN?si=a90b1220d4274ef8&nd=1
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aftermath-the-day-the-music-died/id1468678544?i=1000627830132
Dr. David Howard has been appointed as a board member of the ICM: Tenor-Bass Consortium also known as the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses, Inc. Its membership is made up of Tenor-Bass Choruses/Glee Clubs of the nation’s universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Membership is also open to community and professional ensembles, as well as to individuals. Through its publication QUODLIBET, and through its biennial National Seminar held on a member campus, IMC provides a wealth of information pertinent to conductors of tenor-bass choruses. National Seminars include performances, reading sessions, interest sessions, and resources for student conductors.
The OU Men’s Glee Club performing at the President's Medallion Luncheon celebrating 50-year graduates of the University 9/8/2023. The Men's Glee Club under the direction of Dr. David Howard, regularly performs traditional collegiate glee club repertoire, contemporary male choral works, and OU spirit songs at various events on campus including football and basketball games.
Andrew Jacob representing OU Music Composition with an internship at Sweetwater Academy of Music & Technology!
Andrew's accomplishment highlighted in OU Admissions and Recruitment: https://www.ou.edu/admissions/sooner-stories/2023/summer-for-ou-students
"With summer in full swing after finals, Andrew Jacob had no time to sit back and relax. As soon as he returned home from his last class, he began packing to spend his summer interning at the Sweetwater Academy of Music & Technology in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is the world's leading technology and instrument retailor for music. As an intern, Andrew's main responsibility was planning events and schedules for Rock Camp, a six-week summer camp for youth who are passionate about music."
Best of luck this weekend to OU organ professor, Dr. Damin Spritzer, premiering a new Buzard Opus 48 pipe organ in Nashville, TN!
"St. Geroge's Episcopal Church opens their In Excelsis Series with the passionate and refined playing of renowned organist Dr. Damin Spritzer, performing on our new organ, Buzard Op. 48. Dr. Spritzer will remain at St. George’s to accompany the St. George’s Choir and Choristers in Choral Evensong on Sunday, September 10."
Publication of Chapter 50, "Jazz Band Rehearsal Techniques" by Dr. Lonnie Easter II
Featured in Teaching Instrumental Music: Contemporary Perspectives and Pedagogies
Congrats to music education and jazz studies professor, Dr. Lonnie Easter for his publication!
Full Article
https://global.oup.com/ushe/product/teaching-instrumental-music-9780190099725?cc=us&lang=en
The primary objective of this chapter is to provide preservice music educators (particularly those with limited jazz experience) with practical instructional strategies that will assist them in directing a jazz ensemble while promoting cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domain development in their future jazz students.
Our very own, Dr. Jonathan Nichol, has officially been named the Director of the OU School of Music! Thank you for your leadership and support to all students and staff of the SOM community.
Article published by Norman Transcript 8/30/23:
Nichol Named Director of the OU School of Music
NORMAN, OKLA. – Accomplished saxophonist, educator and administrator Jonathan Nichol, DMA, has been named the next director of the University of Oklahoma School of Music. He previously served as interim director for the 2022-2023 academic year and has been on faculty as professor of saxophone since 2013.
“The OU School of Music is home to a remarkable community of dedicated faculty, staff and students,” Nichol stated. “As the director of the School of Music, I am thrilled to lead a program with such a rich history of academic and performance excellence. Teaching and working with our more than 450 amazing students is the best job in the world! I look forward to continued collaboration with my faculty colleagues as we not only uphold our longstanding tradition of excellence but develop new programs to improve the human experience and intersect with modern trends in music education, research, performance and technology.”
Featured in the OU Research Insider: “Song, Landscape, and Identity in Medieval Northern France: Toward and Environmental History.”
Congrats to musicology professor, Dr. Jennifer Saltzstein, and all of the success with her book release!
Research Insider current issue:
https://mailchi.mp/ou/ou-research-insider-8-24-23?e=97f1dc2659
2nd year doctoral student in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Qishan Shi, has just been named the Third Prize winner at The American Prize Competition! Congratulations Qishan!
The American Prize in Piano Performance (solo), 2023-college/university division:
https://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2023/08/national-winners-piano-solo-2023.html
Excited to see Brooke Oliver (BME, 2023) mentoring the children of Owasso (OK) as the new K–5 music teacher at Ator Elementary School. Congrats, Brooke!
This summer, DMA students Mimi Zhang and David Mach, attended the Lindlar Piano Festival in Germany. Both Mimi and David performed a four-hands piano recital along with many other concerts abroad. They were even featured in the newspaper talking about their experience: learning to drive manual transmission, eating liverwurst, German breakfasts, and performing a house concert for their host family. Glückwunsch Mimi and David!
Congrats to recent BME graduate Elsie Wright, who started her position as Assistant Band Director at John Glenn Middle School in San Angelo, TX this week! Boomer!
Today is a big day in the public schools—lots of “first days” for teachers and students. Here’s May graduate Lydia Jackson, one of two new music educators at Adams Elementary in Norman!
Matthew Frontz (BME, 2023) had his first day of school this week as Director of Bands at Stockdale ISD (TX)!
Shoutout to Abigail Baeten for her first day BACK in the classroom after completing her master’s degree at OU this past May! Abigail returned home to Kansas as the head band director at Derby North Middle School and assistant at the high school.
Max Crowther Heyck, a Composition Major whose orchestral work "Voyage to Cythera,” was performed by the Brazilian National Symphony under the conductor Claudio Cohen. Max was accepted to participate in the Tonal Composers Festival that took place between July 26th and August 2nd in Brasilia, Brazil. What a way to represent OU’s Composition program! Congratulations Max!
Congratulations to OU music education professor Dr. Charlene Dell! Dr. Dell’s article “Teaching Listening from the Start" will be published in the November issue of the American String Teacher Journal.
Congrats to Cody Sirk, who completed a master’s degree in music education AND teacher certification this past May! He’s the new Asst. Band Director and Director of Jazz at Washington Public Schools (OK).
Former doctoral student Derek Blankenship (trumpet) has been named Executive Director of the Venice Institute for Performing Arts in Venice, Florida! "His passion for and training in the performing arts combined with his enthusiasm for our efforts to enrich the learning experiences we provide the students of VHS make him the ideal person to lead VIPA into our new season and beyond." Boomer!
Venice Institute of Performing Arts names executive director
https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2023/aug/11/venice-institute-performing-arts-names-executive-director
Here is Ian Cone (BME 2023), the new head orchestra director at KIPP Sharpstown College Prep in Houston, TX! Happy first day of teaching!
OU School of Music doctoral conducting student Tyler Stark spent two weeks in Ireland (primarily Cork, Ireland), studying the musical culture and pedagogy of Irish traditional musicians. The research has revealed that this culture is founded on creating an inclusive, fun, and collaborative environment. He hopes to continue to bring these traits into my teaching and that this research may encourage other music educators to explore ways to develop musical communities and deeper listening skills in their ensembles.
Congratulations to Mariia Portniagina, a piano student at OU, for participating in the Klavier Festival held in Lindlar, Germany this summer! It's great to see her achieving such wonderful accomplishments. In the accompanying picture, she is seen with Dr. Jeongwon Ham, a faculty member and guest artist at the 2023 Lindlar Festival.
Today is Kinady Allen’s (BME 2023) first day as a middle school band director! She’s teaching the children in Springdale, Arkansas as head band director. Boomer!!
Congratulations to OU conducting graduate student Andrey Cruz, who participated by invitation in the European American Musical Alliance Summer Program that took place in Paris, France, from July 1 to 28. Andrey shared these comments about his experience:
"For me, it was an honor to represent The University of Oklahoma and the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts in this internationally recognized venue, where I intended to use it as an opportunity to open doors for future students and create relationships that can work reciprocally with the OU School of Music.
This is a prestigious workshop based on the French musical tradition established by famed music educator Nadia Boulanger. Many successful and renowned musicians and conductors have attended it, making this participation a true honor."
Congratulations to Dr. Jeongwon Ham who performed a recital and gave master classes at the Piano Festival in Lindlar in Germany this summer.
Cy Curtis (BME 2023) is now the Assistant/Middle School Band Director at Morris (OK) Public Schools! Here is Cy, pictured with just a few students who appear to be happy about this new hire.
Yay, Abbi McKinney!! She’s beginning her career in the classroom in Deer Creek (OK) teaching band and percussion. The spring 2023 class is rocking it!
Congrats to Kassidy Kramer (BME 2023) who began her career teaching adolescent voices in Wylie ISD this week!
Beginning his teaching career in Altus, Oklahoma is Brock Engles! Mr. Engles is a spring 2023 graduate in music education and will be serving Altus as a middle and high school band director.
Congrats to Kelsey Cook (May 2023 music education graduate) who is starting her first day of school as a professional educator! Kelsey is teaching music at Valley Ridge Elementary in Lewisville ISD (TX). Boomer!
Tyler Van Zuiden, an OU bassoon graduate student, is attending the Saarburg (Germany) Music Festival this summer. He's been collaborating with Saarburg faculty member, Dr. Dale Clark, and is representing the OU School of Music on the international stage.
Shout-OUt to 2018 BME graduate Mackie Thomas! Mackie is completing her DMA studies at the University of Kansas and will lead the bassoon studio this year. Boomer!!
Congrats to recent graduate Ruben Alcala (PhD in Music Education–Choral Conducting, 2023) on his new position with FWISD! Excited to have OUr alums working to support practicing P–12 music educators!
Congratulations to all who participated in the Summer String Academy!
Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Baumgartner on his newly published book!
"Bridging the Gap: Stories for Music Student Teaching Seminar" is a collection of short stories to provoke thought, reflection, and peer interaction on various topics commonly experienced by music student teachers. Inspired by existing research findings and 15 years of experience leading the seminar and supervising music student teachers, each of the 12 short stories are created using Patricia Leavy's method of "social fiction." Published by Conway Publications—"committed to publishing high-quality work in the fields of music and music education while guaranteeing low prices for our readers."
"At long last, our profession has a structuring text for the often-amorphous student teaching seminar...Baumgartner’s creative literary approach to writing makes this book as pleasurable to read as it is useful to practice, and each fictionalized account truly “bridges the gap” between university coursework and the realities of the music classroom. This book is destined to be the standard text for the music student teaching experience."
Dr. Sean Powell, Professor and Chair of Music Education, University of North Texas; President of the Society for Music Teacher Education
Congrats to OU alumna Amber Norelai (BME 2018)! You can catch her in her current role as Euridice with the Santa Fe Opera. Amber recently completed a sat with the Palm Beach Opera, and has spent the last few years traveling and performing around the world. Always excited to see our graduates doing great things in their profession!
Congratulations to Rod Ackmann, who performed Mozart's "Per Questa Bella Mano" as part of the Assisi Performing Arts Festival!
Congratulations to Aurica Rising (MM '23). Aurica wrote an article titled "A Start on the Right Path: Maintaining Healthy Habits as a Student". This article was published in the June 2023 issue Percussive Notes, the journal of the Percussive Arts Society.
Dr. Swinkin has just published Perspectives on Contemporary Music Theory, a co-edited volume with Bryan Parkhurst. These essays honor Dr. Swinkin's Ph.D advisor, Kevin Korsyn. Congratulations, Dr. Swinkin!
Congratulations to Professor Brian Britt on his recent induction into 2023 Oklahoma Band Masters Hall of Fame, a true career milestone achievement. Thank you, Prof. Britt, for all that you do as a profesor, mentor, and arts leader.
Check out this wonderful Today show segment on this summer’s Opera in the Ozarks, featuring OU voice professor Lorraine Ernest!
Congratulations to Dr. Shanti Simon, who spent the last week conducting the prestigious World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Way to go, Dr. Simon!
Dr. Andrew Richardson, chair of the percussion department at OU, has published an article with the journal of Oklahoma Music Educators Association Spring 2023 issue: “Ten Tips for Teaching Timpani.” Congratulations Dr. Richardson!
Dr. Shawn Welk performed as a featured soloist at the New Hampshire Music Festival.
Best wishes to Prof. Rod Ackmann who is performing concerts as part of the Assisi Performing Arts Festival this week, as well as leading a workshop on “The Ever Changing World of Careers in Music." This is Prof. Ackmann's 17th summer teaching and performing in Assisi, Italy.
Dr. Brian Wolfe has returned to Costa Rica for a second summer of international marching band and concert band instruction. OU graduate student Andrew Smith (MM Conducting), and alumnus Abigail Baeten (MME), and Anna Fitzgerald (Norman North HS Assistant Director, BME) have joined the staff this summer.
This cultural exchange takes place throughout Costa Rica with four bands: Banda Comunal de Orotina, Garabito Municipal Band, CEDES Don Bosco High School, and the University of Costa Rica - Limon.
OU music education faculty member Dr. Chris Baumgartner spent the past week at the National Leadership Assembly and Hill Day advocating for music education in our nation’s capital. He currently serves on the National Executive Board of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as Southwest Division President-Elect. All 50 state affiliates were represented, including the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA). In addition to leadership sessions on important topics facing music education, OkMEA Presidents Annie Mann (current), Amber Mash (Elect), and Leah McDonald (past) secured meetings with OK legislators to discuss issues facing music education in our state.
Check out this awesome highlight video of students learning and performing in Professor Miranda Arana's World Music course this summer. A hands-on experience!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vaTK5P6Y6E
Jennifer Saltzstein has published a new book with Oxford University Press: Song, Landscape, and Identity in Medieval Northern France: Toward an Environmental History.
Her book examines medieval songs about nature, contextualizing within the historical environments in which their composers lived and worked. The book is available in hardcover, paperback, and Ebook formats.
Congratulations, Dr. Saltzstein!
Courtney (Clear) Acord, BME/Bassoon 2018, has recently accepted the position of Director of Bands at Claremore HS. Courtney previously served as Assistant Director of Bands at Tahlequah Public Schools. Congratulations Courtney, and Go Zebras!
Congratulations to Dr. Richard Zielniski on this fantastic interview about the Zielinski Singers and their performances in Poland!
https://radioszczecin.pl/4,457472,amerykanscy-wokalisci-zainaugurowali-miedzynarod
The inaugural Summer Jazz Collective is in full swing at the University of Oklahoma! You can catch this all-star big band performing at Jazz in June with renowned artists Chad LB and Steve Weist on Saturday evening at 7:30 PM in Andrews Park. The School of Music thanks Jay Wilkinson, Lonnie Easter, and Eric Walschap for making this extraordinary opportunity for aspiring jazz musicians possible. The Summer Jazz Collective camp and band is sponsored by Gilliam Music — we appreciate the support.
Check out the recent edition of the Sooner Magazine--it features a fantastic article about OU School of Music voice professor Joel Burcham. Who knew metal and opera would make such a great combination?!
The OU School of Music is incredibly proud of tuba fOUr for earning a spot to compete in the ITEC chamber music competition! Best wishes for a fantastic performance in this prestigious competition.
Members of the OU Women’s Chorus and OU Men’s Glee Club recently performed at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis King of France in New Orleans. Congratulations to them on a wonderful performance in a beautiful space.
Congratulations to Professor and Director Emeritus Dr. Roland Barrett on earning a Thousand Oaks Excellence Award from Peru State College!
The Thousand Oaks Alumni Excellence program, established in 2018, is sponsored by the Peru State College Foundation. Recipients must have demonstrated exceptional service to the College or community and/or outstanding achievements in their career.
https://www.peru.edu/news/2023/thousandoaksexcellenceawardees.html
Dr. Lonnie Easter is the recipient of the Award for Professional Excellence in the OU School of Music. Congratulations!
Big congrats to Brooke Oliver for being recognized alongside her peers as an Outstanding Intern (Music Education) today at the College of Education closing seminar!
Exciting news from OU BME Bassoonist, Kinady Allen:
I am thrilled to announce that in early April I landed my DREAM JOB!
This fall I will begin my teaching career as the Head Band Director at George Junior High School in Springdale, Arkansas!
I cannot wait to partner alongside the incredible band staff and administrators at Springdale to serve GJHS band kids and families.
A huge thank you to all of my teachers from 5th grade beginning band through my final year at OU. Thank you for growing, challenging, and inspiring me!
Yay music and…
GO WRANGLERS!!
Congratulations to Gayle Reynolds for earning a Staff Merit Distinguished Performance Award at the University of Oklahoma! The School of Music is thrilled that OU recognized the many contributions Gayle makes to our program and the university.
The University of Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra just returned from a fantastic tour of the Dallas and Ft. Worth area during which they performed for students at McKinney HS, Faubion Middle School joining, Frisco Memorial HS, Booker T. Washington HS for Performing and Visual Arts, and Plano East HS. Thank you to everyone who made the tour a huge success. Congratulations, OU Symphony Orchestra!
Congratulations to Caleb Dodson (MM) for advancing to the live round of 2023 International Adolphe Sax Competition in Dinant, Belgium!
Congratulations to Anna Fitzgerald, assistant band director at Norman North High School, on being named the 2023 Norman Public Schools Rookie Teacher of the Year!
Dr. Melissa Baughman's article, "Women in Choral Conducting: A Research Review" is featured in this month's Choral Journal. This issue is dedicated to addressing gender equity in the choral conducting profession. Congratulations on this engaging publication!
Congratulations to Ruben Alcala on a recent publication in the Update: Applications of Research in Music Education Journal!
The article is titled: "Recruiting and Retaining Hispanic and Latino/a/x Music Educators: A Literature Review"
Congratulations to all of the OU voice students who won awards at the Oklahoma NATS Competition! Tutti Bravi!
Freshman Treble
1st Place - Laila Menden (student of Les Flanagan)
3rd Place - Megan Austin (student of Les Flanagan)
Finalist - Kaitlyn Johnson (student of Lori Ernest)
Finalist - Katelyn Cruse (student of Joel Burcham)
Freshman TBB
2nd Place - Joseph Mathew (student of Mark McCrory)
Sophomore Treble
2nd Place - Lilly Gnam (student of Mark McCrory)
Sophomore TBB
1st Place - Ryan Smith (student of Joel Burcham)
Junior Treble
1st Place - Rachel Gilliam (student of Lori Ernest)
2nd Place - Kaylie Moss (student of Joel Burcham)
3rd Place - Emily Pope (student of Lori Ernest)
Finalist - Elena McKenna (student of Les Flanagan)
Junior TBB
1st Place - Xander McRae (student of Mark McCrory)
2nd Place - Corbin Hall (student of Les Flanagan)
Senior Treble
Finalist - Hannah Howard (student of Lori Ernest)
Finalist - Carol Jarrett (student of Lori Ernest)
Senior TBB
1st Place - Reese Phillips (student of Mark McCrory)
2nd Place - Mikey Morris (student of Mark McCrory)
Congratulations to all the students, pianists, and the voice professors!
The OU School of Music is happy to report that OU MM Bassoonist (2022), Sam Macken recently won the Associate Principal Bassoon position with the Helena (MT) Symphony. In addition to Sam’s DMA studies at the University of Colorado and his position with the Bozeman, MT Symphony, he leads a very full musical life. Congratulations, Sam!
The School of Music recently hosted the inaugural Oklahoma Violin Symposium featuring professors from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. Thank you to all the faculty, students, and parents who made this exceptional event possible!
Check out this outstanding podcast featuring Dr. Zoe Sherinain, Professor of Ethnomusicology. Congrats, Dr. Sherinian!
https://www.ou.edu/humanitiesforum/OUAHFM
You can listen to the podcast by following the link above or searching for “Staying with the Question” or OUAH.FM wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, etc.
Meldy Tanako, DMA Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy, just received the “Winner of the James Brewer Memorial Award for Best Student Presentation” at the CMS Central Regional Conference, Wichita, Kansas, Sat, March 4, 2023. Congratulations!
Congratulations to Dr. Irv Wagner who was recently selected as Oklahoma Federated Music Clubs’ Musician of the Year.
Heartiest congratulations to second-year undergraduate music education major quartet, Onda Sonora, for advancing to the live round of 2023 Plowman Chamber Music Competition! They will be competing at the University of Missouri School of Music on March 25.
Left to right: Ben Brown, Zach Matthews, Kevin Barton, Joshua Mithuen
The Xena Duo, comprised of clarinetists Michelle Jaluvka (M.M. Clarinet and M.M. Musicology) and Jenna Eschner (M.M. Clarinet), was accepted by peer-review to perform Libby Larsen’s “Yellow Jersey” at the seventh annual international Music by Women Festival at the Mississippi University for Women on March 2-4, 2023.
Dr. Jennifer Saltzstein's most recent book (Song, Landscape, and Identity in Medieval Northern France: Toward an Environmental History) has been scheduled for release in May, 2023 from Oxford University Press. Congratulations, Dr. Saltzstein!
Congratulations to OU School of Music alum Elvie Ellis on his role as Judas in the 50th anniversary North American tour of Jesus Christ Superstar! Way to go!
Elvie earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the OU School of Music in 2014.
We are pleased to announce these winners of our Concerto Competition! Congratulations to all competitors, and a big thank you to our guest final round judges:
Dr. Jackie Skara, Oklahoma State University
Prof. Twyla Robinson, Texas Christian University
Dr. Luis Sanchez, Texas A&M University - Commerce
Congratulations to the Benton-Schmidt Graduate Vocal Competition/Audition! Bravo to all for their brilliant performances!
Mia Love, soprano (1st place tie)
Anne Aguayo Johnson, soprano (1st place tie)
Jennifer Watson, soprano (2nd place)
Carol Jarrett, soprano (3rd place)
Pictured from L to R (Jennifer Watson, Carol Jarrett, Anne Aguayo Johnson, Mia Love)
Dr. Giacona was part of a Grammy-Winning Album! Wow! Awesome news!
The album is An Adoption Story by Kitt Wakeley, and it won Best Classical Compendium for the 2023 GRAMMYs.
Christina Giacona and Patrick Conlon recorded and helped produce the solo cello track Asa performed by Tess Remy-Schumacher.
We can't wait to see the hardware! Please join the School of Music in congratulating Christina and Patrick on this huge achievement.
Congratulations to the piano duo team of Mimi Zhang and David Mach on their many competition accolades! Some recent accolades include:
1st place: Victory International Competition - Instrumental Ensemble Division
Finalist, MTNA-Stretcher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition
US New Stars International Piano Competition: Group VII
1st place: David Mach
2nd place: Mimi Zhang
Future Stars International Piano Competition: Piano Masters Division
2nd Place: Mimi Zhang
4th Place: David Mach
Upcoming performances
"Eighty-eight Times Two” with the OCO Orchestra, Oklahoma City, OK. February 26, 2023
Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN - Echo Duo Piano Recital, August 2023.
Watch and listen here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3dg3qNlHXA
Congratulations to Marissa Mathia, a first-year MM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy student, for winning the 17th Annual Oklahoma Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition. Marissa will perform the first movement of Grażyna Bacewicz's Piano Concerto with the Oklahoma Community Orchestra on April 18, 2023. Marissa is a student of Dr. Igor Lipinski.
Congratulations to OU alum, Elaina Walzel who was recently honored as “Teacher of Promise” during her first year serving as Music Specialist at Patton Elementary in Austin, Texas. OU MM/Bassoon 2022. Way to go!
Be sure to attend the engaging research poster presentations at the OkMEA January Conference TODAY! from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM in the Cox Conference Center Lobby. OU Music Education faculty and graduate students are sharing a diverse array of pedagogical research topics.
The Experiences of International Students Seeking a Graduate Degree in Conducting in the United States
Ruben Alcala
Experiences and Perceptions of Women Graduate Teaching Assistants
Abigail Baeten
Equity Issues in Music Teacher Education
Dr. Melissa Baughman & Dr. Christopher Baumgartner
Teaching the Whole Singer: An Examination of Methods Used to Address Student Wellness in the Collegiate Voice Studio
Dr. Melissa Baughman & Dr. Darrell J. Jordan
A Descriptive Analysis of Contest Administration, Participation, and Adjudication within the OSSAA Jazz Competition
Dr. Lonnie Easter
A Wind Band Conductor’s Experiences Using Extramusical Stimuli in Concert Performance
Lane Folds
A Portrait of Teaching Instrumental Music in Rural Oklahoma
Dr. Eric Pennello
Check out these fantastic OkMEA sessions presented my OU faculty and graduate students January 19 at the State Conference.
OkMEA 2023
Conference Sessions
Bowing Drills: Highly Adaptable Exercises for All Ages
Nick Barnaby
Thursday, 10:00-10:50am
Cox Conference Room D
Demystifying Clarinet Tone: Simple Solutions for Common Problems
Dr. Suzanne Tirk
Thursday, 1:00-1:50pm
Cox Conference Rooms B and C
Guiding Violin Students to Choose the Best Fingerings
Dr. Greg Lee
Thursday, 2:00-2:50pm
Cox Conference Room D
Violin Bow Hold Mastery
Dr. Greg Lee
Thursday, 3:00-3:50pm
Cox Conference Room D
When Helping Hurts: Mentoring Music Student Teachers
Dr. Michael Raiber, Dr. Eric Pennello, and Ryan Meeks
Thursday, 3:00-3:50pm
DoubleTree 2nd Floor Ballroom
Ten Tips for Teaching Timpani
Dr. Andrew Richardson (OKPAS)
Thursday, 4:00-4:50pm
Cox Conference Rooms B and C
Congratulations to Poema Saxophone Quartet for advancing to the final round of the national Music Teachers National Association Chamber Wind Competition! Way to go, Poema!
Members of Poema are Justin Evangelist, AJ Nguyen, Matt Floeter, and Caleb Dodson.
Congratulations to OU Piano and Piano Pedagogy students David Mach and Mimi Zhang for winning awards in the 2022 International New Star Competition. David won 1st prize and Mimi won 2nd prize! Way to go! The judges were: Dr. Hendry Wijaya, Dr. Hsiang Tu, and Dr. Hilary Demake. Both students study with Dr. Jeongwon Ham, Professor of Piano, OU School of Music.
Here are links to their fantastic performances:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lZvwfeAFvo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp7g8Ki2KTw
Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Baumgartner on his recent publication in the Journal of Music Teacher Education!
Here's a link to the article:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10570837221142008
Congratulations to Dr. Lonnie Easter for presenting at the annual Jazz Education Network Conference!
Congratulations to the University of Oklahoma Sooner Bassooners and Professor Rod Ackmann on a brilliant and stunning performance at the Midwest Clinic! The OU School of Music is extremely prOUd of you! We offer special thanks to John Hagstrom, Brian Britt, Tyler Stark, and Andre Cruz Vargas for collaborating with the ensemble.
