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.
