Category Archives: alumni

Prize-winning composer to speak at music college convocation

alumni, composition-alumni, events

Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning composer Jennifer Higdon will be the special guest speaker for the Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts’ annual “All College Convocation” at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in Kobacker Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center.

The Wind Symphony, directed by director of bands Dr. Bruce Moss, will perform Higdon’s “Fanfare Ritmico” (cq) on the afternoon program.

As part of the college’s events honoring the University’s yearlong centennial celebration, Higdon will also spend time with composition students during her visit.

This past spring, Higdon received her second Grammy Award when her “Percussion Concerto” was named Best Classical Contemporary Composition. In addition, she received the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her “Violin Concerto.” She was also selected as one of the University’s top 100 alumni for the Centennial Alumni Awards at the April event on campus.

After graduating from BGSU in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in flute performance, Higdon received master’s and doctoral degrees in composition from the University of Pennsylvania and an artist diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she is now on the composition faculty. Her work has been commissioned and performed by orchestras across the country, and she has received many prestigious awards and fellowships.

Her teachers at Bowling Green included Dr. Marilyn Shrude, Dr. Burton Beerman, Dr. Wallace DePue, Judith Bentley and Robert Spano, who directed the Bowling Green Philharmonia from 1985-89.

Celebration concert features men’s chorus, summer tour choir alumni

alumni, events, voice-alumni

The Bowling Green State University Alumni Men’s Chorus and members of seven Summer Tour choirs will come back to campus for an alumni celebration concert on June 27. The event is at 3 p.m. in Kobacker Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center.

Under the direction of BGSU Professor Emeritus Richard Mathey, the Men’s Chorus will perform a variety of audience favorites while the Summer Tour Choir will perform selections used on their national tours.

“The alumni returning to sing in the two choirs come to the event with great anticipation,” explained Mathey. “They get to visit with college friends and at the same time prepare a concert of music, music geared for audience members who want to sit back and enjoy a Sunday afternoon of quality singing.”

“The greatest part of the concert will be the 100-plus alumni that will make up the singers,” said Shaun Moorman, who is in charge of the Men’s Chorus Alumni Society. “Many of them are choral directors throughout the State of Ohio and other places in the United States and also professional opera singers and working musicians throughout the country.”

General admission tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Kobacker Hall Box Office from 1-5 p.m. on June 26 and from noon-3 p.m. on June 27. The BGSU Men’s Chorus Alumni Society provides assistance and support to the Men’s Chorus.

BGSU alumna wins Pulitzer Prize in Music

alumni, composition-alumni

It’s been quite a year for BGSU alumna Jennifer Higdon. Just two months after receiving her second Grammy Award, Higdon learned yesterday (April 12) she was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her “Violin Concerto.”

The piece premiered on Feb. 6, 2009 with the Indianapolis Symphony. The Pulitzer committee called it a “deeply engaging piece that combines flowing lyricism with dazzling virtuosity.” Higdon will receive $10,000.

Back in January, Higdon’s “Percussion Concerto” won a Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

After graduating from BGSU in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in flute performance, Higdon received master’s and doctoral degrees in composition from the University of Pennsylvania and an artist diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she is now on the composition faculty. Her work has been commissioned and performed by orchestras across the country, and she has received many prestigious awards and fellowships.
Her teachers at Bowling Green included Dr. Marilyn Shrude, Dr. Burton Beerman, Dr. Wallace DePue, Judith Bentley and Robert Spano, who directed the Bowling Green Philharmonia from 1985-89.