Daily Archives: January 26, 2010

Renowned pianist to offer free master class

Pianist Margo Garrett returns to Bowling Green State University for a residency at the College of Musical Arts Feb. 1 and 2 as one of this year’s Helen McMaster Endowed Professors in Vocal and Choral Studies.

During her stay at the University, Garrett will coach student singers and pianists, as well as present a public master class at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 in Bryan Recital Hall that is free and open to the public.

Garrett has established a number of long-standing performing relationships with artists such as sopranos Kathleen Battle, Barbara Bonney, Dawn Upshaw and Benita Valente. Active in the world of contemporary music, Garrett has performed the premiers of more than 30 works.

She is a member of the Julliard School Collaborative Piano Faculty and was the first holder of the Ethel Alice Hitchcock Chair in Accompanying and Coaching at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music—the first privately endowed collaborative chair in the U.S.

Garrett is sharing this year’s McMaster professorship with renowned Swedish vocal conductor Erik Westberg, who completed his residency last October.

Helen McMaster and her late husband, Harold, established this endowed professorship in spring 2000. Helen McMaster, a longtime Perrysburg resident, has supported the arts at BGSU for many years. The McMasters previously donated to BGSU programs in music, business, science and the Center for Photochemical Sciences.

BGSU to host Viola Day for student musicians

Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts will host its second annual Bratsche Bash (Viola Day) on Feb. 13 in the Moore Musical Arts Center.

Geared toward middle school, high school and college-aged violists, Bratsche Bash will include master classes with prominent violists from throughout the Midwest and classes on orchestral repertoire, improvisation and technique, as well as a brown bag discussion about “Making a Career as a Musician.”

Dr. Megan Fergusson, assistant professor of viola, will host the daylong program. Guest clinicians include pianist Marcantonio Barone, a faculty member at Swarthmore College; violist Caroline Coade of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; violist Louise Zeitlin, a faculty member at Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, and Chris Buzzelli, a professor and director of jazz activities at BGSU.

Parents, teachers and nonparticipants are welcome to observe at no cost. The registration fee for participants is $15, which includes lunch.

Make checks payable to College of Musial Arts. Completed forms must be mailed by Feb. 10 to Megan Fergusson, College of Musical Arts, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403.

For more information, contact Fergusson at 419-372-2428 or email Fergusm@bgsu.edu.