All posts by jashowe

Jennifer Higdon receives NEA grant

alumni, composition

BGSU alum and composer Jennifer Higdon has received an NEA grant, along with the Cypress String Quartet, in support of a commission she is composing for the Quartet.  It’s a work for soprano and string quartet for the Quartet’s Call & Response program, which pairs two works from the established repertoire with a new work.  Higdon’s piece is entitled  “In The Shadow of Sirius,”  and is based on the poetry of the former U.S. Poet Laureate (and two-time Pulitzer winner)  W.S. Merwin.

Here’s a link to the press announcement, and the NEA’s announcement as well…

Christina Jensen PR – Cypress Quartet’s Press Releases – Cypress Quartet Receives NEA Grant to Commission Jennifer Higdon – World Premiere in April 2013

NEA:2013 GRANT AWARDS: Access to Artistic Excellence – Music

Professor Rosenkranz in Thailand

faculty news, keyboard

Assistant Professor of Piano, Thomas Rosenkranz was recently a guest professor at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. He gave a series of masterclasses on chamber music and solo piano. In addition, He performed a new years celebration concert entitled “Thomas Rosenkranz and Friends” with local Thai classical musicians at the Siam Ratchada Music Auditorium in downtown Bangkok.

BGSU Faculty Lillios and Mitchell Exhibit collaborative media installation at Techfest in India

composition, faculty news

Collaborative team Elainie Lillios (musical arts) and Bonnie Mitchell (digital arts) will exhibit an interactive audio/visual installation piece at Techfest 2012-13, 3-5 January 2013, in Mumbai, India. Now in its 15th year, Techfest is Asia’s largest Science and Technology festival, hosting over 92,000 attendees and reaching an international audience of scientists, technicians, and artists. Their project Inhabitants, explores the concept of influence, employing abstract 3D visuals and electroacoustic sound to metaphorically examine how our lives shift direction based on people with whom we come in contact. While abstract visuals surround the viewer, poetic text pours from the ceiling into mid air and participants must catch the “meaning” of the piece onto hand-held projection screens. Accompanying electroacoustic music intensifies and enhances the immersive experience. Elainie Lillios is Associate Professor of Composition, and Bonnie Mitchell is Professor of Digital Arts. They have been collaborating for over 10 years, creating abstract sonic/visual environments and animations.

BGSU students selected for Ohio All-State Inter-Collegiate Jazz Band

jazz, student news

Congratulations to guitarist Ariel Kasler,drummer Dave Nelson, and saxophonists Chris Kosar and AJ Shank, who were selected to participate in  the 2013 Ohio All-State Inter-Collegiate Jazz Band.  These students were chosen from musicians all over the state who auditioned for a chance to perform at the 2013 OMEA convention in Columbus, under the direction of Rob Parton of Capitol University.