BGSU music alum Jennifer Higdon has received a rare Koussevitzky Commission from the Library of Congress to compose a work for string quartet and soprano, for the Cypress String Quartet and soprano Christine Brandes, on texts by W.S. Merwin (former U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer winner). For further information, see:
(http://uwmusiclib.blogspot.com/2012/01/koussevitzky-foundations-announces.html)
Andrew Housholder
A fourth-generation Wood County resident, Andrew Edward Housholder was born in Bowling Green, Ohio on Sept. 28, 1932, and died at Hospice of Northwest Ohio on Sept. 8, 2011. He left Bowling Green in 1955 to make beautiful music as a choir director that led groups in high schools and universities. He organized 13 world tours with young singers that took them as far away as China.
He married Terry Smith in Oneida, N.Y., on June 27, 1965. One who loved new places, Andy was able to study abroad, The Vienna Academy of Music being a highlight. He led the Post Chapel Choir at the Guided Missile School at Fort Sill, OK, where he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1955-57.
Director of music at Saquoit Valley Central School, Utica, NY from 1957-63, he then traveled to Long Island and was choir director at Northport Public Schools, Huntington High School, New York University, USDAN Center for Creative and Performing Arts, Huntington Choral Society, Nassau Symphony, and Huntington Men’s Chorus and served as Director of Music at Old First Presbyterian Church. He was also visiting professor at Nassau College and Ithaca College. His 1980 Huntington High School Choir earned “First Prize Cum Laude” in Neerpelt, Belgium at the International Festival. In 1975 he was honored as Choral Conductor of the Year by the National Choral Council in New York City. For 20 years, he was one of the conductors for “The Messiah Sing-In” at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. He worked closely with prominent composers and educators including John Rutter, Vincent Persichetti, Helen Hosmer, Aaron Copland, Robert Shaw, and our own Ivan Trusler from BG!
He returned to Bowling Green in 1995 to make music of another sort – doing good in the community that he grew up in and loved with a real passion. He is proof that you can come home again and pick up life, old friends and old and new causes without missing a beat. He served on the board for Bridge Hospice, BG Schools Foundation, Falcon Club, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Toledo/BGSU Alumni Association, ProMusica, Northwest Ohio Duplicate Bridge League and various scholarship and award committees.
One of his proudest accomplishments was creating the “Andy Open” which enables young golfers to realize their potential. As a high school student he was a one handicap golfer and The Toledo Blade paid his way to a national caddy tournament. He often played golf at the BG Country Club, at which his grandfather was a founding father.
Andy graduated from both BGHS and BGSU and remained supportive of both.
As a high school teacher in New York he encouraged many students to attend BGSU and the majority of them graduated with honors. He was a strong supporter of the ROTC program and Falcon athletics.
Andy’s cooking was a theme in his life and over the years he cooked for Martha’s Kitchen in BG and many other events in the community. He combined his interests in nature, fundraising and gourmet cooking by organizing the first Wine and Cheese Social that has become an annual fundraiser for the Parks and Recreation Foundation.
Andy (Eddie) leaves behind his bride Terry, daughter Ellen, and his very treasured grandchildren Ryan and Emily. Also survived by sister Joan, and nieces and nephews. A truly extraordinary, yet ordinary man.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green. Revs. Gary and Mary Jane Saunders will officiate. Military honors will follow the service at Oak Grove Cemetery. There will be no visitation.
Memorial contributions may be given to the BGSU Foundation, Bridge Hospice or Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation for the Andy Open.
Arrangements are being handled by Dunn Funeral Home, 408 W. Wooster St., located in the Historical District of Bowling Green.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
Acoustic guitarist Mark Kroos took first place in Guitar Player Magazine’s 2011 International Guitar Superstar Competition on July 23rd in Nashville. Mark and 4 other competitors each performed one original composition in front of renown guitar judges Muriel Anderson, Reeves Grabrels, Carl Verheyen and host Larry Carlton. Mark took the cake with his piece titled “Flight Attempt.” Fredrik Halland from Norway placed second and Arek Religa from Chicago came in third.
Currently based in Williamsburg, VA, Mark graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of the Arts in music. He resided in Bowling Green for a year following graduation to teach guitar and perform in his ska / punk band, The Argonauts.
Mark plays two guitar necks at the same time, one with each hand. His style is reminiscent of the late Michael Hedges and draws influence from guitarists such as Leo Kottke, Phil Keaggy and Tommy Emmanuel as well as various punk and indie rock bands.
Mark has been on tour since May, 2010 save a few short breaks for rest, playing concerts or giving clinics every other night on average. Mark plays at bars, coffee houses, listening rooms, churches, schools, house concerts and just about any kind of venue available. He was recently added to the roster of artists endorsed with Ovation Guitars.
Winning the Guitar Superstar Competition awards Mark with a number of prizes including a feature in Guitar Player Magazine and copious amounts of other press. Other endorsements and sponsorships have been offered and Mark has also finalized a partnership with D’Addario Strings and Planet Waves Accessories.
Video of Mark’s winning performance is available at www.markkroos.com.
Print quality photos available at www.sonicbids.com/markkroos
For further information, contact
Mark Kroos
kroosms@hotmail.com
www.markkroos.com
(Submitted by Mark Kroos)
Noa Even – 3rd Prize Winner and soloist with orchestra (plus a new saxophone, prize money, and a concert in Shanghai)
(Noa is a second year DMA student at BGSU)
Joel Diegert – 5th Prize Winner and soloist with orchestra
(Joel is just finishing advanced studies in Paris after completing his MM at BGSU in 2008)
Pin-Hua Chen – Semifinalist and the first Taiwanese saxophonist to advance in the history of this competition
(Pin-Hua is a 2nd year MM at BGSU)
Note: Noa and Joel were the only two Americans in the final round of the Londeix Competition. In the semifinal round, Noa and Pin-Hua both performed “Renewing the Myth” by BGSU faculty composer Dr. Marilyn Shrude. Noa is now touring in Thailand where she is presenting recitals. Her Thailand touring program includes “Fantasmi” by Marilyn Shrude.
(Submitted by John Sampen)
Benjamin Taylor, MM Composition May 2011 was announced as a recipient of the 2011 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards. This program, established in 2002, was created to encourage gifted jazz composers from throughout the United States. The recipients, who receive cash awards, range in age from 9 to 29, and are selected through a juried national competition.
Commenting on the awards, Paul Williams said, “Jazz is America’s great homegrown musical art form and the accomplished young composers we recognize through this program represent the future of jazz. We congratulate the recipients and extend thanks to the dedicated panel of ASCAP composers who selected the honorees.”
(Submitted by Marilyn Shrude)
Benjamin Taylor, MM Composition May 2011, was one of eleven winners of the 59th Annual BMI Student Composer Award. The BMI Student Composer Awards recognize superior creative talent and winners receive scholarship grants to be applied toward their musical education. In 2011, more than 500 manuscripts were submitted to the competition from throughout the Western Hemisphere, and all works were judged under pseudonyms. Cash awards totaled $21,000. Ryan Chase and David Hertzberg tied for the William Schuman Prize, which is awarded to the score judged “most outstanding” in the competition. This special prize is given each year in memory of the late William Schuman, who served for 40 years as Chairman, then Chairman Emeritus, of the BMI Student Composer Awards. Additionally, the Carlos Surinach Prize, awarded to the youngest winner in the competition, went to Yeeren I. Low.
The distinguished 2011 jury members were: Robert Beaser, Ingram Marshall, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Steven Stucky and Michael Torke. The preliminary judges were Chester Biscardi, David Leisner, Shafer Mahoney, Sean Shepherd and Bernadette Speach. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich is the permanent Chair of the awards.
BMI has given 554 scholarship grants to young composers over the years. Many of the most prominent and active classical composers in the world today received their first recognition from the BMI Student Composer Awards. The BMI Student Composer Awards competition is co-sponsored by BMI and the BMI Foundation, Inc.
http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/551480
(Submitted by Marilyn Shrude)
