Dr. Effie Papanikolaou was recently in Ireland where she participated at the International Conference on “Music in Goethe’s Faust: Goethe’s Faust in Music,” held by the Department of Music and School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Culture at the National University of Ireland Maynooth (20-22 April 2012). Her paper presentation, titled “Faustian Struggle and Christian Redemption in Mahler’s Eighth Symphony,” focused on the Second Part of the monumental Eighth Symphony, which comprises an exalted melopoiesis of the final scene of Part II of Goethe’s Faust.
Category Archives: faculty news
Hammer/Klavier quartet debuts in Miami with Professor Rosenkranz
Assistant Professor of Piano, Thomas Rosenkranz was in Miami, Florida recently to debut with his newly formed piano and percussion group, Hammer/Klavier on April 28th. The concert was part of the Saint Martha-Yamaha series. In addition to Rosenkranz, The group consists of acclaimed percussionists, Svet Stoyanov and Gwen Burgett and pianist Michael Sheppard. This group recently commissioned Princeton University Professor and electronic music guru, Paul Lansky for a large-scale work for their 2012-2013 season.
Prof. Sampen receives award from the North American Saxophone Alliance
BGSU Distinguished Artist Professor Dr. John Sampen was recently awarded an “Honorary Life Member Award” by the North American Saxophone Alliance. This professional organization (NASA) represents the only national association for concert saxophonists in the USA and Canada. Sampen’s “Honorary Life Membership” is distinctive and prestigious; indeed, during the last forty years, only twelve saxophonists from all over the world have been so recognized by the Saxophone Alliance.
The award was presented on March 17th, 2012 during NASA’s Biennial Convention at Arizona State University. Sampen’s plaque reads as follows:
“Honorary Life Member Award presented to Dr. John Sampen in recognition of his outstanding achievements and service to the North American Saxophone Alliance.”
Professor Rosenkranz in residence at University of Maryland at Baltimore County
Assistant Professor of Piano, Thomas Rosenkranz was recently in residence with Musicians from SoundScape at UMBC from April 8th-12. The residency included masterclasses, a composer reading and a performance including contemporary works by Albinger, Aperghis, Berio, Scelsi, Foss, as well as a premiere by the New York based composer, Richard Carrick.
The ensemble consists of Thomas Rosenkranz piano, Aiyun Huang, percussion, Lisa Cella, flute and Tony Arnold, voice. This ensemble was formed in 2010 in order to highlight aspects of the SoundScape Festival in Italy which celebrates contemporary music through collaborations between composers and performers.
For more information about the SoundSCAPE Festival please visit: http://soundscapefestival.org/
Dr. Solungga Liu records a piano concerto with the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble
Dr. Liu just completed an intensive three-day recording session of Gregory Mertl’s Piano Concerto with the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, conducted by Craig Kirchhoff. Commissioned by the Barlow Endowment and expressly written for her, the concerto is a 40-minute tour de force for soloist and ensemble. The concerto will be the main work in a CD of Mertl’s music recorded by the University of Minnesota. It will be released by Innova Records in 2013.
Bixler to play at Lincoln Center
Director of Jazz Activities, David Bixler will be performing at Jazz@Lincoln Center in New York City this Friday and Saturday, April 13th and 14th with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. Led by pianist and composer Toshiko Akiyoshi who came to prominence in the 1970s when the big band was an anomaly. Influenced by the sounds of her native Japan and big band leaders before her (namely Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and Bud Powell), Akiyoshi embraced the big band style and rose to success by pumping power into the reed section. Anchored by her long-time partner, saxophonist Lew Tabackin, and Japanese taiko drummer Eitetsu Hayashi, the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra will perform Akiyoshi’s award-winning compositions.