Erik Rönmark came to the United States from his native Sweden in 1996 to continue his musical education. A classical saxophonist by trade, Rönmark is the general manager and artistic administrator of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and has extensive performing experience in both chamber music and orchestral settings. He has performed in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, as a guest in Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and regularly appears in the contemporary group New Music Detroit, of which he is also co-founder and executive director. Recently, Rönmark was featured with the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, culminating a national tour with the Pacifica String Quartet. Rönmark is a first-prize winner of both the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition. He is also the recipient of the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s award for establishing valuable relationships between Sweden and America. He has collaborated and assisted artists such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, Terry Riley, Matthew Barney, Shara Worden and Branford Marsalis, and has commissioned and premiered more than 30 new works for saxophone. Rönmark has been a part of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra administration since 2005. Rönmark holds degrees in fine arts and music performance from Northern State University and Bowling Green State University, as well as a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan.
Aaron Kennell ’06 named Director of Bands at Nimitz High School
Aaron Kennell, BGSU alum ’06, was named the Director of Bands at Nimitz High School (Houston, TX) in the fall of 2014. Previously, he served as an assistant band director at Plummer Middle School, Aldine High School, and Randall High School.
Kennell had two music articles published in 2014. His article “Seven Positive Habits” was published in the Southwestern Musician in August and “How to train (or tame) your low brass section” was published in the School Band and Orchestra journal in June.
Aaron presented his first clinic at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in February of 2014. His presentation was titled “Seven Habits of Positive Music Educators”.
Andrew Kier, BGSU Masters Student, gives presentation at TMEA in Texas
Andrew Kier attended the annual Texas Music Educator’s Association Convention in San Antonio February 11-14, 2015. He presented research about effective practice techniques.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is twofold: a) to determine what practice techniques clarinet students perceive to be effective during the practice session and b) to provide music educators with insight when teaching students how to practice. A total of twelve clarinet students served as the participants for this study: two undergraduate freshman, four undergraduate sophomores, one undergraduate junior, one undergraduate senior, two masters students, and two doctoral students.
Participants were provided with an excerpt each week for three weeks and were asked to prepare the excerpt and lesson assignments using specified techniques each week. Week one consisted of slowing down the music, marking the music, and repetition. Week two consisted of slowing down the music, marking the music, repetition, isolation, imposing obstacles, and segmenting and overlapping sections. Week three consisted of slowing down the music, marking the music, repetition, isolation, imposing obstacles, segmenting and overlapping sections, memorization, performance run-throughs, and mental practice.
Analysis of the data indicates that there are discrepancies between some techniques’ ratings and rankings. When rating the effectiveness of the practice techniques, participants considered each technique on an individual basis. However, when asked to rank the techniques, participants considered the techniques as a collective whole. For example, memorization appears to be an effective practice technique from the perspective of participants’ ratings. However, from the perspective of participants’ rankings, memorization appears to be less effective. The results for memorization and performance run-throughs indicate that participants’ perceptions are inconsistent, and this increases the importance on consistency when using these techniques. Participants’ perceptions also indicate that when combined the use of isolation, slowing down the music, and repetition are more effective.
BGSU Trumpets chosen as finalists in ITG competitions
Marcus Flores, Graduate Fellow in Trumpet, has been chosen as a Finalist for the 2015 International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition. He will perform on Friday, May 29, at the ITG Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Tom Darlington, Senior Trumpet Performance major, has been chosen as a Finalist for the 2015 International Trumpet Guild Orchestral Excerpts Competition. He will perform on Thursday, May 28, at the ITG Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Solungga Liu as the Featured Guest Artist at Cambrian Piano Festival in Canada
Solungga Liu, Associate Professor of Piano, is the featured guest artist at the Cambrian College Piano Festival in Canada between March 13-15. This special event is to celebrate the arrival of a brand-new Schimmel Concert Grand piano from Germany. She will be presenting a solo recital with works by Ligeti, C. P. E. Bach and Mussorgsky.
BGSU College of Musical Arts to host 100th year birthday celebration
BOWLING GREEN, O.—The College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University invites the community to join its celebration of 100 years of music during “Bravo CMA!” on March 28.
Events get underway at 3 p.m. in the Moore Musical Arts Center, where visitors can attend a reception, learn about the history of the college in a special presentation, and enjoy a concert. The night will conclude with a party and dancing at the Clazel Theatre, 129 N. Main St. in downtown Bowling Green.
According to CMA Dean Jeffrey Showell, “The CMA’s 100-years-of-music celebration will provide a unique opportunity for CMA alumni, former professors and former administrators to relive the past, to find out more about the present of this terrific institution, to reunite with their contemporaries, and to meet current faculty, students and administrators.”
From 3-5 p.m., guests are invited to connect with the various departments of music, including the Falcon Marching Band, Men’s Chorus, music education, the jazz area, orchestra and string faculty, choral, voice and opera faculty and more. During that time guests are also invited to meet the deans in the Kennedy Green Room.
A reception in Kobacker Lobby and Bryan Recital Hall will be held from 5-6 p.m. At 5:40 p.m. a pre-concert talk about the history of the college with Professor Emeritus Vince Corrigan will be held in Bryan Recital Hall.
The Bravo CMA! celebration concert will follow at 6 p.m. in Kobacker Hall featuring the Wind Symphony, University Women’s Chorus, University Men’s Chorus and the Bowling Green Philharmonia.
The festivities continue with an after party and dance celebration at the Clazel Theatre, beginning at 9 p.m. Guests can look forward to performances by the Jazz Lab Band I, Afro-Caribbean Ensemble and Indian Opinion, a student band.
The cost for the event is $25. Register by visiting www.bgsu.edu/musical-arts/bravo-cma.html. For more information, contact Dr. Mary Natvig at 419-372-7351.