James Gandre Assumes Presidency of Manhattan School of Music

The Newsletter of
Manhattan School of Music
Spring 2013
Vol. 7, No. 2
James Gandre Assumes Presidency
of Manhattan School of Music
Dr. James Gandre, a visionary
educator and musician with a deep
commitment to the development
of American conservatory
learning, assumed the presidency
of Manhattan School of Music
on May 6, 2013. MSM warmly
welcomed back Dr. Gandre, who
served MSM for 15 years, most
recently as Dean of Enrollment
and Alumni (1995 to 2000).
Dr. Gandre’s accomplishments
as a progressive educator and
executive will serve Manhattan
School of Music well as it enters
a period of planning for its
centennial celebration in 2018. He
brings a fi rst-hand understanding
of musicians and performing
artists to the task of strengthening
and expanding conservatory
resources to better prepare
students for successful lives in
music. He is a gifted fundraiser, a
proven administrator sensitive
to community and civic forces,
a skilled advocate of the use of
technology in education, and a
leader with a broad knowledge
of the history and discourse of
the American conservatory, the
subject of his 2001 doctoral
dissertation.
“James Gandre is the right leader,
with the right qualifications, at
the right time, to take Manhattan
School of Music into the future,”
Hilda Harris and James Gandre
said Peter G. Robbins, Chairman
of the Board of Trustees. “In
this rapidly changing cultural,
musical and economic landscape,
the Board was highly drawn
to Jim’s ideas to reshape the
educational practices and
focus of this venerable music
school. He was our unanimous
choice. As MSM contemplates
the incredible milestone of its
centennial, we move forward
with great confidence in Jim’s
passion and abilities to develop
the School’s resources, and remake the institution into a 21stcentury hub of higher learning and
enrichment.” Peter Robbins also
thanked Dr. Marjorie Merryman,
Vice President for Academics and
Performance, for having “served
with distinction as Interim
President during the transition.”
“James Gandre is an excellent
choice to lead Manhattan School
of Music,” said Glenn Dicterow,
Concertmaster of the New York
Philharmonic and Chair of MSM’s
Orchestral Performance Program,
who also serves on the Board. “In
addition to his background as
a performing musician, and his
indelible professional connection
to MSM, he has a next-generation
perspective not only on musical
education, but on preparing music
students for the real world. The
Board was so impressed with his
accomplishments and ideas, and I
know he will usher in a very bright
future for this beloved School.”
(continued on page 2 )
Letter from the President
To remain vital, today’s conservatory
must always be looking forward—working
constantly to create fresh solutions for
the issues facing musicians and preparing
them in the most up-to-date ways for their
professional musical lives.
(continued from page 1 )
Internationally acclaimed
baritone and MSM Board member
Thomas Hampson said, “It is a
very exciting time for Manhattan
School of Music to welcome
home James Gandre, with his
deep knowledge and experience
“James Gandre is
an excellent choice
to lead Manhattan
School of Music”
—Glenn Dicterow
in music education in the United
States, and his passion for the
greater dialogue of the Arts and
Humanities. He is the right leader
to face the challenges of joining
Education, Technology and the
Arts to help mold the future
generations of musicians and the
music-loving public alike.”
Dr. Gandre left MSM in 2000 to
become Dean of Chicago College
of Performing Arts at Roosevelt
University, where he went on to
serve as both the Chief Academic
Officer and Chief Operating
Officer as Provost and Executive
Vice President.
As a performer, James Gandre, a
tenor, has appeared as a soloist
with the Cleveland Orchestra,
the London Classical Players, the
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra,
and members of the San Francisco
Symphony in annual Messiah
performances. His professional
choral engagements include more
than 175 performances with the
New York Philharmonic, Aixen-Provence Festival (France),
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra,
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,
Israel Philharmonic, Warsaw
Symphony, San Francisco
Symphony, Mostly Mozart
Festival Orchestra, New York
Chamber Symphony, American
Symphony, Opera Orchestra
of New York, and Voices of
Ascension, and appearances on
The Today Show, PBS’s Live from
Lincoln Center, ABC, and CBS, as
well as on 15 recordings. He has
worked under such conductors
as Leonard Bernstein, Zubin
Mehta, Sir Colin Davis, James
Levine, Mstislav Rostropovich,
Riccardo Chailly, Robert Shaw,
Edo de Waart, Christopher
Hogwood, Roger Norrington,
and Eduardo Mata.
With the extraordinarily distinguished
faculty at the core of MSM’s programs, and
the unparalleled resources and potential of
the most philanthropic city in the world,
I have a strong sense of optimism and
confidence in the future.
I want to express my deep gratitude to the
MSM Board for this honor. I look forward
to working with the trustees, faculty, staff,
alumni, and with the many great civic and
cultural leaders of New York, to create the
basis for a transformative and enduring
second MSM century.
panelist for the William Randolph
Hearst Foundation/New World
Symphony’s symposium on future
multicultural recruitment for
the orchestra and for the joint
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation/
Aspen Music Festival panel
about bridging the worlds of
musical training and future
music performance. He has
presented numerous panels on
issues affecting LGBT youth and
college/high school professionals
at educational conferences.
Dr. Gandre has lectured
at colleges throughout the
country, including the Curtis
Institute of Music, New
England Conservatory, Oberlin,
University of Michigan, Peabody
Conservatory, Stanford University,
and Interlochen Arts Academy.
He has served on the boards
of various arts organizations
and educational institutions
James Gandre is a voting member
of the National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences
(GRAMMYS) and served as
the fi rst Chairperson of the
Advisory Committee for National
Performing and Visual Arts
College Fairs presented by the
National Association for College
Admission Counseling. He was a
2 || Letter from the President || James Gandre Assumes Presidency of Manhattan School of Music
such as the Board of Directors
of Chicago’s Grant Park Music
Festival and the Board of
Directors of the Chicago High
School for the Arts.
A Wisconsin native, Dr.
Gandre earned his Bachelor
of Music degree with honors
from Lawrence University, a
Master of Music degree from
the San Francisco Conservatory
of Music, and his Doctor of
Education from the University
of Nebraska–Lincoln. He also
attended the Harvard University
Institute for Management and
Leadership in Education and
pursued postgraduate music study
at the Blossom Festival School of
Music/ Kent State University and
Manhattan School of Music.
He is married to Dr. Boris
Thomas, a psychotherapist
in private practice.
Lisa Yui, Yegor Shevtsov, and Claire
Heldrich greeting James Gandre
Marc Day, IAB Liaison
international students. “I will be
forever grateful to the IAB for
helping me live my dream at such
an extraordinary conservatory
and in such a wonderful city,” said
2012–13 IAB Scholarship recipient
Willanny Darias, a highly talented
pianist from Cuba. A student
of Solomon Mikowsky, she was
recently chosen to participate in
the “Primer Encuentro de Jóvenes
Pianistas,” a summer festival
in Havana, Cuba, of which Dr.
Mikowsky is Artistic Director.
Members of the
International Advisory
Board received a dedicated
service award on April 24
at a reception in their honor.
1st row (l. to r.): Abelardo
Bru (IAB honored guest),
Chiona Schwarz, Carla
Bossi-Comelli (IAB
Chairman), Mita Aparicio,
Delin Bru, Carl Kanter.
2nd row (l. to r.): President
James Gandre, Chairman
Peter Robbins (Board of
Trustees), Vice Chairman
Edward Lowenthal,
Vice President Marjorie
Merryman.
Hilda Harris and James Gandre, Lisa Yui, Yegor Shevtsov, Claire Heldrich and James Gandre, IAB photos by Brian Hatton; James Gandre courtesy Becker Media
It would be impossible to overstate
the sense of joy and possibility I feel in
returning to Manhattan School of Music as
its President. Manhattan School of Music is
my professional home, and the opportunity
to prepare this truly eminent American
conservatory for its centennial is humbling
and exciting.
International Advisory Board
With 384 international students
representing 41 countries,
Manhattan School of Music’s
reach is global. The School
recognized the need to bring
together a group of distinguished
individuals to not only steward
and cultivate international
outreach and scholarships, but
also to represent these young
international artists and their
interests. The International
Advisory Board of Manhattan
School of Music was created
during the presidency of Marta
Istomin in 2001 and chaired
by Harold Chumaceiro. It was
charged with helping to develop
a plan to ensure that the School
could fi nd and recruit the best
students from abroad as well as
build bridges to other institutions
and corporations for collaboration
and support.
After the untimely death of
Chairman Chumaceiro, the
International Advisory Board
(IAB) was in search of a
charismatic leader to continue the
important work that had already
begun and to further develop the
IAB’s reach and effectiveness.
Former President Robert Sirota
found such a leader in Carla BossiComelli in the fall of 2009. Ms.
Bossi-Comelli, who was already a
member of the MSM Board
of Trustees and of the
International Advisory Council
of the Metropolitan Opera, is
the former President of the
World Federation of Friends of
Museums; she was no stranger
to intercontinental stewardship
and diplomacy. Dedicated to the
IAB’s mission, she has said that
her “greatest passion is providing
international students with the
ability to further develop their
artistry at such a wonderful
institution.” Under her direction
the IAB has continued to
flourish. It is currently supporting
several scholarships annually for
MSM Jazz Arts and Jazzheads
are proud to announce a new release
“The MSM ensemble deftly captured the
Kenton band’s unique rhythmic style.”
—Wall Street Journal
This CD features the Manhattan School
of Music Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra in
a rare concert of music first performed
by Stan Kenton’s Innovations Orchestra.
Through the late 1940s and 1950s, works
by Kenton and his top writers—Pete
Rugolo, Bill Russo, Manny Albam and
Robert Graettinger—ushered in a new era
for orchestral jazz that had no boundaries
stylistically. Hear these thrilling new
renditions of Artistry in Rhythm, Machito,
City of Glass and others.
The IAB brings together an
illustrious and devoted group of
international ambassadors from
across several continents. The
membership of the Board, which
continues to grow, currently
includes Mita Aparicio (Mexico),
Margot Alberti de Mazzeri (Italy),
Delin Bru (U.S.), Alejandro
Cordero (Argentina), Brian
Henderson (U.S.), Carl Kanter
(U.S.), JeeHyun Kim (South
Korea), Adolfo Patron (Mexico),
Chiona X. Schwarz (Germany),
Guillermo Vogel (Mexico), and
Satoko Yahata ( Japan).
By furthering MSM’s
international outreach and
reputation, the International
Advisory Board makes a vital and
lasting contribution to the School.
OTHER JAZZHEADS TITLES
MSM Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
Bobby Sanabria, Conductor
KENYA REVISITED LIVE!!!
TITO PUENTE MASTERWORKS LIVE!!!
MSM Jazz Orchestra
Justin DiCioccio, Conductor
Featuring Dave Liebman, Saxophone
MILES AHEAD
SKETCHES OF SPAIN
PORGY & BESS
MSM Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra
Justin DiCioccio, Conductor
Featuring Dave Liebman, Saxophone
MEDITATIONS SUITE
Available at amazon.com | iTunes
WWW.MSMNYC.EDU/CDS
International Advisory Board ||
3.
Manhattan School of Music Honors
Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin
Stephanie Crease,
Coordinator,
Jazz Arts Department
Manhattan School of Music
honored two of its most illustrious
alumni, Dave Grusin and Larry
Rosen, at its first Jazz Gala,
held at Times Square Studios
on May 9, in celebration of the
30th anniversary of the Jazz
Arts Program. The School has
established a scholarship fund in
their names to help support the
education of outstanding young
jazz musicians and composers: the
Grusin/Rosen Scholarship Fund.
Mr. Rosen and Mr. Grusin were also
awarded honorary doctorates at
Manhattan School of Music’s 87th
commencement ceremony on May
10 at the Riverside Church.
Raised in Littleton, Colorado,
as a child Grusin gained a deep
appreciation of classical music
and love of great orchestration
from his father, an accomplished
violinist who was a jeweler by
trade. As a classical piano major
at the University of Colorado,
he acquired an equally deep
appreciation and knowledge
of jazz.
Dave Grusin moved to New York
in 1959 to pursue his Master’s
degree at Manhattan School
of Music, but soon took a job
as pianist for the singer Andy
Williams. Williams also hired
fellow MSM student, drummer
Larry Rosen, who became his
lifelong friend and, later, business
partner in several highly successful
music ventures. In 1962, when
Williams became the host of a
TV variety show, Grusin moved
to Los Angeles to be his music
director and quickly adapted
to L.A.’s bustling music studio
scene, inspired by the work of
prominent fi lm composers Henry
Mancini and Andre Previn. In
4 || Manhattan School of Music Honors Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin
Larry Rosen has sustained a
decades-long career as one the
music industry’s most prominent
producers and entrepreneurs. As
a teenager in the Bronx in the
1950s he was a drummer with the
Newport Youth Band, a selective
New York City student jazz band
that performed on the same
stage as the giants of jazz at the
Newport Jazz Festival—Miles
Davis, Thelonious Monk, Duke
Ellington, and many others. Before
there were formal jazz programs
in schools and conservatories, the
Newport Youth Band provided
a great education. For Rosen,
performing and learning with peers
and mentors became a lifetime
model for music education.
Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin
1964, he wrote the score for the
comedy Divorce American Style,
the debut of his stellar career as
a fi lm composer, which includes
eight Oscar nominations (he won
the award in 1988 for The Milagro
Beanfield War) and four Golden
Globe nominations. His fi lm
credits include scores for muchloved fi lms stretching back to the
late 1960s through the ’90s, from
The Graduate, on to On Golden Pond,
Tootsie, The Fabulous Baker Boys,
Havana, and The Firm. His music
for television has also received
many accolades.
In the midst of Grusin’s increasingly
active career as a fi lm composer,
he and Larry Rosen formed a
production company that evolved
into the GRP label in 1976. His
work as a recording artist and
producer has resulted in over ten
Grammy awards and many more
nominations, including those
for two classical projects with
guitarist Lee Ritenour, which
feature performances by Renée
Fleming, Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham
and others. He has collaborated
with an array of world-class jazz
and popular musicians: Antônio
Carlos Jobim, Quincy Jones, Billy
Joel, Bobby McFerrin, Earl Klugh,
Diana Krall, Peggy Lee, Bobby
McFerrin, Gerry Mulligan, Paul
Simon, and Clark Terry.
And, like many artists of his
stature, Dave Grusin “gives back.”
He has been active as a clinician
and lecturer, a devoted advocate
for music education, and a mentor
to many aspiring composers.
With his steadfast colleague and
friend Larry Rosen, he co-founded
the National Foundation for Jazz
Education, a philanthropic group
dedicated to helping young jazz
musicians. In addition to his love
of music, Grusin’s love of the
wilderness has led him to become
a dedicated environmental activist.
All Gala photos by Lena Adasheva
For more than fifty years, Dave
Grusin has been an innovative
force in jazz and popular music,
as pianist, bandleader, arranger,
producer, and composer of music
for fi lm and television. The
celebrated director and producer
Sydney Pollack once said of his
work: “I speak from experience
when I tell you he can do anything,
and he has done everything—from
a classical score to a jazz combo
to a single piano. He’s done them
all. Lush romantic melodies
for love stories. Haunting,
heartbreaking themes for rites of
passage. Driving energetic blues
for thrillers. Ethnic forms for
authenticity…. I just don’t know
anyone who does it better and
with greater versatility than
Dave Grusin.”
The MSM Jazz Gala Orchestra
Rosen enrolled at Manhattan
School of Music to further his
training, but was soon hired to
tour with popular singer Andy
Williams, where he met Dave
Grusin, his lifelong friend and
colleague. In 1967, he encouraged
Grusin to make his fi rst albums
as a jazz pianist. His talent and
instincts as a producer led him
and Grusin to form Grusin/Rosen
Productions, which advanced the
careers of many emerging popular
and jazz artists. Their successes
led them to form their own record
label, GRP Records, in 1976. Two
years later, they produced the
Dave Grusin album Mountain
Dance, the fi rst digitally recorded
nonclassical album. Moving
ahead of the large major labels,
GRP launched the CD format
in America, making the label a
digital pioneer in the industry.
Rosen and Grusin also aimed
for artistic success. GRP’s roster
included both new and established
talent: Michael Brecker, Randy
Brecker, Gary Burton, Chick
Corea, Diana Krall, B. B. King,
Ramsey Lewis, Gerry Mulligan,
Lee Ritenour, Diane Schuur,
and Grusin himself. Rosen’s
two decades at the helm of GRP
solidified his reputation as an
ingenious producer with an ear to
the street— his “tag” to this day.
All told, Larry Rosen has been the
producer/executive producer of
over 350 albums; 33 have received
Grammy Awards and many
more have been nominated. He
created the Legends of Jazz series
with Ramsey Lewis for PBS and
is currently producing Recording:
The History of Recorded Music, a
television series and educational
performance program. The
acclaimed producer Quincy Jones
calls another of his ventures,
the Jazz Roots program, “the
most important new concert
and educational Jazz series in
America.” Jazz Roots has an
ambitious purpose—keeping
the spirit and practice of jazz
alive. Launched in Miami in
2008, it combines world-class
jazz performances at arts
centers across the country with
jazz education and mentoringstyle outreach programs. Last
summer, Rosen launched the
Sarah Vaughan International Jazz
Vocal Competition—the SASSY
Awards—in a similar spirit.
Jonathan Ragonese (MM ’13)
Larry Rosen is the recipient of
many honors, including Ernst &
Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year
award and the Governor’s Award
from the National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences, as
well as having been inducted into
NARAS’s A&R/Producers’ Honor
Roll. He has served on the boards
of the most forward thinking
music education organizations:
the National Foundation for
Advancement in the Arts, Music
for Youth Foundation, the Music
Educators National Council,
the Brubeck Institute, and the
University of Miami’s Frost School
of Music. Along with Dave Grusin,
he co-founded the National
Foundation for Jazz Education
(NFJE), a philanthropic group
that helps young jazz musicians.
Ilene and Edward Lowenthal,
Vice Chairman of the Board
Manhattan School of Music Honors Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin ||
5.
ELIJAH ORATORIO
COMMENCEMENT
Manhattan School of Music held its 87th Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2013 at Riverside Church. Vice President Marjorie
Merryman, who served as Interim President, presented conductor David Gilbert and Vice President David Geber with the President’s Medal
for Distinguished Faculty Service. Top left (l. to r.): James Gandre, David Gilbert, David Geber, Marjorie Merryman.
This year’s honorary doctorate recipients were jazz pianist-composer Dave Grusin, pianist Menahem Pressler, record producer Larry Rosen,
and conductor Leonard Slatkin. Bottom left (l. to r.): Dave Grusin, Menahem Pressler, Chairman of the Board Peter Robbins, James Gandre,
Larry Rosen, Leonard Slatkin.
THE 2013 ADES VOCAL COMPETITION
The Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition has awarded thousands of dollars in career-support funding to singers graduating from
MSM. The 2013 Ades Competition participants, shown above with Joan Ades (center), were (l. to r.) James Ioelu, baritone; Aaron Short, tenor;
Rebecca Krynski, soprano; this year’s winner, Yunpeng Wang, baritone; Jason Cox, baritone; Rachelle Pike, mezzo-soprano; Cree Carrico,
soprano; and Raehann Bryce-Davis, mezzo-soprano. This year’s judges were Opera News editor-in-chief F. Paul Driscoll, Lauren Flanigan,
and Diana Soviero.
6 || Commencement || The 2013 Ades Vocal Competition
Commencement, Ades Vocal Competition, Elijah Oratorio, A Sondheim Anthology, Ron Raines by Brian Hatton; Maria Schneider by Lena Adasheva; Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny by Carol Rosegg
Kent Tritle led the MSM
Symphony, Symphonic
Chorus, and Chamber
Choir in “a spirited and
winning performance”
(New York Times) of
Mendelssohn’s Elijah,
with Chad Sonka in the
title role of the prophet.
The massive work was
performed on February 27
in Borden Auditorium as
the 4th Annual Elizabeth
Beinecke Concert.
MASTER CLASSES
A SONDHEIM ANTHOLOGY
This spring the American Musical Theater Ensemble presented Side by Side by Sondheim,
directed by Carolyn Marlow, in a production Voce di mece called “as superb as the work
itself,” exclaiming, “We could see it transferred intact directly to Broadway!”
Jazz pianist and composer Maria
Schneider (top) and baritone and actor
Ron Raines (bottom), with Clayton Brown
(MM ’13), were among the artists who
visited MSM this spring.
KURT WEILL’S
MAHAGONNY
New York Times music critic
Zachary Woolfe declared
the April production of
Kurt Weill’s Aufsteig und
Fall der Stadt Mahagonny,
directed by Dona D. Vaughn,
“a must-see Mahagonny.”
Conducted by Kynan Johns,
the sold-out show featured
(l. to r.) Peter Tinaglia,
Raehann Bryce-Davis,
and Gideon Dabi as the
“fugitives from justice.”
Elijah Oratorio || A Sondheim Anthology || Spring Master Classes || Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny ||
7.
30th Anniversary Festival at
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Stephanie Crease,
Coordinator,
Jazz Arts Department
Kate Davis and Mike Davis
Under the helm of Associate
Dean and Chair Justin DiCioccio,
internationally recognized as one
of the foremost jazz educators
of our time, the MSM Jazz Arts
Program outdid itself in its
30th Anniversary season, with
magnificent concerts at MSM and
a week-long 30th Anniversary
PRECOLLEGE STEINWAY & SONS FACTORY TOUR
On Friday, May 3, Precollege parents, donors, and friends, as guests of Dean Kelly
Sawatsky and Dr. Joanne Polk, took a tour of the Steinway & Sons factory in Long
Island City (above) and attended a performance by some recipients of the Constance
Keene Precollege Piano Award. Francisco Chomnalez (top), a 2012 graduate of the
Precollege Division, was among the performers.
On May 11 the New York Times featured Lucy
Mann (shown above on Ursula Mamlok’s
birthday) for her MSM campaign “to help
get 20th-century American composers the
recognition they deserve.” Director of the
Naumburg Foundation and “a cheerleader for
music education,” she celebrates composers’
birthdays by giving out candy and fl iers in
the MSM lobby.
MSM AT LINCOLN CENTER’S DIZZY’S CLUB COCA-COLA
As part of the 30th Anniversary Festival week at Dizzy’s, the MSM Swing Band drew a full house for both sets on April 6. The Saturday
night performance featured the MSM Swing Band playing the great swing band arrangements of Duke Ellington, Count Basie,
Benny Goodman and others.
8 || Precollege Steinway & Sons Factory Tour || Birthday Tributes || MSM at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Jazz at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola by Lena Adasheva; Steinway & Sons Factory Tour and CME students by Brian Hatton; Lucy Mann by Chelsea Jupin
BIRTHDAY TRIBUTES
Festival at Dizzy’s Club CocaCola, from April 2-7, 2013. Each
night featured different student
ensembles, large and small, which
altogether represented an array
of jazz styles, from early jazz
to up-to-the minute original
music. The festival opened with
the exhilarating MSM Afro-
Cuban Jazz Orchestra, directed
by Bobby Sanabria. Smaller
ensembles were featured during
the week. One evening featured
MSM Jazz Arts alumni Pascal
and Remy LeBoeuf, Linda Oh,
and Henry Cole, performing
their up-to-the minute original
music; the next night the 5-piece
Manhattan Society Orchestra
played a delicious set of early jazz
repertoire followed by the soulful
intensity of the MSM Mingus
Ensemble, playing the music of
great bassist/composer Charles
Mingus. The festival ended on
Sunday night with a performance
by the MSM Jazz Orchestra,
conducted by Mr. DiCioccio, of
Miles Ahead, the 1957 Gil Evans–
Miles Davis masterpiece, with
Dave Liebman, MSM Artist
in Residence, as guest soloist.
Students Launch CME Projects
CME Deputy Director Casey Molino Dunn (far left) with (l. to r.)
Nikolas Schriefer, Jon Morawski, Director Angela Myles Beeching,
Kento Watanabe, Natalie Cressman, and Ivan Rosenberg
This spring students in the Center
for Music Entrepreneurship’s
Advanced Practicum worked on
projects ranging from an opera
with an innovative portable
stage design to a new digital
booking platform. A supportive
‘think tank’ for students as they
plan their own ventures, the
course covers business planning,
promotion, fi nances, and project
management. Guest business
coaches this semester included
(le) poisson rouge co-founder
David Handler (BM ’04); founder
of the record label Avie, Melanne
Mueller (BM ’87 / MM ’89); VP of
sales at D’Addario, David Via;
and music journalist Lara
Pellegrinelli. In May students
presented their projects to
President Gandre, MSM deans,
and other staff and received
detailed written feedback.
Kento Watanabe (composition,
MM ’14) is completing his
Shinju: A Japanese Fantasy
Opera, featuring origami-like
collapsible staging that allows
the work to be performed in
unconventional spaces, expanding
the accessibility of opera to
new audiences and venues. A
preview excerpt of the chamber
opera was performed at MSM
in April and Kento is exploring
funding and production options.
Nikolas Schriefer (jazz
composition, MM ’13), from
Germany, has launched an
innovative digital booking
platform, Stagelink, that
aggregates information from artist
and venue profi les, along with
data on fan interest and demand,
to make booking concerts more
efficient and profitable. He has
created and run a beta version of
the program and just secured an
angel investment of 50,000 € for
the next phase of development.
SIX RECENT GRADUATES
CHOSEN AS CHAUTAUQUA
OPERA YOUNG ARTISTS
The following students have
been accepted into the
competitive Chautauqua
Opera Young Artist Program
for the 2013 summer season:
Clayton Brown, Baritone (MM ’13)
Cree Carrico, Soprano (MM ’13)
Peter Grimes (Niece 1)
Ivan Conrad, Bass-Baritone
(MM ’12)
Brett Sprague, Tenor (MM ’12)
Peter Grimes (Rector Adams)
Rachelle Pike, Mezzo-Soprano
(PS ’13) Peter Grimes (Auntie)
Aaron Short, Tenor (MM ’13)
Falstaff (Bardolfo)
The Chautauqua Opera Young
Artist Program was established
in 1966, followed by the Studio
Artist Program in 1981. In 2012,
almost 700 applicants applied
for the 26 coveted positions in
the training program.
Angela Myles Beeching,
Director, Center for
Music Entrepreneurship
Natalie Cressman (jazz trombone,
BM ’13) has been honing a publicity
plan and rebranding her music as
she plans the release of her second
album. She is in talks with a
prospective manager and publicity
team and has booked a two-week
West Coast tour with her band.
Jon Morawski (french horn,
MM ’14) designed and conducted
a research study to gather
honest, direct feedback from
students about their experience
at MSM and presented his
fi ndings and recommendations
to staff and administration.
Ivan Rosenberg (jazz trumpet,
BM ’13) is co-founder of Candid
Music Group, a “one-stop shop”
for independent musicians
offering recording, videography,
and web design services. This
semester he helped redesign
the company’s website and
recruited a team of bloggers to
boost traffic to Candid to take
the company to the next level.
30th Anniversary Festival at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola || Students Launch CME Projects ||
9.
Alumni News
CLASSES OF 1960–1969
Laura BenAmots
James Levine, Leonard Bernstein, and
Alan Gilbert. Elinor Abrams Zayas (BM
’76 / MM ’78), co-founder and pianist
of the duo Cross Island, appeared in
concert last October in an evening of
chamber music honoring the birthday
of Ned Rorem.
Frederick
Kaufman
Michael
Dabroski
Michael Dabroski (BM ’90) and
the members of his Vermont-based
chamber music group, Burlington
Ensemble (be), were appointed
Artists-in-Residence at Castleton State
College, where they will be developing
“Making Music with a Social Mission”
projects—sustainable and communitybased chamber music performances
and education program activities.
Shuler Hensley (BM ’90) appeared
in the lead role in The Whale, a
new drama by Samuel D. Hunter, at
Playwrights Horizons last fall. “Never
before have I encountered anyone
resembling Charlie, portrayed with
easygoing humanity and grace by Mr.
Hensley.” Shuler also appeared in the
New York Philharmonic’s presentation
of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
in the role of Jigger Craigin. The
performance was broadcast on PBS’s
Live from Lincoln Center this April.
Peri Mauer (MM ’90) recently saw
the performances of several of her
compositions, including Illuminations
of the Night for orchestra by New
York Repertory Orchestra and
Nudibranch Friday for violin and cello
at Symphony Space and Bargemusic.
David Abrams wrote: “Peri Mauer’s
innovative compositions are at the
forefront of contemporary music, and
Nudibranch Friday is clearly one of
her most captivating and imaginative
compositions.” Robert Cassidy (MM
’92) is pianist of the Almeda Trio,
which can be heard on Albany Records
in their debut recording. A review in
Fanfare Magazine states: “an excellent
chamber group and the music herein
is fascinating… with a finely drawn
cantilena that caresses the melodic
material with superb style and gracenote, particularly, the last movement,
which rolls through the mind like
gentle ocean waves… A heck of a
debut disc.” Stephen Gaertner (MM
’92) sang Montano in this season’s
run of Otello at the Metropolitan
Opera, as well as the Tower Guard
Michael
Nickens
Michael Nickens (BM ’98) has
recently been given full tenure as
Director of Athletic Bands at George
Mason University. Richard Owen (MM
’98) recently conducted the NYC
premiere of Gluck’s The Reformed
Drunkard with the Little Opera
Theater of New York; an orchestral
transcription of Schubert’s Death and
the Maiden with Camerata New York
Orchestra; and Wagner’s Wesendonck
Lieder with the Adelphi Chamber
Orchestra. James Sasser (BM ’98)
is based in New York as a performer,
writer and producer and is currently
an Uncharted Artist-in-Residence at
Ars Nova where, along with composer
Charles Vincent Burwell, he is
developing a new musical entitled
Bottle Shock, based on the film of the
same name.
N’Kenge
N’Kenge Simpson (BM ’96) is starring
as Mary Wells in the Broadway
production of Motown. The New
York Post calls her performance
“electrifying.” Salvatore Di Vittorio
(BM ’97) conducted the world
premiere of his commissioned
Sinfonia No. 3, Templi di Sicilia, with
Palermo’s Philharmonic-Orchestra
Sinfonica Siciliana, in a program
with his Overture Respighiana and
his completed version of Respighi’s
rediscovered First Violin Concerto.
CLASSES OF 2000–2009
Pawel
Knapik
Pawel Knapik (MM ’99) has given the
world premiere of the full orchestral
version of his “Wroclaw” Concerto for
Anne Ricci (MM ’00) is co-founder—
along with alumna Jessica MillerRauch—of Opera on Tap, which
presented their first full production of
an opera, Smashed: The Carrie Nation
Story, this spring. Amy Justman (MM
’02) sang the role of Clara this spring
in the production of Sondheim’s
Passion by the Classic Stage Company,
directed by John Doyle. James Hines
(MM ’03) has become Executive
Director of the Prince Music Theater
in Philadelphia, leaving his position
as Artistic Administrator of the Mann
Center for the Performing Arts.
R. David Salvage (MM ’03) can be
heard performing his own solo piano
music on a new CD entitled Lock and
Key released by Navona Records. Last
summer, he performed on the Bologna
Estate Festival in Italy. Michael
Rossi (BM ’02 / MM ’04) made
conducting debuts this season with
the Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore
Symphony, and Charleston Symphony,
as well as conducting the Washington
National Opera’s production of Hansel
and Gretel. Rupert Boyd (MM ’06)
can be heard on his latest CD, Songs
from the Forest, with his ensemble
the Australian Guitar Duo. Classical
Guitar Magazine (UK) wrote: “The
Australian Guitar Duo has got it all:
perfect synchronisation, beautiful
phrasing and tone, and charismatic
good looks... The whole disc is
wonderfully entertaining.” Soundboard
Magazine proclaimed: “They are
technical masters who also possess
beautiful tone at all volume levels,
and a wonderfully refined collective
musical sense.” Kliment Krylovskiy
(BM ’06) is founder and clarinetist of
the Zodiac Trio, which has launched
the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival,
an international summer music school
and festival in the south of France.
They have also recently founded
the Boston New Music Project in
collaboration with Berklee College of
Music. Joseph Trapanese (BM ’06)
was featured at ASCAP’s first-ever
Google+Hangout. Alongside artist
M83, he co-wrote the soundtrack for
the new sci-fi epic Oblivion, starring
Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman.
Alicia Olatuja (MM ’07) was featured
as soprano soloist at the January
inauguration of President Obama,
singing a rousing rendition of Battle
CLASSES OF 2010–2013
Hymn of the Republic with the
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Kariné
Poghosyan (MM ’05 / DMA ’07)
appeared as soloist with the Park
Avenue Chamber Orchestra in May,
performing the Mozart Concerto for
Piano No. 23 in A Major. Michael
Scott (BM ’07) accepted a position
at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp,
Belgium, as a solo artist for the
2012–13 season. Matthew Tutsky
(BM ’07) has been appointed
Principal Harp of the Utah Symphony/
Utah Opera Orchestra for the
2013–14 season. Wael Farouk
(PS ’07) has been appointed to the
Piano Faculty of the Chicago
Conservatory of the Performing
Arts at Roosevelt University.
Jordan Stern
10 || Alumni News
CLASSES OF 1990–1999
Double Bass and Orchestra, which had
been awarded a composition grant by
the Arthur Foundation in 2001. The
May 2012 premiere took place at the
DiMenna Center for Classical Music
with Orchestra 54 under the baton
of Jean-Pierre Schmitt. He is also a
member of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
Jane Monheit (BM ’99) is heard as
vocalist on her 10th and latest album,
The Heart of the Matter, which was on
Downbeat magazine’s Editors’ Picks
list for May.
Pedro Abreu
Michael Feves (BM ’73 / MM ’74)
has co-written the book A Cellist’s
Companion: A Comprehensive
Catalogue of Cello Literature with
Henk Lambooij. The 700-page
hardcover edition is published by
Lulu.com. George Manahan (BM ’73
/ MM ’76) was awarded the 2012
Ditson Conductor’s Award for the
advancement of American music. The
award was presented by Columbia
University in January at an American
Composers Orchestra concert at
Zankel Hall. Previous recipients of the
award, established in 1945, include
in Francesca da Rimini. Both were
broadcast in HD. Victor Kioulaphides
(BM ’84 / DMA ’92) saw his Piano
Trio premiered at Merkin Concert Hall
last November by fellow alumnus/
pianist John Kamfonas, violinist
Sharon Park, and cellist Caleb van der
Swaagh. Peggy Kriha Dye (MM ’93)
has been appointed General Manager
of Opera Columbus, overseeing all
artistic and educational programming
and main stage productions, as well
as producing their new series Opera
Cabaret. Kristin Norderval (DMA
’93) sang her song cycle Nothing
Proved on the Women’s Work series
at the Players Theatre this spring. In
a New Yorker article entitled “Even
the Score: Female Composers Edge
Forward,” Alex Ross wrote: “Although
it was a concert piece, it felt like
an opera in the making, conjuring
in tensely shimmering, computerenhanced textures the lofty isolation
of the subject. A setting of the poem
‘O Fortune,’ which [Queen Elizabeth
I] wrote under house arrest during
the reign of Queen Mary, rose to a
ghostly fury that eclipsed past operatic
portrayals of the monarch, from
Donizetti to Britten.” Derek-Antoine
Harrison (BM ’93 / MM ’94) can
be heard as a featured tenor soloist
on the Westminster Oratorio Choir
recording of Zelenka’s Te Deum, Haec
Dies and Magnificat in C available on
Koch Schwann Musica Sacra label.
Gene Pritsker (BM ’94) saw the world
premiere given of his Cloud Atlas
Symphony, based on David Mitchell’s
novel Cloud Atlas and music Pritsker
wrote for the score to the recent film,
in Germany at the IMPULS-Festival
last fall. Fellow alumnus Kristjan
Järvi conducted the MDR Symphony
Orchestra for the premiere and the
subsequent recording.
La Repubblica of Rome wrote that Di
Vittorio’s Third Symphony captured
“Respighi’s impressionism, together
with [influences of] Berlioz and
Richard Strauss.” An article in Il
Moderatore featured Mayor Leoluca
Orlando as he awarded Di Vittorio the
Medal of Palermo, recognizing “the
great importance of Di Vittorio’s work
as a promoter of the city of Palermo
around the world.” David Ludwig
(MM ’97) had the honor this January
of having his choral work The New
Colossus performed at the inauguration
of Barack Obama. Dr. Ludwig is
currently on the composition faculty
of the Curtis Institute of Music in
Philadelphia. Justin Bischof (BM ’90
/ MM ’92 / DMA ’98) saw the world
premiere given of his work for chorus
and orchestra The Last Words of David
in March. Bischof conducted the
premiere with his Canadian Chamber
Orchestra of New York City at their
6th Annual Children’s Benefit Concert
for Children, which has raised a total
of over $475,000 since its inception
and helped over 400 at-risk children
attend a life-altering summer camp.
Creative Services, George Mason University
CLASSES OF 1970–1979
Desiree Elsevier (BM ’85 / MM ’87)
gave the world premiere performance
of a Viola Concerto written especially
for her by fellow alumnus Glen Cortese
with the Western New York Chamber
Orchestra this February in Buffalo.
Chiun-Kai Shih
Fredrick Kaufman (BM ’59 / MM
’60) has seen the world premiere of
his Piano Concerto “Guernica” given
in Prague by the Czech National
Symphony Orchestra, with Kemal
Gekic as soloist, in February. Prague’s
Musical Review called the work “a
convincing, emotional and vivid
piece of music.” Parma Records
has recorded the work, which will
be released by Naxos this summer,
along with other works by Kaufman.
Nancy Marano (undergraduate studies,
’64–67) toured The Netherlands
and Belgium this spring introducing
her new book, Musicianship for the
Jazz Vocalist. Published by Advance
Music, the book describes her unique
“vocal and piano system, designed
to empower all vocalists to become
complete musicians.” She also sang
in clubs with big bands in The Hague,
Amsterdam, and Brussels and gave
master classes at the conservatories
of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Prins
Claus in Groningen. Jim Petercsak
(BM ’66 / MM ’68) was honored
this May by the State University of
New York for his 45 years of service.
He has taught percussion at SUNYPotsdam since 1968 and is currently
a SUNY Distinguished Teaching
Professor. Joseph Rescigno (MM ’69)
conducted the American premiere of
the new critical edition of Rossini’s
comic opera La Gazzetta, featuring the
world premiere of the newly discovered
Act I quintet, in a production at New
England Conservatory this April.
Anthony de Mare (BM ’80) is
continuing his project to commission
and perform new solo piano works
based on the music of Stephen
Sondheim with a second set of
premieres at Symphony Space.
Composers featured at the March
concert include Mary Ellen Childs,
Michael Daugherty, Jake Heggie,
Nico Muhly, John Musto, Frederic
Rzweski, and Nils Vigeland, among
others. The New York Times wrote:
“Mr. de Mare performed with vivid
commitment throughout, fully
plumbing the nuances of each work.”
David Higgs (BM ’81 / MM ’85),
Chair of the Organ Department at
the Eastman School of Music, has
received the Paul Creston Award,
which recognizes “artistic excellence
by a significant figure in church music
and the performing arts who embodies
the Creston Creed and his ideals as a
composer, performer, and educator.”
Phillip Kawin (BM ’82 / MM ’85) has
recently given piano master classes
for the Sibelius Academy of Music via
MSM’s distance learning program, as
well as at the Harvard Club, Busan
International Music Festival, Summit
Music Festival, DMZ International
Festival (Korea), and the International
Academy of Music in Castelnuovo
di Garfagnana, Italy. His solo piano
performances include such venues as
the Busan Cultural Center in South
Korea, McKenna Theater in New
Paltz, Berman Hall at Manhattanville
College, and the Teatro Comunale
Vittorio Alfieri in Italy. He has been
juror this spring for the International
Beethoven Piano Competition - Vienna
(New York jury) and New York Concert
Artists. Dawn Upshaw (MM ’85)
has collaborated with jazz composer
Maria Schneider on the album Winter
Morning Walks—which features works
for voice and orchestra based on the
poetry of Pulitzer prize-winning poet
Ted Kooser and Brazilian poet Carlos
Drummond de Andrade—with the
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and
the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Audrey Axinn (BM ’86) has been
appointed to the collaborative piano
faculty at Mannes College of Music;
its expanded curriculum now includes
blended vocal and instrumental
Master’s and Professional Studies
programs. She will also be teaching
fortepiano at Mannes and continuing
in her role there as Assistant Dean.
DMA Doctor of Musical Arts
PS Professional Studies
AD Artist Diploma
Bob Eddy
CLASSES OF 1980–1989
BM Bachelor of Music
MM Master of Music
PD Postgraduate Diploma
Angela Ko Eun Lee (MM ’09 / PS
’10) has won the position of Assistant
Principal Second Violin with the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Jordan Smith (MM ’10) is soprano
saxophonist of the Manhattan
Saxophone Quartet—which includes
fellow alumni Daniel Kochersberger
and Jay Rattman—who made their
Symphony Space debut in November.
The concert featured premieres by
David Noon and alumna Inhyun Kim.
Dillon Kondor (MM ’11) has played
guitar recently in the Broadway
productions of Spider-Man, Wicked
and Newsies, as well as on the newly
released cast album for Dogfight.
Elise Shope (MM ’11) has won the
position of Second Flute with the
Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Magdalena
Stern-Baczewska
Magdalena Stern-Baczewska (DMA
’08) joined the faculty of Columbia
University, where she is teaching the
Fundamentals of Western Music.
Magdalena recently presented a
lecture-recital on Bach and Mozart
interpretation for the Music Educators
Association in New Jersey and gave a
“Sandy Relief” recital at the Bluesleep
Music Salon in lower Manhattan.
Devin Gray (MM ’08) placed in the
top three on the 2012 Rhapsody Jazz
Critics’ Poll as well as in the New
York City Jazz Record’s “Best Debut
Album” category for his work as a
jazz drummer. Billy Hestand (BM ’05
/ MM ’08) has won the position of
Second Bassoon with the Cleveland
Orchestra. Jeanine de Bique (BM ’06
/ MM ’08 / PS ’09) was presented in
concert this April by Young Concert
Artists at Merkin Hall. The Huffington
Post published a feature article and
wrote: “As the soprano entered stage
left, stunning in her sequined silver
gown—she stood beside the Steinway
concert grand exuding confidence and
elegance. I was taken by the supreme
control she had over her gifts—voice,
presence, and charm… She captivated
her audience with seemingly effortless
vocal flexibility, commanding stage
presence, and sensitive interpretation
of each selection on the program.”
Yoobin
Son
Yoobin Son (PS ’10 / AD ’11) has won
the position of Second Flute with the
New York Philharmonic. Julie Castor
(BM ’10 / MM ’12) is Director of the
Geneva Conservatory of Music on
West 57th Street in Manhattan, where
she is also a violin teaching artist.
Eric Hopkins (MM ’13) has won the
position of section percussion and
Assistant Principal Timpani with the
Utah Symphony/Utah Opera Orchestra.
Eva Ryan (MM ’13) has won the
position of Co-Principal Flute with
the Sinfonia Lahti in Finland.
Daniel Tosky (MM ’13) has won the
position of section bass with the
New World Symphony.
IN MEMORIAM
We honor the memory of alumni,
donors, and former faculty members
who have passed away in recent
months: Dave Brubeck, Donald Byrd,
Christine C. Chu, Linda Fennimore,
Herbert Z. Gold, Raynard Gorobetz,
Michael Melvoin, Murray Nathan,
Raymond Carmine Pirone, Morey
Shepard, Edith Ribeiro Soares, John
Warner Swallow and Ruth Widder.
More information can be found on our website
WWW.MSMNYC.EDU/OURALUMNI
InterMezzo Staff
Debra Kinzler, Director of Public Relations, Marketing, and Publications
John K. Blanchard, Director of Alumni Affairs and Development Operations
Majel Peters, Director of Design
Erin Houlihan, Graphic Design and Production Manager
Susan Meigs, Editor
Chelsea Jupin, Public Relations Associate
Alumni News ||
11.
Save the Date
APRIL 13, 2014
Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium
The Newsletter of Manhattan School of Music Spring 2013, Vol. 7, No. 2
MSM Symphony Orchestra
Glenn Dicterow, Violin
SUNDAY
at Manhattan School of Music
The MSM Sunday program is designed to provide
a lively and rewarding experience for students of
all ages and levels. Whether you are an aspiring or
advanced musician, the parent of a young beginner,
an adult learning a new instrument, or even a
current music student, MSM Sunday has something
to offer you! We look forward to hearing from you!
Elizabeth Young, Director | EYOUNG@MSMNYC.EDU
917-493-4457 | MSMNYC.EDU/SUNDAY
OCT 18, 2013
Manhattan
School
of Music
Alumni
Reunion
Manhattan School of Music
120 Claremont Avenue
New York, New York
10027-4698
MSM
SUNDAYS
WWW.MSMNYC.EDU
Music lessons
for students of all
ages and levels