April & May 2016 College News

Dr. Kevin Mooney presented his paper, “‘Louise Tobin Blues’: Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Life and Music,” at the American Musicological Society- Southwest Chapter Conference, April 2 at Trinity University in San Antonio. He was also elected secretary-treasurer of the society’s chapter. Based on an idea by Dr. Sam Mungo , the School of Music presented the world premiere of the one-act opera Lady Bird: First Lady of the Land . With the support of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the school commissioned composer Henry Mollicone and librettist Sheldon Harnick to write the opera. Directed by Mungo, with orchestra conducted by Dr. Carolyn Watson , the opera played to near sold-out crowds, including VIP guests such Luci Johnson, daughter of the opera’s namesake Lady Bird Johnson. A sampling of the critical acclaim includes this review from ClassicalVoiceAmerica.org Todd Oxford and Mark Cruz performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial National Conference at Texas Tech University. Oxford also appeared as an Artist/Endorser with Andreas Eastman Saxophones in the Conference Exhibit Hall. Dr. Oxford recently hosted guest saxophone artist, Jessica Voigt Page, in a recital and master class. He also collaborated with Andreas Eastman Saxophones on a series of promotional videos to be used by the nationally recognized BandDirector.com website. Dr. Nico Schuler presented a poster, “Wordless Functional Analysis Revisited” at the American Musicological Society. He completed his second term as secretary-treasurer of the Southwest Chapter and was elected as president this past Saturday. Student Accolades Veronica Kokas was accepted for graduate study at Westminster Choir College at Rider University, Mannes School of Music at the New School, and at George Mason University. She will be attending George Mason University, and will be studying with Professor Patricia Miller on an annually renewble $10,000 scholarship. Celeste Morales was accepted for graduate study at Boston University, the University of Houston, DePaul University and at the Manhattan School of Music. She will be attending the Manhattan School of Music, and will be studying with Professor Ruth Golden on an annually renewable $32,000 scholarship. Several trombonists have been accepted into various summer music festivals/workshops. Camden Scarborough was accepted into the Southeast Trombone Symposium’s Participant Class and advanced in the S.E. Shires Orchestra Mock Audition Competition. He will study with members of the New York Philharmonic and Atlanta Symphony. Michael Martinez was accepted into the Pacific Region International Music Academy where he will travel to Canada and perform the 5th symphonies of Mahler and Shostakovich in addition to studying with members of the Vancouver Symphony. Michael Johnson was accepted into the Participant Class of Chicago Symphony trombonist Michael Mulcahy’s week-long masterclass at Northwestern University. Patrick Harwell and Matthew Flores have been accepted into Jim Pugh’s Complete Trombonist Workshop at the University of Illinois. Additionally, Camden Scarborough, Michael Martinez and Ramiro Cortez will join the student worker staff at the 2016 International Trombone Festival hosted at the Juilliard School. All are students of Dr. Martin McCain . Bobcat Build sent 10 Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonians to work at First Lutheran Church April 2. The Theta Omega chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota also participated in Bobcat Build. The group went out to the Katherine Anne Porter School in Wimberley and helped paint their new walls that were just finished being repaired after the May and October floods. Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer’s new book entitled Advocate for Music