January & February 2016 College News

every high school band in the state. He appeared as an Artist/Endorser for Andreas Eastman Saxophones at the recent Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio. Dr. Nico Schüler has been invited to participate in a prestigious international research project on methodologies of music analysis, Plurality of Music Analysis , to be published by Bärenreiter. The research team consists of scholars from around the world. The first symposium for this project took place last month in Berlin, Germany at which Dr. Schüler presented on computational music analysis. The winner of the American Prize in Orchestral Performance, 2015, arts high school orchestra division, is the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, conducted by our Texas State Symphony Orchestra Director, Dr. Carolyn Watson . She also won 2nd place in the American Prize for Conducting, high school division. Dr. Keith Winking has been invited to serve this year as an adjudicator for the high school solo division at the National Trumpet Competition, to be held in Columbus, Georgia. Student Accolades Trumpet student Evan Fowler was named a semi- finalist for the prestigious National Trumpet Competition (NTC) Graduate Solo Division. A Texas State Trumpet Ensemble was also named as semi-finalist in the large ensemble division. Ensemble members are: Evan Fowler , Connor Towns , Aaron Rachui , Michael Lehman , Jason Martinez , Sarah McGriff , Shawn Henderson , Esteban Borjas , and Matt Valentine . Other ensembles invited include groups from Eastman School of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, The Peabody Institute, The University of Texas–Austin, University of Noth Texas, and Indiana Univeristy. Students from Dr. Cynthia Gonzales’ Aural I class went Christmas caroling before final exams began. Dr. Gonzales’ almost-annual caroling party is afavorite event for her neighbors, some of whom even greet carolers with cookies and other treats! For the students, it’s an opportunity to share their musical gifts and apply their sight-singing skills. On March 10, the Trumpet Ensemble will be performing a piece written for them by Dr. John Mills , a Texas State graduate and Professor of Composition and Jazz at The University of Texas–Austin. Sophomore saxophonist and music studies major Colby Rodriguez was hired by the Texas Stars hockey team to perform the National Anthem at Cedar Park Center on four different occasions. Colby won this opportunity via audition. Senior performance major, Camden Scarborough has been named second alternate in the International Trombone Association’s Robert Marsteller Competition. The Marsteller Competition has become one of the most challenging categories for upperclassmen, undergraduates, and masters students. Freshman euphonium student Peter Scott is one of eight semi-finalists who will compete in live rounds for the Solo Euphonium-Young Artist Competition at the 2016 International Tuba Euphonium Conference May 30 - June 4. On December 9th, 19 students competed in the final round of the School of Music Aria & Concerto Competition at the Performing Arts Center. All 19 gave a fine effort, performing an aria or concerto movement with piano accompaniment. Much appreciation is owed to all 8 collaborative pianists who enabled their performances. The judges were: Dr. Orit Amy Eylon, Dr. Eric Daub, and Maestro Troy Peters. 1st prize was Mariyln Meilun An , piano. 2nd prize was Kimberly Sandoval , voice. 3rd prize was Jessica Hall , flute. Honorable mention was Shu Ting Chang , piano and Kevin Rodriguez , clarinet. The Texas state University Opera Theatre’s recent production of Michael Ching’s Speed Dating Tonight! has been awarded third prize in the Opera Production of the Year Competition by the National Opera association for 2015. Texas State’s combined undergraduate and graduate opera program competed with premier opera graduate schools and conservatories across the nation for the yearly award. This marks the second national award in three years for Texas State Opera Theatre. It won Opera Production of the Year in 2013 for Jacques Ibert’s Angelique .