January February 2023 College News

State University music theory faculty on the program rivals five faculty and graduate students from an R1 school in the state. Daris Hale and Ian Davidson appeared as featured soloists in the Ministry of Justice Recital Hall in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The concert was given as part of the RioWinds International Festival of Wind Instruments. The festival brings soloists from around the world for a month of daily performances given in venues throughout the city. While in Rio, Hale and Davidson were invited by the University of Rio to present master classes at the Heitor Villa-Lobos Institute of Music. Daris was named runner-up for the 2022 Award for Excellence in Online Teaching for the online course, MU 2313 Introduction to Fine Arts. In addition to a cash award and trophy, Hale gave a presentation as part of the award ceremony. Hank Hehmsoth received a Research Enhancement Program award for“Blue Drifter: A Recording Project by Double Vision for Jazz Quartet.” Hank was also featured in the TXST Newsroom for his work on the Braille Music project. You can read the featured article about the Braille Music Project. Michael Ippolito 's Violin Concerto premiered in December 2022, by The Florida Orchestra and their concertmaster Jeffrey Multer, with three performances in Tampa and St. Petersburg conducted by music director Michael Francis. Classical Voice North America reviewed the concert, describing Ippolito’s work as “sizzling” and “a 25-minute orchestral maelstrom.” Michael also received a Research Enhancement Program award for “Recording Project: Strange Loops.” Dimitar Ninov delivered two invited theory papers at international conferences in Krakow (Poland) and Belgrade (Serbia). Since January 2022, he saw the performance of seven original compositions in the U.S. and Bulgaria, among which, and most recently, a symphonic cantata Maiden Burns a Bachelor and a piano quintet. [2] Alec Scherer presented a spoken session “Exercise Containing Creativity Items in Beginning Band Method Books” with co-author Dr. Bradley J. Regier at College of Fine Arts and Communication | 173 the biennial National Association for Music Education Conference. Alec's research, “High School Band Directors’ Perceptions and Applications of Democratic Rehearsal Procedures,” was recently promoted in the National Association for Music Education Notes . Nico Schüler received a Research Enhancement Program award for “The Hyers Sisters: Rediscovering Pioneers of African-American Musical Theatre” Jack Wilds served as clinician for the Region VIII All- Region High School Symphonic Band in Belton. Over two days, Wilds worked with students on a variety of pieces, including his own composition, Spellbound . STUDENT ACCOLADES Ryan Halbert, won a national level audition to tour this summer as Drum Major for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. The Blue Knights is a world- class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Denver, Colorado. Graduate trombone student Ross Sanchez was named a finalist in the National Bass Trombone Solo Competition. He will complete against two other finalists in a live round at the American Trombone Workshop, sponsored by U.S. Army Band “Pershing's Own,” in March. ALUMNI ACCOLADES Marty Lenard , Director of Fine Arts for New Braunfels ISD, founded his own business, Lenard Publications, which publishes his chamber music arrangements. These scores are available for international distribution through J.W. Pepper. Josue Mora performed in the pit orchestra for the Public Theater of San Antonio's production of A Christmas Carol . Dayne Reliford was nominated in two Austin Music Awards categories by the Austin Chronicle: Best Pianist/ Keyboardist and Best Jazz. [3]