September 2023 College News

MUSIC Music, Music Studies, Per formance, & Sound Recording Technolog y FACULTY ACCOLADES Ames Asbell began a three-year term as president of the American Viola Society, the largest professional organization for violists in the world. The AVS presents a multitude of offerings for the international viola community including a scholarly journal, a biennial conference, recording label, instrument bank, competitions for performers, researchers, and composers, and much more. Prior to being elected president by the AVS membership, Asbell served the organization as AVS festival coordinator (2021), communications coordinator (2021-2023), and board member-at-large (2016-2020). On September 9, the first-ever Texas State University ViolaFest welcomed sixty-five pre-college and community violists to the Texas State University campus for a day of viola ensembles, masterclasses, technique classes, and performances. Special topics classes included sessions on body awareness, selecting historical performance editions, and TMEA All-State and All-Region preparation, and the event closed with a free concert for the community. Featured faculty included Ames Asbell (organizer) and Texas State viola alumnus Ruben Balboa , as well as other prominent viola pedagogues from throughout Central Texas. The Texas State University School of Music celebrated the tenth anniversary of its collaboration with Austin Opera last spring. Timothy Myers, the AO Sarah and Ernest Butler Music Director, praised this collaboration, which has provided 2,313 discount tickets to TXST students, opened dress rehearsals for music students to attend, and provided post-concert discussions with performers. Thirteen Bobcats—six faculty, six alums, and one current student—participated in last spring’s production of Georges Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers. The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Debut Orchestra, directed by Dana Green, premiered Laura Brackney ’s Moonflower on May 6. This piece was Laura Brackney and Leslie Richmond flute composition premiered at the Texas Flute Society Competition Mary Ellen Cavitt recieved the Killeen Independent School District Distinguished Alumna award Cynthia Gonzales delivered a pedagogical presentation at the AP Annual Conference 16 | September | College News 1 2 3