Conservatory Dean's Blog

Message from the Dean 072507

Colleagues,

1) From July 9-20 SoundTree faculty presented courses to campers, MM and DMA students, and community folks. It was a huge success. Here is a blog that the graduate students posted, as well as some photos. Grad student blog and New Apple lab.
2) New faculty appointments. We have just made two visiting appointments for 2007-08. Jonathan Flom will be Visiting Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and Joel Puckett will be Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Theory. Jonathan has a BFA and MFA from Penn State, with professional experience in Chicago. Joel is an award winning composer (BM, Shenandoah, MM and DMA from Michigan), who most recently was on the faculty at Towson University. They will hold Teeter's and Root's positions while we form searches for permanent appointments.
3) Reminder to fill out surveys. Some of you received electronic surveys to fill out. Please complete those today.
4) Creative Learning and Expressive Technology (CLET) laptop computer program
5) I'm very pleased to announce that Jeff Marlatt will be directing the Shenandoah Singers in 2007-08, and the group will be making a format change to a cappella. Congratulations Jeff!
6) The Strathmore holiday program that was tentatively scheduled for December 6, 2007 has been deferred to 2008. Tracy Fitzsimmons wants a holiday program in OBT in early December, 2007 with a TV taping and live performance. Wade Fransen will coordinate.
7) Computer Lab Training for Conservatory faculty Monday-Wednesday, August 27-29, 2007. SoundTree will be sending staff to do three days of faculty training in the new Ruebush 111 Apple Lab. Details to follow.
8) Bye-Bye Birdie opens tonight in OBT. Please plan on attending, along with your family, friends and neighbors.
9) Plans are moving ahead on the redesign of the SU website. I saw three models yesterday of the design/style for the opening pages--wonderful. Here's the firm that is doing this and some samples of their excellent work: http://www.bigbad.com/view_vertical.aspx?id=1
10) Here are the numbers for Performing Arts Camp--2006, 106 and 2007, 148. Shenandoah Performs had an impressive jump too--2006, 700 and 2007 1,038. Congratulations to Jan Wagner, Jennifer Green and the many staff and faculty that helped raise the quality levels and numbers for these essential activities. Anne Akiko Meyers and Jens Lindemann were very impressed with our faculty, students, and creative energy.

Please remember that I will be out of the country from July 27-August 3. Darla's last day is August 1, Karen Walker will start when she returns from a trip August 7, and Aime Sposato will be back in action soon.

All the best,

Larry

Announcement of Creative Learning and Expressive Technology (CLET) program

Here is information on Shenandoah Conservatory's Creative Learning and Expressive Technology (CLET) laptop computer program that will begin in Fall 2008.

Creative Learning and Expressive Technology (CLET) laptop computer program

Nice numbers from Performing Arts Camp and Shenandoah Performs

Audubon Quartet in Residence at Shenandoah Conservatory

On March 4, 2007 the Audubon String Quartet was introduced at the string quartet in residence at Shenandoah Conservatory.

Jens Lindemann closes festival

Virtuoso trumpeter Jens Lindemann closed the two week Shenandoah Performs Festival with a solo performance with the Festival Orchestra on Friday evening, July 20 and the chamber music concert on July 21. He also gave masterclasses to the Performing Arts Campers and the pre-professional performers in the Festival Orchestra. Hear Jens.  See Jens  in his SU hoodie (photo album)!

Shenandoah Choir at Kennedy Center

20 female members of the Conservatory Choir sang in 7 performances by the New York City Ballet n a week-long residency at the Kennedy Center. They performed with the NYC Ballet orchestra in Felix Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream.

The kids from Venezuela (los chicos de Venezuela)

During Intermission of the concert by Anne Akiko Meyers and the Shenandoah Performs Festival Orchestra, several visiting students from Venezuela played music from their country, led by our own Flor Maryory Serrano Prada.

Shenandoah Conservatory Webmerical Recognized

The 2007 Conservatory webmercial If you can dream it, You can do it was produced by Corporate Communications of Rochester, NY.

This multimedia piece won a national merit award in the The 22nd Annual Admissions Advertising Awards sponsored by the Admissions Marketing Report .

Performing Arts Camp 2007

Students at the 2007 Performing Arts Camp are singing in choirs, performing in band, orchestra and jazz ensemble, dancing ballet and modern, taking Eurhythmics classes with Clayton Williams, attending masterclasses by world renown artists Anne Akiko Meyers and Jens Lindemann, taking technology classes in the brand new Apple Learning and Creativity Lab, attending concerts at the Shenandoah Performs Music Fesitval, the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre--and there is time for fun too.

Performing Arts Campers are experiencing what it is like to live in a community of performing artists.

A photo album of the 2007 Performing Arts Camp.

Photos by Cathy Kuehner.

New Apple Lab opens

Senior Vice-President and President-elect Tracy Fitzsimmons realizes the importance of providing students and faculty with the necessary tools that enable self-reflection and the sharing of creativity with others. On July 9, 2007, an Apple technology lab was opened in Ruebush Hall, Room 111. SoundTree did the installation, has three highly qualified instructors on site (from July 9--July 20), and will return for faculty training in August 2007 before the start of classes. Dr. James Frankel, Dr. Lee Whitmore, and Brad Smith have been the instructors for the July 2007 teaching sessions for the Performing Arts Camp, the doctoral and masters studnts, and an open enrollment evening program.

View photo album of the new lab.

PODCASTING WORKSHOP RESOURCES

Anne Akiko Meyers plays Barber at Shenandoah

Celebrated violinist Anne Akiko Meyers was featured artist and presented masterclasses at Shenandoah Performs--the Conservatory's summer music festival.

Photos of AAM at Shenandoah Conservatory, July, 2007