December 2011 News
Faculty News
Jazz professor Doug Richards traveled to Izmir, Turkey, where his new piece for voice, string septet, tenor saxophone and percussion, "Ike Keklik" was performed on November 25. This is part of an ongoing exchange with Yasar University where alumnus Emre Kartari is a professor. Bass instructor Victor Dvoskin released a new CD "Acceptance" with the group Trio Vera. Percussion professor Peter Martin traveled to Queens College of North Carolina and Furman University for concerts and masterclasses and recently completed a week-long residency at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. He received a VCUarts Dean's Faculty Research grant award towards a recording of music by French composer Phillipe Manoury to be released on the MODE record label in the 2012-1013 season. Violin professor Susanna Klein is performing with Atlantic Chamber Ensemble in "House Specials" on Dec. 11 to benefit the Williams Syndrome Music Camp; details at: acensemble.org. She will also be featured at the 10th International Conference on Humanities in Hawaii in January 2012. VCU Symphony conductor Daniel Myssyk conducted Ensemble Appassionata in a series of six sold out youth concerts in Montreal that drew 1300 young people. Ensemble Appassionata will appear at VCU on January 21 as part of the Rennolds Series and on January 24, side by side with the VCU Symphony, where they will perform a piece by Doug Richards. Trumpet professor Rex Richardson will be featured in the December 2011 issue of The Brass Herald magazine, an international trade publication. Jazz professors and trombonists Tony Garcia and Bryan Hooten, along with alumni Reggie Pace and Stefan Demetriadis, will perform as The 804 Jazz Bones at the Tromblowin' Festival at James Madison University on January 21.
Student News
Clarinetist Lauren Slagle was named the winner of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition and will perform with the Wind Ensemble on their February concert. Flutist Marla Smith was accepted to study at "Play Music in Italy: A Flute and Guitar Festival" for Summer 2012. Several chamber ensembles including Flute Choir, Horn Choir, and Clarinet Ensemble performed at the annual Virginia Music Educator's Association conference in Norfolk in November. Jazz saxophonist Myrick Crampton and jazz bassist Andrew Randazzo were selected to participate in the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra. Jazz pianist Brian Mahne was named as an alternate. Trumpeter Victor Haskins was included in VCU's new marketing campaign "Our Time. Right Now" and is featured on banners all over campus.
Alumni News:
Congratulations to Reggie Pace, Michael D. Congdon and Dustin Faltz for being nominated for GRAMMY Awards this year. Pace performs with Bon Iver, while Congdon and Faltz produced Chris Brown's nominated song "Deuces." Lilly Aycud leads an active career in Los Angeles, which includes teaching elementary school music, volunteering with the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and freelance performing with such artists as Matt Nathanson, Slash, George Lopez, Julian Casablancas, Lenka and Ceci Bastida. Trombonist Reginald Chapman is pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Illinois. Bassist Patrick Turner is based in Blacksburg where he plays fiddle and bass for several jazz, rock and country groups and also performs with the local symphony. Jacob Mertz has accepted a position as a music teacher at Belview Elementary School in Montgomery County, VA.
