If you’re at the Midwest Clinic be sure to attend the Sooner Bassooners performance tomorrow, December 21, at 2:30 PM in Ballroom W190. It’s going to be a fantastic concert! The program will feature student soloists, TWO contrabassoons, and John Hagstrom—trumpet soloist and member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. We’d love to see you there!
If you’re attending the Midwest Clinic check out the Capitol Quartet performance on Tuesday, December 20 at 12:15 PM in room W138.
With Capitol Quartet and h2 quartet, Dr. Jonathan Nichol—Interim Director and Professor of Saxophone—will be performing Lo Yisa Goy by Stacy Garrop and premiering Eight Saxophones by Carter Pann!
Congratulations to Dr. Irv Wagner, who recently published an article celebrating the ITA's first 50 years in the International Trombone Journal. Way to go, Doc!
Dr. Konstantinos Karathanasis was invited to deliver a Guest Lecture on his latest composition ""Gorgons' Cry"" for Aulos and Live Electronics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Music on 11/10/22. The NKUA Dept. of Music was the host institution during the initial compositional process of Dr. Karathanasis's innovative work. The composition, the first work for this instrumental combination, is sponsored by the University of Oklahoma Research Council and the Stavros Niarchos Greek Diaspora Fellowship Program.
Dr. Karathanasis's paper ""“Gorgons’ Cry”: The first modern composition for Aulos –a rediscovered ancient Greek instrument– and live electronics, inspired by Pindar’s 12th Pythian Ode"", was presented at the 1st International Conference Terra (in) Cognita, hosted by the Hellenic American College in Athens, Greece on 11/12/22. The conference theme was Dialogues between Greek Culture and Modern American Art.
Alumni Spotlight:
Bassoonist Kayla (Smith) Vanderborg, BMA, 2018, OU School of Music, is now teaching general music full-time in the Wichita Public Schools, is on the music faculty at both Kansas Weslyan College and Bethany College. She also performs in the Salina Symphony.
Incidentally, Kayla served as Contrabassoonist for the Sooner Bassooners at its most recent performance at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2017.
Congratulations, Kayla for your many achievements!
It was an absolute joy to host Robert "Sput" Searight as a Resonance Series guest this week. Sput Searight is a 7-time Grammy winner and drummer for Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, TOTO, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion, and Snarky Puppy. He taught masterclasses and performed with our jazz bands and faculty/student jazz sextet. It was a groovy experience for all!
The official Oklahoma City Thunder video of the Sooner Bassooners performing the National Anthem at an OKC Thunder basketball game
The vocal studio had a great time at the Texoma NATS competition and conference this weekend! Here are some student awards and accomplishments. Way to go!
Congratulations to piano and piano pedagogy faculty member, Dr. J. P. Murphy. He presented a national webinar for the Frances Clark Center titled, Functional Keyboard Skills for Intermediate Piano Students.
Dr. Melissa Baughman served as the clinician for the Junior High Mixed Honor Choir sponsored by the Central Oklahoma Choral Director's Association on November 1st. Almost 200 singers participated from schools throughout central Oklahoma! Congratulations, Dr. Baughman!
Congratulations to these outstanding musicians who were awarded prizes in the Oklahoma Music Teachers National Association State Competition last weekend!
MTNA Young Artist Strings
Representative: Jaden Frye/ Teacher: Mark Neumann, OU, Norman
MTNA Young Artist Woodwind
Winner: Caleb Dodson/ Teacher: Jonathan Nichol, OU, Norman
Alternate: Ethan Roberts/ Teacher: Jonathan Nichol, OU Norman
Honorable Mention: Alexander Nguyen/ Teacher: Jonathan Nichol, OU Norman
Honorable Mention: Matthew Floeter/ Teacher: Jonathan Nichol, OU, Norman
Congratulations to our OU School of Music piano students for their outstanding performances in the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association competition. Qishan Shi (student of Dr. Jeongwon Ham) was named winner of the OMTA Category C division and Liana Muzik (student of Dr. J. P. Murphy) was named alternate of the OMTA Category C division.
Dr. David Howard, Associate Director of Choral Activities served as the invited guest clinician for the TMEA Region 2 Mixed Honor Choir held at the Texas Women's University, Denton over the weekend of 11/05/2022. Congratulations, Dr. Howard!
Some of our fabulous School of Music faculty recently performed the Schubert Octet as part of the Bright Music Chamber Ensemble series. Congratulations to Dr. Lee, Dr. Ruck, Dr. Neumann, Dr. Stoops, and Professor Ackmann!
Dr. Damin Spritzer will perform for the first concert in the 2022-23 season of the Canon John Bruce Memorial Organ Concert Series on November 5, 2022, in De Pere, Wisconsin. Dr. Spritzer will be sure to impress listeners with her artistic treatment of Romantic Era music on the Abbey’s Casavant organ, which was built specifically for this style of music.
Congratulations to OU School of Music Professor Brian Britt who will be honored as an honorary ring recipient during the OU Senior Class's Ring Ceremony on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 3:00 PM in Holmberg Hall.
“All of Sooner Nation benefits from Brian Britt’s genuine enthusiasm and love of the University of Oklahoma,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Everything about his leadership style is first-class, but most importantly, he is a tremendous advocate for his students – not just as band members, but as individuals. He is an integral part of the OU Family, and we look forward to celebrating him as our honorary ring recipient.”
https://ou.edu/news/articles/2022/november/ou-to-recognize-brian-britt-at-ring-ceremony
If you're attending the NAFME National Conference this week, be sure to check out these engaging presentations by our OU School of Music faculty and graduate students. Best wishes to Dr. Melissa Baughman, Dr. Chris Baumgartner, Dr. Eric Penello, Reuben Alcala, and Abigail Baeten.
Dr. Barbara Fast presented two workshops at CalState Fullerton this past weekend. Congratulations on this fantastic guest artist residency!
Oklahoma high school violin students -check out this fantastic All-State violin excerpt preparation video made by one of our wonderful violin professors, Dr. Gregory Lee.
Faculty Highlight: Dr. Damin Spritzer
Dr. Damin Spritzer is Area Chair and Associate Professor of Organ at the School of Music. We want to celebrate some of her recent accomplishments!
You can view Dr. Spritzer's performance & Masterclass at here: https://youtu.be/pKa-mqN_wjY. Dr. Damin Spritzer shared that it was a terrific experience.
To listen to the broadcast Dr. Spritzer is featured in, visit:
https://www.pipedreams.org/episode/2022/10/17/becker-diemer-and-rorem
Intégral, Eastman's music theory journal, has just accepted Dr. Jeffrey Swinkin's article, "Some Thoughts on Cyclic Form in Clara Wieck's Quatre Pièces Fugitives, op. 15." The article will appear in the next issue, Volume 36. Congratulations!
Congratulations to OU alumni and professors on successful presentations at the National College Music Society Conference that took place last week in Long Beach, California. Pictured left to right are Jenna Klein, Hayden Coie, Jonathan Nichol, Cassie Keogh, Kyle Vanderberg, Hector Landa, and Barbara Fast.
The OU School of Music is pleased to share that former choral doctoral student David Gomez (OU ’20) is a new addition to the music department at the University of South Florida in the role of Assistant Director of Vocal Ensembles! He leads the University Singers and Chamber Singers ensembles at the USF School of Music. Dr. Gomez credits the new role to his preparation at OU, his professors, and his work with mentor Dr. Zielinski.
On Saturday, September 11, Ginny Stewart and recent alumni Sarah Ciccaglione (BA 2020), and Maddie Breedlove (BM 2020) will perform with Michael Buble in Tulsa! Congratulations on earning this amazing performance opportunity and thank you to Professor Robin Cotton Cobb for helping to set it up.
Congratulations to DMA Piano Performance and Pedagogy student, Emily Barr, who recently was featured in the Frances Clark Center’s Inspiring Artistry video series. Emily presented a lecture and performance of Karen Tanaka’s Crested Ibis from the solo piano collection “Children of Light.”
Congratulations to The Jazz Exchange for the release of their album, “Rebound”! This was completed as part of the Provost’s inaugural Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Fellowship. The Jazz Exchange is made up of current OU students and alumni, including Micah Cheng, Jeffrey Stevenson, Noah Roberts, Josh Stenis, and Robert Heck! Bravo!
Enjoy this video from the recording session!
Dr. Christina Giacona will be the Keynote Speaker at the "Ignite. Inspire. Educate. Engage. (I2E2)” conference hosted by the University of North Alabama on September 2, 2022.
Ethan Roberts, an OU undergraduate BME and BM saxophone student, submitted recordings and advanced to the live rounds of the prestigious Naumberg Saxophone Competition to be held in New York this upcoming October. Way to go, Ethan!
Congratulations to OU Piano Pedagogy professors, Drs. Barbara Fast and J.P. Murphy, who presented at MTNA’s Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum (GP3) held at the University of Arizona. Dr. Fast was featured in a panel discussion, “How Has Group Piano Changed in the Last Decade,” and Dr. Murphy presented a rotational session, “Diverse and Inclusive Folk Music for Teaching Harmonization Skills.” Dr. Fast co-founded the GP3 Forum, and served on the Executive Committee that planned and hosted the 2022 conference.
Congratulations to John Kaiser, an incoming OU graduate student who is pursuing master's degrees in Bassoon and Musicology, for performing Mignone’s Waltz No. 5, in a Masterclass with preeminent Bassoonist/Pedagogue, Ben Kamins, at “Bassoons Without Borders.” John performed beautifully and represented the OU School of Music with great distinction. Bravo, John!
OU School of Music professors Dr. Christine Souza and Dr. Christina Giacona recently led a fantastic study abroad program at OU's campus in Arezzo, Italy. Thirteen students completed two classes with them this past July. They visited Rome, Florence, and Venice as well! Congratulations to all involved!
Congratulations to Dr. Geoff Harman on his appointment as Assistant Director of Bands at the University of New Mexico where he'll lead the UNM Spirit Marching Band! Dr. Harman graduated with a Ph.D. in Music Education with a concentration in wind conducting from the University of Oklahoma in July 2022.
Congratulations to Dr. Hannah Rudy on her appointment as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois! Dr. Rudy graduated from the University of Oklahoma in Spring 2022 with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting. Way to go, Hannah!
On Thursday, July 7, Dr. Elizabeth Avery and Dr. Joel Burcham premiered Earth Elements by composer Dr. Ioannis Andriotis at the 2022 International Computer Music Conference in Limerick, Ireland to a standing-room-only crowd in Theater 2 of the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick. The electro-acoustic piece detailing the four elements of the Earth comprised of voice, piano, electric guitar, and percussion, with concurrent fixed and real-time electronics. Additionally, Drs. Avery and Burcham performed a traditional voice and piano recital at the weekly Lunchtime Concert Series at St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick, featuring Beethoven, Laitman, Barber, Bellini, and Puccini pieces.
Congratulations to Dr. Suzanne Tirk for presenting “Right Hand Pain: How Changes to Thumb Position Can Prevent and Heal Overuse Injuries” at the 2022 International Clarinet Association Conference in Reno, NV.
Congratulations to OU School of Music organ professor Damin Spritzer, who will be performing during the American Guild of Organists convention in Seattle on July 5th!
Concert – Damin Spritzer – Holy Rosary, Edmonds – Kilgen Organ
Congratulations to Kadine Pierre (BME '20, MM '22), who has been appointed vocal music teacher at Southeast High School in OKC!
Congratulations to 2022 MM Piano Performance and Pedagogy graduate Gregory Worthley, who has just been accepted for a Post-Graduate Fellowship at the New School for Music Study in Kingston, NJ, for the '22-'23 academic year!
Congratulations to Chukwuebuka Ezeakacha, Josiah Morgan, Samuel Antipov, Giovanni Corrodus, Vincent Rojas, Bradley Huff, and Joshua Smith! These members of the OU Men's Glee Club performed with the OKC Philharmonic on June 5th in a program titled 'Pirates of the High Seas."
Congratulations to Dr. Danielle Herrington, who has just accepted an offer to join the University of Central Oklahoma School of Music faculty as Assistant Professor of Music History! Dr. Herrington will teach the undergrad music history surveys, various grad history seminars, applied voice, and serve as Academic Coordinator for the Brisch Center for Historical Performance.
Here's OU School of Music voice professor Dr. Joel Burcham, along with Artistic Director Rob Glaubitz, discussing Painted Sky Opera's upcoming production of Pagliacci on KFOR television's Rise and Shine with Ali Meyer this morning!
Congratulations to Elaina Walzel, who has just been hired as the music teacher at Patton Elementary school in the Austin (TX) ISD!
Congratulations to Dr. Antonio Hunt (D.M.A. Choral Conducting, 2019), who has just received a tenure-track appointment as the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Randolph-Macon College! Dr. Hunt will direct the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers and teach music theory and music education courses.
Congratulations to Dr. Jenna Klein, who has just accepted a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Piano at Mississipi State University in Starkville, Mississippi!
Congratulations to Dr. Eve Georges Sada (DMA Choral Conducting, 2021), who participated as a speaker in the First International Assyrian Congress of the Nineveh Academic Chair held at the University of Salamanca, Spain last week. The conference featured presentations on the Assyrian language, history, and culture. Dr. Sada presented her research on the Assyrian liturgical chants of the Church of the East, and also shared some of her conducting recitals of the OU Chamber Choir that were performed in Assyrian-Syriac language.
Congratulations to OU SoM piano professor Dr. Igor Lipinski on the release of his album "in tears"!
Congratulations to freshman voice major Elayna Davidson! Ms. Davidson, who is a student of OU voice professor Robin Cotton Cobb, has been chosen as one of 14 singers who will compete in the Lower College Musical Theater Treble division at the National NATS competition in Chicago in early July!
Congratulations to OU School of Music student Micah Cheng, who has received the inaugural 2022 Provost’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Fellowship! Bravo, Micah!
Congratulations to OU SoM clarinet student Tori Venske! Ms. Venske has been selected to perform on the Rising Artist Pre-Professional Showcase at the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest conference this summer in Reno, Nevada!
Congratulations to Mimi Zhang and David Mach! Mimi has just won 1st prize in the Orbetello International Piano Competition online division, and David has won 2nd prize! Congratulations to these two outstanding Piano Performance & Pedagogy doctoral students!
Congratulations to Professor Rod Ackmann on a wonderful performance of Jerod Tate's "Ghost of the White Deer" with the OKC Philharmonic last night!
Congratulations to OU School of Music organ professor Dr. Damin Spritzer! Dr. Spritzer has recently joined the roster of Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists. For more information, see this post.
Congratulations to OU School of Music professor Dr. Chris Baumgartner, who is featured in an article titled "Developing Lifelong Musicians" in this month's digital edition of Teaching Music!
Congratulations to PhD Music Ed candidate Joshua Chism, who will be joining the faculty at Whitworth University in August!
This evening at 7:00 central time there will be a very special livestreamed presentation of Lisa Neher's "No One Saves the Earth from Us But Us" in honor of Earth Day. Please tune in to see and hear this wonderful performance, which includes OU School of Music professor Dr. Liz Avery, who co-commissioned the piece. The presentation will include the performance plus a post-concert discussion session.
We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Eve Georges Sada (DMA in Choral Conducting) has been selected as a recipient of the OU Provost’s Ph.D Dissertation Award. In her dissertation “ Assyrian- Syriac chants from the liturgy of the Church of the East,” Eve examined the earliest surviving chants and hymns composed by the Church of the East theologians and poets from the fourth through seventh centuries. Congratulations, Dr. Sada!
Congratulations to OU SoM alum Rob Bradshaw, who was named the Norman Public Schools Teacher of the Year at the NPS awards ceremony last weekend!
Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Ellis! Dr. Ellis received the Regents' Award for Superior Professional and University Service and Public Outreach at yesterday's Faculty Awards and Honors Luncheon yesterday!
Congratulations to Professor Rod Ackmann, who received the Irene and Julian Rothbaum Presidential Professorship at yesterday's OU Faculty Awards and Honors Luncheon!
Congratulations to School of Music alumni Elvie Ellis and Brandon Wong, who are performing in the National Tour of Waitress in York, PA!
Congratulations to OU SoM PhD Piano Pedagogy student Katie Ostrosky! Ms. Ostrosky's paper "The Pedagogical Music of Florence B. Price," recently presented at the Mid-Atlantic CMS conference, has been awarded the Ruskin Cooper Award for the Outstanding Student Paper! Katie will also be presenting this workshop as one of her 4 doctoral pedagogy workshops on April 15. Congratulations, Katie!
Congratulations to OU SoM alum Alex Purdy, who has just won the Principal Tuba spot in the Utah Symphony! Alex is a former student of OU tuba & euphonium professor Brian Dobbins.
Congratulations to our voice students and their professors on their outstanding 2022 Regional NATS Competition performances this weekend!
We are thrilled to report that the Sooner Bassooners have received an invitation to perform at this year's Midwest Band & Orchestra Convention! Congratulations to Professor Rod Ackmann and our awesome bassoon students on this well-deserved invitation! (And thank you to Erin Kuehn for creating this great poster!)
The OU Jazz Ensembles performed at the first annual Jazz in Bloom festival.
OU School of Music piano professor Dr. Barbara Fast is currently in the middle of a three-day guest residency at the University of Arizona's Fred Fox School of Music, hosted by U of A piano professor and OU SoM alum Dr. Lisa Zdechlik!
Piano Pedagogy Residency with Guest Lecturer: Dr. Barbara Fast
Congratulations to OU School of Music professors Liz Avery and Joel Burcham! Drs. Avery and Burcham have been invited to perform Ioannis Andriotis' "Earth Elements" at this summer's International Computer Music Conference in Limerick, Ireland!
Congratulations to OU SoM graduate student Parker Fritz! Mr. Fritz' composition Skyrunning has been chosen as the national winner of the MTNA Young Artist Composition Competition. Here is OU SoM piano professor Igor Lipinski performing this outstanding composition. Congratulations, Parker!
Congratulations to OU SoM undergraduate student composer Eric Davis, who has had a piece accepted for performance at the New York City Electronic Music Festival and the International Computer Music Conference in Limerick, Ireland!
Congratulations to OU SoM student Julianna Voelker, who has received the 2022 F. Donald Clark Award for Excellence in Fine Arts! Established in 1976 in honor of the former Dean of the College of Fine Arts, the F. Donald Clark award is given annually to the student who shows the highest level of scholarship and/or creativity in the Fine Arts. Congratulations, Julianna!
Congratulations to our 2022 Young Artist Competition Honors Recital Finalists and their outstanding teachers!
Congratulations to OU SoM theory professor Dr. Matthew Schullman, who will be presenting a paper titled "The Collective Feature and Methods for Overall, Global Analysis" later this week at the South Central Society for Music Theory!
Thanks to Doug Hill and the Norman Transcript for this great article about OU SoM alumna Jennifer Walschap and her Imagine Music and Arts teaching studio!
Congratulations to OU SoM organ professor Damin Spritzer! Dr. Spritzer performed as part of the Tuesday Music Club series at Trinity University in San Antonio!
Congrats to OU School of Music piano professor J.P. Murphy, who presented a webinar yesterday as part of the Frances Clark Center’s "From the Artist Bench" series! Dr. Murphy discussed and performed H. Leslie Adams’ Etude No. 1 in G Minor from 26 Etudes for Solo Piano.
Congratulations to voice students Alex Irwin, Elayna Davidson, and Joseph Nicholas on their NATS accomplishments! Alex won 5th place in the Upper College Men's division, Elayna took 4th place in the Lower College Women's division, and Joseph received 3rd place in the Lower College Men's group. All 3 are students of OU SoM voice professor Robbin Cotton Cobb and will advance to the National NATS rounds. Congratulations to all!
We are happy to report that Emi Bias, Master of Music in Choral Conducting (Fall 2021) and Bachelor of Music Education-Choral (Spring 2020), has accepted a secondary choral conducting position at the Modern English School (MES) in Cairo, Egypt, beginning this fall. Ms. Bias will direct the 8th grade choir, serve as Assistant Director of the MES high school choir, band and faculty choir, teach 7th grade general music and oversee other extracurricular Fine Arts activities. Congratulations Emi!
Congratulations to OU SoM professor Zoe Sherinian, whose documentary film Sakthi Vibrations recently won Best Documentary Feature at the Simply Indie Film Festival in Edmond! Here's a photo of professor Sherinian and festival director (and OU SoM alumna) Lynzi Carlson!
Congratulations to OU School of Music professor Melissa Baughman! Dr. Baughman, Bradley Regier, Alec Sherer, and Brian Silvey have just received word that their research study, "Undergraduate Choral Conducting Courses: Examining Students’ Practice Behaviors and Instructors’ Pedagogy" has been published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education. Fun fact: Dr. Regier is a graduate of our MME program and is now Assistant Professor of Music Education at Illinois Wesleyan University. Congratulations to all!
Congratulations to the Volante Quartet! These outstanding students (Matthew Floetter, Justin Evangelist, A.J. Nguyen, and Parker Fritz) have been accepted to the live rounds of the Coltman Chamber Music Competition!
Congratulations to the Sooner Bassooners, led by professor Rod Ackmann! The Bassooners performed the National Anthem at last night's OKC Thunder game!
Congratulations to OU SoM trumpet alum Jacob Merrill! Jacob just won the audition for the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, for 2022. Jacob studied with Dr. Karl Sievers while at OU.
Congratulations to the OU Chorale! Led by OU School of Music professor Dr. Richard Zielinski, the Chorale and the Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra recorded selections to be included in the soundtrack of the movie "Cricket," currently in production. The session was held at Oklahoma Contemporary and was produced by the Onyx Lane Music Production Company (Christina Giacona and Patrick Conlon). Great job, all!
Congratulations to OU SoM voice student David Soto Zambrana! Mr. Zambrana won an encouragement award at the Regional Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions in Tulsa in January and will be entering the young artist program at Opera Colorado in Denver later this year as a studio artist, where he will appear in leading roles in several productions. David is a student of voice professor Leslie John Flanagan.
Here's a fabulous video featuring OU School of Music Coordinator of Jazz Studies Jay Wilkinson discussing and performing his composition "In Time of Silver Rain," based on a poem by Langston Hughes. Congratulations to Jay and all the musicians who brought this wonderful piece to life!
Congratulations to OU SoM voice professor Leslie John Flanagan! Dr. Flanagan has been invited by the Australia National Association of Teachers of Singing to present a History of Vocal Pedagogy lecture and masterclass plus a solo recital in Sydney this summer!
Congratulations to OU School of Music voice professor Célia Wollenberg, who has been invited to teach at the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Piedmont, Italy this summer!
Congratulations to OU SoM saxophone student Matthew Floeter! Matt has been selected to compete in the 2022 Naftzger Young Artists Auditions and Music Awards, to be held in Wichita, Kansas, in March! Mr. Floeter is a student of OU SoM saxophone professor Dr. Jonathan Nichol. Congratulations, Matt!
OU School of Music organ professor Damin Spritzer's busy performance schedule continues this weekend with a recital at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Georgia!
Congratulations to OU School of Music graduate student Liana Muzik, who will be receiving the Provost's Certificate of Distinction in Teaching award! The recipients of this award represent the top 10 percent of all graduate assistants across campus by student evaluations for courses taught during the Fall 2021 semester. Congratulations, Liana!
We are very pleased to announce that Tobi Otekayi will be receiving the Provost's Certificate of Distinction in Teaching award! The recipients of this award represent the top 10 percent of all graduate assistants across campus by student evaluations for courses taught during the Fall 2021 semester. Congratulations, Tobi!
Congratulations to OU SoM graduate composition student Nikki Krumwiede! Ms. Krumweide's piece "The Naiad's Song" for improv ensemble and fixed media has been accepted for performance at the UNK New Music Festival in April! Also, her fixed media piece "The Language of Insects" has been accepted to Electronic Music Midwest in April! Finally, her piece "I've Stolen A Garden" for clarinet and narrator will be performed by Dr. Sarah Manasreh at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in May! Congratulations, Nikki!
Congratulations to our 2022 Benton-Schmidt Graduate Vocal Competition winners: Matt Corcoran-1st place, Olivia Yokers-2nd place, and Matt McKinnon-3rd place, and thank you to our judges: Lori Laitman, Beth Greenberg, and Arnold Rawls!
Congratulaations to Dr. Melissa Baughman! Dr. Baughman and her research colleagues Dr. Brad Regier (OU alum), Dr. Brian Silvey, and Dr. Alec Scherer have been selected to present their study, "Undergraduate Choral Conducting Courses: Examining Students’ Practice Behaviors And Instructors’ Pedagogy" at the 35th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) this July!
OU School of Music saxophone professor Jonathan Nichol and the h2 saxophone quartet will be featured during the Red Note New Music Festival next week at Illinois State University!
Congratulations to OU School of Music alum Jared VanVickle! Jared, who is the Assistant Band Director at Norman North High School, recently received the Outstanding Young Band Director Award from Phi Beta Mu. Congratulations, Jared!
Congratulations to sophomore BMA violin student Henry Ingels, who is one of the winners of the 2022 Oklahoma Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition and will perform during the winner's concert in April. Mr. Ingels is a student of OU SoM violin professor Gregory Lee. Bravo, Henry!
Kudos to Dr. Barbara Fast, who presented a virtual workshop titled "Why We Don't Do What Works: Practice Tips Our Brains Like But We Avoid" for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Piano Pedagogy class on Monday!
Congratulations to senior BM piano performance student Evelyn Culver, who has just won the 2022 Oklahoma Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition and will perform during the winner's concert in April! Ms. Culver studies with OU SoM piano professor Jeongwon Ham. Congratulations, Evelyn!
Professor Rod Ackmann and our OU School of Music basson students harvested their very first crop of Arundo Donax last week in the south Catlett courtyard!
Congratulations to DMA viola student Qingyuan Fu, who has won the South-Central Divisional round of the MTNA Young Artist Competition! Qingyuan will now compete in the national finals, to be held during the MTNA National Conference in March. Ms. Fu is a student of OU SoM viola professor Mark Neumann. Congratulations, Qingyuan!
Congratulations to Matthew Crawford and Dr. Melissa Baughman! They have been invited to present their research, "Singing outside SATB: Teaching Countertenors in the Choral Classroom" at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Conference in Chicago in July. Mr. Crawford is a senior Vocal Music Education major, and Dr. Baughman is a member of our SoM Music Education faculty. Congratulations to both!
Congratulations to OU School of Music graduate trumpet student Drew O'Dell! Drew has been selected as 1 of 30 Semi-Finalists in the Graduate Solo Division of the 2022 National Trumpet Competition, to be held at the University of Delaware March 31-April 2. Mr. O'Dell is a student of OU SoM trumpet professor Dr. Karl Sievers. Congratulations, Drew!
Congratulations to DMA Composition student Parker Fritz!
Mr. Fritz has won the Music Teachers National Association National Competition in Composition with his "Skyrunning" for solo piano! Parker studies composition with Dr. Marvin Lamb, and saxophone with Dr. Jonathan Nichol. Congratulations, Parker!
Congratulations to second-year BA Piano student Devin Weckstein! Mr. Weckstein gave a presentation titled: "Why, What, and How: Applying Universal Design for Learning in the Piano Studio" at the 2022 virtual Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium last week. Congratulations, Devin!
Congratulations to DMA Piano Performance & Pedagogy student Hayden Coie, who gave a presentation titled "Soundscapes: Experimenting with 20th Century Sounds Through Intermediate Repertoire" at last week's virtual MTNA Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium! Congratulations, Hayden!
Congratulations to PhD Piano Pedagogy student Katie Ostrosky! Ms. Ostrosky was a plenary session presenter at the virtual MTNA Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium, delivering a lecture "Playing to Our Strengths: Strategies for Students with ADHD." Congratulations, Katie!
Congratulations to the Sooner Bassooners and their director, Professor Rod Ackmann, on an outstanding performance at the OkMEA convention in Tulsa! Thank you to this fantastic ensemble for representing the OU School of Music with such class and professionalism!
Congratulations to DMA piano student Meldy Tanako! Ms. Tanako has just won the Grand Prize in the New York International Young Musicians Competition! Meldy studies with OU School of Music piano professor Dr. Igor Lipinski.
Congratulations to the Vento Aureo and Volante Saxophone Quartets! BOTH groups have advanced to the live rounds of the North American Saxophone Alliance quartet competition! Congratulations to Parker Fritz, AJ Nguyen, Justin Evangelist, Matthew Floeter, Anna Fitzgerald, Micah Cheng, Anthony Barcio, Jake Markman-Fox, and OU saxophone professor Jonathan Nichol!
