SUMMER 2014

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CONGRATULATIONS

MAY 2014 GRADS

B.A. Music:
Carl Christenson

Summa Cum Laude

Joshua Cofield
Marina Fisher
Aaron Gothmann
Emilee Selin
Jared Sells
Brandyn Tapio

B.S. Music
(Music Ministry emphasis):
Jordan Bailey
Jessica Fleming

Magna Cum Laude

Jacob Larson

Magna Cum Laude

Rachel Parsley

Summa Cum Laude

Composition:
Robert Luebbert

Magna Cum Laude

Music Performance:
Emily Baltzer

Magna Cum Laude

Julia Pagh
Amanda Potts

Magna Cum Laude

Music Education:
Amber Franks

Educational Studies -
Music Education:
Marina Fisher

NEXT FOR
RECENT GRADS

Jordan Bailey ('14) will be going to Daejeon, South Korea in August, working with students as a teacher in the fine arts program.

Emily Baltzer ('14) accepted the position of Worship pianist at First Free Evangelical Church of Maplewood, beginning in August.

Carl Christenson ('14), double major in Music and Biology, will attend the University of Indiana School of Medicine, beginning in August, and hopes to join a community ensemble in Indiana to continue playing clarinet.

Rob Luebbert ('14) will attend the University of Nebraska this fall, pursuing a masters in composition.

Julia Pagh will be performing the role of the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods with Off Broadway Musical Theater in late July and was accepted to study and perform in the Wesley Balk Opera/Music Theatre Institute from June 29 to July 19 - details at

wesleybalk.org/schedule.html.

Rachel Parsley ('14) will begin in June as a part-time worship leader at Linwood Covenant Church in Linwood, MN, where she'll be responsible for planning worship music and order of service, leading worship team rehearsals, and leading Sunday morning worship music.

Amanda Potts ('14) was accepted to the University of Minnesota for a Master of Music in Flute Performance degree, studying with Julia Bogorad Kogan (Principal Flute, SPCO). Amanda deferred enrollment for one year and will begin study at the U of M in Fall 2015.

ALUMNI NEWS

Jordan Cox, ('10), was commissioned this spring by Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota to write a score for their adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, performed on May 9-11 at the Ames Center (Burnsville). Twin Cities Ballet received this grant from "2014 Live Music for Dance Minnesota," awarded in partnership with American Composers Forum and NewMusicUSA, supporting Minnesota composers and choreographers. Currently, Jordan works as a composer and orchestrator in Los Angeles.

Shawn Fletcher ('12) joined the Barn Theatre (Augusta, MI) right after graduation as a Performance Apprentice in their 2012 Summer Season. He later moved to New York City, where he lived and auditioned for 8 months before accepting a contract at the Pines Dinner Theatre in Allentown, PA for the musical Route 66. For the past year, Shawn has performed regularly, including multiple shows contracted at the Pines Dinner Theatre and Cornwell's Turkeyville, a dinner theater in Marshall, MI, where he is currently rehearsing for the summer show Suds.
Soli Deo Gloria! www.shawnpatrickfletcher.com

April Fredrick ('02), soprano, recently released her second CD on the Somm label, recorded with pianist Mark Bebbington, well known for his solo piano performances and recordings of British music. The CD includes songs by John Ireland and was recorded in Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

Christy (Anderson) Jones ('08), Associate Worship Leader at Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, keeps busy performing in the Twin Cities, most recently as Judy Denmark in Ruthless! and Johanna in Sweeney Todd (both with Chameleon Theater Circle in Burnsville). She recently sang the soprano solo in "Angels in the Architecture" with Hopkins Westwind Concert Band. She is currently in rehearsals for the regional June premiere of Sasquatched! The Musical (Imagined Theater) as Cindy, the helicopter mom. Written by a local playwright and composer, Phil Darg, this show was submitted and made it as a finalist in the New York Musical Theater Festival in 2012-13. (www.sasquatched.com)

Garrett Lahr
(trombonist '06-'09)

performed Mozart's Requiem on bass sackbut with the Clarion Music Society in New York City in May 2014. Clarion is a period-instrument orchestra and choir based in NYC. (You can go to these links to listen to Clarion. Clarion Soundcloud and Clarion Society Website.) In March, he performed on bass sackbut with Consortium Carissimi, a local early music group with whom he will play on a recording project this summer, recording the music of Bonifazio Graziani (early Roman baroque), to be released on the Naxos early music label in 2015.

Janelle Lanz ('07), working part time at Minnesota Orchestra since 2008, was promoted this spring to full-time Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager in the artistic department.

Hannah (Nelson) Lu ('03) sang the Soprano solos for the St. John Passion by Bach with the South Dakota Symphony this past April and will be returning in January 2015 to sing the Soprano solos in Gorecki's Symphony No. 3, "The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs." She will also be premiering a song cycle written for her and orchestra in 2015. She lives in Houston, TX with her husband, Michael, and 3 year old son, Isaac, and sings with a number of groups, including the Houston Chamber Choir and the Houston Grand Opera.

Since graduating last year, Susanna Seoyon (Lim) MacDonald worked as an On-call Staff Pianist at MacPhail, worship pianist at First Free Evangelical Church of Maplewood, and piano instructor at Along Came Music in the Twin Cities. She and husband Ethan will be moving to Boston, MA this summer, as Susanna has been accepted to the New England Conservatory to pursue a master's degree in the Collaborative Piano program.

Barrett Radziun ('10) will begin his doctoral studies at University of North Texas this fall, where he has been awarded a teaching fellowship. He received his Masters in Vocal Performance last year from the prestigious Bard Conservatory of Music in New York.

Hastings Reeves ('13) was invited to sing with the Miami Opera Festival this June in the roles of Bartolo from Marriage of Figaro and Sarastro in The Magic Flute, both operas by Mozart. In April, he performed in the role of Harasta in The Cunning Little Vixen by Janacek with the University of Minnesota Opera Theatre as a guest artist.

Chantal (Abendroth) Schneck ('12) was employed as a long-term elementary music sub at Sky Oaks Elementary in Burnsville this spring, teaching 1st through 6th grade music, and over the summer she will teach beginning band lessons to students in district 196.

Andrea Needham Sheppard ('10) continues as Adjunct Instructor of Flute at Crown College.

Megan Wagner ('00) is in her second year of doctoral studies as a fellow and graduate assistant at OU (University of Oklahoma) where in March she performed the role of Bradamante in Handel's Alcina. This summer she will also be performing in Verona, Italy with Opera Viva! Last summer she and her husband Obed Fload were featured soloists with Kenwood Symphony Orchestra's Summer Pop's Concerts.

CORRECTION from January Accent: Megan Wagner's name was incorrectly stated as Megan Obed Wagner-Floan.

UNW alums, Director Liz Yoder ('12), Music Director Emily Baltzer ('14) and Choreographer Hannah Lindahl ('12) make up the Artistic Team for Bunce Backyard Productions' Tarzan (the Stage Musical based on the Disney film) on July 23, 24, 25, and 27, 28, 29, in Dayton MN. Other UNW Alumni and students (past and present) include the following:
Alec Leonard as Tarzan,
Sharayah Bunce as Jane, Bethany Jackson ('13) as Kala, Hastings Reeves ('13) as Kerchak, Zach McClellen ('12) as Clayton, Chris and Kristen Blatchley ('12) as Tarzan's mother and father, and dancers & chorus Rosalee Allard ('13), Marina Fisher ('14), Jessica Fleming ('14), Isaac Haugen, Krista Kastle ('11), Katie Kisler, Fuechee Kong, Forest Anderson Mares, Bailey Parenteau,
Tracy Swenson ('13), and
Ellie Walton. Show details can be found at www.buncebackyard.com.

ACADEMY OF MUSIC

SUMMER MUSIC CAMP

Brio Music Camp

June 16 - 20

Register by June 13

Show Choir Camp
July 14 - 18

Register by June 27

Piano Institute
July 28 - August 2

Register by June 30

FALL 2014 SEMESTER

Registration Opens
August 11

*10% Off Tuition

for all UNW alums!

We apologize for errors or omissions. Please keep us informed about your music performances, positions and education.

Hello, Friends of the UNW Dept. of Music,

As you'll read in this edition of Accent, we bid farewell to some beloved members of our UNW Music family, and we also welcome Dr. Kirk Moss, who will be taking my place as Chair of the Department of Music.

I will be transitioning to a new role here on campus - Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. I am eager to take on my new role, and cannot wait to see what the Department of Music will accomplish in the years ahead.

The end of each semester is a very sweet and fulfilling time for me as I attend year-end performances and hear the improvements and accomplishments of music students and our department ensembles. I get a deep sense of satisfaction when I reflect on the personal growth of our students and observe the people they are becoming during their time at UNW.

In advocating for study of the arts, people tend to stress either what it helps you be as a person or what it helps you do. Those of us trained in the arts tend to emphasize the "be." Our intent is pure - we know what our artistic experiences have meant to us and how they have shaped us. We sometimes resist arguments that focus too much on what the arts might help us do or accomplish, not wanting to diminish or cheapen the intrinsic value of the arts.

I recently attended one of our Academy of Music recitals where my children performed their piano solos. Like many of the other parents in the room that night, I have my children in lessons because of what I know it will help them be. However, I also value what music has taught them and helped them

do. Music has given them the confidence to get up and perform in public. It has also taught them discipline and how to persevere through the frustrations of learning scales, theory, and technique.

This is true in my personal experience - I value what music has helped me become as a person, and I treasure each artistic experience. However, I also value what my music training and experiences have helped me accomplish outside of music. So, in your own music making, teaching, and advocacy, as you live in the tension of the "do" and the "be," embrace it!

Yours for Music,

Jeremy Kolwinska

MUSIC MAJORS ATTEND CMC NASHVILLE

UNW is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (www.cccu.org), which operates the Contemporary Music Center (CMC) in Nashville (www.cmcnashville.com). Recently, two UNW Music Majors spent semesters at the CMC. David Naglak (B.A., '13) enrolled in the Artist Track and Aaron Gothmann (B.A., '14) enrolled in the Business Track. In addition to music classes and presentations from industry professionals, the students took a class on faith, culture, and music to learn about the music industry from a Christian perspective. Both students also played bass guitar for a number of artists, as pictured below. (In left photo, Aaron is far right; In right photo, David is second from right.)

The CMC is a "hands-on" experience, so, Aaron didn't just learn about aspects of the music business, he managed a student from the Artist Track, produced a live show every week, and he helped create and manage the week long multi-state tour, which was the "final exam" for all students at the end of the semester. David had opportunities to record and perform his own original music. He was also required to write a new song every week, which was critiqued by Rick Elias (former guitarist for Rich Mullins's Ragamuffin band and a local Nashville singer/songwriter).

In Nashville, the "Music City," students learned that it is through connections that one can succeed in this industry. In Aaron's words, "The best part about being in Nashville is that you are completely surrounded by the things that you love. We weren't just learning about the music industry ... We literally had opportunities to be a part of the music industry...If you go to the CMC, you will learn more about the music industry than you could ever imagine." In David's words, "I would absolutely recommend this program for anyone interested in being involved in the music industry. I was able to fail in a safe environment and learn from my mistakes. Now I won't have to make the same mistakes in the real world...This was definitely one of my best life experiences."

STUDENT NEWS

Concerto-Aria winners

On May 6, Concerto-Aria winners

performed with the Northwestern Orchestra. Concerto division winner Emily Baltzer, piano, performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18. Baltzer, studying piano with Dr. Richard Lange, just graduated from UNW with a Music Performance degree. Aria winner Anthony Potts, baritone, performed Mozart's "Bravo, signor padrone...Se vuol ballare" from Le nozze di Figaro. Potts, a junior at UNW, studies voice with Carol Eikum and is pursuing a Music Performance degree.

Thursday Musical Competition
Anthony Potts won First Place in the College Intermediate Voice Division of Thursday Musical's 2014 Young Artist Scholarship Competition in March. He performed his winning aria, "Bravo, signor padrone...Se Vuol ballare" from Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart, at a Thursday Musical Winners Concert on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at Concordia University, St. Paul, in the Buetow Music Auditorium.

NATS Student Auditions Regional Finalists and National Semifinalists
The Department of Music is pleased to announce that Gracie Lugo, mezzo-

soprano, and Anthony Potts, baritone, students of Carol Eikum, have been selected to advance as Semifinalists in the very first National Student Audition program of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing). The National Semifinals will be held in Boston on Sunday, July 6, and the Final round will be held on Monday, July 7.

A total of four Northwestern singers were Regional Finalists in the North Central division, by finishing in the top three in their regional category: Gracie Lugo, Anthony Potts, Sharayah Bunce, soprano, and Nicole Moran, soprano. Sharayah and Nicole are students of Doreen Hutchings (along with a third Finalist from the private studio of Professor Hutchings). Of the 400 students from around the country who advanced to the NATS Student Online Auditions, 157 were selected to advance to the Semifinal live round of the National Student Auditions (up to 14 in each category). Northwestern congratulates the following:

North Central Region Finalists advanced to NATS National Student Online Auditions

*   Sharayah Bunce (Second Place, College/Private Music Theater Women)
*   Nicole Moran (Third Place, Freshman Women)

NATS Student Auditions National Semifinalists going to Live Auditions in Boston July 6 & 7
*   Gracie Lugo (Lower College/Private Women)
*   Anthony Potts (Lower College/Private Men)

(Correction from January Accent Student News: Brienna Rossiter's current major was incorrectly stated as BS Music/Ministry. Brienna is actually a B.A. Music and English/Writing double major.)

WELCOME DR. MOSS,

NEW DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC CHAIR

The Department of Music is pleased to announce

that Kirk Moss, Ph.D., has accepted the position of Chair of Northwestern's Department of Music, effective August 2014. Kirk D. Moss, Ph.D., currently holds an appointment as an Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Education Department at the Lawrence University (WI) Conservatory of Music. He is a past national president of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), thrice chaired the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, and served on ASTA's Executive Board. Moss has appeared as a guest conductor, clinician, or adjudicator in more than thirty states. The University of Florida School of Music awarded him an Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award, and he has received four ASTA National Citation for Leadership & Merit awards. With twelve years of experience teaching elementary, middle, and high school orchestras, groups under his direction have earned distinction at state, national, and international events. One of his former high schools honors him by annually awarding a college string scholarship in his name. He has coauthored two method books for Alfred Music: Sound Innovations - Sound Development for Intermediate String Orchestra and Sound Development for Advanced String Orchestra.

FACULTY NEWS

Roger and Michele Frisch will be teaching at the Credo Music festival at Oberlin again, summer 2014, which will culminate in a performance of Haydn's Creation, John Nelson conducting, in Severance Hall, Cleveland. The Frisches will also be performing and recording a recital of Libby Larsen repertoire in June.

Michele will perform in recital with Bell' Alma Duo in New Orleans in June. Roger (on viola!) will join Bell' Alma Duo in Sydney, Australia in recital at the World Harp Congress in July.

David Kozamchak organized and conducted two concerts on April 26 and 27 at Redeemer Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park featuring an orchestra comprised of current UNW students as well as alumni and faculty with international concert pianist, Huntley Brown (pianist for the Graham Association). The concerts served as the official launch of the Jamaican music education outreach initiative sponsored by the OSDJ (Organization for Strategic Development in Jamaica). David serves on the leadership team launching this music education initiative which has been fully accepted by the Jamaican Ministry of Education.

David Kozamchak will be guest conducting in Chile January 12-18, 2015 as part of a Latin American/American joint music initiative organized through CODA (College Orchestra Director's Association), honored as one of the first conductors invited to participate in this educational music initiative. The goal is to promote music of the Americas by having an American university orchestral conductor conduct in Latin America and a Latin American conductor to conduct in America promoting the music of our respective countries. The conductor of the Chilean Youth Orchestra that David will be conducting in January, Lorena Vergara, will be on the Northwestern campus the week of March 16, 2015 to work with and conduct the Northwestern Orchestra on the March 20, 2015 Concerto-Aria concert.

Dr. Phil Norris' sabbatical this Fall will be in S.E. Asia, teaching and performing in schools and universities throughout the region. Should you wish to receive updates, please e-mail him at: pennwc@gmail.com. Your prayers are appreciated.

Timothy Sawyer completed a week-long residency in January with the South Dakota Chorale, a 31-voice professional choir based in Sioux Falls, SD, performing in a program and recording a new CD entitled Sacred Songs of Life and Love. The concerts and recording sessions were held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls, and also in the choir's first appearance in the Twin Cities at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He also led the Two Rivers Chorale in recording its new Christmas CD, Yuletide Treasures, in collaboration with Minneapolis-based guitarist/composer Jeffrey Van. Sawyer recently celebrated ten years conducting the Two Rivers Chorale, a St. Paul community-based civic community choir. During spring break, Sawyer set a record as a chair clinician and adjudicator, working with 30 high school choirs in the span of 10 days.

FAREWELL TO FACULTY AND STAFF

FAREWELL TO FACULTY AND STAFF LEAVING THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Jeremy Kolwinska, D.M.A., Chair of the Music Department, will transition during the summer months to his new position at UNW as Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities. For six years Jeremy has led the music department successfully through challenging economic times, a NASM review, recruiting challenges, and the transition between college and university status. With input from area worship leaders and the music faculty, he championed the addition of a new B.S. Music Ministry degree which fully prepares students (musically, spiritually and practically) to be excellent worship leaders in today's churches. Leading with calm decisiveness, it is Jeremy who coined the music office phrase: "there is no such thing as a musical emergency!" Faculty and staff are very grateful for Jeremy's thoughtful, humble and excellent leadership provided to the music department, advisees and music majors, and look forward to his continued guidance as Dean.

Judy Lennartson, Music Office Supervisor, has

decided, after nine years of service to UNW's Music Department and its students, to return to the role of Homemaker, spending more time with her husband, parents, and growing brood of grandchildren. She has managed the office with excellence, warmly welcomed prospective and new students to our department, and offered invaluable assistance to Jeremy Kolwinska and the music faculty and staff. Judy will be tremendously missed here in the music office, but we wish her the very best in this next adventure.

Dan Leverence, adjunct instructor of music

ministry and worship pastor at Constance Free Church in Andover, has accepted a new position at Parkview Christian Church in the Chicago area. For the past three years Dan has mentored UNW worship teams, and he led worship with his team and the UNW Orchestra in Orchestra Praise Chapels for the past two years. Dan will be missed, but we wish him and his family the best as they transition to Illinois.

Barbara Rogers, D.M.A., Lecturer in Music, recently

relocated to Lexington, Kentucky in order to join her husband, Dr. Richard Weis, who had accepted an academic position there. Throughout her fifteen years at Northwestern, Barbara was a piano instructor, taught and mentored student accompanists, accompanied students and Opera Workshop, performed in Faculty Artist Series, and composed the music for the opera Ruth in 2007-08. Piano Tour students enjoyed her company throughout her years at UNW, and many other ensemble tours were bade farewell with her creative signs and friendly smile. We are grateful to Barbara for her friendship and faithful years of service to the music department and music students.

SPRING TOURS

Symphonic Band, Jan. 23-26, Benson, MN & Sioux Falls, SD

Although the winter weather made its presence felt on the first morning of their tour, the UNW Symphonic Band, conducted by John S. Herlihy, pressed onward to St. Olaf College where they spent the afternoon in a clinic with Dr. Tim Mahr, Director of Bands. Over the next few days the band performed in Sioux Fall, SD and Benson, MN, enjoying some special performances
along the way.

Orchestra Tour, March 7-13, Arizona

The Northwestern Orchestra, conducted by David Kozamchak, had a very successful tour of the Phoenix area over Spring Break playing to packed venues and very appreciative audiences. In addition to playing concerts and connecting with Northwestern alums, the Orchestra found time to travel to the Grand Canyon, climb Camelback Mountain, and enjoy fellowship and their own private concert at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa.

Varsity Men's Chorus, March 29-31, Faribault & Red Wing, MN

The Varsity Men's Chorus, conducted by Timothy Sawyer, travelled on March 29-31 to Faribault, Minnesota, for a home stay with youth group member families, participation in worship and a concert at Faribault Evangelical Free Church and then on to Faribault High School, to help recruit singers for the choral program where UNW alum Alicia Vigness ('08) teaches music and directs choirs. Their final stop was a third return visit to the Red Wing Correctional Facility where they were greeted enthusiastically by the staff and residents. This spring they were accompanied by a combo of gifted UNW jazz instrumentalists: Bradyn Watson, saxophone, Emily Baltzer, piano, Katie Daugherty, piano, and Grey Tison, percussion.

Women's Chorale, April 4-6, Duluth, MN

The Women's Chorale, conducted by Stephanie Trump, had an outstanding weekend tour to Duluth. After a significant snow delay on the morning of April 4 (with 9-12 inches of snow to shovel in the Twin Cities and Duluth!), the Chorale kicked off its tour in an exchange concert with the Armstrong High School choir before heading north. On Saturday they helped to establish a choir festival with the women's choirs from St. Benedict's and St. Scholastica to benefit Safe Haven, a shelter for women and children in the Duluth area. This opportunity challenged and, more importantly, inspired the women. They prayed that God would use them as a blessing and a testimony of His love and faithfulness, and He most certainly did! The tour concluded with participation in the Sunday morning worship services at Duluth Gospel Tabernacle.

Northwestern Choir - East-Central Europe Tour 2014

The Northwestern Choir, conducted by Timothy Sawyer, originally scheduled for Ukraine and Hungary, was rescheduled to Czech Republic and Hungary, due to the recent political unrest in Ukraine. Kudos to UNW tour director Julie Johnson and Steve Benham (Music in World Cultures) for accomplishing this daunting task in just three months! While in Prague, Czech Republic, the Choir sang for an International American congregation, in the Lobkowicz Palace, and in a collaborative concert with the Christian International School of Prague. In addition, the Choir made a return visit (the first in 1998) to the Nazi concentration camp Terezin and the church at the little town Krabcice, to visit and sing for dear old saints living in the Diakonie Home.

Their time in Budapest, Hungary was also full, collaborating in an outdoor concert (and family homestays) with the International Christian School of Budapest, a concert in the famed Basilica of St. Stephen, a twilight Danube dinner cruise and one final concert in the small town of Pet�fib�nya. UNW music grads Tahran Olson ('04) and husband Jason ('05), missionaries with Pioneers in Hungary, helped set up the outreach concert in Pet�fib�nya where 75% of the audience were not believers. A Pioneer team member wrote: "Since the concert I've spoken with several folks who were deeply moved.... an elderly lady told me that the concert really affirmed God's ability to cleanse us from sin and evil. She cried the whole time she spoke of it."

In Tim Sawyer's words: "Our students were exemplary on every level: personal, musical, spiritual. They were true ambassadors for The Kingdom wherever they went ...sharing our music and the gospel in places big and small, and going where few other choirs would dare to go. Soli Deo Gloria!" Click here for Timothy Sawyer's report of the tour and its spiritual impact.

Photos by Guytano Magno (and Julie Johnson)

If you have noteworthy news to share with us about students or alumni, please send your comments to labunce@unwsp.edu.

God Bless you,

Lori Bunce

Project & Events Coordinator

University of Northwestern - St. Paul