The 2021-22 efficiency season concluded within the spring with a jazz and world music residency on the Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts in Pontiac March 30 – April 2, together with 4 concert events and a neighborhood workshop with college, college students and artist-in-residence Regina Carter; the Division of Theatre’s manufacturing of Pippin, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary this yr, from March 30 – April 3 in Varner Studio Theatre; a collection of Younger Choreographers Discussion board and Senior Dance Live performance performances at Detroit Nation Day College in April; an Oakland Symphony Orchestra and Oakland College Symphony Refrain efficiency on April 14 at Orchestra Corridor in Detroit; and the Division of Music’s reimagined model of Handel’s opera, Acis and Galatea, from Could 5 – 8 and Could 12 – 15 within the Varner Studio Theatre.
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The summer time season has included two camps for highschool college students, Low Brass Academy and OU Jazz Intensive, in addition to the return of the Summer time Carillon Sequence. Steady renovations at OU will lead to most of the fall 2022 occasions to happen at numerous venues all through Oakland and Macomb counties, so remember to verify our web site for particulars of our 2022-23 efficiency season. The Varner Recital Corridor might be again in fee this January, and all of SMTD will rejoice at a gala occasion on March 25!
SMTD School, Pupil and Alumni Information
Jeffrey Heisler, affiliate professor of music, had his newest album, VENT, featured on the WGTE (Toledo Public Radio) nationally syndicated program “New Music from Bowling Inexperienced,” curated by pulitzer-prize successful composer Jennifer Higdon and WGTE’s Brad Creswell. VENT, launched on January 14 by AMP Recordings, options works by American composers (Jennifer Higdon, David Lang, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, William Bolcom, Marc Mellits, and Invoice Ryan) that Dr. Heisler commissioned, premiered, and tailored for saxophone. The album additionally contains I-Chen Yeh, piano (Oakland College); Matthew Younglove, alto saxophone (Tennessee Tech College); and Jonathan Ovalle, marimba (Saginaw Valley College).
Gayelynn McKinney, lecturer of music, and Mark Stone, affiliate professor of music, carried out with Joe Reilly on January 17 at this yr’s College of Michigan Martin Luther King Symposium.You may watch the efficiency right here (catch McKinney and Stone on the 26 minute mark). Stone was additionally featured in a current Percussion Dialogue podcast, which might be listened to right here.
In March, Ian Lester (BM, Euphonium Efficiency, ‘18) was named the winner of the 2022 UMKC Composition Competitors together with his piece, Psychological Pendulum, which was premiered by the Manufacturing facility Seconds Brass Trio of the Cleveland Orchestra. You may take heed to the efficiency right here. In Could, two of Lester’s compositions have been carried out by the UMKC Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble on the 2022 Nice Plains Tuba and Euphonium Convention at Drake College. Lester additionally served on a panel presentation led by colleague Taylor Hicks on the processes of commissioning, consortiums, and collaboration between composers and performers. The panel was offered at each the Nice Plains and the Midwest Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conferences (the latter held on the College of Kentucky). Lester has additionally stayed busy enjoying euphonium, performing with each the Fountain Metropolis Brass Band and the Fountain Metropolis Youth Academy Brass Band for the 2021-2022 season. The Fountain Metropolis Brass Band received the 2022 North American Brass Band Championships within the championship part and the Academy Band obtained 2nd place within the third part. This coming educational yr might be Lester’s ultimate yr at UMKC earlier than he graduates with a doctorate in euphonium efficiency and a grasp’s in composition.
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Curtis Armstrong (ADA ‘75) — recognized for traditional TV and movie roles in Dangerous Enterprise, New Woman, Ray, Revenge of the Nerds, Moonlighting and extra — visited OU’s campus on March 22 and sat in on some SMTD courses, participated in a Q&A dialogue and stopped in on a Pippin rehearsal.
SMTD joined within the OU Satisfaction Month celebrations because the Division of Dance just about offered three dances on movie on March 23: “Introducing…Kristi Kreme” by Teresa Muller (college); “Faces” by Angela Lowery (scholar); and “I’appuntamento” by Jane Lyszak (scholar).
OU college members and Broadway veterans Josh Younger and Emily Padgett-Younger carried out March 25-27 in “The Better of Rodgers & Hammerstein” with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Orchestra Corridor in Detroit. The efficiency featured showstopper after showstopper, together with songs from Carousel, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, The King and I, Cinderella, South Pacific, and extra.
Dr. Alta Marie Boover joined Mary Siciliano (piano) and John Madison (viola) in a presentation of the Chamber works of Charles Loeffler on the Scarab Membership on April 3. Their album, Of Time and Love, contains these works and the work of Nicolas Bacri.
On April 3, the Oakland Youth Brass Band took the stage of their first ever public efficiency. Beneath the course of Dr. Jennifer Oliverio, the band carried out choices by Handel Parker (arr. A. Broadhead), Eric Ball, Tom Davoren and Paul Lovatt-Cooper. This yr the OYBB had 25 college students take part from 11 faculty districts. “It was an unimaginable season, I’m so pleased with the work and enthusiasm of the entire college students,” acknowledged Dr. Oliverio.
4 SMTD college members have been honored April 13 in the course of the Founders’ Day twenty seventh Annual School Recognition Occasion: Mark Stone, affiliate professor of music (Neighborhood Engagement School Award); Jeffrey Heisler, affiliate professor of music (Analysis); Pamela L. Klena, visiting assistant professor of music (Service); and Josh Younger, assistant professor of theatre (Instructing). The Founders’ Day School Recognition occasion acknowledges college members whose educating and analysis excellence, artistic achievements and neighborhood service have contributed to the betterment of society. Founders’ Day honors the reminiscence of college benefactors Alfred and Matilda Dodge Wilson, whose present of 1,400 acres and $2 million has enriched the lives of hundreds of individuals since Oakland College’s founding in 1957.
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Katie Phelan (BFA ‘14) efficiently defended her thesis and has earned a Grasp of Fantastic Arts diploma from the College of Iowa’s Division of Dance. Phelan’s “Exposing Layers” premiered on April 13 throughout a showcase thesis live performance. “This work is a efficiency that makes use of a stay digital camera to seize dance on a proscenium stage and initiatives it on a downstage scrim,” Phelan mentioned. “The viewers can see by means of the scrim’s projection to watch dancers and digital camera motion upstage. Immediately, Web entry has made unveiling digital artwork strategies a secondary efficiency by means of tutorials and ‘behind-the-scenes’ explanations. This work is located in a relentless ‘behind-the-scenes’ standpoint. It’s a efficiency of technique in addition to a efficiency of the connection between stay motion and real-time suggestions. It makes the ‘trigger and impact’ seen on the stage and scrim, which provides a viewing expertise that’s completely different from solely stage efficiency or cinema. The choreography considers a dialogue between the stage performers and mediated our bodies on the scrim to ask how they co-exist. Information of the inscribed dancing physique is used to create actions of the digital camera as an extension of the physique.”
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After performing a bit of it for the Oakland College Board of Trustees on April 14, Affiliate Professor of Dance Thayer Jonutz premiered “Hammer and Nail” — a multi-disciplined efficiency merging dance, theatre, encompass sound music composition, artistic writing and set design — on April 15 in Varner Studio Theatre. “The premiere of ‘Hammer and Nail’ far exceeded my expectations on so many ranges,” Jonutz mentioned. “I obtained a standing ovation and lots of emotionally moved viewers members waited for over an hour to speak to me afterwards earlier than they left the theatre.” Because of the overwhelmingly optimistic response, Jonutz determined to carry out the work once more on April 23. “Chris Kirkum, father of Katie Kirkum — who simply graduated final yr from our dance division — attended the present and was overcome with emotion,” Jonutz mentioned. “A lot in order that he invited Jon and I to carry out ‘Hammer and Nail’ a 3rd time as a part of a management coaching collection.” As well as, Jonutz was additionally invited to carry out “Hammer and Nail” on April 29 for dance and English college students at Oxford Excessive College.
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In April, the OU BFA performing and musical theatre seniors wrapped up profitable showcases in Chicago and New York Metropolis, respectively, the place they met with high native brokers, casting administrators, actors, administrators and filmmakers, and took part in masterclasses and seminars with the business’s main artists.
Norm Lewis — Emmy, Tony, and SAG Award-nominated actor — was on OU’s campus on April 24 for a masterclass with OU theatre college students. Lewis’ Broadway credit embody The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables, Chicago, Amour, The Wild Occasion, Aspect Present, Miss Saigon, and The Who’s Tommy. Musical theatre scholar Ever Liedel mentioned, “Working within the masterclass with Norm Lewis and watching my friends work with him was a wonderful expertise and alternative. Performing for Broadway royalty was nerve wracking however as soon as I bought up there to carry out, I felt fully in management and in my factor due to the great power that Norm introduced, alongside together with his experience and authenticity. Simply from that brief period of time that I labored with him, I had gained a a lot stronger sense of confidence, focus, and ability that I intend to make use of for my future research and profession.”
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OU brass and percussion college students competed on the North American Brass Band Affiliation (NABBA) Championships April 29 – 30 in Huntsville, Alabama: The Oakland College Brass Band was awarded third place within the 1st Part band class; the fOUrce Brass Quartet (Alexis Dill, Jonathon Esbri, Anna Greyerbiehl, Christopher Warren) received 2nd Place in Brass Ensemble; the Magnificent 7 (Collin Area, Taylor Atkinson, Mattheas Boelter, Brady Jacot, Kyle Paoletti, David Smit, Jake Voight) received 2nd Place in Percussion Ensemble; particular person awards got to Alexis Dill (Winner, Cornet Gradual Melody Solo), Carlos Perez-Hijar (Winner, Excessive Brass Youth Solo), Dustin Freeman (2nd Place, Trombone Technical Solo), Makenzie Barber (2nd Place, Low Brass Youth Solo) and Brandon Thibault (third Place, Tuba Gradual Melody Solo.) “I’m simply so extremely pleased with what these college students have achieved,” mentioned Dr. Kenneth Kroesche, director of the OU Brass Band. “It’s an honor to share the stage with these great musicians. Their success isn’t any shock given the great crew of brass and percussion college we have now at OU.”
Each spring, OU Music, Theatre and Dance acknowledges distinguished college students, alumni and neighborhood members with MaTilDa Awards. The MaTilDas are named to honor Matilda Dodge Wilson who donated the land on which Oakland College is constructed. This yr’s awards have been offered on the SMTD Graduation Celebration on April 30 within the Varner Studio Theatre. Award recipients included: Kevin Cornwell II – Distinguished Musicianship Award (undergraduate), Peyton Miller – Distinguished Musicianship Award (undergraduate), Alexis Dill – Distinguished Musicianship Award (graduate), Nina Gojcaj – Excellent Pupil in Vocal Efficiency, Carson Arcuri – Excellent Pupil in Opera, Deven Mallamo – Excellent Pupil in Piano Efficiency (undergraduate), Pinlin Liu and Yelena Murray – Jennifer Scott Memorial Award, Yang Yang – Excellent Collaborative Piano Award, Corrine Kliewer – Excellent Pupil in Instrumental Efficiency (undergraduate), Kyle Paoletti – Excellent Pupil in Instrumental Efficiency (undergraduate), Tyler Hewett – Excellent Pupil in Instrumental Efficiency (graduate), Noah McDonald – Excellent Pupil in Instrumental Efficiency (graduate), Ilyssa Brunhild – Excellent Pupil in Music Training, Wesley Hutchison – Excellent Pupil in Jazz, Braden Macchia – Excellent Pupil in World Music, Brant Ford and Peyton Miller (The Ford / Miller DUO) – Excellent College students in Chamber Music, Iyla Miller – Excellent Pupil Service Award (Music), Christopher Warren – Excellent Pupil Service Award (Music), Noah Canales – Pat and Mercedes Nicosia Meadow Brook Property, Jalen Wilson-Nelem – Gittlen Achievement in Performing, Liv Kunkle – Gittlen Achievement in Theatre Design and Know-how, Stanley Misevich – Gittlen Achievement in Musical Theatre, Olivia Keifer – Gittlen Theatre Award, Kassie Dunaj – Excellent Pupil Service Award (Theatre), Madeline Parker – Distinguished Dance Pupil, Riley McClain – Excellent Dance Efficiency, Rebecca Otmanowski – Excellent Choreography Award, Madisyn Boussie – Excellent Pupil Service Award (Dance), Daniel Shiller – SMTD Award (for dedication to the interdisciplinary nature of the college), and Leah Wilson – Social Justice Award.
The seventy fifth annual Tony Award nominations have been introduced Could 9, and alumna Jayne Houdyshell (ADA ‘74) was nominated for “Greatest Efficiency by an Actress in a Featured Function in a Musical” for the function of Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in The Music Man. Houdyshell graduated with honors from OU’s Academy of Dramatic Arts and has since been forged in quite a few Broadway productions and has obtained 5 Tony nominations, successful in 2016 for “Greatest Featured Actress in a Play” for the function of Deirdra in The People. She has additionally been awarded two Obie Awards, a Drama Desk Award, a Joseph Jefferson Award, a Barrymore Award and a Theatre World Award. In 2020, Houdyshell was given Oakland College’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award and was offered with an honorary diploma, Doctorate of Arts Honoris Causa.
Brandon Santana (BFA ‘18) appeared in Could as a visitor actor on a season 5 episode of 9-1-1 on FOX. He performed Pavel, a groom in a actuality present wedding ceremony that has a medical emergency. Brandon shared a clip on his Instagram web page.
Three OU college students attended the Worldwide Ladies’s Brass Convention (IWBC) on the College of North Texas from Could 24 – 28. Mabelynn Dill (Masters – Trombone Efficiency) carried out as a visitor trombonist with the Trilogy Brass Trio in a recital that included two new authentic compositions for brass trio. Alexis Dill (MM – Trumpet Efficiency, ‘22) carried out in a live performance with the Chromatic Brass Collective, a brand new brass ensemble composed of feminine gamers of coloration who’re all rising stars within the brass world. Shannon Sheldrick (Masters – Trumpet Efficiency) carried out as a cornet participant within the acclaimed Athena Brass Band, which is a gaggle of feminine brass gamers who collect from throughout the nation to play on the IWBC in addition to most of the main conferences annually. The convention additionally sponsors competitions all through the week. Noah McDonald (Masters – Tuba Efficiency) was the Third Place Winner of the Orchestral Mock Tuba Competitors.
OU music college member Sharon Sparrow and music college students Corrin Kliewer and Claudia Montoya carried out in June at CedarBrook Retirement Village. “To discover a technique to cope and to counter the unimaginable evil and unhappiness in our world, part of me believes that spreading pleasure by means of music helps to stability all of it only a tiny bit,” Sparrow mentioned. “It was heartwarming to have the ability to deliver my two superb college students with me to share music for the residents. Music is love.”
Sparrow and OU flute college Jeffery Zook additionally revealed Quantity Two of their version of Telemann for Two, fantasias for solo flute, organized for 2 flutes in duet kind. These items have been premiered on the Nationwide Flute Affiliation Conference in Chicago in August by Sparrow Hannah Hammel, principal flute of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
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Alyssa Primeau (BM ‘18) performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra a number of instances this previous summer time, together with a live performance in July at Somerset Mall that includes the Detroit Symphony and the music of John Williams. Primeau is a daily member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Brian Wiik, a music training and tuba efficiency main, and Dustin Freeman, a trombone efficiency main, each attended the inaugural session of the Brevard Music Heart Low Brass Seminar in June, the place they studied with college from different establishments, carried out in chamber teams and took part in a mock audition. Wilk additionally attended the Pokorny Low Brass Seminar, hosted by Northern Illinois College, and studied with Gene Pokorny, tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a professor at Northern Illinois College.
School member Dan Maslanka has been busy this spring and summer time. After ending La Boheme on the Detroit Opera Home, he performed a profitable run of Imply Ladies on the Fisher Theatre. Maslanka just lately completed enjoying on an unbiased movie, Yaniv, and might be enjoying the operas Valkyries and Faust on the Opera Home within the fall. In between these reveals, he’ll as soon as once more be performing within the orchestra with The Who at Little Caesars Area.
Tara Sievers-Hunt (PhD ’21) obtained the Excellent Dissertation Award for 2021 from the Oakland College Graduate College. Dr. Sievers-Hunt efficiently defended her doctoral thesis, entitled “Referred to as to the Dialog: A Digital Ethnodrama Exploring Collisions of Calling and Shadow Throughout a Cohort of Hero’s Journeys Into Skilled Musicianhood,” in August.
Music main Hannah Combs was chosen as a recipient of the 2022 NAfME (Nationwide Affiliation for Music Training) Collegiate Skilled Achievement Award. Combs is the present president of Oakland College’s NAfME chapter in addition to a founding member. “This recognition from NAfME is such an unimaginable honor,” Combs mentioned. “I’m very grateful to NAfME Collegiate for all that they’ve performed to help me throughout (and after!) my time serving our Oakland chapter. This scholarship is an enormous assist for me as I transition into scholar educating within the fall.” Final semester, OU’s NAfme chapter co-sponsored an expert growth occasion titled “Diversifying Your Stand & Constructing an Inclusive Program” with speaker Ashley Killam. Now, Combs is interning because the social media supervisor and graphic designer for Diversify the Stand, a corporation devoted to working with various musical voices to create accessible academic music. “I can even be ending up my Bachelor’s in music training by scholar educating with Suzanne Myers at Hugger Elementary in Rochester,” she mentioned. For extra info on the NAfME scholarship, go to https://nafme.org/shannon-kelly-kane-scholarship.
Musical theatre alum Jake Daley (BFA ‘16) went from the ensemble to main participant at Circa 21’ Dinner Playhouse. Their manufacturing of Magnificence and the Beast was halted on their first Wednesday evening preview when the actor enjoying Lumiere contracted COVID-19. That evening, Daley was requested to be taught the function and was thrown into put-in rehearsals the subsequent morning. In 48 hours, he discovered the half and saved the present, performing for a full home on opening evening. “I’m so lucky to have had the complete help and religion of my fellow forged, crew, and inventive crew,” Daley mentioned. “It was a loopy course of, however the outpouring of affection and encouragement from them let me know I wasn’t going to fail.” A evaluation from opening weekend mentioned, “…the function of the candelabra Lumiere, on Saturday, was carried out by understudy Jake Daley — sometimes a member of the ensemble — and he was impeccable. If there hadn’t been an announcement on the high of the present, nobody would have recognized that Daley was merely filling in,” (River Cities’ Reader). “We’re seeing increasingly understudies occurring these days,” Daley mentioned. “It’s a significant a part of our business and I’m thrilled to be a part of the group that helps hold theatre alive.”
Taylor Hillary Boykins (BM ‘11) might be becoming a member of Lorelei Ensemble to carry out with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Gustav Holst’s “Planets,” adopted by the world premiere tour of Julia Wolfe’s “Her Story,” a bit that comes with textual content from necessary feminine figures all through historical past, showcasing ladies’s combat for equality and the making an attempt moments in our historical past and tradition. Holst performances embody: Boston Symphony Orchestra (September 22 – 23). Wolfe performances: Nashville Symphony (September 15 – 17); Chicago Symphony (January 6 -7 ‘23); Boston Symphony (March 16 – 18 ‘23); San Francisco Symphony (Could 25, 27 ‘23); and Nationwide Symphony (October, TBD ‘23).
Ben Fuhrman, lecturer of music expertise and composition, has been busy acting at numerous venues throughout the U.S., together with: Malleability on the New York Metropolis Digital Music Competition on June 22 in New York Metropolis, Particle Forge on the Manchester New Music Competition on Could 7 at Manchester College, Malleability at Digital Music Midwest on April 23 at Lewis College, Classes from Different Composers by the Oakland College Guitar Ensemble on April 5 at Oakland, Lattice Work by Birds on a Wire Ensemble on April 3 at Western Michigan College, Malleability on the 2022 SEAMUS Nationwide Convention on April 2 at Western Michigan College, Caprice No. 1 for Mandolin Solo on the Faculty Music Society Nice Lakes Convention on March 18 at Millikin College, and Particle Forge on Feb. 10 at Ball State College.
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OU Particular Lecturer Thomas Mahard just lately labored together with his daughter, actress Katy Mahard, on a brief movie — “The Sponsor — directed by Joe Heck. “I filmed on a time without work from A Christmas Carol final fall,” mentioned Thomas Mahard, who performs mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge within the annual Meadow Brook Theatre manufacturing. “It was accepted on the first two festivals we utilized to and we’re very enthusiastic about it.” For his function within the manufacturing, Mahard additionally obtained a Certificates of Achievement (Silver Award for Greatest Supporting Actor) on the Impartial Shorts Awards, which have been held in July in Los Angeles. “This implies The Sponsor will get a public screening on the pageant, and in addition be eligible for the end-of-the-year awards,” he mentioned. Mahard and his daughter are additionally working collectively on one other brief movie, “Pocket Aces,” which is at present in manufacturing.
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Fourteen theatre college students studied overseas in Hydra this summer time with the Classical Theatre Examine in Greece program, accompanied by theatre professors Jeremy Barnett and Lynnae Lehfeldt. Throughout their journey, the scholars rehearsed and carried out The Trojan Ladies, an historic play by Euripides, on the island of Hydra. From there, they went on tour, visiting necessary websites resembling Mycenae, Corinth, Argos, Delphi, and lots of extra. The journey culminated in a 3 day keep in Athens. Musical theatre main Grace Ricci captured the wonder and pleasure of their once-in-a-lifetime journey with a wonderful video.
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The Oakland Chorale (led by conductor Michael Mitchell and assistant conductor Brandon Gauvin) spent two weeks in Spain touring and performing in among the nation’s most historic venues. After one in every of their performances, Dr. Mitchell mentioned, “I couldn’t be extra pleased with the Oakland Chorale. They sang a spectacular live performance in a medieval church in Segovia, Spain. The church was overflowing and the scholars gave a very impressed efficiency. They bought two encores and an actual 5 minute standing ovation. It was one of many most interesting, most dedicated performances I’ve ever been part of. I like this.” Additionally they had the chance to carry out on a stay radio broadcast on Canal Sur Radio, 105.1 in Seville.
In celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Saugatuck Heart for the Arts, Oakland College Affiliate Professor of Theatre Jeremy Barnett and theatre alumnus Jason Maracani created seven new artwork installations within the West Michigan communities of Saugatuck, Douglas, Holland, and Fennville as a part of a particular summer time exhibition. “A lot of what we’re doing is creating a possibility to rejoice not solely the panorama, however the members of the neighborhood who contribute to those initiatives,” Barnett mentioned. Learn the whole story right here.
Michelle Tschirhart, SMTD recruitment and outreach supervisor, obtained the 2022 AP Reward, a recognition given to administrative professionals who’ve gone past their common job duties to advance the mission of the college of the previous yr.
A Nearer Stroll With Patsy Cline ended June 19 at Meadow Brook Theatre, and Tyler Bolda (BFA ‘19) and present musical theatre main Sam VanKampen performed members of the Jordanaires, alongside Broadway veteran Felicia Finley as Patsy Cline. Encore Michigan wrote that actors portraying the Jordanaires (additionally performed by Geoffrey Besser and Mikey Vultaggio) “may take into consideration staying collectively as a quartet as their harmonies are pitch excellent.” The manufacturing was directed by MBT creative director Travis Walter (BA ’02) and contains music training main Jackson Stone on bass in Patsy Cline’s band.
OU theatre alumna Anetria Cole received a Gilda Rising Artist Award from the Kresge Basis this yr. The award was for $5,000. Cole took Playwriting I and Superior Playwriting when she attended Oakland and received a Matilda Award for Playwriting. “I’m overjoyed about it,” Cole mentioned. Cole was a MaTilDa recipient as a scholar and has stayed linked to OU through the years, particularly by means of her visits with Kitty Dubin’s playwriting courses. “I liked each second at OU,” she mentioned. You may learn extra concerning the Kresge Artist Fellowships in this Detroit Information article.
At this yr’s Artwork Speaks — an annual artistic arts pageant held in Midland, Mich. on June 3 – 4 Antonio Vettraino (BFA ‘21) and theatre minor Alanna Courtright had their performs chosen for manufacturing on this yr’s pageant: Vettraino for his play, I’ll Have What She’s Having and Courtright for her play, The Nice Journey. Vettraino’s play additionally received the Greatest 10 Minute Play award for the pageant and he obtained a money prize.
The Oakland College Brass Band despatched 5 of its members to the North American Brass Band Summer time College (NABBSS) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada from June 21 – July 2. These college students included Christopher Warren (euphonium), Iyla Miller (euphonium), Brandon Thibault (tuba), Tyler Schreiber (tuba), and Mattheas Boelter (percussion). Oakland College was one in every of solely six college brass bands from world wide to ship college students to the summer time faculty with their full tuition, housing and meals being supplied whereas there. Among the many different universities that have been represented included the College of North Texas, the Royal Welch Faculty of Music and Dance, Rowan College, Troy College, and College of Toronto. The NABBSS’s college embody the highest brass band musicians from world wide. The varsity is led by Dr. Nicholas Childs, conductor of the world famend Black Dyke Band from the UK. Dr. David Childs, who’s the professor of Euphonium on the College of North Texas and a world acclaimed euphonium virtuoso, is the opposite director of the summer time faculty. Along with receiving instruction from internationally recognized college, the coed band performs concert events throughout their time in Halifax, in addition to performing on the Royal Nova Scotia Navy Tattoo.
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Properly Theatre Group offered Pippin July 22-24 and 29-30 on the Berman Heart for the Performing Arts, and the manufacturing was full of OU expertise: present college students Braden Cooper (Pippin), Alec Diem (Participant, u/s Pippin), Travis Darghali (Participant), Serelle Karasinski (Participant, u/s Catherine), Sydney Nummer (Participant), Calleigh Wilson (Participant, u/s Berthe), Leah Wilson (Participant, u/s Main Participant); alumni Griffin Krause (King Charles); and OU workers/collaborative pianist Amy Sauve (musical director).
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Kellan Dunlap received first prize within the Nationwide Affiliation of Academics of Singing (NATS) Higher Classical Tenor, Baritone and Bass division on the NATS Nationwide Convention in Chicago in July. Dunlap was invited from hundreds of candidates from throughout the nation to compete within the semi-final spherical, and from there it was narrowed right down to a ultimate spherical of 4 college students. Dunlap was competing in opposition to seniors, a few of whom have been as previous as 25. Dunlap is double majoring in music training/vocal efficiency and research voice with Drake Dantzler, affiliate professor of voice. “Kellan flew again from learning overseas in Spain on to Chicago, had no baggage that was caught in London, and received the higher division of a nationwide competitors as a junior,” Dantzler mentioned. “Kellan is that man!” Dr. Mike Mitchell, director of the Oakland Chorale, mentioned. “Kellan is the second OU scholar to win the nationwide competitors within the final six years. Wish to be an ideal singer? Come to Oakland College!” Dunlap was additionally interviewed on the Oakland County Megacast on July 7 to debate his first prize win, in addition to his research overseas journey to Spain with the Oakland Chorale.You may watch the interview right here.
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Regina Carter (BA ‘85) will quickly be acknowledged as an NEA Jazz Grasp, becoming a member of the 2023 class of inductees. The NEA Jazz Masters fellowship, typically described because the nation’s highest honor for jazz, brings with it a $25,000 award and a prestigious title. The brand new class might be honored in a gala NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Live performance, to be held on April 1, 2023. The live performance, offered in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts in Washington, might be free to attend with a reservation, and webcast stay at NPR.org and arts.gov. A previous recipient of each a MacArthur Fellowship and a Doris Duke Artist Award, Carter is probably the most celebrated jazz violinist of her era, recognized for a heat, lustrous sound and a springy method with rhythm. Together with being an Oakland College alumna, Carter can be the OU Division of Music’s artist-in-residence. Learn extra right here.
Whitney Locher, assistant professor of theatre, designed the costumes for the opera, Sky on Swings, at Opera Saratoga that opened July 7, and she or he’s designing the costumes for a manufacturing of L’Orfeo that opened August 26 for Pegasus Early Music. “I’m so excited that stay leisure is again and thriving,” Locher mentioned. “Each Sky on Swings and L’Orfeo have been pandemic casualties which can be performing this summer time. I began the method of designing these operas in 2019, and I’m glad and relieved to lastly see them coming to life on stage.”
Cat Bennett, assistant professor of music, spent 10 weeks in Ecuador this summer time beginning analysis on South American faculty music training, creating and piloting an authentic survey with Universidad de Las Américas colleague, Dr. Johanna Abril. She additionally studied Spanish, dance, and vocal music amidst analysis and journey. In July on the Worldwide Society of Music Training world convention, on-line this yr, she offered two paper classes, one on her work in South America and one other on music instructor growth. Simply previous to the convention, she was additionally elected to the Worldwide Journal of Music Training (IJME) editorial board for a six yr time period.
Beth Visitor, a particular lecturer in theatre at OU, served as stage director of Rochester Neighborhood Faculties Summer time Music Theatre’s manufacturing of Anastasia, which ran July 21-23. “Summer time Music Theatre has a 48 yr custom of manufacturing a big musical in simply six weeks,” Visitor mentioned. “SMT brings collectively a crew {of professional} administrators, vocal coaches, choreographers, designers, and musicians to work with college students from the Rochester Neighborhood and surrounding areas. It was an absolute pleasure working with these gifted college students, stage directing this yr’s manufacturing of Anastasia the Broadway Musical.” The manufacturing crew included choreographer and OU alumnus Andrew Dettloff, and the combat choreography was created by Anthony Visitor, affiliate professor of theatre.
Marisa Jacques (B.A. ‘22) has obtained the Paul H. O’Neill Fellowship and Service Corps Fellowship to attend Indiana College for a grasp’s diploma in arts administration. Whereas at OU, Jacques studied saxophone with Dr. Jeffrey Heisler and took part in quite a few ensembles together with Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Golden Grizzlies Band, Jazz Band, and numerous saxophone quartets. With a ardour for neighborhood service and outreach, Jacques has served as Teacher of Woodwinds at Accent Pontiac — a non-profit dedicated to strengthening Pontiac’s youth and neighborhood by means of equitable entry to intensive and constant music making — since 2019.
Cassandra Svacha (BAPA Musical Theatre ‘02) just lately received three awards on the 2022 Collab24 Devise Theatre Competition, which ran July 16 – Aug. 1, together with high honors of “Viewers Favourite” present, as effectively the “Winners Circle” award, which is voted on by earlier winners and theatre makers. This worldwide pageant teams up theatre makers from all world wide to create new work. The present, known as Hurricane Season, seems at miscommunications and the unlikely stress to “be ready.”
After being accepted to the European American Musical Alliance’s 2022 summer time institute, Peyton Miller (BM ‘22) spent a month (July 1 – 29) in Paris, France on the La Schola Cantorum. Whereas on the institute, he attended group courses, obtained non-public instruction from college, and had his works carried out by resident ensembles. “It was such an honor to fulfill and work with so many phenomenally expert and beneficiant people over the previous 4 weeks,” mentioned Miller, who returned to the U.S. in August. “Now it’s time to go and follow some scales!”
Karen Sheridan, distinguished professor of theatre, is at present within the Williamson Theatre’s manufacturing of Hat Field. The play, directed by John Lepard, is about two sisters who uncover a field hidden at the back of their just lately deceased father’s closet. What sits inside sends them off to go to eccentric Aunt Esther and on an more and more wild experience down reminiscence lane. It runs by means of August. 14.
Oakland College alumni Ellen Hargis and David Douglass, the husband-and-wife crew who stepped down just lately after a few years of serving because the co-artistic administrators of The Newberry Consort in Chicago, have been chosen to obtain the 2022 Howard Mayer Brown Award for lifetime achievement from Early Music America, the main group of their area, for his or her pioneering work in uncovering and performing not often heard music. “We’re humbled to obtain this award from EMA and are grateful to the neighborhood of students and musicians who made our careers in early music so rewarding,” Hargis and Douglas mentioned. “Little did we all know after we met in Lyle Nordstrom’s collegium musicum in 1973 that we might see all our desires come true: collaborating with superb colleagues everywhere in the globe and having the chance to create, carry out, and report our dream initiatives, now for greater than 40 years. For the final 15 years we had the enjoyment of co-directing The Newberry Consort, which was our major focus till our retirement from the ensemble in 2022. We’ve got been lucky to be lecturers and mentors of many gifted and devoted younger artists who’re already new leaders within the area. We thank those that nominated and supported us for this award of a lifetime.” You may learn extra right here.
Detroit Dance Change — a choreographic showcase for artists to current work whereas receiving viewers suggestions — occurred on August 6 on the Andy Artwork Heart in Detroit. This yr’s occasion featured a number of OU dance alumni together with Amanda Fabry, Torri Johnson, Claire Little, and Elliott Vargas. Detroit Dance Change was co-founded in 2018 by Teresa Muller, dance lecturer at OU, and Tracy Halloran, assistant professor of dance at Madonna College.
Musical theatre scholar Rachel Sarles spent the summer time as a swing performer on a seven-show season with the skilled Tibbits Summer time Theatre firm at Tibbits Opera Home in Coldwater, Mich. Along with getting ready a number of tracks for every present, Sarles carried out within the firm’s late evening cabarets, within the onstage ensemble of Godspell, and as Shere Khan in a musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Guide by means of Tibbits’ Popcorn Theatre for younger audiences program.
Denise Caston-Clark has been in Plymouth, Mass., just lately choreographed a manufacturing of the Broadway musical, One thing Rotten, for the historic Priscilla Seashore Theatre earlier than heading again to Detroit to supply Motor Metropolis Faucet Fest, a faucet pageant that includes courses with main artists, performances and extra, which occurred from Aug. 3 – 7 at Faucet Dance Detroit. “It has been a enjoyable summer time of making and assembly new folks, and I am unable to wait to see everybody at OU this fall,” she mentioned.
Cat Dacpano, vocal coach and collaborative pianist for musical theatre, performed the lead function of Rosie Alvarez in Riverbank Theatre’s manufacturing of Bye Bye Birdie in Marine Metropolis, which ran by means of August 7.
Shakespeare Royal Oak offered Romeo and Juliet by means of August 7 on the Starr Jaycee Park. The forged included OU alums Jalen Wilson-Nelem (Romeo), Alaina Whidby (Mercutio), Dryden Zurawski (Benvolio), Anna Marck (Peter) and present theatre college students Olivia Kiefer (Juliet) and Princess Beyonce Jones (Apothecary/Prologue).
OU jazz college member Gayelynn McKinney launched a brand new pageant known as “Ladies Who Drum,” which is able to function all ladies drummers and their ensembles. The primary annual occasion occurred Wednesday, August 10 on the Dequindre Reduce in Detroit.
Michael Medvinsky (BM ‘05, MM ‘17) was featured in an August 10 Oakland College College of Training and Human Providers alumni highlight article entitled “Hanging a Chord.” At the moment, Medvinsky serves because the dean of pedagogy and innovation at College Liggett College in Grosse Pointe Woods.
A number of OU alumni — together with Amanda Fabry, Claire Little, Riley McClain, Rebecca Otmanowski, Torri Johnson, Victoria Poirier, and Elliott Vargas — and present OU scholar Iyobosasere Enabulele might be acting on Friday, August 12 in a recent dance live performance by ConteXture Dance Detroit on the Redford Theatre in Detroit. The live performance will discover themes surrounding the idea of pleasure and its affect on our lives.
OU Music college member Terry Herald will be conducting the West Michigan Symphony for the Shoreline Jazz Competition in Muskegon on August 26. As music director for Alexander Zonjic, Herald has organized items from his present initiatives for the orchestra. Zonjic’s particular visitor for the primary half of the live performance is the Temptations tribute group Serieux. “We might be debuting six of my preparations of their basic Motown hits with Alexander and the orchestra,” Herald mentioned.
Herald and Bret Hoag just lately accomplished a supplementary video collection for use with Thomas E. Larson’s “Historical past of Rock & Roll,” a preferred textbook amongst SMTD college, to spotlight main ideas from every chapter with demonstrations. “Kendall Hunt (the writer) favored the thought and contracted us to create movies that could possibly be linked to every chapter of the textual content,” Herald mentioned. Many of the movies have been shot in Herald’s report studio at OU, and lined a variety of matters associated to the evolution of rock and roll. “We’ve got movies that designate the completely different developments, from the blues, funk, reggae, punk, and hip hop, in addition to breaking down among the manufacturing strategies used to create the long-lasting works within the style.” For instance, within the motown chapter, Herald and Hoag interviewed Dayna Hartwick, who performed flute and piccolo on the entire basic Hitsville recordings. “We approached the movies as informal conversations, and the movies weren’t tightly scripted,” Herald mentioned. “We wished to maintain a casual, conversational method.”
Two OU music alumni — Krysty Swann and Ann Toomey — have been forged within the upcoming Detroit Opera manufacturing of The Valkyries, Krysty as Rossweisse and Ann as Ortlinde. This high-tech therapy of probably the most well-known act in Wagner’s Ring Cycle opens in September.
Jacquelyn Wagner (BM ‘03) will make her debut within the function of Magda in La Rondine at Torre del Lago Puccini pageant on August 19 and 27, which takes place in composer Giacomo Puccini’s house city of Lucca, Italy. Ms. Wagner’s 2022 engagements have included Salomé at Landestheater Innsbruck (Austria), Lohengrin at Osterfestspiele Salzburg (Austria), Fidelio at Staatsoper Hamburg (Germany) and Arabella at Zürich Opera (Germany).
Detroit Metropolis Dance Competition — an annual neighborhood constructing occasion that celebrates dance in its numerous varieties and disciplines — takes place September 9 – 11. Take Root, one in every of OU’s dance-companies-in-residence, will carry out within the Choreographers Showcase on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and maintain a Dance For Parkinson’s Illness class on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 10:15 a.m.; the Saturday Summer time Stage will embody performances by present OU dance scholar Rebecca Otmanowski and Artwork Lab J for Grown Ups (together with SMTD workers/college member Carly Uhrig.)
Alumna Lauren Religion Goyer (BFA Performing ‘20) might be enjoying the function of Nicola in “Kinky Boots” from Sept. 16 – 25 on the Croswell Opera Home in Adrian, Mich.
Daniel Abrahams (Ph.D., Music Training ‘13) was promoted to affiliate professor with tenure on the College of Arkansas and named music training program coordinator.
David Gram, assistant professor of theatre, and his spouse, Kristina Riegle (managing director), have co-founded a brand new theatre firm, Renaissance Metropolis Repertory, which is able to current its inaugural manufacturing, Witty Fools & Silly Wits, on August 25, 27, and 28 at Auburn Hills’ Riverside Park Knight Amphitheater (3311 Squirrel Court docket). “Witty Fools & Silly Wits takes audiences on a comedic romp by means of Shakespeare’s canon,” Gram mentioned. “A comical collage of items that function most of the Bard’s well-known clowns, lovers and jesters — all making an attempt to assist us make sense of the world by means of their humor, folly and knowledge.” Directed by Gram (producing creative director), the forged of seven contains OU alums Kelsi Fay (BFA ’20) and Alaina Whidby (BFA ’20), and present senior Princess Jones (BFA ’22). The manufacturing’s design crew contains Kerro Knox 3, Terry Herald, and retired particular teacher Leslie Littell. Admission is free. For extra info, go to www.rcrep.org or observe on Fb or Instagram.
A number of Music Training college students have obtained and accepted job provides, together with Collin Kay, who’s the new choral director at Walled Lake Western Excessive College; Zachary Musienko, who has accepted a place educating band and choir at Allen Park Center College; and Mary Gass, who has accepted a Ok-5 music educating place in Ann Arbor Public Faculties at their A2 STEAM faculty. Music alumnus Bert Van Dyke has retired from his place as Marine Metropolis Excessive College choir director after 30 years of service and might be succeeded by current OU alumna Erin Kurtz. On June 4, Bert introduced his candidacy for Michigan State Senate. Kasey Julian (BM ‘21) is educating at Orchard Hills Elementary within the Novi Neighborhood College District and can current on the Michigan Music Convention this January.
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Oakland College’s College of Music, Theatre and Dance is happy to welcome a number of new college members: Kelli Crump, Central Michigan College graduate with an MFA in performing from the Nationwide Theatre Conservator and studied Shakespeare on the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, is a proud member of Actors’ Fairness Affiliation and SAG/AFTRA; Elise Eden, OU vocal efficiency graduate with grasp’s and doctoral levels from the College of Michigan, has taught voice and voice-related programs at each the College of Michigan and at Albion Faculty; Katrina Van Maanen, Western Michigan College voice efficiency graduate with a grasp’s diploma from the College of Houston, brings all kinds of performing experiences whereas sustaining a thriving non-public voice studio; Constantine Novotny, OU vocal efficiency graduate with grasp’s levels from Wichita State College and the College of Notre Dame, involves us from New York Metropolis the place he’s an lively skilled singer and voice teacher; Amanda Ross, Baldwin Wallace trumpet efficiency graduate with grasp’s and doctoral levels from the College of Michigan, was most just lately the interim teacher of trumpet on the College of Michigan and performing principal of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra; and Rachel Stevens, Actors Studio Drama College graduate (MFA) and Stage Administrators and Choreographers Society affiliate, joins us from New York Metropolis the place she is a director, educator and coach.
