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IN THIS ISSUE

FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR

Dear Alumni and Friends,
 
Without a doubt, this year’s letter to alumni—my last as director—comes at a time of tremendous challenge. Already in the midst of a global pandemic, our country has recently been roiled by a string of senseless killings of black Americans at the hands of police and others, of which the murder of George Floyd has been the one most seared into the collective American conscience. The School of Music (SOM) community has been profoundly affected by these dehumanizing acts of violence, and we have begun to consider anew the ways in which we might rise to the challenge of addressing the systemic and institutional racism that has plagued our country for generations and that continues to adversely impact communities of color. This is a moment that demands action, and for that reason I have called upon the school’s IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access), made up of faculty, staff and students, to convene immediately and to work with senior administration to devise a series of meaningful actions that demonstrate the seriousness of our commitment to making SOM a more diverse, inclusive and equitable place to teach, learn, work and make music. As such discussions are currently in progress, I would invite you in the meantime to read SOM’s full statement in response to recent events.  

We have also, of course, had to deal with the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most institutions of higher education, the University of Maryland transitioned to remote instruction following spring break in response to nationwide quarantines. At SOM, faculty have been especially innovative in delivering our unique modes of instruction and maintaining our commitment to inclusive excellence as we work to keep students engaged and on track. I have been deeply impressed by, and tremendously proud of, the resilience and creativity shown by our faculty and students.  

Given only one week to prepare, faculty successfully moved all of their instructional activities online, including lessons, chamber music and ensembles, while students managed to complete virtual degree recitals and dissertation defenses. With in-person performances canceled and students no longer able to make music in our building, the faculty found innovative ways of not only continuing meaningful instruction but also of providing unique experiences that would not have otherwise been possible. 

For example, we had multiple experts and guest artists from around the globe teach and interact with our students via Zoom. Students enrolled in orchestra engaged in score study and discussion and also took part in an audition module led by conductor David Neely in which he interviewed alumni from major orchestras who spoke about audition preparation and offered general career advice. These students were also able to submit a mock audition video recording and receive feedback from faculty and from other professional musicians. Meanwhile, students in chamber music used technology to complete creative group projects from home, including podcasts, educational videos and recordings of synced live performances.  

To be sure, this sudden transition was not without its challenges. With no access to practice rooms, several of our piano majors found themselves without an instrument. That’s when piano alumnus Matthew Bachman ’05, M.M. ’07, D.M.A. ’14, stepped up to coordinate a “special delivery” of SOM pianos to students’ homes, an expense generously covered by the Steinway Piano Gallery of Washington, D.C., where Matt is sales manager. This story is just one example of how the strong connections we continue to cultivate with our alumni redound to the benefit of our students. And it’s why I encourage all of our alumni to continue to stay in touch and to share how you are using your musical skills, especially during this public health crisis. 

Another way you can stay involved is through the College of Arts and Humanities' Keep Creating initiative, a virtual space for UMD’s artists to share their works and for our supporters to experience UMD’s various arts offerings from home. Many of our music students, faculty and alumni have already participated by sharing their own stories of resilience and creativity.

Maryland Opera Studio recent graduate Esther Atkinson M.M. ’20 is performing weekly "Curbside Concerts" for neighbors from her driveway. Another spring opera graduate, Erica Ferguson M.M. ’20, along with voice alumna Lori Şen D.M.A. ’19, appeared on NBC Washington for bringing joy to others by singing in parks. Clarinetist and Collington Retirement Community Artist-in-Residence Natalie Groom D.M.A. ’20 is continuing to bring music programming and enrichment to residents through an internal TV channel and Facebook Live. It’s in this same spirit that I invite you to join with us and share your work on the Keep Creating platform or directly on social media using the hashtag #KeepCreatingUMD. 

May 22nd saw UMD’s first-ever virtual commencement ceremony, in which SOM played an important part. Virtual performances by the UMD Symphony Orchestra, the UMD Chamber Singers and a rousing rendition of the Victory fight song by the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band punctuated key moments of the ceremony, which featured a keynote address by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and remarks by outgoing university President Wallace Loh. This university-wide ceremony, which streamed live on multiple platforms, was followed by a College of Arts & Humanities virtual commencement that featured our students and included a pre-recorded performance from violinist Astrid Jensen ’20. For its part, SOM created a webpage with photos of our graduates alongside a personal message from their major professor, adding a personal touch in keeping with past in-person ceremonies. I also delivered remarks to music graduates in a video that was posted online.    

This semester has certainly been one of transitions, and my own career is no exception as I prepare to depart UMD at the end of this month for my new role as Dean of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. It has truly been an honor to serve as director, and I have relished the opportunity to work with such dedicated and accomplished faculty and staff colleagues. Most of all, though, I have been continually inspired by the passion, creativity and drive of our students and alumni, who fill me with hope for the future of the arts and for a world beset by challenges that we, as artists and scholars, are uniquely equipped to help address.

I am proud of the efforts that we have undertaken over the last four years to engage in meaningful ways with the campus and surrounding community, to better equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in a constantly evolving marketplace, to obtain the resources needed to fuel our ongoing pursuit of excellence and to create a more inclusive environment from the classroom, to the concert hall, to the curriculum.

I am pleased to share that Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill has appointed longtime horn professor and current Associate Director for Academic Affairs Gregory Miller to a two-year term as SOM director, effective July 1. Greg is a dynamic and visionary leader with a keen understanding of higher education and the arts, and he possesses just the right traits to lead the school on its continued quest to attain ever-higher levels of excellence, engagement, inclusivity and impact.   

While the future is uncertain and plans for the fall semester have yet to be finalized, there is one thing that remains clear. The School of Music at the University of Maryland will continue to be a national leader in the field and will continue to chart bold and innovative paths forward by harnessing the vision, resilience and creative spirit of its devoted faculty, students, staff, alumni and supporters.   
 
Be well, stay safe and⁠—one last time⁠—Go Terps!

Jason Geary

OUR STATEMENT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

The School of Music community has been profoundly affected by the senseless killing of George Floyd, the latest in a long line of racially motivated acts of violence against African Americans. We condemn in the strongest possible terms such dehumanizing acts of aggression as well as the systemic and institutional racism that has plagued our country for generations and that continues to adversely impact communities of color. It is apparent to many of us that the present moment demands action. Members of the Senior Administrative Team have been discussing ways in which the School of Music will respond with proactive measures in the days, months and years ahead, and it is precisely because this effort will extend into next academic year and beyond that both outgoing Director Jason Geary and Director-Designate Gregory Miller crafted this joint statement.

KEEP CREATING

In an effort to continue to share the extraordinary talent of our ARHU community, Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill announced the Keep Creating campaign shortly after classes moved online. This is a virtual initiative that creates spaces for UMD’s artists and humanists to share their works and for anyone to experience UMD’s various arts offerings from home. Many music students and alumni have already participated. Learn how you can get involved and share your work at keepcreating.umd.edu.

FACULTY NEWS

Ken Elpus (music education) was recently featured in an article by the National Endowment of the Arts entitled "Taking Note: Arts Education Datasets Go the Distance for this University of Maryland Researcher" highlighting his extensive research on the demographics of and student involvement in the arts to figure out who participates in the arts, what they look like and why. Elpus also appeared on The Kojo Nnamdi Show in Arts Organizations Step Up To Help Kids Make Music on Mar. 16.
Barbara Haggh-Huglo (musicology) presented a paper titled "The processional chant 'Clementissime': Roman or not?" at the January meeting of the North American Academy of Liturgy in Atlanta, GA. At this meeting, by vote, she became a Member of the North American Academy of Liturgy. NAAL is an ecumenical and inter-religious association of liturgical scholars who collaborate in research concerning public worship throughout history.
Craig Kier (opera) was appointed artistic and music director of the Annapolis Opera. He will open the opera's 2020-21 season conducting Giacomo Puccini's La bohème. Kier will continue to serve as the director of the School of Music's Maryland Opera Studio alongside his new role. Read the announcement in Broadway World.
Kevin Short (voice & opera) joined Nicole Heaston's Juneteenth celebration of Lift Every Voice and Sing also known as the Black national anthem. Watch the virtual performance as part of the Purple Robe Song Series.
William Robin (musicology) co-launched a virtual colloquium series on Zoom for musicologists, ethnomusicologists and music theorists to present spring papers virtually. Titled "Colloquium: Music Scholarship at a Distance," the series featured one scholar each weekday and included a Q&A session. Along with offering scholars an opportunity to share their work, it has also provided a welcome sense of community amidst social isolation. In addition, Robin had his article, "The 1918 Pandemic’s Impact on Music? Surprisingly Little" published in the New York Times on May 6.
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ALUMNI NEWS

Joyce Meekins ’75 (B.A. piano) After 45 years as a full-time piano technician and an active member of the Piano Technicians Guild, Joyce took on an additional role as president of the Piano Technicians Guild Foundation. This is an all-volunteer organization that supports technicians with scholarships, disaster relief and research grants. Learn more at ptgf.org
Karen Allen Van Dyke ’85 (B.M. flute) is currently a lecturer in the Music Department at Stanford University and founding director of the Stanford University Flute Ensemble. She is also the director of Northern California Flute Camp, an internationally renowned summer program held in Carmel Valley, CA every summer for serious high school-age flute students.
Deborah (Koenig) Sternberg ’95 (B.A. voice) sang the world premiere of Lera Auerbach's Arctica with The Washington Chorus and the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center in March, 2019. Her new CD, "Birds of Love and Prey" features new music for soprano and piano and was released in February 2020 by Naxos Records.
Jennifer Snodgrass 02 (Ph.D. music theory) is a recipient of the 2020 Award for Excellence in Teaching. The recipients, who represent all 16 of North Carolina’s public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, were nominated by special committees at each institution and selected by the Board of Governors Committee on Educational Planning, Policies and Programs. Established by the Board in 1993 to highlight the importance of teaching, the award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of faculty members system-wide.
Don Johns 05, 11 (B.M. music education, M.M. percussion) is directing the 3rd annual DMV Percussion Academy Summer Workshop. This year, the workshop will be held virtually June 22-26 for students in grades 6-12. The week will consist of clinics, masterclasses and interactive performances by many of the region's finest percussion performers and educators. Learn more at dmvpercussion.org

Alicia Waller ’09 (B.M. voice) released her debut album "Some Hidden Treasure," a jazz-soul album that marks the culmination of a trajectory from classical, opera, world and soul music. The record itself came out in conjunction with innova Recordings, the official label partner of the American Composer's Forum. 

Caitlin Gompf 14 (B.M. voice) and Hayley Tevelow 15 (B.M. voice, B.M.E.) are co-founders of a Maryland-based nonprofit Phenomenal Womxn. The mission of the organization is to amplify womxn's voices and help young womxn find that voice through creative arts education. The next event was originally scheduled to be the Phenomenal Womxn Festival at Greenbelt's New Deal Cafe on Saturday, August 8, 2020, but because of COVID-19, they are working to uplift the voices and art of womxn digitally.
Corey Sansolo 15 (M.M. trombone) recorded his debut album with the award-winning Axiom Brass. Entitled "First Impressions," the album features five new pieces for brass quintet commissioned by Axiom Brass. Composers include Augusta Read Thomas, David Faleris, Liduino Pitombeira, Matt Ulery and Ben Hjertmann.
Chelsey Green ’17 (D.M.A. viola) was elected to serve as a trustee on the national board of the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs. In addition, she presented a virtual Juneteenth musical performance on June 19 in partnership with Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Morgan Daly ’18 (M.M. double bass) recently launched ContraCover, a weather-resistant cover for double basses to keep the instrument and gear dry during transportation. Made of ripstop nylon, the cover is durable, lightweight and a necessity for double bassists. 
David Wacyk ’19 (D.M.A. conducting) was appointed director of bands and assistant professor of music at Saint Martin's University. This year, he was invited to present his research on the wind music of Ida Gotkovsky at conferences for the College Band Director's National Association and the International Society for Research and Promotion of Wind Music.

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