The halls of the Westbrook Music Building are once again busy and our faculty, staff, students and alumni are all doing amazing things! Read about them here:
Garreth Soto
Garreth A. Soto, a Senior, Bachelor of Music; Vocal Performance Major, has been accepted into the final round of the solo competition of the Orfeo Music Festival in Italy. The finals will take place in Vipiteno, Italy on July 11 and they are open to the public.
Cameron Dobson
Cameron Dobson, a senior Bachelor of Music voice major, has been accepted into the final round of the solo competition of the Orfeo Music Festival in Italy. The finals will take place in Vipiteno, Italy on July 11 and they are open to the public.
Matthew Oltman
Hixson-Lied Graduate Fellow in Choral Music Matthew Oltman talked with Rick Alloway and his KRNU Campus Voices program in early May.
Russell Zimmer
Dr. Russell Zimmer, who recently completed his studies at the Glenn Korff School of Music, will be presenting “A New Look at the Playing Style of Theodore ‘Fats’ Navarro and His Influence on Modern Jazz Trumpet” at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Anaheim, Calif. on June 3. For more information about the conference visit, https://itgconference.org/
Zimmer moved back to the Bay Area and is pursuing several opportunities. He’s been substitute teaching almost everyday in Gilroy Unified School District and played on a production of Chicago at Santa Clara University. He is also the trumpet instructor at the "Summer in the City" music camp at San Jose State University (his first alma mater) for his second year.
John Bailey
Richard H. Larson Distinguished Professor of Music (Flute) John Bailey is now in Japan, conducting the International Flute Orchestra (35 professional flutists and teachers) on tour.
"We had our first concert in Tokyo, and today visited Mt. Fujiama. Tomorrow we get on a bullet train to Kyoto, concert in Osaka tomorrow evening, then our final concert in Kyoto, after sightseeing in Nara, the ancient capital."
The International Flute Orchestra tours every May in a different country. Flutists come from all over the US, and meet in the country and rehearse and give free concerts. Last year was Germany, next year will most likely be Northern Ireland, according to Bailey.
David Galant
To start the Summer David Galant was Music Directing Catch Me If You Can the musical at the Lincoln Community Playhouse. The last performances were May 19th – May 22nd.
David will then go to Quincy Illinois as Music Director of the Muddy River Opera Company’s production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica. Auditions for roles in all productions take place in Quincy and St. Louis Missouri as well as Chicago Illinois prior to the beginning of every new season. This job was given thanks to the recommendation of William Shomos - Director of Opera at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
With the help of a grant provided by the Glenn Korff School of Music, David will travel to Europe and conduct Mozart's Don Giovanni in the Czech Republic at the Prague Summer Nights Young Artists Festival with the famous operatic baritone Sherrill Milnes. David will direct members of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Czech National Symphony, the Prague Symphony, the Czech Philharmonic, and the Czech National Opera while taking private lessons from leading teachers at the Prague Conservatory. David will also be working in the Estates Theatre, which is the only theater remaining in the world where Mozart conducted and scenes from the Academy Award winning film Amadeus were filmed. He will live and work in historic Prague and the beautiful Bohemian town of Tabor. In addition, David will conduct productions of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi at the St. Simon and Jude Church (where Haydn and Mozart performed) and at the South Bohemian Opera House.
He will also conduct orchestra programs consisting of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, Brahm’s Symphony No. 2, Mendelssohn’s Overture from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, and the Overture to Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Obecni Dum in Prague, the Opera House in Tabor, and the Philharmonic Hall in Pilzn. David will also have the pleasure of conducting chamber music at Suk Hall in the Rudolfinum and other opera scenes at the Lichtenstein Palace where Beethoven performed a recital. David will work along side conductors John Nardolillo (Music Director of University of Kentucky) and London born James Burton (conductor at the Metropolitan Opera).
David will then go to Vidin Bulgaria and attend the Mastering the Concerto portion of the International Institute for Conductors. David will be given a chance to conduct the Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra at the Vidin State Philharmonic Hall.
Here David will study with Robert Gutter who served as Principal Guest Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine in Kiev. Gutter is currently a principal guest conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra “Mihail Jora” of Bacau, Romania and principal tour conductor of the Eastern European Philharmonic.
David will also study with Ovidiu Balan whom is currently Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, Principal Conductor of the Ploiesti Symphony Orchestra in Romania, and Music Director of the Domenico Cimarosa Symphony Orchestra in Aversa Italy.
David will have a chance to study with Charles Gambetta whom is the current Music Director of the Young American Symphony Orchestra.
David will also work with Dr. Will Kesling Principal Guest Conductor of the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra for ten years and was the Music Director and Conductor of the Mountain West Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Kesling also conducts the Moscow State Chamber Orchestra and the Bolshoi Opera Chorus.
David will conduct at the International Institute portions of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major Op. 61, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major K. 219, Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major Op. 6, Brahm’s Violin Concerto in D major Op. 77, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major Op. 35, Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor Op. 14, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. E-flat major Op. 73 “Emperor”, Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor Op. 35, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 16, and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 23
David Galant will then attend the Dohnányi Conducting Academy in Budapest Hungary. David will conduct the Dohnányi Orchestra with performances in Haydn’s Symphony No. 96 in D major “Miracle”, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88 and Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. Here David will study with Gábor Hollerung a Liszt Ferenc Prize winning conductor honoured as the Meritorious Artist of Hungary and the Music Director of Dohnányi Orchestra.
David will then fly to Stuttgart Germany and attend the Conducting Academy with Frieder Bernius. David will be given a chance to conduct the Kammerchor of Stuttgart and the Klassische Philharmonie of Stuttgart. David will conduct Bruckner’s Mass No. 2 in E minor, Ligeti’s Lux aeterna, Mahler’s Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen and Rheinberger’s, Cantus Missae. The conducting academy will take place at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik and Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart. The final performance will take place at the Leonhardskirche Stuttgart.
When David returns to the United States he is proud to announce that he will be Music Director of the Lincoln Community Playhouse production of My Fair Lady and will conduct Stravinky’s L'Histoire du soldat with narration and dancing at Kimball Hall.
Future Plans
At the April Honors Convocation and in a follow-up e-mails, we asked our students (both undergraduate and graduate) about their future plans. We will be updating this posting with that information. If you wish to be included, send an email to unlmusic@unl.edu
Nathan Hudson: I'm extremely excited to announce that I have accepted the 5-12 instrumental teaching position at McCook Public Schools.
Hattie Bestul: This August I will begin my studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY to earn my Masters of Music in Music Performance and Literature, and for my Graduate Assistantship I will be a member of the Conducting Orchestra.
Mike Foley: I just graduated and I’m going to be the new General Music teacher at McPhee Elementary with Lincoln Public Schools for this upcoming school year!
Zach Paris: Summer -- Prepare for TA teaching duties at Arizona State University, practice new recital repertoire, teach private percussion lessons, and play as much as possible. Next Year -- Begin doctoral studies at Arizona State University. Future -- complete a DMA in percussion at ASU, pursue a college percussion instructor position, and continue to teach, perform, record, and compose music.
Kaylene Diaz: This summer I will be traveling to Florence, Italy for Italian Brass Week. I received a Hixson-Lied Grant to assist with travel expenses. In the fall I will begin my first full season as second horn with Lincoln's Symphony.
Kathleen Campbell: My future plans are to teach K-5 music at West Bay Elementary in Elkhorn, NE for the 2016-2017 school year.
A.J. Burgess: This summer I will be working as the Assistant Director of the Junior Boys Division at Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan before returning for my second year of graduate studies.
John Kosch: Over the summer, I plan to stay involved in Lincoln, working with the Lincoln Southwest drumline, playing with my band Velveteen, and accompanying several events such as Cornhusker Boys State/Girls State, UNL Show Choir Camp and Nebraska All-State Vocal Jazz. I must also start preparing for this fall as I begin my job as the 4-12 instrumental music teacher at Elm Creek Schools. Over the next several years I am very excited to help this promising program grow and provide more students with enjoyable and rewarding experiences!
Katelyn Geary: From May 18th-July 23rd, I will be attending the La Musica Lirica Summer Program in Novafeltria, Italy. I got the role of Annina in La Traviata. Other students who are going: Alfonzo Cooper Jr., Jesse Wohlman and Leana Wolt. Bill Shomos is also going to direct Falstaff. Additionally, I will be starting an MABA in August with the CBA here at UNL, in order to pursue a career that will work simultaneously with my intended career in Opera Performance.
Andrew Paulson: Andrew Paulson is currently the Worship and Music Director at Grace Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Fairmont, MN. He is responsible for planning and coordinating multiple worship services, directing ensembles, and serves as the head pianist/organist. Paulson also maintains a private piano/organ/percussion studio in Fairmont.
Sam Hartley
Sam Hartley, who studied voice, acting and musical theatre at UNL, is in a touring production of Beauty and the Beast and he is the Beast in this video.
Lauren -- a brave, upbeat 11-year-old cancer survivor -- never let her diagnosis bring her down. Watch as she gets the surprise of a lifetime and hangs out with the crew of Beauty and the Beast at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.
https://www.sharecare.com/video/health-topics-a-z/surviving-cancer-and-other-diseases/sharing-care-beauty-and-the-beast-laurens-story
Rhonda Fuelberth
Congratulations to Rhonda Fuelberth, Associate Professor of Music Education, who was named as the North Central Division-ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) President-elect. Fuelberth will take office on July 1, 2016.
Joseph Curiale
Joseph Curaile, a UNL graduate -- MM in Composition (2009) -- received his PhD from the University of Minnesota. He now teaches in Singapore.
Curaile just returned from Prague where he conducted an entire concert of his compositions with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, which included his Masters thesis "The Great Plains" which he wrote while at UNL. He added, "It was the hit of the concert. Believe it or not, two friends from Nebraska flew to Prague to attend the concert, and I wore my University of Nebraska jacket in their honor and that of my thesis."