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:
Christopher Barrick
Christopher Barrick, a 2008 graduate of UNL with a DMA degree in saxophone performance, was recently accepted to present two performances at the North American Saxophone Alliance’s 2016 Biennial Conference, to be held at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas from March 10-13. He will be giving the world premiere of James Bishops work for saxophone and piano, Personae Dramatis. Also, he will be giving a chamber performance with pianist John Krebs entitled, Melodies Neuvo: New Works for Saxophone, which features newer works by American composers Luke Mayernik and Charles Booker.
Sarah Cosano
DMA students Sarah Cosano, Max Stehr and Chris Varga will be releasing a CD titled, Cambia, Dec. 11 at Vega at the Friday Live at Five series. It's an instrumental jazz album with original compositions and arrangements by Cosano and her husband, Beto.
Brian Reetz
Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Brian Reetz wrote the cover story for this month's L magazine. The story is about the life of local artist Robert Hillestad. http://journalstar.com/niche/l-magazine/profiles/robert-hillestad-a-most-humble-and-dapper-artist/article_ddff74c3-5d80-54ea-8a17-266c4d866a3a.html
Hans Sturm
Hans Sturm was named the ASTA Private Studio Teacher of the year. Presenting the award is Nissa de la Torre, President of Nebraska ASTA. Sturm is Associate Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies; Area Head for Strings in the Glenn Korff School of Music.
Chiara String Quartet
The Chiara Quartet is the Quartet-in-Residence this season at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The residency consists of four concerts spread throughout the course of the season. The most recent concert, on November 13, featured a collaboration with pianist Simone Dinnerstein on the New York premiere of Jefferson Friedman’s piano quintet, The Heart Wakes Into--a piece written for Simone and the Chiara which had its premiere last season at the Library of Congress.
As part of the Chiara Quartet’s commitment to engaging with the community, the group is performing this fall at every high school in Lincoln, and is mentoring the students of the UNL chamber music program to engage in outreach performance to such diverse venue as Madonna Rehab Hospital and the Landing.
Paul Barnes
Paul Barnes' New Generations has been released on iTunes. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/digital-booklet-new-generations/id1054659002?i=1057732964
Peter Eklund
Eklund will be conducting the 600-voice Iowa All-State Chorus November 19-21, 2015.
Anthony Bushard
Bushard published articles on The Doors and Pearl Jam in a 2-volume encyclopedia entitled, The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World (ABC-CLIO/Greenwood, 2016). http://www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A3876C
He also attended the National College Music Society Conference in Indianapolis and fulfilled his duties as a member of the Conference Program Committee as well as president of the Great Plains Chapter of CMS. While there he participated in a panel of fellow chapter presidents and addressed attendees on the CMS 2015 Common Topic: Sustainability. He also organized the Performer’s Showcase and chaired some sessions.
While it’s not music-related, he was inducted into his high school’s (O’Gorman High School, Sioux Falls, SD) hall of fame (athletic wing) honoring the 1991 State Football Champions (11-AA, the highest class at the time) of which he was a member.
Molly Rezich
Student Molly Rezich invites everyone to come join her at Dempsey’s Burger Pub on Tuesday’s from 6:30-10:00 for the weekly Night of Sharing!
"This is an open mic setting and all talents are welcome and appreciated. Dempsey’s has so much to offer: Free Wifi, wonderful food and drinks, amazing people, and the atmosphere is incredible!," she said. "I started this in hopes of bringing new stuff to light in the Lincoln community, but I need your help! Bring a new piece you are working on and would like to perform, a poem that you feel passionately about, a speech you have prepared, ANYTHING. Feel free to contact me through my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mollyrezichcello/?fref=ts) if you have any questions or would like to book a spot! I look forward to seeing you there, Cheers!"
Peter Eklund
Professor and Director of Choral Activities Peter Eklund has captured the many travels he has taken through photos including:
Eklund and UNL music students before their concert in the Notre Dame Cathedral in the Summer of 2015
Eklund conducting 1,256 high school musician's during the South Dakota All-State Music Festival in October
Eklund conducting members of the Varsity Men's Choir singing the national anthem at Pinnacle Bank Arena before the Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks exhibition game
Eklund conducting 440 high school singers at the University of Southern Mississippi in September at their statewide music festival