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:
Hans Sturm
Hans Sturm was recently elected as the International Society of Bassists’ new President-Elect.
The International Society of Bassists is the world’s leading organization in support of the double bass with over 3,000 members in 40 countries.
Past President of the ISB, Hans Sturm, is the organization’s new President-Elect. Hans has maintained a 35-year relationship with the ISB. A member since 1984, he served as the New Music Editor for the "Bass World Journal" for six years until Diana Gannett appointed him to the Board of Directors in 2001. He was named President Elect by Barre Phillips in 2005 and worked to expand the Board’s international representation, appointing Chen Ziping (Beijing Conservatory) and Thierry Barbé (Paris Conservatory) to the Board. He worked with Thierry and the ISB to assist BassEurope in the development of their first Congress in 2008, serving as co-host of the event. Hans worked with several members of the Board to expand the ISB’s online presence. Their combined efforts helped lead to the creation of the ISB/George Vance Online Library, the searchable database of past issues of Bass World dating back to the 1960s. Recently, as Chair of the ISB Governance Team, Hans authored the ISB’s first Operations Manual and rewrote the organizations Bylaws. In addition to his work on the Board, Hans has served on the juries of several ISB competitions including Solo, Jazz, Composition, and 18 and Under.
Hans currently holds the Hixson-Lied Professorship of Double Bass and Jazz Studies in the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Rubén D. Gómez
Rubén D. Gómez was named the winner of the 2018 North American Student Composer Competition, organized and sponsored by the MetWinds, a Wind Ensemble located in the Boston area. Gómez will write a piece for this ensemble to be premiered in November 2020 during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the band. The competition had a total of 126 submissions from different parts of the country.
Nebraska Trombone Ensemble
The Nebraska Trombone Ensemble will present a Spring Recital on Monday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The program will be a varied one featuring works by Bruckner, Wagner, and Eric Ewazen as well as the more contemporary composers Tommy Pederson and Eric Clapton. The NTE performs one recital every semester at Westminster Presbyterian Church and is grateful for the support of Johnathon Ross. The recital is free and open to the public.
Husker Horn Choir Performance
The Husker Horn Choir is excited to perform a recital on Sunday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Fellowship Community Church in Lincoln, NE.
If you’ve never heard more than 20 French Horn players performing at the same time in the same place, now is your chance! The Husker Horn Choir is an extension of the Husker Horn Studio at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music and consists of UNL horn students, non-majors, and community hornists. This group performs approximately 5 concerts each year at UNL, at local venues, and also a seasonal favorite - the Holiday Horns concert at the Capitol Building. The ensemble performs a wide range of works and transcriptions, from horn quartets to pieces written for 20 horns.
The concert on March 31 features a wide variety of music, including a beautiful arrangement of Salvation is Created, an energetic March by Ronald LoPresti, a very happy tune based on African rhythms by Paul Basler, and even a jazz quartet by Lowell Shaw. The Husker Horn Choir is directed by Dr. Alan Mattingly, professor of horn at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
For more information, email Dr. Mattingly at amattingly2@unl.edu. Fellowship Community Church is located at 8601 Holdrege St. in Lincoln, NE.
Nestor Pelayo
Sophomore Music Education Major Nestor Pelayo (Euphonium) recently won the Nebraska Wind Symphony Solo Competition. Pelayo is a student of Professor Craig Fuller. Pelayo will perform a solo with the Wind Symphony on July 3 at SumTur Amphitheater in Papillion, Nebraska.
Abby Kurth
Glenn Korff School of Music senior voice major Abby Kurth was awarded second place in the 2019 North American Vocal Competition, sponsored by music publisher Hal Leonard. Over 1,000 student entries were received in this year's annual competition. Kurth's award was in the collegiate music theatre category for male and female young adult voices. Competing with singers from Eastman, Juillard, the Manhattan School of Music and other prestigious schools of music, Kurth was judged the highest scoring female singer in the competition.
Madeline Reddel
Thank you for voting me as your ASUSN Hixson-Lied Fine and Performing Arts Senator! I enjoyed meeting many of you across all departments last week! My role is to bridge the gap between students and administration. In ASUN Student Government, my goals are to voice student concerns by creating student focused initiatives, working with administration to facilitate opportunities for collaboration between departments, promoting arts advocacy on campus, and more. I am excited to be your arts representative and solve pressing issues within our college! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me! My email is madelinereddel1@gmail.com
Marat Sanatullov
Marat Sanatullov has just been selected as a National Finalist in the Composition contest in the Concert Band division in the student composer category of The American Prize national non-profit competitions in the performing arts. Here's the link: https://theamericanprize.blogspot.com The American Prize will be announcing winners in his division soon.
Sanatullov graduated from the Glenn Korff School of Music with a DMA in Composition in 2018 as well as with an M.M. in Composition in 2014. The submitted work was his DMA Final Composition "Through my eyes: One immigrant's story" with its score and the recording of its premiere performed by our University of Nebraska-Lincoln Wind Ensemble and conducted by DMA Conducting Associate Christopher Brandt on March 7, 2018. This large-scale work is a first-hand narrative of my immigrant journey from Russia to America. Earlier, based on the same recorded performance, this composition was also awarded a Bronze Medal in Composition in the 2018 Global Music Awards international competitions. http://www.globalmusicawards.com/Winners-Sept-2018.html
Question
We asked our students (we will update as they reply): If you met someone who never listened to music before, which song would you have them listen to and why?
Sasha Smoot, Music Education
I would have someone who has never listened to music listen to, "Journey to the Cave" by Nicholas Hooper from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I chose this piece because I think it builds really well to the top of the piece and it encapsulates many different emotions.
Cody Merrill, Music Education - Voice
The Sound of Silence, the Disturbed Cover (Originally written by Simon and Garfunkel)
Claire Boes, Music Education
If someone had never listened to music before, I would probably have them listen to Salvation is Created because I believe it really encompasses the feeling of listening to that piece of music that makes you really *feel*. It’s so full of hope and peace.
Jade Thompson, BA in music
I would have them listen to Bohemian Rhapsody, it's a fun head banger.
Josh Williams, BA in music
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, because it's upbeat and easy to get it stuck in your head!
Tremayne Perryman, Vocal Performance
Ave María by Chanticleer. I think it is one of the best blending of voices around. And objectively beautiful.
Sapphire Skye Toth, BM music composition
I would have them listen to Jacob Collier’s “Hideaway” because of its calming nature and the way any human can connect to it with pure emotion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v3zyPEy-Po
Jenna Lee, BME (piano)
Postcard Memories by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
This song has more of an acoustic vibe and easy to understand lyrics. I think the vibe it gives is pretty relatable to a lot of people as well!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shvtjzvOFH8
I would have them listen to “The Creation” by Willy Richter. It’s the song that made me realize I wanted to pursue a career in music, and I’m willing to think it would be able to move anyone that heard it.
In the classical vein, I would have them listen to the second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony. I'm not sure why, but that one elicits more emotion from me every time than any other piece I've encountered thus far.
This is a very difficult question because everybody's tastes are so different! I had the opportunity to perform Gabriel Fauré's Requiem in my sophomore year here at UNL, and it's a piece that I will continue to come back to again when I need to feel more peace in my life. I would recommend listening to this work in entirety, though the Offertory and Sanctus are my personal favorite movements. Fauré's treatment of the music in regards to the lyrics are so musically rich and light at the same time, painting a musical picture unlike any other I've heard or participated in. Performing this piece was a life changing experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
I would have them listen to Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra because it is such a diverse song and can in a sense give them a "run down" on several feelings that music portrays: happy and upbeat, fast and chaotic, and slow and reflective, to name a few! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQUlA8Hcv4s
I'd have them listen to At Last by Jukebox the Ghost because it is such a beautifully simple song that manages to pull at your heart through both the words and the music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=homh6K7XnL0
Husker Horn Choir
On Sunday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m., the Husker Horn Choir will perform a concert at Fellowship Community Church in Lincoln. Featured on this concert will be some relatively new pieces, some movie themes that you will easily recognize, and even some Holiday favorites. Fellowship Community Church is located at 8601 Holdrege St. in Lincoln.
The next evening, November 19, the ensemble will perform on the Glenn Korff School of Music Brass Ensembles concert at 7:30 p.m. in Kimball Recital Hall.
On Wednesday, December 12 at noon, the horn choir performs a Holiday concert in the rotunda of the Nebraska Capitol Building. This will be a 45-minute concert of seasonal favorites, including an audience participation Sing-a-Long!
On December 31 at 7:00 p.m., the Husker Horn Choir will be the featured group on the First Plymouth Church Abendmusik concert series. This New Year’s Eve event is part of the Plymouth Brass’ annual “Last Blast” concert. First Plymouth is located at 2000 D St. in Lincoln.
It’s not often you get to hear more than 20 French Horn players performing at the same time in the same place! But that’s exactly what you get with the Husker Horn Choir. The Husker Horn Choir is an extension of the Husker Horn Studio at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and consists of UNL horn students, non-majors, and community hornists. This group performs approximately five concerts each year on the UNL campus, at local venues, and also a seasonal favorite -- the Holiday Horns concert at the Capitol Building. The ensemble performs a wide range of works and transcriptions, from horn quartets to pieces written for 20 horns.
“We are incredibly excited to be part of the Last Blast New Year’s Eve concert! Our performance will feature something for everyone, including an energetic fanfare by Gary Kuo, a beautiful arrangement of Ave Maria by Franz Biebl, and even a couple of blockbuster movie themes!”, said Dr. Alan Mattingly, professor of horn at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the director of The Husker Horn Choir.