OBU BAND NEWS
DR. BRIAN CONKLIN VISITS OBU FOR INTERNATIONAL TROMBONE WEEK
Trombonist Dr. Brian Conklin will visit Ouachita Baptist University this coming Thursday and Friday (4/10-11). He will give a solo recital on Thursday 4/10 at 4:30pm in the McBeth Recital Hall on campus. The program includes works by Guilmant, Marcello, Hindemith, Nestico, and others. On Friday 4/11 at 2:00pm, Dr. Conklin will present a masterclass in the OBU Band Room. While he plans to address fundamental issues of brass performance and pedagogy, a highlight of the masterclass will be his advice for how to increase teaching and performance opportunities when new to an area.
Conklin is a graduate of Boston University, Yale University and the University of Iowa. He has studied with Ronald Barron, John Swallow, Dr. David Gier and Julie Josephson. He has performed with the Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, and Shreveport Symphony Orchestras as well as the Dallas Wind Symphony and the trombone ensemble SlideShow. He was also a member of the national touring productions of Oklahoma! and Oliver! In 2003, he premiered Stephen Gliske’s Three Thoughts for solo trombone at the Midwest Composer’s Symposium held at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas where he freelances, presents weekly clinics, and maintains a low brass teaching studio of approximately fifty students in Duncanville, Mesquite, Garland, and Wylie ISDs.
Both events are free and open to the public. Please contact Josh Bynum for more details.
ARKANSAS SAXOPHONE QUARTET TO PERFORM ON CAMPUS
A new saxophone quartet announces its inaugural performances. The Arkansas Saxophone Quartet was formed in the fall of 2007 and consists of four outstanding saxophonists with extensive performing experience. The members are Andy Wen on soprano saxophone, Caroline Taylor on alto saxophone, Jeffrey E. Vickers on tenor saxophone, and Jackie Lamar on baritone saxophone. They are the saxophone professors at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, Ouachita Baptist University, Southern Arkansas University, and the University of Central Arkansas, respectively. The ensemble is equally adept at all styles of chamber music ranging from transcriptions to avant-garde contemporary music. The quartet performed at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia on February 28, and at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, on Thursday, March 6. The Conway debut of the quartet will be at 3:00 p.m. on March 16 at the University of Central Arkansas’s Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall, Conway. An additional performance will be on March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia. All performances are free and the public is invited.
Their program consists of a variety of works from classical French repertoire, to Contemporary, to Jazz and Ethnic. Pieces en Quatuor, by Belgian composer Jean Absil is one of his many compositions for saxophone that are part of the standard repertoire. However, this quartet is less known and infrequently performed. The Quatuor exhibits the rhythmic variety and free tonality typical of Absil’s writing including many meter changes, especially in the second movement. Tango Virtuoso by Thierry Escaich is a virtuosic display, especially in the soprano part which utilizes the tango form and rhythm. Quatuor, by French saxophonist and composer Guy Laqour makes use of symmetrical scales and has prominent hemiolas. The four individual parts are all virtuosic with intricately interwoven parts. Rapsodie des Ancetres by Neil Flory is influenced by Medieval French composers and the main melodic material consists of two themes and a “cantus firmus”. The form consists of three sections, the first two of which end with climactic gestures based on the “cantus firmus” which are harmonized with parallel quartal sonorities. Parallel fifths can also be found throughout the piece. The final cadence is of the “double-leading tone” variety, as a final tribute to Machaut. German jazz saxophonist Heiner Wiberny composed Ulla in Africa, for his wife Ulla, who has a special affinity for African Music. The listener recognizes immediately the sound and flavor of African rhythms and Latin Funk. The composition consists of the following parts: chorale-intro, prelude, ABA-theme, transition, solos, prelude, AB-theme, Coda. The New York Suite, by Cuban-born Paquito D’Rivera, is a unique and challenging four movement work for saxophone quartet that explores contrasting musical styles. The third movement, “Monk-Tuno”, is a Latin tribute to jazz pianist and composer Thelonius Monk.
Andy Wen, on Soprano Saxophone, is an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, a Selmer Clinician, and former Treasurer of the North American Saxophone Alliance. International performances include those in Belgium, Canada, France, Japan, Spain, Sweden, and presenting the first saxophone recital at the National Concert Hall, Taiwan. He was the 1990 MTNA Competition’s national winner. As a soloist, Andy has performed with many bands and orchestras. He has premiered works by Baker, Bell, Brandon, Chaudoir, Flory, Fox, Fuste-Lambezat, Harbison, Keckley, Lauba, Logrande, McKinney, Newell, and many others. He has received degrees while studying with Londeix, Reilly, Rousseau, and Fischer.
Caroline Taylor, on Alto Saxophone, is a Professor of Music at Ouachita Baptist University. Active as both a performer and clinician, Dr. Taylor has premiered works for saxophone throughout the United States and Europe. Most recently she has performed or given presentations at the 2007 College Music Society Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah and the 2008 Hawaii International Conference on the Arts & Humanities in Waikiki Beach. Her debut compact disc recording “The LYNX Duo: Music for Saxophone & Percussion” was released through Mark Custom Recordings. Dr. Taylor earned both a Master of Music degree in Woodwinds Performance and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Georgia. Dr. Caroline Taylor is a Performing Artist for the Yamaha Corporation of America.
On Tenor Saxophone is Jefferey Vickars, Assistant Professor of Music at Southern Arkansas University. He is a member of the Arkansas Arts Council "Arts on Tour" registry and an active recitalist, having presented performances in over a dozen states and at numerous regional, national and international conferences. His teachers include Irvin, Sampen, and Murphy. As a clinician for the Selmer Company, Vickers recommends and plays Selmer saxophones exclusively. Mr. Vickers is “ABD” for the Doctor of Music degree at Indiana University. He obtained his Master of Music from Indiana University with a minor in jazz studies where he studied with world-renowned jazz educator David Baker. Vickers completed his Bachelor of Music at the University of Mississippi.
Jackie Lamar, Baritone Saxophone, is Professor of Music at the University of Central Arkansas where she teaches saxophone and conducts jazz and saxophone ensembles. She holds the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance and Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas, and the Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Lamar has performed at four World Saxophone Congresses and at many regional and national conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance. She has performed concertos with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Little Rock Wind Symphony and the Kansas State Wind Ensemble.
For more information, contact Caroline Taylor - taylorc@obu.edu (870) 246-5430.
TROMBONIST NITZAN HAROZ COMES TO OBU
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From February 24th-25th, Nitzan Haroz will present a recital and masterclass while on the campus of OBU. Mr. Haroz currently serves as principal trombonist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and as a member of the Hidas Trio. Haroz joined the Philadelphia Orchestra as principal trombone in 1995. He previously served as assistant principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic and as principal trombone of the Rishon-Le Zion Symphony and Opera Orchestra. He also held the position of first trombone of the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra and performed with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Haroz has appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. An active chamber musician, he won first prize at the François Shapira Competition and received several America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships. The recital will be on Sunday, February 24th at 8:00pm in the McBeth Recital Hall. Mr. Haroz will be accompanied by Kazuo Murakami, collaborative pianist on faculty at Truman State University. The program will feature staples from the solo trombone repertoire as well as new compositions. The masterclass will be on Monday, February 25th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in McBeth Recital Hall. Members from the OBU Brass Studios will perform for Mr. Haroz and be offered comments and critique. Haroz will also address fundamental issues of brass performance and allow time for questions. Both events are free and open to the public. Please call Mr. Josh Bynum at 870-245-5144 for more information. |
| STUDENTS CHOSEN FOR ARKANSAS INTERCOLLEGIATE BAND The following OBU students have been chosen to participate in the 2008 AIB: Rebecca Seago - oboe Daniel Laney - clarinet Bandi Coleman – bass clarinet Larry Chastain – tenor saxophone Lauren Heasley – tenor saxophone Josh Freeman - horn Leah Jones - horn The band is chosen from college musicians from 12 Arkansas Universities. The 2008 Arkansas Intercollegiate Band will perform Friday afternoon, February 15 at the Hot Springs Convention Center in conjunction with the Arkansas Music Educators Association meeting. This year’s conductor is Joseph Missal. |
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LAROSA WINS CONCERTO COMPETITION Jon LaRosa, senior trumpet major from Texarkana, TX, was the winner of the 2007-2008 Ouachita Concerto Competition. As the first place winner, Jon received a $500.00 cash award and will solo with the Ouachita Wind Ensemble on their 2008 Tour and campus concert in March. Braedon Rogers received $200.00 for third place and the saxophone quartet including Jeremy Garrett, Larry Chastain, Braedon Rogers and Emily Duncan won second place with a $300.00 cash award. The competition is organized by Dr. Caroline Taylor and funded by a generous gift from an annonomous alumni donor. |
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OUACHITA WIND ENSEMBLE RELEASES SANCTUARY CD
The Ouachita Wind Ensemble released their latest CD, Sanctuary, in October, 2007. Sanctuary is the fifth recording by the Ouachita Wind Ensemble with the Mark recording label of New York. The Ouachita Wind Ensemble recording project is a series of recordings of band literature which uses hymn tunes or liturgical ideas.
The Sanctuary CD includes Joy – Joseph Curiale, Sanctuary – Frank Ticheli, Symphony No. 6 for Band – Vincent Persichetti, Chester Overture for Band – William Schuman, Liturgical Music – Martin Mailman, Chorale and Alleluia – Howard Hansen, and The Red Machine – Peter Graham.
Other recordings by the Ouachita Wind Ensemble include: Winds of Praise, Be Thou My Vision, And Can It Be, and Zion.
All Ouachita Wind Ensemble recordings may be purchased through the Ouachita band office – (870) 245-5137 hamiltonc@obu.edu or through Mark Records – (716) 759-2600 www.markcustom.com
TAYLOR PRESENTED AT HAWAII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Dr. Caroline Taylor, professor of saxophone and double reeds at Ouachita Baptist University was invited to present at the 6th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. The conference was held on January 11-14 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Taylor presented her research on building synthesis skills in the college applied music studio, as well as her continuing research on “comparative study of alto saxophone reeds through spectral and subjective analyses.”
The Hawaii International Conference is an annual conference for academics and professionals from around the world. Its primary goal is to provide a venue for those with cross-disciplinary interests related to arts and humanities to meet and interact with others inside and outside their own discipline.
“While my initial reaction to the invitation to present at this conference was ‘I get to go to Hawaii!’
I found that the conference itself was amazing! Having this opportunity to meet people from around the world (over 40 countries were represented!) who are interested in such a diverse mix of subjects was incredibly inspiring and refreshing,” said Dr. Taylor.
Dr. Taylor received a degree in Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas, and both a Master of Music degree in woodwinds performance and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance from the University of Georgia. She has performed at the 11th World Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain, the 12th World Saxophone Congress in Montreal, Canada, and the 13th World Saxophone Congress in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Taylor has performed at numerous Biennial Conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) and has both performed and presented at international meetings of the College Music Society, the Music Educators National Conference, the National Association of College Wind & Percussion Instructors Symposium, several regional NASA conferences, and the Texas Music Educators Association Conference. Dr. Taylor was also invited to perform at the 2007 National Conference of the College Music Society held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
For more information on the music department at Ouachita Baptist University, please contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129 or visit www.obu.edu.
GRANT TO PRESENT FACULTY FLUTE RECITAL
The division of music in the School of Fine Arts at Ouachita Baptist University will feature flutist Kristin Grant with Heather Bynum, clarinet, Lee Parham, percussion, and Glenda Aldridge, piano,
in a faculty instrumental music recital on Tuesday, January 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the McBeth Recital
Hall of Mabee Fine Arts Center.
The faculty will perform a variety of flute solo and ensemble compositions including
Les Folies d’Espagne by Marin Marais; Tarantella Opus 6 for flute, clarinet and piano by Camille
Saint-Saëns; Gaubert’s “Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando;” Hindemith’s Sonata for flute and piano;
and Histoire du Tango for flute and percussion by Piazzolla.
The faculty recital is open to the public, and admission is free. For more information about this
recital contact Kristin Grant at (870) 245-5518 or via email: grantk@obu.edu
BYNUM SOLOS WITH THE EASTERN IOWA BRASS BAND
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OBU Low Brass Instructor Josh Bynum was invited to perform Alexandre Guilmant's Morceau Symphonique in front of the award-winning Eastern Iowa Brass Band for their December 15th "Home for the Holidays" concert. Despite inclement weather conditions, attendance for the concert was at full capacity. Following his performance, Bynum performed a few encores as the soloist with the band's trombone ensemble "Bones Deep". The 35-member band performs from a repertoire which features original works for brass band, as well as arrangements of well known orchestral and wind band literature. In addition, featured soloists are frequently used in concert programs which also include marches, medleys, hymn tune arrangements, folk songs, American patriotic offerings, Broadway showtunes, and novelty features. The majority of the band's concert schedule takes place during the summer months for community celebrations, civic events, and countless special festivals. They have performed in a variety of settings, from ornate concert halls to outdoor parks. The EIBB has competed in the NABBA annual championship competition since 1986 and has been named division champions six times. They have also won seven NABBA video competitions. In 1991, the band was featured by the Smithsonian Institution in the Festival of American Folklife in Washington D.C. On four occasions EIBB has been invited to present a feature program at the annual convention of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, and recently performed to a sellout crowd at the American School Band Directors Association convention. Under the direction of Mr. Casey Thomas, the EIBB has recently competed in the U.S. Open Brass Band Championship held in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The band finished among the top four bands, placing in their highest finish yet since beginning competing some five years ago. |
HESSE HELPS PREPARE COLLEGE PERFORMANCES FOR BOWL GAMES
This past college bowl season Robert Hesse, Director of Athletic Bands at Ouachita Baptist University, helped direct bands for the pregame and halftime shows at the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Florida and the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on New Year's Day.
Mr. Hesse helped in orchestrating the movements of 15 high school bands accounting for up to 2,000 performers.
Each person in the show had to know where he or she was going, and Mr. Hesse helped to figure out how to get the bands on and off the field. Because the performances were nationally televised, the shows were timed down to the second.
Hesse works for a Salt Lake City company called Bowl Games of America. They are responsible for the halftime shows at the Orange, Champs Sports, Gator, Sugar, Liberty, Alamo and Holiday bowls. This year they also had the BCS championship game because another crew was at the Superdome for the Sugar Bowl the week before.
Hesse, along with Barry Bernhardt from Southeast Missouri State University, Scott McBride from Morehead State University and Norm Ruebling from Columbia, Missouri left for Florida the day after Christmas for the Champs Sports Bowl between Boston College and Michigan State on Dec. 28 in Orlando. This crew was responsible for a four-hour afternoon rehearsal with the bands at a high school stadium the day before the game and another shorter rehearsal at the high school stadium the day of the game before being bussed to the performance. Then this four-man crew moved on
to Jacksonville and begin preparing more high school bands for the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.
While most college professors are enjoying a break at the end of the semester, Hesse was extremely busy for these 8 days.
One year Hesse was involved with a program that included Aretha Franklin. Other acts that have been included in the past were, the country band Lonestar and Shedaisy. Hesse has worked with Eddie Rabbitt, Cybil Shepherd, the Brunson Brothers, Lee Greenwood, Shaggy, Little Bow Wow, Jagged Edge, Default, Collective Soul and Jessica Simpson. This same of crew has worked two National Championships in the past 20 years.
TROMBONIST DAVID PERKEL COMES TO OBU
On Friday, November 2nd, David Perkel visited the OBU campus and worked with the members of the trombone studio, as well as the OBU Jazz Band and Brass Choir. Mr. Perkel is the lead trombonist of the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, who are performing in Hot Springs that evening.
The Baltimore Sun describes Trombonist David Perkel as having a “soulful, sustained tone and graceful phrasing…his interpretation was beautifully realized.”
Mr. Perkel is a well rounded orchestral and jazz artist. As principal trombonist in the Annapolis Symphony, he performed the Overture for Trombone and Strings by Alan Hovhaness in January, 2003. Prior to joining the ASO, he was second trombonist in the Richmond Symphony for four seasons. In addition, he has performed with many orchestras around the country including the National Symphony Orchestra, Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Harrisburg Symphony and the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz musician, Mr. Perkel was a member and featured soloist of the famed University of North Texas One O’clock Lab Band, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra and presently, the Commodores.
Mr. Perkel is an active educator, having spent five years as an Artist in Residence at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival in Tennessee. He has taught at many schools in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area including a one year appointment at Towson University. Mr. Perkel lives in Springfield, Virginia with his wife MaryAnn, a member of the ASO, and their son, Noah.
SAXOPHONIST KENNETH TSE TO PERFORM AT OBU
On Tuesday, November 13th, world renowned saxophonist Kenneth Tse will present a master class and recital on the OBU campus. Tse is currently the associate professor of saxophone at The University of Iowa and serves as the Membership Director for the North American Saxophone Alliance.
Recognized as one of the leading saxophonists in the world, Kenneth Tse [cheh] has been called "a brilliant saxophonist," and "worthy of any stage in the world" by his former teacher, world-renowned saxophonist and pedagogue, Eugene Rousseau.
He holds degrees from Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Indiana University (B.M., M.M. and A.D.) and University of Illinois, Champaign-Urban (D.M.A.); additional study is with Debra Richtmeyer. He was the first saxophonist to receive the prestigious Artist Diploma from the Indiana University School of Music, and was the youngest winner of the saxophone concerto competition. His saxophone arrangements are published through Reed Music in Australia. His articles have been featured in the Saxophone Journal, Saxophone Symposium, Iowa Bandmaster Association Journal and Yamaha Education Series.
2007 OBU Wind Ensemble Tours Spain and Portugal
The OBU Wind Ensemble, conducted by Craig Hamilton, engaged audiences throughout several cities in both Spain and Portugal. Their tour took place between May 14th and 25th.
Over the course of 11 days, the OBU Wind Ensemble performed over 10 times in the cities of Portimão, Portugal and Madrid, Spain. The venues included several churches and cathedrals as well as outdoor plazas and an orphanage.
Band Students Honor Dr. Hamilton with Gillingham Commission
Members of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma premiered a commissioned composition in honor of Dr. Craig Hamilton as a surprise at the end of the Ouachita Wind Ensemble concert on March 8.
The composition read, “Commissioned by the Lambda Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Theta Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma in recognition of Dr. Craig V. Hamilton and his years of dedication and service to Ouachita Baptist University and the Ouachita band.”
The band played the composition, Mansions of Glory, which is based on the hymn My Jesus I Love Thee, under the direction of Gillingham, the composer, as the closing number for the Wind Ensemble concert. Several alumni members of the Wind Ensemble returned to perform the new composition.
