ON
THE BEAT
(To
other issues)
The
Official Newsletter of Moravian College Music Department
Winter-Spring 2001, Volume 5, issue ii
HIGHLIGHTS THIS ISSUE
SPRING TERM HIGHLIGHTS
MASTER CLASSES FOR MASTERING MUSICIANS
IN MEMORIAM: FRANK BAKER
MEET OUR MAJORS
ASSORTED ALUMNI ACTIVITIES
MUSIC ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES
STAFF NEWS AND NOTES
COOK’S CORNER
We’re
back¾with a vengeance! No time for
getting bored in the Single Brethren’s House, no siree!
Two main events highlight our spring term:
the Germany tour by the choir, women’s chorus, and wind ensemble (March
1¾10, over spring break), and the recital by Metropolitan Opera star
Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano (March 28).
But as usual, there is a host of
various musical activities for your enjoyment.
Here’s just a sample:
·
March
14 (Wed), Foy Hall, 8pm, Sofrito!, Featuring the Latin Legends Band
(admission charge)
·
March
16 (Fri), Foy Hall, 8pm, Kristy Bredin, piano, and Justin DeAngelo, jazz piano
(junior recitals)
·
March
17 (Sat), Peter Hall, 8pm, Gary Stokes, piano (senior recital)
·
March
18 (Sun), Foy Hall, 4pm, Amnesty International Benefit:
Debra Torok, piano (admission charge)
·
March
20 (Tues), Foy Hall, 8pm, Moravian Jazz Faculty (admission charge)
·
March
23 (Fri), Foy Hall, 8pm, Lauren Nicholas, saxophone (senior recital)
·
March
24 (Sat), Foy Hall, 8pm, Jazz Combos
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March
25 (Sun), Foy Hall, 4pm, Big Band and Fusion Ensemble
·
March
29 (Thur), Peter Hall, 11:30am, Master Class with Frederica von Stade (admission
charge)
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April
6 (Fri), Peter Hall, 8pm, Dessert Theatre (admission charge)
·
April
7 (Sat), Peter Hall, 8pm, Kristen Adamson, soprano (senior recital)
·
April
8 (Sun), Peter Hall, 4pm, Clara Thorne, soprano (senior recital)
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April
22 (Sun), Foy Hall, 4pm, Moravian College Choral Ensembles and Chamber Symphony
(admission charge)
·
April
27 (Fri), Foy Hall, 4pm, Wind Ensemble
·
April
28 (Sat), Peter Hall, 8pm, Nora Cheatham, soprano, and Laura Henry, French horn
(junior recitals)
·
April
29 (Sun), Peter Hall, 4pm, Moravian College Composers Concert
MASTER CLASSES FOR MASTERING MUSICIANS
The Music Department is pleased to offer two master classes this spring featuring our music majors. The first is slated for Thursday, March 29, at 11:30am in Peter Hall. This “informal” master class will be conducted by Metropolitan Opera star Frederica von Stade. Audience members will be treated to performances by mezzo-soprano Christa Mosher ‘02 (singing Mozart’s “Voi che sapete”), tenor Steven Carrasco ’03 (“Sure on This Shining Night” by Samuel Barber), soprano Rebecca Dishon ’04 (“V’adoro, pupille” from Giulio Cesare by Handel), and soprano Clara Thorne ’01 (“Kommt dir manchmal in den Sinn” from Zigeunerlieder by Brahms). There is a $10 admission charge.
On Monday, April 23 at 11:30am, pianist Robert Taub returns to lead a master class, in the midst of his Beethoven sonata cycle. Featured in this performance will be freshmen Caress Prince and Crystal Reinert, and junior Sarah Smith.
Frank A. Baker Jr., 80, of Kirkland Village, Bethlehem, died Sunday, Dec. 17, in his home. He was the husband of Mary I. (Randall) Baker. They were married 53 years on December 13. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, two sons, a brother, and six grandchildren.
From 1976 until retiring in 1982, he was assistant to the vice president in corporate engineering of the Bethlehem Steel Corp. He began his career with the company in 1939 at the Sparrows Point (Md.) plant as a repair helper in the plate mill. In 1942 he was named field foreman in the general mechanical department.
After serving in World War II, he was named an assistant chief engineer, and in 1952, was named chief engineer. In 1956, he was promoted to assistant general manager at Sparrows Point, and in 1960, was transferred to the home office as chief engineer in the steel division. In 1965, he was appointed to chief engineer, budgets, appropriations and expenditures.
Born in Baltimore, he was a son of the late Frank A. Sr. and Alice C. (Chandler) Baker. He was a Navy pilot of land and sea multi-engine planes in World War II. He was a member of Central Moravian Church, Bethlehem, where he was on the boards of elders and trustees. He was also active in the Moravian College Music Alliance, and was particular fond of watching and hearing student performances.
He was a member of the Bethlehem Area Moravians and Moravian Development Corp., the American Iron and Steel Institute, American Iron and Steel Engineers; American Society for Metals and the Johns Hopkins University Engineers.
He served on the executive committee of the Boy Scouts of America in the Baltimore and Bethlehem areas; and was a member of the Water Study Commission of the State of Maryland.
He was on the board of the Bethlehem Bach Choir, the Burnside Plantation, the Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem and Historic Bethlehem Inc. He was a member of the Saucon Valley Country Club and the Bethlehem Club, and received a National Certificate of Merit from the American Red Cross in 1986.
In each issue of “On the Beat,” we invite one
or two music majors to introduce themselves, in their own words, to our readers.
Thomas
Gebhardt
Gee, if you had him in class, you’d be surprised
he’s as goofy as his bio sounds!
Greetings and salutations. My legal name is Thomas Christopher Gebhardt but I'll respond to any about any moniker. I was born and raised on Long Island, New York and am currently a freshman at Moravian College. I don't know exactly how I ended up here but I'm happy I did. Only two episodes of my college selection process distinctly stand out in my mind. The first occurred during the fall of my senior year at Saint Dominic High School. On my mother's suggestion, I "researched" Moravian on the internet. After a time, I concluded that Moravian was a Theological Seminary, not a college, and thus it was not the place for me. Anyway, it was in Pennsylvania: why would I want to go there?
The second memory is a dream I had. While I was sailing down the Nile River on a raft, a man sitting on a flaming pie instructed me, "You will go to Moravian College." When I awoke, I found some actual information on the college and realized it was a fine institution indeed. So here I am.
My intended major is Bachelor of Music in music education with classical guitar as my primary instrument. I am a member of both the college choir and guitar quartet. I never liked school in my childhood years, for lots of reasons. I want to be a teacher, however, because I think music is an incredibly powerful medium with which I could transcend the drudgery of institutionalized education into something children can grow from and maybe even enjoy.
In addition to teaching, I would like to record my original compositions and perhaps be the first person to play guitar on the moon.
I am Sarah Smith from Williamstown, New Jersey. I am junior Music Education Major. I am a piano major and study with Dr. Debra Torok. I also take Jazz Piano with Dave Roth and voice lessons with Joanne Barsotti. I started playing piano in second grade and just progressed from there. At Moravian, I am involved in many activities. I am in the choir, Contemporary Ensemble and Jazz Vocal Ensemble as well at being President of Delta Omicron, which is the International Music Honors Fraternity on campus.
I chose Moravian because of its family atmosphere. I have always gone to small schools and when I first came for my tour, I thought it was great that Moravian took the time to match up my tour guide with my interests. Then I came and met with faculty in the Music Department and I knew that I wanted to come to Moravian. I liked the family-like atmosphere and I liked the relationship that Music majors have with the faculty. I decided that I was going to be “Early Decision,” which means that if Moravian accepted me, I would have to come here. My plans for the future are to teach high school music.
The question I always ask myself is, did Moravian choose me, or did I choose Moravian?
· Kelly Dolan (B.Mus. ’99) participated in a lecture/recital at the Fourth Bethlehem Conference on Moravian Music. Kelly edited six recently discovered German-language “Hymns to be Sung at the Pianoforte” by Johannes Herbst. She also read program notes on the pieces for the conference attendees before each of the songs was performed. Kelly’s name also appeared in print as the reviewer of a new CD on the Telarc Label. The review appeared in a recent issue of Society News, the journal of the Contemporary Recording Society.
· Stephen Clothier (B.Mus., ’97) is currently flourishing in the graduate program in jazz performance at the University of North Texas, one of the largest music programs in the country.
· Two Moravian grads who are music teachers in the local public schools were featured recently in articles with prominent photographs in the Morning Call. Denise Parker (B.Mus., ’86), who teaches in the Bethlehem Area School District, was shown in a very dynamic action photo, attempting to spur more interest among young men towards singing in choirs; Todd Silvius (B.Mus., ’98), from Southern Lehigh School District, was seen teaching fourth-graders “the twist” and other dances.
· Jennifer Smull (B.Mus., ’00) reports she’s keeping very busy in graduate musicology studies at Indiana University. In addition to her coursework, Jen is continuing to play viola da gamba in a university ensemble. She’s currently studying jazz historiography, German, and ear-training.
· Jennifer Schaeffer (B.A. ’97) is enrolled in a master’s nurse-practitioner program at the University of Pennsylvania, and thus far has a 3.65 GPA. You go, Jenn!
· Mark Jonkman (B.A. ’78) reports the following via e-mail: “I am now enjoying my 21st year in the Northampton Area School District. I was hired back in school year 1979-80 as a General Music Teacher in the Junior High School. I quickly became the Assistant Band Director at the Senior High and became the Senior High Band Director 4 years later. After 6 years at the Senior High, I returned full-time to the Junior High (now Middle School) Band Director (and General Music Teacher) for the past 11 years. I am also now serving my second year as the Music Department Chairman K-12. In addition, I am the substitute organist at St. John’s UCC in Howertown. I share my busy life with my wonderful wife Linda and our two children, Kristina and Steven.” (the unabridged version may be viewed on our “Music Alums” website)
The Music Alliance held its annual dinner on November 11, 2000. Twenty-four people attended and were treated to a special guest performance by John Arnold, classical guitar instructor, and a talk by department chair Carol Traupman-Carr. The Alliance also awarded the Richard and Monica Schantz Scholarship to Vera Marston this year.
Events this spring include:
· the annual Delta Omicron performance class and luncheon (originally announced as being March 20, but now scheduled for April 10);
· the spring choral concert with pre-concert reception on April 22;
· the three Robert Taub piano fundraiser recitals in April (including a special dinner-reception for major donors, prior to the April 23 recital);
· the cabaret, another piano fundraiser, which this year will be held in the HUB in conjunction with Alumni Weekend;
· a Lehigh-Valley Music Alums get-together is being planned for sometime in March or April.
· Assistant Dean, Nancy Clark, traveled to India in January and February as part of the Group Study Exchange program sponsored by the Rotary Club. She lived for a time with a host family in New Delhi, but also traveled throughout the country. We can’t wait to see what kind of programming ideas she brings employs here next year!
· In January, jazz pianist and composer Skip Wilkins (currently on leave from Moravian) was awarded a 2001 Fellowship (Grant Award) from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), in recognition of his excellence in jazz composition. Also in January, Skip released a new CD, “Petty Theft,” on Cathexis Records. The recording features his group, The Wilkins & Allen Quartet, with special guest, Grammy-nominated saxophonist, David Liebman. His group, including Liebman, performs at the famed Poconos jazz club, The Deer Head Inn, in Delaware Water Gap, PA on Saturday, February 24th, in celebration of the release. The CD is getting substantial airplay throughout the United States, and is available in retail outlets and from internet sources wherever jazz recordings are sold. Many of his original compositions from “Petty Theft” were considered for the fellowship he has just received from PCA. He is currently creating new works, and is planning his next two CD releases. For more information, please contact: Skip Wilkins, 1055 Pennsylvania Avenue, Emmaus, PA 18049 or via e-mail at skibop@fast.
· David Roth will be attending the National Music Teachers’ Association convention in March to present his ideas on performing/achievement levels for jazz instruction. We hope to implement some of Dave’s ideas in the near future through the Music Institute and Music Department programs.
· Larry Lipkis, Composer-in-Residence, reports on his recent and upcoming activities: “The Baltimore Consort toured Hawaii in January (and also played in Little Rock the day after Clinton left office). The Collegium is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special concert on March 25 which will include alums and children of alums. Also, my bassoon concerto will be premiered by the Houston Symphony on Jan. 18th, 2002.”
· Barbara Liebhaber, Director of Music Education, reports: “Another article that I have written is being published in the next issue of the MENC magazine. The article, ‘Successful Dictation Activities,’ addresses teaching 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4 part dictation to music students using a method that motivates students to enjoy and succeed at the activity. In addition, I will be attending the northeast chapter conference of CMS at Bates College in Maine in April as a member of the program committee and chairperson of two presentations. I’m also happy to report that I have completed the required coursework and projects towards my Ed.D. at Columbia, and am left ‘merely’ with the task of finishing my dissertation.” Good luck, Barbara!
· Paul Lafollette returns this term after serving as principal horn with an orchestra in Mexico. Welcome back, Paul!
Broccoli Bites
a pleasing, easy appetizer for your upcoming piano fundraisers…and
graduation parties
3 beaten eggs
1 pkg. frozen chopped broccoli (about 10 oz)
½ c. Parmesan cheese
1 c. herbed stuffing mix (such as Stove TopÒ)
¾ c. butter or margarine, softened
dash of salt and pepper, if desired
Prepare broccoli according to package directions; drain very well.
Mix together all ingredients. Form
small balls (about 1 inch) and stick in an airtight container.
(I usually separate layers with wax paper.)
Chill at least 3 hours. Place
on cookie sheet 2 inches apart; cook for 15 minutes at 350F until set and
slightly golden brown. Remove from
heat. Let set for 3-5 minutes
before removing from cookie sheet. Enjoy!
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The next issue of ON THE BEAT will be released in June 2001. If you are an alumnus,
faculty member, current student, or supporter of the Moravian College Music
Department and would like to contribute articles, information, recipes, or
photos, please e-mail Carol Traupman-Carr (caroltcarr@moravian.edu) or call the
Music Department at (610) 861-1650.