News & Calendar
Click here for the 2007-2008 Department of Music Performance Calendar.
Spring 2008
Greetings from the Otterbein campus! The Department of Music continues to grow and prosper - read more below.
Join us for a retirement celebration honoring Dr. Lyle Barkhymer's 41 years of distinguished service to Otterbein College and the Department of Music. Invitations were mailed in early March to a reception and chamber music soirée at Little Bear Golf Club on Saturday, April 12 at 8:00 p.m. For more information or to request an invitation, contact Conni Birri at cbirri@otterbein.edu or 614-823-1508.
Congratulations to Dr. Gayle Walker and members of the Otterbein College Concert Choir for an extremely successful performance at the Central Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 22. The Concert Choir was one of seven collegiate and university mixed choruses selected to represent a four-state region that includes Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. The conference application process included submitting a recording of performances from three consecutive academic years; in addition to immediate sound quality, the ACDA Conference Committee makes their selection based upon excellence that is sustained for multiple years. Thus, Concert Choir graduates from 2005, 2006, and 2007 all played an important role in this honor and should be congratulated along with this year's Concert Choir. The choir's conference program included "Verbum caro factum est" by Hassler, "O nata lux" by Calvar, "Gloria" by Knauf; "Hard Times" arranged by Keller, and three selections from African-American Fragments by Averitt.
Happy Birthday, Otterbein Choirs! In anticipation of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the choirs' founding at Homecoming next fall, the Alumni Choir will not gather as usual during Commencement weekend this spring. Details regarding the Homecoming and birthday celebration on October 18 and 19, 2008, will be available soon.
Student News
The Otterbein College chapter of the Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association has been awarded a Chapter of Excellence Award. These awards, given by the national office, are awarded every two years to chapters displaying excellence in one of three areas: special programs, special projects, and recruitment techniques. The Otterbein OCMEA chapter was one of three chapters nationwide to receive the award for special programs and one of nine chapters nationwide to receive the award in any area. Special thanks goes to Dr. Jim Bates for his wonderful concept and leadership on our project: the Instrument Petting Zoo. Thanks and congratulations to the students who participated in the project and the creation of our award application materials. The Instrument Petting Zoo project will be featured at the MENC National Conference coming this spring and will be written up in the Chapter Handbook sent to every CMENC Chapter in the US and abroad.
Department of Music students Meagan Antram, Robbie Lucas, Kasey Todd and James Walker participated in the Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association (OPCICA) honor band festival at the College of Wooster, January 18-20, 2008.
Crystal Carlisle, Sophomore Bachelor of Arts in Music major, competed in the first round of the National Society of Arts and Letters vocal competition in Marietta, OH on March 15, 2008.
In Musical Theatre news, David Bahgat won the first annual Voice of the City competition, sponsored by the Columbus Childrens Choir last April. David and his classmate, Erik Christensen both presented cabarets this past Fall to help defray expenses of their NYC internships Winter Quarter 2008. Kari Ringer and Cesar Villavicencio have been selected to participate in the apprentice program at the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, Utah. Lauren Wertz has been selected for the prestigious two-week musical theatre workshop at Western Carolina University, headed by the famed Broadway actor Terrance Mann
Faculty News
Lyle Barkhymer received Otterbein's prestigious Master Teacher of the Year Award at the annual Academic Convocation last May. In December, Dr. Barkhymer led the annual SYE "1900-Vienna-2000" course along with Dr. Thomas Ahrens to its 2-week seminar in Vienna. Music majors Ben Boring, Rachel Marker, and Aaron Moats were part of the class and they had the opportunity to visit the graves of the Viennese Classical composers, hear "Tosca" at the Staatsoper and "Die lustige Witwe" at the Volksoper. The students also attended a concert by the Vienna Choirboys during their travels. In April, Dr. Barkhymer will give a paper "The Conductor as an Iconic Figure in Viennese Culture" at the annual symposium of the Modern Austrian Literature and Culture Association in Seattle.
During the summer of 2007, clarinet instructor Anthony Costa and his wife, oboe instructor Robyn Dixon Costa, were guest performers at the International Double Reed Society's Conference held at Ithaca College (NY). Together they played a program of music for oboe and clarinet. Dr. Anthony Costa was also a guest artist at the 2007 Ohio University's Clarinet Gala and The Ohio State University's Contemporary Music Festival 2008 where he played Osvaldo Golijov's Lullaby and Doina. He has been invited to perform this summer at the 2008 International Clarinet Society's Clarinetfest, held in Kansas City, as well as the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium.
Faculty organ instructor Jan Dunphy is currently serving in her 46th year as principal organist at Church of the Messiah United Methodist in Westerville.
In July of 2007, flute instructor Kimberlee Goodman traveled to Bangkok, Thailand to present a lecture recital at the College Music Society's international conference. That August, she performed as a soloist and as part of the Stratosphere Flute Quartet at a special recital honoring her late mother. This concert took place at the National Flute Association's convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In December, Kim received her DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) degree from The Ohio State University. This past February (2008) Dr. Goodman presented a masterclass and recital at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Senior Lecturer in Music and percussion instructor Jack Jenny continues to perform as a percussionist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Of special note this past season was the orchestra's performance with percussion soloist Colin Currie of Jennifer Higdon's Percussion Concerto. During the summer Dr. Jenny had the opportunity to hear Michael Tilson Thomas's interpretation of Mahler's Symphony No. 7 performed by the San Francisco Symphony at beautiful Davies Concert Hall in San Francisco. Last fall Dr. Jenny attended the Percussive Arts Society's International Convention held at the Columbus Convention Center. This spring he will have the honor of judging the intermediate level (grades 3-5) of the Musical Composition Competition for the 2008 Ohio PTA's Reflections Program.
Big Band Director and saxophone instructor Jay Miglia has played in the pit orchestras of national tours for Annie, Spamalot, All Shook Up, and High School Musical. He appeared as a guest soloist with the Otterbein Symphonic Band, and Ohio University and DePauw University faculty jazz combos. He was a clinician and soloist with the West Jefferson and Gahanna Lincoln High School Jazz Bands. Other concert appearances include the Ohio Capital Winds, Columbus and Cleveland Jazz Orchestras, and Granville-Newark Symphony Orchestra. Jay directed the OPCICA Honors Jazz Band in 2008 and has been elected jazz chair for 2009. He also directed the Cranbrook Academy Summer Jazz Ensemble in Michigan. He is teaching classes in improvisation and ear training for the Jazz Arts Group and he is currently the Secretary of the Ohio Chapter of IAJE.
Faculty pianist Suzanne Newcomb has formed a professional piano trio with Otterbein faculty violinist Erin Gilliland and Columbus-area cellist Peter Case. Named the Trio Élan, they performed at the 2007 OMTA State conference, where Suzanne also gave a presentation on chamber music. In February, the trio performed with members of Ballet Met at a benefit recital. In May, Suzanne will complete her second two-year term as district president of OMTA.
Women's Chorale Director and composer Sheena Phillips enjoyed a successful year with new commissions, publications, and the premieres of several of her original works. In addition to her compositional achievements, Sheena was appointed joint Artistic Director of the Columbus Women's Chorus (with Jennifer Bell, Otterbein Staff Accompanist) and she directed the Magpie Consort in two programs: "The Sound of America" and "A Mediterranean Christmas." Under her direction, the Magpie Consort recorded a full length CD, also entitled "The Sound of America." Sheena is currently serving for two years as Community Choir Repertoire & Standards Chair of the Ohio Choral Directors Association and she was recently soprano soloist in a program of medieval English music by the Columbus ensemble The Early Interval.
Harriet Rawlins Hill, senior lecturer in voice, used the winter break for a number of workshops and master classes in California. She conducted a two-day workshop at the Santa Ynez Valley Theatre, near Solvang and Los Olivos, CA. The workshop consisted of audition technique, musical theatre exercises and the study of Rodgers & Hammerstein dialogue and songs. Harriet was also invited to conduct a master class at the San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, CA. Next, she traveled to Santa Maria and gave a talk to acting and musical theatre majors at the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts at Allan Hancock College, discussing her 30 year career in musical theatre and opera, followed by a lively discussion of "typing" for one's career in musical theatre. Back in the Columbus area, Harriet also spent time consulting with area high school students on their college auditions and worked with a PCPA student who lives in the area. Her plans this summer including returning to Dusseldorf, Germany to teach voice and present a musical theatre unit at the opera workshop: www.workshopera.com
Faculty pianist Caroline Salido Richardson continues to teach her private piano studio, The Piano Arts Studio, in Blacklick, with 30 students & regular studio recitals throughout the year. She maintains a busy schedule as an accompanist and performer throughout the Columbus area. Dr. Salido Richardson remains an active member of the Ohio Music Teachers Association-Central East District & Music Teachers National Association, for whom she served as conductor for Pianorama in October 2007 and currently serves as Chair for the Solo & Ensemble Recitals. She was also recently an adjudicator for the Women in Music-Columbus Scholarship Competition.
Margaret Underwood, Director of Wind, Band, and Percussion Activities, successfully defended her document "Robert Kurka's The Good Soldier Schweik Suite: A Performance Edition," completing her DMA in November 2007. She conducted the North Attleboro Honor Band in Massachusetts in March 2008.
In the past year, guitar instructor Karl Wohlwend has continued to grow his private teaching studio, and his recording business, dBMusic Production has been rolling along. He finished a full-length commercial project for Halfway Home, an Americana band that tours throughout the Midwest, and he has four other projects in the works, all to be finished in 2008. Karl spent last summer touring with the Irish band, Knot Fibb'n and he helped the band to release a live CD in celebration of a decade of touring. In July, Karl was on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's Classical Guitar Workshop. Last spring Karl began an exciting new project with Grammy-winning countertenor Ian Howell, called "The Beginner's Ear." Karl and Ian were invited to perform for the Vocal Symposium at Capital University in Columbus, and also for the Ohio Association of Kodaly Educators. Karl has also recently been invited to teach for the Chamber Music Connection, a community organization which has been providing chamber music education and opportunities since 1992.
Since April of 2007, tuba instructor Tony Zilincik has served as principal tubist for the Newark Granville Symphony, he has played several concerts with Dr. Tony's Original Ragtime band, and he is the tubist with the Cathedral Brass Ensemble at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Columbus. He also presented a solo recital in October at Capital University entitled, "The Dancing Tuba." Tony also organized and conducted the 25th "Merry TubaChristmas Columbus" concert held at Capital University in December. Guest conductors included Otterbein Professor Emeritus, Gary Tirey. As a composer, Tony was commissioned by the Catholic Diocese of Columbus to write a new work for SATB choir, children's choir, two organs and brass which was premiered at St. Joseph Cathedral on February 3 to a full house. He is currently working on a commission for euphonium soloist Patrick Stuckemeyer to be recorded this fall.
Alumni News
Leslie Fagans VanIderstine, '58, passed away on December 4, 2007. She is survived by her husband, Pete, three daughters, and six grandchildren.
Jennifer Fry, '85, is the co-director of Handbells Columbus, a community handbell choir performing advance repetoire in the greater Columbus area. The 14 member group includes ringer Kim Hoessly '81, and Eileen Huston '57, the group's accompanist. Handbells Columbus presented a concert at Church of the Master in Westerville on March 30, 2008 at 3:30pm. The group will also perform in October at the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Area V Festival.
Jennifer (Howenstine) Mollenkopf, '94, and husband David announce the birth of their second child: Abigail Grace Mollenkopf was born Dec. 7, 2007. She joins big sister Victoria Alexandra (age 8).
Alyson (Blazey) Vigneron, '05, is teaching music and drama at "Studio J...Sing, Paint, Play," a unique art, music, and drama studio in downtown Powell, Ohio
Karen (Eddy) McCullough,'05, received her master's degree in arts management at Carnegie Mellon University. She now serves as Associate Director of Development for Undergraduate Financial Aid at Penn State University.
Katie Harrah, '05, is now a graduate student at Belmont University. She is currently a member of the university orchestra and faculty brass quintet. She is a concerto competition winner and will perform as soloist with the university orchestra this spring. Katie is also a music educator in the Nashville, TN area, and she will graduate with her Master's Degree in Music Performance in Spring 2008.
Elizabeth Schleicher, '06, is attending graduate school at Northwestern University, where she performed the role of Helena in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, this past winter. This production also featured Otterbein alum Eric Rutherford, ‘01 who played the role of Lysander.
We have much to celebrate in the strong heritage of MUSIC AT OTTERBEIN, from the early days of Benjamin Hanby, to musical events scheduled this year. Thank you for your support and we hope to hear from you soon, or better yet, to see you in person!
Craig Johnson, Chairperson, Department of Music
