Music News

spring 2013

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

Music Department Alumni Newsletter

concertized in Switzerland, Germany, Iceland and Norway. Manno first visited the Liszt Academy in 2010 while traveling to Serbia to present her work at the World Piano Conference. She made an immediate impression on the staff at the Academy and they invited her to perform on their concert series in 2012.

The Franz Liszt Academy of Music was founded in 1875 by the legendary pianist-composer, Franz Liszt. Indeed, the oldest building of the academy, where Manno performed, was once home to Liszt himself and there he hosted student concerts in his salon. His apartment in the building now houses a museum that includes his pianos, books and scores. Since it’s founding, the Academy has trained an array of talented

students, including Bartok, Dohnanyi, Kodaly and Ligeti. Today it continues as the most prestigious conservatory in Hungary and is renowned for its dedication to continuing the tradition of Western music that Liszt championed.

Between 2010 and 2012, Manno prepared for her concert on the prestigious world stage, as did her piano partner Michael Dean. Dean is Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at Oklahoma Baptist University. An alumnus of MSUM, Dean was a student of Manno as an undergraduate. As colleagues, Manno and Dean have established a partnership as the Manno-Dean Piano Duo, performing works for two pianos and for four hands. They have been performing together for the past three years. For the Liszt Academy performance, Manno and Dean chose a program featuring both solo and duet repertoire, including works by Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Griffes, Debussy, Granados, Dvorak, Gershwin and Joplin.

As guests of the Liszt Academy, the Piano Duo was also treated to an evening of folk music performed by world-class violinist Lakatos Miklos and his gypsy band. In addition, Manno and Dean attended the historic Hungarian State Opera to hear the production of Erkel Ferenc’s opera Hunyadi Laszlo.

The Manno-Dean event at the Liszt Academy was both a great honor and a great success. “Performing at the Liszt Academy was simultaneously humbling, enriching, and exhilarating,” says Manno. “Through the language of music we were able to communicate the deepest human emotions to a gracious and welcoming international audience.” Manno will always treasure the experience. But it won’t be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: The duo has been invited back to perform on the 2015 Concert Series.

Pianist Terrie Manno Performs at Liszt Academy

Terrie Manno has had a busy year. Throughout her career, Dr. Manno has performed nationally and

internationally, but this fall she had one of the most remarkable experiences of her professional life. Invited to perform at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary, Manno and piano partner Michael Dean played to a sold-out house at the historic conservatory.

Manno, professor of piano and coordinator of keyboard studies, is in her 24th year at MSUM. During that time, she has maintained a busy performing schedule, giving regular recitals and collaborative performances in the Fargo-Moorhead area, and she has built a national and international reputation. Manno has performed regularly in Italy and has also

3Music Spring 2013Music Spring 20132

Jazz faculty includes newcomer Michael J. Krajewski

Michael J. Krajewski joined the MSUM Music Department a year ago, after teaching guitar

and jazz history for five years at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. At MSUM, Krajewski teaches private guitar lessons, guitar class, jazz improvisation and theory, jazz history, jazz combo, and the guitar ensemble. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music, Master of Music from Georgia State University in Jazz Studies, and is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar performance with a secondary area in music education at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Krajewski’s research interests include curriculum development, music pedagogy, the integration of technology in the classroom and private studio, and assessment in music performance. This fall, Krajewski will present a lecture on developing interactive course materials at the annual College Music Society and Association of Technology in Music Instruction conference in Cambridge, Mass. He has been a guest clinician at West Fargo High School and taught a master class on jazz improvisation at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Welcome

Band and Choirs Welcome New Faculty

> Monte C. Grisé

> Daniel A. Mahraun

Music Department welcomes GriséFirst new tenure-track position in several years

Monte C. Grisé completed his first year as Director of Bands at Minnesota State University

Moorhead, where he conducts the MSUM Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and directs the athletic bands. He also teaches secondary instrumental conducting and instrumental methods. In addition, Grisé also serves as the applied saxophone instructor.

Prior to his appointment at MSUM, Dr. Grisé was the Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Bengal Marching Band at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. In addition to running all aspects of the marching band and spirit bands, he taught courses in music education, music appreciation, directed Jazz Band II, Concert Band and the saxophone studio.

As a successful public school teacher, Dr. Grisé held positions as the Director of Bands at Capital High School in Helena, Montana, and Band and Choir Director for grades 5-12 in Manhattan, Montana. During his tenure in Helena, he directed the Helena Community Band, and was the Assistant Conductor of the Helena Symphony Orchestra.

Grisé earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting and Pedagogy from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a Master of Music in Performance and Pedagogy from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Montana State University – Bozeman.

Things are looking good for the Music Department’s new jazz major. “If my numbers are correct,

we’ll start the fall with 20 jazz majors,” says Allen Carter, professor of music theory, drumset and jazz arranging.

A few of those students were music majors going after performance or education degrees who plan to switch to jazz. Those students can now focus on playing and writing jazz while gaining some real-world knowledge of the music business. But several are freshman who were attracted to MSUM because of the jazz degree.

It’s not that jazz studies are new to MSUM. In fact, the jazz area has been a real strength in the music department, according to the department’s chair, Tom Strait. “This degree makes the most of that. Other schools might have a few jazz classes and ensembles, but they don’t offer a degree in jazz. Our program is unique to the region.”

Carter concurs. “We wanted a stand-alone program. When we considered what we wanted to do with the curriculum, and when we looked at the National School of Music guidelines, the best route was to create a different degree program.”

The new degree is a Bachelor of Arts in jazz and commercial music. It’s closely aligned with another new degree in the Music Department – a BA in music industry and entertainment studies. That degree can also serve as a minor for the BA in jazz. Likewise, the BA in jazz can serve as a minor for the music industry and entertainment degree.

Faculty members for the courses related to the two new degrees are Carter, Strait (professor of trumpet and French horn),

Concert Choir Tours Minnesota in March

MSUM’s new director of choral activities, Dr. Daniel A. Mahraun, took the Minnesota State University

Moorhead Concert Choir on a tour last March.

The group’s four-city tour began in Hutchinson, and included workshops and performances in St. Paul, Rosemount, Bemidji and Crookston. The performances featured Celebrations, a cantata by 20th-century American composer Vincent Persichetti, as well as classical and folk music from the Middle Ages to today. The choir performed at three churches, a high school and the University of Minnesota at Crookston.

Mahruan joined the MSUM music faculty last fall. Prior to his appointment here, Mahraun sang full-time with The Rose Ensemble, a St.-Paul-based early music group. He also served for ten years as Director of Choral Activities at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. Mahraun holds a BME from Wartburg College, master’s degrees in conducting and performance from the University of Northern Iowa, and a DMA in the literature and performance of choral music from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“After a stint as a touring musician, I am thrilled to be conducting and teaching again. MSUM allows me to continue to perform occasionally, while offering me the opportunity to guide young singers and explore creative concert programming. I’m particularly looking forward to the world premiere this fall of a piece being composed for the Festival Men’s Choir, the upcoming collaboration between the Concert Choir and Percussion Ensemble in 2014, and working with the history faculty to develop a Civil-War-related concert event in 2015.”

Ryan Jackson (coordinator of the music industry program and music technology specialist), and Mike Krajewski (professor of guitar and improvisation). Required courses are many that already exist. Some will be integrated from the music industry program, and one is a new jazz studies course.

The new major was a goal of the department for many years, but work started in earnest on the major about two years ago, says Carter. He looked at 40 other jazz programs at other schools and considered what he wished he’d known when he was recording professionally and writing music.

“I could have used an understanding of contracts, copyright law and sound engineering, so that I could communicate what I wanted in the studio,” he says. With that in mind, the Music Department made sure to incorporate music business, audio technology, arranging and writing into the program.

“Our goal is to graduate students who can function in a more diverse way when they go out into the marketplace,” Carter says.

Allen, Strait and Jackson say they’re forever grateful to the university and MSUM’s Student Activities Board for the support provided to the music department and the jazz program over the past few years.

They also credit the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “This came to fruition because of the unending support from Tim Borchers, who supported a stand-alone jazz degree from the beginning,” says Carter. “I’m willing to put my name on this program. It’s going to work!”

New Jazz Degree Beefs Up Department’s Jazz Program

Music Spring 20134

New Media

Gao Hong, virtuoso pipa player and composer, visited MSUM in March 2013. A collaboration between Music

and Anthropology, the event included a lecture on Chinese music and the pipa in particular, followed by an evening performance on the pipa. The instrument, one of the oldest in Chinese culture, is a pear-shaped lute with four strings and up to 26 frets that requires years of study to master. Gao Hong is one of China’s premiere players, having studied the pipa since the age of 12 and eventually at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with pipa master Lin Shicheng. She has won many awards, including a prestigious Bush Artist Fellowship and four McKnight Artist Fellowships for Performing Musicians, the most awarded to any musician.

Gao Hong has performed around the world, including in Europe, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and the U.S., playing solo concerts and with symphony orchestras as well as collaborating with jazz musicians. In the U.S., she has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian Institution, and at MSUM.

Gao Hong’s visit to MSUM was also supported by the departments of History, Languages and Cultures, Women’s and Gender Studies, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Dean of Arts and Humanities, and the Dean of Social and Natural Sciences. The event allowed students across campus to learn about this ancient instrument and experience its range of tones and timbres at the hands of a master. Ultimately, it was a rare opportunity to learn about Chinese musical aesthetic and ideas from a world-class musician.

Music Department Collaborates with Anthropology to Bring Chinese Pipa Player to MSUM

Balaclava Gallery Exhibits Work of Henry Gwiazda

Dr. Henry Gwiazda was featured artist at the Balaclava Gallery this spring. Gwiazda’s work continues to be in demand all over

the world, with showings in New York, Paris, Madrid, Cairo, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Sao Paolo, Naples, Marseilles, Seoul, Damascus, Athens, Istanbul, and Moscow. His latest installment at the Balaclava Gallery reflects his

new media focus and his commitment to innovative and integrative artistic outlets. The Balaclava Gallery is an exclusively online gallery. It features the work of artists from all over the world whose work exists only in digital form. Like Gwiazda, the Gallery aims to challenge conventional ways of making and exhibiting art and bring new audiences to digital genres.

Gwiazda’s work The Process was featured at the Gallery and it illustrates his essential aesthetic approach. Gwiazda refers to his work as ‘digital multimedia choreography’ and he states, “ I am attempting to create a new kind of sensitivity or perception that encourages one to transfer attention from one aesthetic response (visual, aural, tactile) to another in order to experience a new kind of trans-medial perception”.

Henry Gwiazda continues to challenge audiences at home and abroad as he gains broader recognition. In 2011, his Claudia and Paul was acquired by the Plains Art Museum in Fargo in 2011, the first digital art in its permanent collection.

Day of Percussion 2012

The MSUM Percussion Studio hosted six internationally recognized guest artists during the studio’s bi-annual “Day of

Percussion” this past fall.  DCI Hall of Fame member and noted percussion pedagogue James B. Campbell presented an outstanding clinic on “Total Percussion Make-over:  20 Quick Ways to Fix your Section” as well as presenting open master classes with guest percussion ensembles from Central Cass and West Fargo High Schools.  The day continued with a clinic from NYC drum set artist and Afro-Brazilian specialist Scott Kettner tracing the development of early New Orleans rhythmic patterns as they evolved into modern funk and Brazilian musical styles.  The Percussion Studio was also pleased to host three guest artists-in-residence, who spent several days at MSUM as well as presenting clinics and performances at the Day of Percussion.  Svet Stoyanov, Bulgarian marimbist and percussion virtuoso, worked with

MSUM students directly during his stay as well as with participants in the Day of Percussion before culminating his residency with an amazing performance alongside his duo partner, violinist Moni Simeonov.  Tim and Pat O’Keefe, brothers and co-directors of Minneapolis’ own “Batucada do Norte” samba drumming ensemble, presented multiple workshops at MSUM open to both students and community members in the months leading up to the Day of Percussion.  Their final performance with MSUM’s own “Fuego Tropical” world music and percussion ensemble brought the house down as thunderous samba enredo and maracatu rhythms shook the walls of Glasrud Auditorium during the grand finale of the Day of Percussion.

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New Music Scholarship Honors Long-Time Faculty Member

The music department founded a scholarship in Dr. Rod Rothlisberger’s name. We

wanted to honor his 50-year legacy of teaching. During the fall of 2012 the department hosted a celebration event for “Doc” in downtown Fargo during which, many faculty and alumni attended and several performed. There was even an appearance of a hurdy-gurdy! We miss him, but the music department would like to wish Dr. Rothlisberger well during his retirement! To donate to the Rothlisberger scholarship contact the Alumni Foundation or go to www.mnstate.edu/alumni.

Faculty NewsRobin Allebach, soprano, was featured at the North Dakota Arts and Humanities Summit in a performance of Mira o Norma, a scene from Bellini’s opera Norma with former MSUM music performance major, Lisa Holman. With several clinics slated around the state of North Dakota, Robin helped to found, lead and teach the first Solo Song Symposium -- a day spent celebrating the art of song recital for high school singers held at Valley City State University. Her performance schedule includes concerts and recitals in Chicago with the Parisian Salon Concerts and Massachusetts in collaboration with Korean composer Keomuk Heo.

Dr. Laurie Blunsom, Professor of Music History, returned from sabbatical leave in Fall of 2012. During her sabbatical year, Blunsom conducted research at the American Academy in Rome over a period of three months, studying American composers in the city. She also had the opportunity to travel to Prague, Berlin, Leipzig, Weimar, Florence and Sienna, making pilgrimages to important musical-historical sites. In the spring, Blunsom relocated to Boston for continuing research on 19th-century Boston’s musical culture and women composers.

Dr. Allen Carter, Associate Professor of Music, has been busy with a variety of pursuits. His Monday Night Big Band, filled with the finest jazz players in the region, has recently crossed over the $6,000 mark in funds raised for jazz scholarships for students at the three local universities via their concert series at Studio 222. Work is nearing a close on his complete freshman-level theory text and his musicianship text. He created and established the

> Robin Allebach

> Dr. Laurie Blunsom

> Dr. Jenny Dufault

> Dr. Allen Carter

> Ryan Jackson

> Dr. Terrie Manno

> Dr. Daniel A. Mahraun

> Dr. Kenyon Williams

Bachelor of Arts curriculum in Jazz and Commercial Music, served on the department and the College of Arts and Humanities Curriculum Committees, took temporary charge of the scholarship funding for the department while representing MSUM at college recruiting events and music educator conferences. Work has also begun on a second big band CD as well as a CD of non-jazz compositions.

Dr. Jenny Dufault is now the coordinator of the vocal program at MSUM. She is piloting a new preparatory program for area high school students this summer. Dr. Dufault will be offering eight weeks of voice lessons to entering high school freshman through graduating seniors. The program will end with the students performing in a capstone recital. Dufault’s article “Practical Advice for the Voice Pedagogue” will be published this coming fall in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Journal of Singing.

Professor Ryan Jackson, Associate Professor of Music Industry, together with new faculty member, Jeffrey Izzo, developed a new Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Industry and Entertainment Studies Degree. Available in Fall 2013, this degree reflects the department’s commitment to a cutting edge curriculum, focused on the realities of the music and entertainment industries from technology to the legal system, while maintaining our roots in traditional musical and performance studies.  Jackson has also been busy in his personal studio, Rj Ryan Productions.  This year, he is working with Kids Kollectables to fulfill a grant proposal funded by

the State of North Dakota. For this project, Jackson arranged, recorded and produced music that is based on the lesson plans of Cheryl Bombenger, an elementary school teacher in the Fargo-Moorhead area. The final recording will be packaged as part of a lesson plan for nationwide distribution.  Jackson is also completing a recording with MSUM percussionist Kenyon Williams, featuring works by many nationally known composers, including our own, Henry Gwiazda. 

Dr. Terrie Manno, Professor and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies, has continued her recital performing activities this year with enthusiastically received concerts in Fargo-Moorhead and Budapest, Hungary.  She has also nurtured her relationships with local retirement communities through her volunteer project that brings classical piano music performances to our resident elders.  Her performances in these venues generate interest, enliven the living environment, and serve to stimulate the neurological processes of everyone who is in attendance.  She and her students in the Art of Performing presented a public recital at Riverview Place featuring solo piano works and the Mendelssohn Piano Trio in D minor.  Her pedagogy expertise was called upon by the Fargo Moorhead Music Teachers’ Association who invited her to present her workshop titled ‘Student Projects that Develop Musicianship, Improve Listening Skills & Generate Enthusiasm’ in March.  She continues her work with the Manno-Dean Piano Duo and is currently collaborating with cellist Elyse Nelson for performances in Fall, 2013. Manno also received the YWCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Women of the Year event.

Director of Choral Activities Dr. Daniel A. Mahraun’s performances this year included a solo recital featuring Bach Cantata No. 82 and a guest soloist performance of Vaughan Williams’

Willow-wood with the orchestra of St. John University/College of St. Benedict.  He is also engaged for upcoming performances with The Rose Ensemble and as soloist for Bach Tage at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.  Mahraun served as guest conductor for the Fall Choral Festival hosted at MSUM by Lake Park Audubon High School; he also adjudicated several solo/small ensemble contests in Minnesota.

Dr. Kenyon Williams presented a solo faculty recital this past fall at MSUM in which he presented two world-premier commissioned works written expressly for him:  “Capriccio for Violin and Marimba” by Carrie Magin and “Duo for Saxophone and Percussion” by Russell Peterson.  On the recital, he was joined by numerous Tri-College faculty members, including MSUM’s Dr. Monte Grisé, Dr. David Ferreira, and Elise Buffat-Nelson.  In September and November, Dr. Williams hosted a series of Brazilian Drumming workshops with guest artists Tim and Pat O’Keefe from Minneapolis, as well as hosting the bi-annual MSUM Day of Percussion. During the spring of 2013, Dr. Williams took a sabbatical leave to pursue multiple projects. In January, he traveled to Trinidad and Tobago to perform with the Birdsong Steel Orchestra under the direction of famed American jazz pianist and composer Andy Narell in the annual island-wide Panorama steel band competition.  In February, he performed as a member of the “Varying Degrees Percussion Trio” along with Tom Christianson and Andrew P. Clemenson on a tour across North Dakota and Minnesota.  In March, he completed an eight-month-long project writing, orchestrating, and underscoring original music for the Bethel Evangelical Free Church’s original Easter production, “The Seal of Elyus,” along with a team of musicians from Bethel.  In April, he traveled to the Dagbe Cultural Institute and Arts Center in Kopeiya, Ghana to study Ewe

drumming and dance.  This summer, Dr. Williams plans to release his first solo CD, “Homage,” mixed and edited by MSUM Music Industry professor Ryan Jackson.  The CD will include original compositions commissioned by Dr. Williams along with a composition by MSUM Composition professor Henry Gwiazda entitled

“Homage to Jimi.”

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What Can You Do With A Music Degree?BRIAN CURR (B.A. Music, 2004) – Internship Coordinator at Berklee College of Music in Boston

As the coordinator he assists in student internship placement, recruits students into the internship program, and is responsible for developing relationships with organizations. In 2008, Curr was honored with the Berklee College of Music Employee of the Year award.

HOLLY JONES (B.M. Music Industry, 2006) – Freelance songwriting, working in the folk-Americana genre.

Last September she sang on three episodes of A Prairie Home Companion, singing duets with Garrison Keillor. Jones plans to continue working in Minnesota as a singer-songwriter and is well on her way to a successful career.

TROY MACFARLAND (B.M. Music Industry, 2009) – Working as the artist/producer/engineer/song-writer known as TMAC.

This year he released twelve tracks mastered by his former instructor, Ryan Jackson, Music Industry, in Jackson’s home recording studio. His latest single, a music video titled “Alone ft Tori Quinn” is available on YouTube and iTunes.

CHAD MATHIS (B.M. Music Industry, 2010)

Went on to graduate school after MSUM, completing a Master of Arts degree in double bass and jazz improvisation at Eastern Illinois University in 2012. Mathis currently lives in Minneapolis and works at MakeMusic, a leading developer of music software. He also teaches privately and plays with the funk band Low Profile.

RUTH MEBERG STINE (B.M. Music Industry, 2005) – Director of Special Projects for the Chicago Humanities Festival in Chicago, Illinois.

The Festival seeks to support and explore the humanities by providing programming for the Chicago area on a variety of subjects, including the arts and architecture, history, literature, philosophy, public affairs, and science and technology. At the Festival, Stine manages membership, individual solicitations for sponsorships, and programming partnerships with alumni groups and corporations.

PAULA MUSEGADES (B.S. Music Education, 2007) – Doctoral student in Musicology at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Her dissertation research involves the investigation of Aaron Copland and his influence on Hollywood film scores in the 1940s and 1950s. She is a teacher’s assistant for music and film courses each semester, and is an active member of the Faculty Lecture Series within the music department.

MICHAEL OPP (B.M. Music Industry, 2012) – Known around the Music Department at MSUM as the hurdy-gurdy player.

During the past two years, Opp has been immersed in the music of this Medieval instrument, traveling to festivals in the US and Europe to learn its subtleties and its music. Ultimately, Opp built his own hurdy-gurdy and now plans to pursue instrument-making at Southeast Technical College’s luthier program.