NC State’s new director of orchestral studies, Dr. Peter Askim, is as vibrant, talented and unique as the ensembles that he began directing Fall Semester 2014.

Askim, a conductor, composer, bassist and educator, is excited about his new role as the conductor of the Raleigh Civic Symphony and the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra. He looks forward to continuing previous conductor Randolph Foy’s emphasis on cutting-edge performance and musical exploration.

Askim said, “These orchestras have a history of adventurous programming – a wide range of music is already in the DNA of the groups. I don’t have to squeeze myself into a box here and it is really exciting. This is the kind of music that makes me tick. Playing a wide variety of music is important and it changes the way you play. If you play contemporary music, it changes the way you play Beethoven and vice versa. I look forward to diving in!”

Prior to his arrival at NC State, Askim served as music director and composer-in-residence at the prestigious Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. At Idyllwild, Askim taught phenomenally talented young high school students who had already committed to pursuing music careers.

At NC State, Askim will conduct and teach talented musicians who are all students majoring in something other than music.

“You get a more intense experience when people from different backgrounds come together and harness their energy. It makes for more interesting music and people.” Askim said. “I have a liberal arts background. My college orchestra was made up of majors of all different fields and I think it makes for smarter, more engaged musicians. My colleagues from my undergraduate music ensembles have gone on to make major contributions to science, medicine, law and the humanities, in addition to music,” Askim said.

Dr. Peter Askim

Nc State welcomes New director of Orchestral Studies & Faculty Member

6 ticket central 919.515.1100 ncsu.edu/arts

rAleigh CiviC ChAmber orCheStrA: November 2 at 4pm, titmus theatre, thompson Hall

rAleigh CiviC SymPhony: November 16 at 4pm, location to be announced

upcoming concerts: You Are Invited to Dr. Askim’s NC State Conducting Debut

Askim’s own contributions to music include founding The Next Festival of Emerging Artists in 2013. The festival is an intensive and immersive one-week residency for young professional string players focused on musical exploration, entrepreneurial thinking and contemporary performance practice. The festival provides next-generation artists a chance to hone their craft and collaborate with world-class guest artists. Askim also provided monetary support to students who couldn’t afford to attend with funds he helped raise through the organization. He remains the festival’s artistic director.

Askim thrives in settings where collaboration and creativity are embraced so it is no coincidence that Askim sought out NC State’s orchestral program, which also embodies these qualities.

The Raleigh Civic Symphony and the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra are comprised of both student and community performers. This unique arrangement allows amateur musicians to have the opportunity to learn about music and work with

professional and semi-professional musicians in rehearsal, coached sections and performances.

“This is the best of both worlds and the initial reason I was interested in the job,” Askim explained. “In a community orchestra, you may be missing a second chair instrument and in the school orchestra, you may have the opposite need. So, when you bring together the two, needs are met and there is great talent and opportunity.“

Nc State welcomes New director of Orchestral Studies & Faculty Member by Christy Rain

ncsu.edu/arts 7

Another unique layer of collaboration that Askim finds attractive is that the orchestra receives support from the Raleigh Civic Symphony Association (RCSA). The non-profit organization was formed in 1975 to specifically support the NC State orchestra program.

“The nonprofit board brings in another vision, more hands to help do the work and provide financial support,” Askim said. “With all of these contributions, more possibilities exist.“

In addition to conducting, Askim is teaching Music of the 20th Century this semester as a faculty member in the Music Department. With previous experience as a lecturer at University of Hawaii at Manoa and as a teaching assistant at University of Texas at Austin, Askim says he relishes returning to the intellectual atmosphere of a university and

finds that the students’ broad worldviews and the faculty members’ research provides inspiration and a fresh perspective on his work.

Dr. Tom Koch, Interim Director of the Music Department, sums up Askim’s arrival, “Dr.  Askim  brings to the Music Department a wealth of experience in orchestral conducting, composition, and performance. As director of  The Next Festival of Emerging Artists and director and composer-in-residence of the Idyllwild Arts Academy, Dr. Askim dramatically raised the visibility of the music programs at those distinguished institutions. Peter has dedicated his life to teaching talented young people and cultivating in them a sense of curiosity, an appreciation for the arts, and a drive for excellence. We are excited about the possibilities that Peter can achieve with the orchestra program at NC State.”  ■

The raleigh civic chamber Orchestra (rccO) is a 30-piece student and community ensemble focusing on orchestral music from Baroque to Post-Modern. In 2000, previous director Dr. Randall Foy started the orchestra for advanced musicians.

The raleigh civic Symphony (rcS), which began early in the Music Department’s 90-year history, is an 80-piece student and community group performing standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire.

Both ensembles require auditions, rehearse once a week and perform at least one concert per semester. Student performers may take one credit per semester for up to 8 semesters. Participating community members are volunteers. A paid guest player may be asked to join the group periodically.

Mary Sherk, Executive Director of the Raleigh Civic Symphony Association (RCSA), said, “When the Raleigh Civic Symphony was formed, the symphony was focused on amateur musicians developing

Quick glaNce at Nc State’S OrcheStral PrOgraM

greater skill and proficiency. Coaches were provided for most sections. Through the years, the musicians and symphony grew in capability. In 1995, Dr. Randolph Foy became the conductor of the Raleigh Civic Symphony, raising its artistic quality further. He added the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra in 2000, a group of more advanced musicians that could learn repertoire more quickly and perform more challenging works. Today, the Raleigh Civic Symphony and Civic Chamber Orchestra are two highly respected orchestras attracting professional and semi-professional musicians who enjoy the unique and challenging repertoire and audiences looking to experience new and unusual programming." "RCSA is delighted to have Peter join the music department and lead the orchestra program. His enthusiasm, energy, and love of music are infectious. Peter will strive for a programmatic balance of contemporary and traditional works, as well as orchestral premieres. Under Peter’s leadership, the orchestras look to more effectively engage the community and raise awareness and interest on campus.” ■

8

what the eNSeMbleS MeaN tO StudeNt MuSiciaNS

Margaret rahMOeller 5th year Ph.D. student in Math

Member of Raleigh Civic Symphony and Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra

Received Master's in Mathematics from NC State University in December 2012

B.A. in Math and a B.A. in Music from McKendree University in May 2010

Quick glaNce at Nc State’S OrcheStral PrOgraM

“I began playing oboe in 6th grade, so I've been playing oboe for about 15 years now. I joined both the Raleigh Civic

Symphony Orchestra and the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra when I started my graduate program at NC State in Fall 2010. I met Randy Foy in August 2010 when I auditioned to be in the orchestras. He is a charming man, sweet and sincere, devoted to music and teaching, and innovative as a conductor. He introduced me to the beauty of modern music. Before I came to NC State, I was a romantic era musician through and through. I love the heartfelt, almost cheesiness of the melodies. But he helped me understand the complexity of the more modern music when we played pieces such as music by Cage, Satie's Parade, Scearce's Mourning Songs, and Corigliano's Mr. Tambourine Man. One of Dr. Foy's greatest strengths was that he had such a deep

understanding of the music, that he could tie together modern music to historic music to create a unique, meaningful concert. His program notes always conveyed these links extraordinarily.

Here at NC State, I have made many friends in the orchestra, and some I consider to be my Raleigh family. We have bonded over our love for music, our frustration at certain difficult passages in the music, and our conversations during break (and perhaps a little during rehearsals too). We have learned to work together and to listen to each other, whether it's while playing or when sharing ideas on how to make the piece sound even better. So, I have not only enjoyed these ensembles, but I have also learned from them. I've improved my collaboration and listening skills, increased my self-confidence, and continued working on my leadership skills. We have also bonded over losing Dr. Randy Foy as our conductor after he stepped down due to health reasons. He really was the best conductor I had ever had. He knew how to inspire us and encourage us to do our best, and he picked the most interesting music for us to play, knowing we would play well. We have struggled over the last few semesters, waiting for stability in finding a new conductor for the ensembles. Our numerous experiences with temporary conductors taught us what qualities to look for in a good conductor inside and outside of rehearsals.

Needless to say, we are looking forward to working with Dr. Peter Askim. We immensely enjoyed meeting him last semester, and we know he'll lead us in a new direction with a lot of energy. We're ready to work hard to ensure stability in our future, to improve as an orchestra, and to push our way out into the community with an even greater force then before. Personally, I look forward to the new year and the challenges it brings!” ■

keNNy Park yi Junior, Communication Major with a Media Concentration

Member of Raleigh Civic Symphony

“The upcoming fall semester will be my 5th semester in the Raleigh Civic Symphony. I'm from Fayetteville and Cumberland County schools offer a great orchestra program that allows 5th graders to pick up a string instrument. I decided to begin playing viola in 5th grade.

Participating in orchestras was a huge part of my high school life, and being able to continue to participate in musical ensembles such as the Raleigh Civic Symphony has been a great joy for me. There are definitely parts

of the college experience that are awful and annoying, but having this opportunity to go and make music with these great musicians every week provides a great release from that stress.

I hope to make participating in orchestras a lifelong endeavor; I know it is easier said than done, but playing Viola has been such a large part of my life, and I really hope that I never stop playing. If I stay in the area after graduation, I would love to continue to be a member of the RCS!

I was only able to study under Dr. Foy for one full semester, but it was clear that he was a large part of the music department at NC State. I first met Dr. Foy in 2010 for an audition for the NC Governor's School program, and I remember my friends and I coming out of the audition room saying how kind and calming the judge was, which was a completely different feeling from some other auditions we'd had before. I know the NC State orchestra program would not be as great as it is today without his years of service to the NC State Music Department, and I am truly thankful to him for that.

I'm very excited for the addition of Dr. Peter Askim to the NC State Music Department, and I'm excited for the future of the music department in general! The next few years are sure to be filled with great music, and a lot of fun.” ■

ncsu.edu/arts 9

Selected exPerieNce•Founder and artistic director, The Next

Festival of Emerging Artists, Falls Village, CT.

•Music director and composer-in-residence, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA.

•commissioned and conducted the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra in a 25th Anniversary Concert of all World Premieres.

•conductor/co-producer, commercial recording of Richard Thompson’s Cabaret of Souls.

•conducted 100 Cello Bernard Greenhouse Memorial Concert, Fullerton, CA.

•conducted the U.K. Premiere of Richard Thompson’s Cabaret of Souls, Meltdown Festival, Royal Festival Hall, London.

•Music director and composer-in-residence, Elan Festival, Dallas, Texas.

•conducted soundtracks for Idyllwild Arts Academy Motion Pictures Department films.

•guest conductor, Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Conducted programs with Sewanee Philharmonic and Sewanee Faculty Chamber Orchestra, Sewanee, Tennessee.

•Music director, Brigadoon, Oregon Festival of American Music, Eugene, Oregon.

•director, University of Hawaii Contemporary Music Ensemble.

•guest conductor, Polish Chamber Orchestra Sotto Voce, Wroclaw, Poland.

•guest conductor, Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Led the orchestra in works of University of Hawaii Composers.

•compositions performed by Tokyo Symphony and Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.

•Member, Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Section Double Bass. Honolulu, Hawaii.

•lecturer, University of Hawaii, Manoa.

•conducted Premiere of own chamber opera, Laughter in the Dark, Yale University.

•Music director, Branford Chamber Orchestra, Yale University. Conductor and Administrator of orchestra comprised of undergraduate non-music majors.

•assistant Music director, Branford Chamber Orchestra.

receNt Selected cOMMiSSiONS•The Five Elements: Concerto for String

Quartet (String Quartet and Strings) ETHEL, premiered December 2012

•Duo (Viola and Double Bass) Robert Nairn, President, International Society Of Bassists, premiered November 2011

•Inner Voices (Solo Viola) Compulsory Work, 2011 Primrose International Viola Competition, premiered June 2011

•Viola Concerto (Viola, Chamber Orchestra) Roger Myers, String Chair, UT Austin, premiered May 2011

•Still Points:Concerto for Trombone (Trombone and Chamber Orchestra), Michael Becker, premiered May 2010

•E ‘Ike Mai (Chorus and Orchestra) Hawaii Pacific University, premiered April 2009

educatiON•Doctor of Musical Arts (Composition),

University of Texas at Austin.

•Doctor of Musical Arts (Performance), Yale School of Music.

•Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst, Vienna, Austria.

•Master of Musical Arts (Performance), Yale School of Music.

•Master of Music, (Performance), Yale School of Music.

•Bachelor of Arts (Intensive Music Major), Yale University. (cum laude, with Distinction in the Major)

hOMe State•Maine

dr. Peter aSkiM’S career at a glaNce

"the orchestras at Nc State have a history of adventurous programming ... i don’t have to squeeze myself into a box here and it is really exciting." - Dr. Peter Askim