The very thought of no two musical instruments sounding
identical makes music intriguing.
For example, when Garik Pedersen, an EMU
music faculty member, went to Steinway in
New York to select a piano, he tested all of them before
making a decision.
 |
HALL OF INSTRUMENTS: (above, from
left)
Eastern Michigan University organ
instructors Deborah
Friauff, Scott Elsholz
and James Wagner pose with
a two-
manual harpsichord (foreground) and a
Kney
pipe organ (background) in the
Organ Recital Hall
in the Alexander Music
Building. |
"They aren't like cars," said Marsha Rinke, music events
coordinator and adjunct lecturer. "Each instrument has
a different tone color and character because of the natural
materials used in production — wood from trees and wool
felt."
One of the primary fundraising focuses of the EMU Music
and Dance Department is the All-Steinway School
Initiative. Rinke hopes fundraising efforts will earn $2
million to replace all of the instruments on campus with
Steinway instruments, considered the best in the industry.
EMU's own Steinway artist, Joel Schoenhals, will jump
start the initiative, Friday, Sept. 12, 8 p.m., Pease Auditorium,
with his annual recital featuring music of Rachmaninoff
and Schubert. A reception will follow the program.
Other featured fall music events include:
Emeritus faculty member Dady Mehta and his son,
Nuvi Mehta, will present a recital of sonatas
for violin and piano, Sunday, Sept. 21, 4 p.m., Pease
Auditorium. Selections include Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata,
Prokofiev's "Sonata in D Major" and J.S. Bach's "Sonata
in E Major."
An Organ Alumni Recital will celebrate
the legacies of Erich Goldschmidt and Mary Ida Yost on
the 30th anniversary of Goldschmidt's retirement and Yost's
succession, Saturday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., Pease Auditorium.
World-renowned organist, improviser, composer and Organiste
Titulaire of l'eglise de la Sainte-Trinite in Paris, France,
Naji Hakim will present a master class and lecture at the 12th
Annual Improvisation Symposium, Saturday,
Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to noon, Pease Auditorium.
 |
Zook |
Jeffery Zook, a piccoloist and flutist with the
Detroit Symphony,
will conduct a master class in collaboration
with pianist Kathryn Goodson, Thursday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m., orchestra room, Alexander Music Hall.
Mary Schneider the new director of EMU's bands, will make
her debut performance with the University Bands,
Friday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m. Pease Auditorium.
At the Bands of America regional marching band
competition,
more than 30 nationally recognized high school marching
bands from across the Midwest will entertain and compete
for the chance to perform in the evening's regional championship
finals, Saturday, Oct. 11, all day at Rynearson Stadium.
EMU's Marching Band will take the field for a guest performance.
General admission for the preliminaries or the finals is
$19. For both performances, the cost is $30. For schedule
information and advance tickets, visit www.bands.org.
Tickets also will be available at the gate.
For vocal music lovers, the University Choir and
Chamber Choir will perform two concerts this
fall, under the direction of Trey Jacobs. The first is
scheduled Friday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m., and the second
is scheduled Sunday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m. Both will take place
in Pease Auditorium.
 |
SPOOKY SOUNDS: The annual
Halloween Concert
brings out
some spooks and sounds.
Kevin Miller
and the EMU
Symphony Orchestra provide
the atmosphere
Oct. 24 in
Pease Auditorium. |
One of the entertaining highlights of the season, according
to Rinke, is the Halloween Concert, scheduled
Friday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m., Pease Auditorium. Kevin Miller
and the EMU Symphony Orchestra will present an entertaining
evening of astonishing surprises and spooky music. Admission
is $10 for adults; $8 for students and seniors; and $6
for children under 12. The audience is invited to come
in costume.
"We have a parade, across the stage, of children dressed
in costume and even the parents dress up," said Rinke. "This
is a really fun event for the entire community, including
students and local families."
During the annual High School Wind and Percussion
Clinic Day, EMU faculty will offer instrument-specific
clinics for high school musicians in grades 10-12, Saturday,
Nov. 15, all day, in the Alexander Music Building. The
day includes clinics, a faculty recital, dinner, an opportunity
to audition for the 2009 EMU High School Honors Band
and admission to Bandorama. Advanced registration and
a $30 participant fee is required. To register, please
call 487-1430.
The Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and Marching Band will
take the stage in a colorful and exhilarating display of
pageantry and sound during Bandorama,
Saturday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Pease Auditorium. Schneider
will lead the program. Admission is $10 for adults, $8
for students and $6 for children under 12.
The Guest Piano Recital will feature
Rene Lecuona, professor of piano at the University of Iowa,
Thursday, Dec. 4, 8 p.m., Alexander Recital Hall. She will
present a recital of works for solo piano.
The dance program and EMU Symphony Orchestra present Children's
Dance Concerts, Friday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. and
12:15 p.m., Pease Auditorium. Selections from Prokofiev's
ballet, "Cinderella", based on the classic fairy tale,
will be presented in two, identical one-hour programs
especially for youth in grades one through eight. Admission
is free, but registration is required. To register, please
call 487-2448.
 |
FOR KIDS: EMU dance
majors and the EMU
Symphony Orchestra will
present Prokofiev's
ballet,
"Cinderella", Dec.
6 in Pease Auditorium. |
Dance majors, directed by Sherry Jerome, and the Symphony
Orchestra, directed by Kevin Miller, present Prokofiev's
ballet, "Cinderella," Friday,
Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Pease Auditorium. This rendition is notable
for its jubilant music, lush scenery and the comic double-roles
of the step-sisters. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for
students and seniors; and $6 for children under 12. School
groups are admitted
free, but reservations are required. Please call 487-2448
for tickets or reservations.
The First Annual Wind Conducting Symposium invites
instrumental music educators to EMU for guest clinician
Richard Floyd, state director of music at the University
of Texas in Austin. Floyd will instruct local music educators
in the fine art of instrumental conducting, Saturday, Dec.
6, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Alexander Music Building.
For more information on the events listed or more events
sponsored by the Music and Dance Department, visit www.emich.edu/musicdance or
call the music events hotline at 487-2255. All events are
free unless otherwise noted. Tickets can be purchased in
advance at the EMU Convocation Center and the Quirk Theatre
Box Office, or online at www.emich.edu/convocation.
Leader of the bands
Mary Schneider is the new director of the EMU bands. In
this position, she will conduct the Wind Symphony, teach
undergraduate conducting and music education courses, and
oversee all aspects of EMU's comprehensive band program.
 |
Schneider |
Schneider brings a diverse background to EMU. Her teaching
experience includes numerous years as a public school music
educator in her native state of New Jersey. Active nationally
and internationally as a guest conductor, clinician and
adjudicator, Schneider is a strong advocate for new wind
music and maintains an active interest in that area of
research.
She received her doctorate in musical arts from the University
of Texas; her master's degree in horn performance from
the University of Connecticut; and her bachelor's degree
in music education from the New England Conservatory of
Music.
"We are thrilled to have Dr. Schneider here. She is incredibly
talented and will raise the bar for our instrumental music
program," said
Rinke.
