IML Spotlight
Each month we feature a different person who has a connection to the Institute for Music Leadership or embodies the basic tenets of our organization. Click on the links below to read more about the engaging activities in which these individuals or groups are involved.
2009
Katherine Ciesinski (11/09)
An accomplished mezzo-soprano and teacher, Eastman faculty member, Katherine Ciesinski has achieved much in her career in the realm of performance, leadership, education and entrepreneurship.The following interview reflects and emphasizes the spirit of exploration, the importance of collaboration and the development of skills that will help launch the artist's career.
JACK Quartet (10/09)
The JACK Quartet leads an exciting career in performance, education and composition with the added responsibility of managing and sustaining an ensemble. All alumni of the Eastman School of Music, the interview focuses on the Eastman years and how the Quartet utilizes and combines experience and skills to make their performance career thrive!
Eric J. Goldman (9/09)
Eric J. Goldman earned a bachelors degree in bassoon performance, as well as a Certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music. Eric was one of the first students awarded an externship grant from the ALP, which he used to fund a development internship with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, London. This paved the way for his very successful career in fundraising.
Chris Van Hof (7/09)
Chris Van Hof received a Master’s Degree in Trombone performance and a Certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music in 2008. He held a Graduate Assistantship in the Institute for Music Leadership, and as an Arts Leadership Program Student, served as an Intern with WXXI Radio. Chris now serves on the faculty of Nazareth College, hosts a show on WXXI, and performs as a freelance trombonist.
Rohan Krishnamurthy (6/09)
Rohan Krishnamurthy is a current M.A./PH.D student in musicology/ethnomusicology at the Eastman School of Music. Recently, his project “A New Design of the Ancient Mridangam” was awarded 1st prize of $2000 in the 2008-2009 Eastman New Venture Challenge.
Casey Molino Dunn (5/09)
Baritone Casey Molino Dunn has not only been lauded for his rich voice but for creating “very real, detailed characters” (Front Row Center) in repertoire that ranges from baroque and classical masterpieces on through today’s art music and crossover works.
Beth Meyers (4/09)
Beth Meyers is a founding member of the flute/viola/harp trio, "janus", and is committed to broadening the trio repertoire through working with composers and artists alike. janus is set to release its debut collaborative album in early 2010.
Leila Kelleher (3/09)
Australian violist Leila Kelleher is building an international reputation for her energy and versatility as a performer. She has appeared as a soloist with the Norwood Symphony, Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra, and the Melbourne String Ensemble in both their Melbourne series and on their 2005 tour of Germany. Leila completed her Masters degree and Orchestral Studies diploma at the Eastman School of Music.
Shizuo "Z" Kuwahara (1/09)
Promising young conductor Shizuo "Z" Kuwahara won first prize in the prestigious Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in 2008 in Germany. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree, Performer’s Certificate and Arts Leadership Program Certificate from the Eastman School of Music.
2008
TJ Ricer (12/08)
T. J. Ricer (low brass) is currently in pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in tuba performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music. TJ is also in the process of completing his Arts Leadership Program certificate.
Rachel Roberts
(11/08)
Ms. Rachel Roberts is beginning her third season serving as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s (ASO) Director of Strategic Planning Engagement. Rachel earned her bachelor's degree in flute performance from the Eastman School of Music where she was also awarded a Certificate in the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program (ALP).
Courtney Hershey Bress (9/08)
Courtney Hershey Bress earned a Bachelor of Music degree, Performer’s Certificate and Arts Leadership Program Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. She joined the Colorado Symphony Orchestra as Principal Harp in September 2001. Ms. Bress is also the Principal Harp for the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (Santa Cruz, CA).
Tenly Williams (8/08)
Tenly Williams is an active contributor to the Colorado music community, performing with several orchestras and chamber music groups across the Front Range. Her career has included positions with the Binghamton Philharmonic and Fort Collins Symphony, as well as performances with the Austin Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic, Cheyenne Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic and San Antonio Symphony Orchestras.
Anna Reguero (7/08)
Anna Reguero is the music and dance reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. She plays the clarinet and completed her undergraduate degrees at the Eastman School of Music and University of Rochester, and her graduate degree in Arts Journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Shirantha Beddage (6/08)
Shirantha Beddage is an Eastman Alum and current Director of Jazz Studies at Columbus State University. He is an emerging talent who is swiftly making his mark as an accomplished multi-reed instrumentalist, pianist and composer.
Matilda Hofman (5/08)
Matilda Hofman’s conducting work ranges widely from opera and the symphonic repertoire to contemporary music, of which she is a keen advocate. She received an ALP Special Opportunity Grant to attend a five-day symposium with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Matt Pivec (4/08)
Jazz saxophonist and current Instructor of Saxophone and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at California State University – Stanislaus, Eastman Alum and Arts Leadership Program certificate recipient Matt Pivec talks about how he became interested in ALP and how it changed his career options.
Jerseyband (3/08)
Started at Eastman and made up of all Eastman alums, Jerseyband saxophonist Alex Hamlin talks to us entrepreneurship and lungcore.
Melissa Ngan Snoza/ Fifth House Ensemble (2/08)
Eastman Alum and Arts Leadership Program certificate recipient Melissa Ngan Snoza is featured this month in the Eastman Showcase. She talks about how the Arts Leadership Program has much to do with her work with Fifth House Ensemble.
Julianne Kirk (1/08)
Julianne Kirk is Assistant Professor of Clarinet at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music and also serves as Director of the Crane Youth Music Summer Camp. An Eastman Alum and Arts Leadership Program certificate recipient, Julianne talks about why she decided to earn an ALP certificate and how it has helped her career.