UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Rebekah Carpio
Rebekah Carpio is a senior graduating with a BM in clarinet performance and an Arts Leadership Program Certificate. Words cannot express her gratitude for the incredible four years she has experienced at Eastman. She has loved studying with Ken Grant and Jon Manasse, performing with the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and playing in two Honors Chamber Recitals with her octet and quintet. Rebekah has also participated in music festivals around the country, including the Chautauqua Institute and the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute, and is looking forward to spending this summer at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in Connecticut on a full scholarship.
During her time here, Rebekah has also been deeply involved in the Eastman community, serving as a Resident Advisor the past two years and as the Assistant Head RA this year. She has also served as Dr. Mark Scatterday’s Wind Orchestra/Wind Ensemble Assistant in the Ensemble Library, as a Media Lab Assistant, and as the Wellness Initiative for Students at Eastman (WISE) Intern in the Student Life Office. Rebekah knew from her first visit that Eastman had a uniquely special sense of community, and the unfailing support of all the teachers, administrators, staff, and students have truly made this a second home for her.
Although she will miss Eastman immensely, Rebekah is incredibly excited about studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London as a Fulbright Scholar next year. She will be taking part in the inaugural year of Guildhall’s Orchestral Artistry Program, playing in an orchestra composed of students from around the world, and being mentored by the members of the London Symphony Orchestra as well as musicians from some of the top orchestras in the world.
Weijun Chen
Born in Shanghai, China in 1990, Weijun Chen is a rising young composer. Since his arrival at Eastman in 2009, Mr. Chen’s music, such as The Night Music Trilogy, has appeared frequently on composers’ forums. In addition, his works were read by several outstanding Eastman ensembles including the Eastman Wind Ensemble for his large ensemble piece titled Distance. Other highlights include Cuong Vu Trio premiering Collage of Old Shanghai at the Benson Forum for Creativity, and Stars for baritone and organ premiered on the renowned Craighead-Saunders organ at Christ Church in Rochester. He is also an active collaborator with other forms of arts. I Am a Drop of Rain on Your Window was choreographed and premiered by the Sound Exchange at the Spurrier Dance Studio at the University of Rochester. Recently, Weijun Chen was the featured student composer at the biannual “Percussion Rochester” festival, where his commissioned work Five Scenes from the Chinese Martial Arts Novels was premiered by ECMS Drum Joy Ensemble.
At the Eastman School of Music Weijun Chen double majored in composition and music theory. He is currently studying composition with Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon. Mr. Chen is also an Arts Leadership Program candidate and serves as a Resident Advisor at the dorm. When he is not composing, he enjoys listening to Chinese pop music, reading poetry, and designing weird sounds at the Eastman Computer Music Center. Mr. Chen will be starting his PhD in Music Composition at SUNY Buffalo in the fall.
Alistair Duncan
Alistair was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1991. Shortly after moving to the United States in 1993, he began showing a keen interest in music by demanding his turn amongst his brothers with the giant gray brick called Gameboy, purely to listen to the music. Later, this interest turned toward the piano, and he began formal lessons with Cindy Bramscher at age 8. Two years later brought the choice of an instrument to play in the band program, and trombone was the top of the list. With two older brothers who played in jazz ensembles, Alistair was thrilled to follow in their footsteps in 6th grade. Thus began a period of always increasing extracurricular ensemble playing, as well as lessons with Tom Tait that would last until graduation from Neuqua Valley High School. By 10th grade, Alistair had his sights set on studying music at the collegiate level, and a couple summers at the Birch Creek, Wisconsin jazz camp introduced him to Eastman faculty. In his senior year of high school, Alistair was accepted into Eastman as a JCM student. He arrived in August 2009, and was immediately inspired by the level of musicianship and teaching surrounding him at all times. Alistair has been a 4 year member of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, was a member of the Gil Evans Ensemble that played at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy in 2012, and also has had the pleasure of playing with OSSIA New Music, the Dave Rivello Ensemble, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, COLOSSUS, and in a duo with guitarist Gabe Condon. Studying with Mark Kellogg has been one of the highlights of Alistair’s life, and he has learned more than he could have ever imagined from the JCM faculty. He is a finalist in this summer’s Carl Fontana competition at the International Trombone Festival, and will be moving to Berlin, Germany in the autumn to pursue his freelancing career.
Timothy Lee
Timothy Lee started his musical studies in Sydney, Australia with piano at age four and violin at six. He obtained Associate and Licentiate performance diplomas in both instruments while in high school. In Sydney, Timothy studied the violin under Faina Krel and Peter Zhang, and he is currently studying with Charles Castleman at the Eastman School of Music under the Howard Hanson Scholarship. He also started the viola two years ago, and has been studying with George Taylor. Timothy is a violinist in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and is also on their substitute list for viola. As a solo violinist, Timothy has played in masterclasses for Charles Avsharian, Leila Josefowicz, Andrés Cárdenes, and Ariadne Daskalakis. He has performed concertos with the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra in Sydney, the Zhejiang Song & Dance Ensemble in Hangzhou, China, and the Greece Symphony Orchestra in Rochester, and recently performed Melinda Wagner’s Little Moonhead with the Greater Rochester Women’s Philharmonic. In addition, Timothy enjoys chamber music collaboration on both violin and viola, and has had classes with the Ying Quartet, the Parker Quartet, and Michael Kannen. Prior to Eastman, he taught violin and piano lessons and accompanied at Sydney Grammar School in Sydney, and has continued to teach under a violin internship at the Eastman Community Music School. Timothy’s other interests include arranging and improvising on worship music at church, studying foreign languages, and golf.
Andrew Pramuk
Baritone Andrew Pramuk is a senior Vocal Performance Major who is simultaneously pursuing a Musical Arts degree concerning the life and work of German composer Hanns Eisler. He comes from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania and studies voice with Carol Webber. Andrew explores music, art, theater, and poetry with equal enthusiasm. Influenced by music from the medieval era to 21st-century electronic experiments, cabaret, installation artwork, nature, modern technological culture, and everything avant-garde, he hopes to focus his multifaceted passions into unique artistic events. Andrew’s particular interest in German Lieder led to a coaching with the world-renowned pianist and coach, Graham Johnson, and he was awarded Second Place in the Jesse Kneisel German Lieder Competition in 2012. Andrew will continue exploring German language and culture next year at the University of the Arts Berlin, where he will study sound art and electronic music on a Study Scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service.
At Eastman, Andrew has performed as a soloist with the Eastman Chorale, the Eastman Studio Orchestra, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, the Eastman Repertory Singers, the Composers Sinfonietta, and with OSSIA New Music. He has also been seen as The Proprietor in Eastman Opera Theatre’s 2011 production of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins and as Count Robinson in EOT’s winter 2012 opera, Domenico Cimarosa’s The Secret Marriage. In his senior year, Andrew coproduced and starred in a new musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Salome for the first annual Rochester Fringe Festival, and presented works of Hanns Eisler, György Kurtág, George Crumb, and Henri Dutilleux in recital. Andrew has repeatedly been recognized with Vocal Department Jury Awards for his commitment to story-telling through song. In addition to performing, Andrew has gained administrative experience as the President and PR Director of OSSIA, Eastman’s student-run contemporary music ensemble.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Naomi Gregory
Naomi Gregory holds degrees in music (B.A. Hons) and musicology (M. Phil.) from the University of Cambridge where she was Organ Scholar at Sidney Sussex College. After graduation, Naomi was appointed Organist and, later, Head of Academic Music at Sherborne School for Girls, Dorset, UK, where she worked for six years. In 2002, she gained the Fellowship diploma of the Royal College of Organists, UK. She moved to Rochester in 2006 to begin a joint program in musicology (PhD) and organ performance and literature (DMA) at the Eastman School of Music in the studio of Professor David Higgs.
This year Naomi worked with visiting Professor of Organ Edoardo Bellotti to present a reconstruction of Vespers from mid-17th century Rome as her DMA lecture recital. Naomi has also studied organ improvisation, harpsichord, and theater organ with Professor William Porter during her years at ESM. Her PhD research centers on the five- and six-voice motet at the French royal court in the early sixteenth century; her advisor is Professor Patrick Macey.
Naomi has participated in many international organ masterclasses and has given solo recitals in England, Europe, and the United States. She is currently Organist and Director of Music at First Baptist Church of Penfield, NY. She is a recipient of the Sproull Fellowship of the University of Rochester and was awarded an Eastman TA Prize for Excellence in Teaching (music history) in 2006.
Gilad Rabinovitch
Gilad Rabinovitch enjoys a combination of musical activities as a composer, theorist, and teacher. He came to Eastman in 2009 as a Sproull Fellow to pursue a doctoral degree in composition, which he will be awarded this coming October. He is currently a PhD student in the theory department at Eastman as well. Gilad holds an M.A.Mus in musicology and composition (summa cum laude, 2009) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
Gilad’s music was commissioned and performed by organizations including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel Contemporary Players, Ensemble Meitar, and KlangNetz. He has participated in numerous festivals including Aldeburgh Music and Domaine Forget. His principal mentors in composition are Menachem Zur, Yinam Leef, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez, and David Liptak; and he participated in master-classes with Samuel Adler, Lee Hyla, Oliver Knussen, Philippe Leroux, Shulamit Ran, and many others.
Gilad has taught aural and keyboard skills, theory, and composition at the Hebrew University, the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the Edward Aldwell Center, the University of Rochester’s College Music Department, and Eastman. He won the Distinguished Faculty Instructor Award from the Hebrew University twice and has recently received the Eastman TA Prize for Excellence in Teaching. He was an active member of OSSIA New Music and is currently on the student board of the Intégral journal.
Gilad will be working on a theory dissertation on Gabriel Fauré’s enigmatic harmony, advised by Matthew Brown. He has presented research papers to the Israel Musicological Society, the New York State-Saint Lawrence Chapter of the American Musicological Society, as well as to the German Studies Association. He has recently given a research presentation on the interactions between the theories of Heinrich Schenker and Robert Gjerdingen alongside a workshop on eighteenth-century style improvisation at Cornell University.
William Cahill Smith
Born and raised in rural Alabama, pianist Cahill Smith began playing at age 10. Six years later, he made his orchestral debut with a local orchestra. Cahill has since been featured as a concerto soloist with the National Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, and the Samford University Orchestra. He has been featured frequently in public master classes with renowned pianists that include Joseph Kalichstein, William Wolfram, Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, Ann Schein, and Claude Frank. In 2012 at Eastman, Cahill was recognized with the Eastman TA Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and was selected to perform a Mozart Piano Concerto with the Eastman Philharmonia.
A versatile performer, Cahill is the recipient of several prizes and scholarships for trumpet, and has performed in eight countries as a trumpet player. In theater, he has been cast as a contracted actor in productions at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the sixth-largest Shakespeare festival in the world, with over 300,000 annual visitors.
Cahill is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts, where he has served as the assistant to Natalya Antonova at the Eastman School of Music, as well as the studio assistant to Tony Caramia. He completed his Master’s degree at the University of Michigan with Arthur Greene, and his Bachelor’s at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he studied with concert pianist and Van Cliburn-laureate Yakov Kasman.
Highlights for the upcoming 2013 – 2014 season include two recitals at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall in New York: an all-Medtner program in October 2013, and with violinist Geoffrey Herd in March 2014. Cahill will perform a chamber music recital in December 2013 at Calderwood Hall in the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston. Cahill will participate in the Cleveland International Piano Competition in August, and has been invited to give a lecture on Medtner at Yale University in September.
Cameron Dawn Wilkens
Cameron Wilkens is pursuing an MM in Piano Performance at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Natalya Antonova. She has performed solo and collaborative recitals across the United States, in addition to appearing as soloist with orchestras in Oregon, Michigan, and New York. She frequently plays with chamber ensembles that seek new ways of engaging contemporary culture with classical music. Her past teachers include Albert Kim, Daria Rabotkina, and Omri Shimron.
Cameron received an MA in Theory Pedagogy from Eastman in 2011. Her most rewarding moments as a pedagogue occur when her students discover how to use theory to find new beauty and to explore new interpretations in the repertoire they love to play. Her primary research interests include early 20th century Russian piano repertoire and the relationship between analysis and performance.
In 2009, Cameron earned a BA in Music and Liberal Arts from Hillsdale College, graduating Summa Cum Laude and with honors. While at Hillsdale, she was a National Merit scholar, president of the Honors Program, four-time winner of the music department’s research competition, and a tutor for every music history and theory class offered.
Cameron grew up reading all the classic literature she could find, beginning at age three with Dicken’s Tale of Two Cities (which she thought quite baffling). Her love of literature persists, currently centering on the works of Shakespeare, Rilke, and Tolstoy. She is terrible at sports and at spontaneity, enjoys searching for unusual beauty in mundane things, believes passionately that life has a purpose, and loves getting caught in torrential rain storms.
Cameron has accepted a position as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Hillsdale College for the summer of 2013. After completing her current degree, she plans to pursue a DMA in Piano Performance.
FACULTY
Douglas Lowry
Composer/conductor Douglas Lowry is the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music, a position he has held since 2007. He has also held positions as dean of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and associate dean and chair of conducting at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. He has conducted numerous orchestras in the United States, China, and Europe.
As a composer, recent works include The Freedom Zephyr, for narrator and orchestra, which was premiered by the Rochester Philharmonic in February of 2013. His Wind Religion, for wind ensemble, was also premiered by the Eastman Wind Ensemble in February as part of their 60th anniversary celebration. His Geo was premiered by the Rochester Philharmonic for the reopening of Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. In addition to the recent premiere of The Polite Abductress at the Memorial Art Gallery, upcoming 2013 – 14 premieres include a work for string quintet for the Ocean Reef Chamber Music Festival with musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
His works have been premiered by the Cincinnati Symphony and the Louisville Orchestra, Music from Angel Fire, Playhouse in the Park, and numerous chamber ensembles and orchestras throughout the United States and abroad.
Induction ceremony photography provided by Gerald Szymanski.