Eastman School of Music Posts and Musings
A mentor to me is anyone who has your trust and who has advised you on something important to you. There are hundreds of mentors I have had in my time here at Eastman, from deans, to professors, to staff members, to community members, to fellow students. First is my teacher, Jim Thompson. I have…
There have been many incredible Eastman professors throughout the years. Only a few ever get to experience the wonder of their students reaching the top of their craft because of their instruction; fewer still are so revered that their names become synonymous with an institution or idea for all time. Professor Rayburn Wright was one…
Summer@Eastman director Sylvie Beaudette recently interviewed Nan Gullo Bassett, director of the ECMS Harp Workshop, a staple of our summer programming. How long have you been teaching in Rochester? How have things changed in terms of pedagogy, repertoire, and instruments through these years? I came to Eastman to work on my DMA in Harp, which…
Apollinaire Habonimana recently opened a music school in his country of Burundi. At the invitation of Eastman student Matthew Langford, Apollinaire spent a few weeks in Rochester during the summer of 2014 in order to take classes and learn about teaching, planning courses, and administrating a music school. Summer@Eastman director Sylvie Beaudette gathered his thoughts…
Professor of Saxophone Chien-Kwan Lin During China’s Cultural Revolution, one of the world’s oldest civilizations tore itself apart, with an estimated 70 million deaths. One story from this terrible period comes from China’s remote Xiaoxiang region, where a widow avenged the death of her husband by tormenting his killer, a local Communist official. With no…
Last Sunday, April 19, the Eastman community was treated to an incredible performance given by the Empire Film Music Ensemble. EFME, as it’s colloquially known, has pushed the envelope before, putting on different types of audience-friendly shows, including music from superhero movies, and music from horror films, but this time they outdid themselves. I have…
Last Monday and Tuesday, April 13 and 14, Eastman’s horn studio hosted a residency by William VerMeulen, professor of horn at Rice University and principal horn of the Houston Symphony. Horn student Chelsea Nelson reflected on VerMeulen’s visit: “Cars, Body-builders, Salami, and Big Bands; these probably aren’t topics featured in your average conservatory master class.…
Last Thursday, April 16, the University of Rochester celebrated the 2014-2015 Students Employee of the Year nominees. This year Eastman had a remarkable five nominees, out of 25 from all areas of the University. They were Brandon Choi (Eastman Computing), Katrina Leshan and Andrew Psarris (Eastman Communications), Mary Russek (Eastman Admissions) … and the Student…
On Friday, April 17 at 3 p.m. in Eastman’s Ray Wright Room, Chris Lastovicka will reflect on her life as a composer and as a woman who is a member of the LBGT community. This conversation is supported by the Eastman Diversity Initiative and the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women’s Studies. Lastovicka…