Playing Catch w/ Students in Flute Lessons
Video Blog – Professionalism
Elaine Li
Elaine Li is the current Bands Collection Librarian at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Her position centers around serving all performing groups, conductors, and conducting GTAs with their music needs including acquisition, research, creation of part folders for student performers, creating edited parts, assembling scores, preparing materials for band related classes, and maintaining one of the world's largest performance collections of band repertoire. She also manages certain responsibilities centered around performances and touring including program copy and concert PR support.
Ms. Li received her master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2012. She also holds a master’s degree in violin performance from the University of Miami and bachelor's degrees in music performance and English from the University of Florida. Prior to her appointment at the University of Illinois Bands, she was Orchestra Librarian for Sinfonia da Camera, a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois Archives, and an Ensemble Library Intern in the Frederick and Elizabeth Ludwig Fennell Library at the 2012 Interlochen Arts Camp. She was a library fellow at the 2011 Tanglewood Music Center in the Ozawa Library, working closely with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Juilliard School, and was a librarian during the Aspen Music Festival 2010 season, working as Aspen Opera Theatre Company librarian and assistant librarian for the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen. From 2008 to 2010, Ms. Li was the Head Librarian of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony. She continues to perform violin locally with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, and other ensembles around Central Illinois.
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Successful Practice And Rehearsal Philosophy
Nicole Camacho
New York based Flutist, composer, and improviser, Nicole Camacho is creating a name for herself as an eclectic musician via vibrant premieres of composers’ works, performing in the world of popular music, involving an element of multi-media in her solo performances, and composing new flute works with a language all her own. She is a member of the folk band KK Group led by Norwegian Singer/ Songwriter, Kjersti Kveli and a founding member of Cochlea Freedom Ensemble a free improvisation group. As a result of her deep love for community, Nicole directs a community concert production organization by the name of Music Unboxed and writes a blog dedicated to featuring what's new in the flute community called Future of Flute. :0)
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How to be a Successful Large Ensemble Musician
Orchestras. Bands. Choirs. We all make music with large numbers of people. Doing so is a skill that isn’t as simple as “show up and do your thing,” and if that’s your mindset when you play/sing in large ensembles, then you’re doing it wrong. Here are some basic rules designed to make you into a better large ensemble musician.
Dana Huyge
Mr. Huyge is an accomplished musician as a violist, violinist, and singer. He holds a bachelors degree in music performance from the University of Michigan where he studied viola with Yizhak Schotten, and voice with Carmen Pelton and Stephen West. Further studies ensued at the Eastman School of Music, where he studied viola with George Taylor and Peter Slowik, and voice with David O’Donnell, and received a masters degree in performance and literature in the spring of 2011.
Mr. Huyge holds position with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, the Glens Falls Symphony, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, and the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, where he is the Principal Violist. He is constantly engaged in chamber and solo recitals, including his one year appointment as violist of the Rochester based string quintet Gibbs & Main. He has sung with the University of Rochester YellowJackets, and small ensembles at various venues, and has played in masterclasses and coachings with such artists as Simon Carrington, Susan Dubois, Edward Parmentier, Carol Rodland, Andrew Jennings, the Takacs Quartet, members of the Ying Quartet, 8th Blackbird, and Time for Three.
An enthusiast of education, Mr. Huyge maintained a private teaching studio since 2008. Additionally, he has been involved with the Eastman Community School, and Eastman’s Public School #17 after-school lesson program. He has received his Suzuki certification for violin and viola through Book One from the Ithaca College Teacher Training Institute, and is currently employed as an Artist-in-Residence at Hartwick College.
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Belle of the Bells
Sarah gives you the highs and lows about a singer and administrator who becomes a handbell-er.
Sarah Marczynski
Sarah joined the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera in 2010 working part time with the Marketing and Development staffs and recently began working full time as the Community and Patron Engagement Manager. In this role, Sarah creates opportunities for CSO Ensembles and musicians to perform in community spaces, manages CSO volunteers, manages CSO social media and websites, and coordinates opportunities for patron engagement including Play Along with the CSO.
She holds a Master's of Public Administration focusing in Nonprofit Arts Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where her capstone and other work under Dr. Christopher Horne examined attendance patterns in high-art cultural institutions and network relationships between local arts agencies and cultural partners. She also holds a Bachelor's of Vocal Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she studied under Dr. Kevin Ford and Ron Ulen.
Sarah has been active in the Chattanooga arts community, working with the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the Choral Arts Society, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Chattanooga Bach Choir, and the Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute.
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Music School Audition Considerations; Prescreening (Part 1)
nickfinzer
Award winning musician Nick Finzer is a jazz trombonist and composer whose musical prowess is firmly planted with one foot in the past and another leading to the future. In January of 2013 Nick released his recording debut as a bandleader “Exposition” on his new label Outside in Music. “Exposition” presents Finzer’s unique musical lens, featuring ten original compositions that draw on the multifaceted influences that have shaped his musical development.
The onset of Nick’s love for jazz came through an exploration of Duke Ellington’s music during his high school years. Tunes like “Harlem Airshaft” and “In a Sentimental Mood” started him on an irreversible musical journey. These experiences culminated in a performance of Elllington’s music as part of the Essentially Ellington Festival hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center, which ignited Nick’s ambition to move to New York City to play music.
During this time Finzer also came under the tutelage of former Jazz at Lincoln Center Trombonist, Wycliffe Gordon. This relationship developed into a four year commission project in which Gordon wrote four pieces to feature Nick during his undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music. While studying at Eastman, Nick was able to play with many musicians who came through Rochester, New York including engagements with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Walt Weiskopf, John Clayton and Slide Hampton.
Since moving to New York City in 2010, Finzer has completed a Masters Degree from The Juilliard School, shared the stage with the likes of Frank Wess at Dizzy’s Club, Lew Tabackin and Terrell Stafford at The Blue Note, and continues to lead his own bands both around the city and across the country. While at Juilliard Nick had the opportunity to work with many mentors including Frank Kimbrough, Carl Allen, Ray Drummond, and studied under jazz trombone innovator, Steve Turre.
Nick was selected as a finalist in the 2010 International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition and in 2011 was the winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Jazz Trombone Competition, where he performed alongside Jim Pugh, Bill Reichenbach, and Steve Wiest.
Finzer is also a committed educator. In 2012 Nick’s new Non Profit, the Institute for Creative Music won a “Great Classrooms” grant award from the Plum Creek Foundation. Nick currently serves as Co-Artistic Director for the Institute for Creative Music, which is dedicated to the education and dissemination of jazz and creative music across the nation. Since IfCM’s founding in 2011 Nick has lead workshops, masterclasses, and residencies spanning from coast to coast.
Independently, Nick has worked with students from the Eastman School of Music, Penn State, Ithaca College, Gonzaga University, and Eastern Washington University, to name a few. He has also served on the faculty of the Eastman Summer Jazz Camp, and Juilliard Jazz Summer Camps in West Palm Beach, Florida and Ephraim, Utah.
Nick continues to perform, compose, and teach around New York City while maintaining an active touring schedule, and formulating new projects. Finzer is determined to continually develop his artistry from the lineage of the music, while being honest to his musical voice and personality.
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The Pros of Chamber Music
Lauren Denney Wright
Dr. Lauren Denney Wright is the current Director of Wind Ensemble activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Berry College where she conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches clarinet. Prior to her arrival at Berry College, Dr. Denney Wright was the Director of Bands, clarinet instructor, and taught Instrumental Music Education courses at Oklahoma Baptist University.
A native of Marietta, Ga., Dr. Denney Wright earned her bachelor of music degree in clarinet performance from Vanderbilt University, the master of music degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the bachelor of music degree in music education from Kennesaw State University. Dr. Denney Wright completed her doctoral studies in instrumental conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music under the mentorship of Gary Green, where she conducted the Frost Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Chamber Winds and Concert Band. In addition, she taught conducting courses, worked with the Band of the Hour marching band and ran the men and women’s basketball pep bands. Dr. Denney Wright has worked with such composers as John Corigliano, David Maslanka, Michael Daugherty, John Mackey and Steven Bryant. In addition, Dr. Denney Wright will be making her international debut conducting chamber music with members of the Berlin Philharmonic this summer in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Dr. Denney Wright holds professional memberships with College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society and Music Teachers National Association. In addition she is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma, a founding member of Sigma Alpha Iota at Vanderbilt University, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Educational Background:
B.M., Vanderbilt University
M.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
B.M., Kennesaw State University
D.M.A., University of Miami Frost School of Music
A native of Marietta, Georgia, Dr. Denney Wright earned her Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from Vanderbilt University, the Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Kennesaw State University. Prior to her appointment at Oklahoma Baptist University, Dr. Denney Wright completed her doctoral studies in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music under the mentorship of Gary Green, where she conducted the Frost Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Chamber Winds and Concert Band. In addition, she taught conducting courses, worked with the Band of the Hour marching band and ran the men and women's basketball pep bands. Dr. Denney Wright has worked with such composers as John Corigliano, David Maslanka, Michael Daugherty, John Mackey and Steven Bryant.
Dr. Denney Wright holds professional memberships with College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society and Music Teachers National Association. In addition she is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma, a founding member of Sigma Alpha Iota at Vanderbilt University, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
All posts from Lauren Denney Wright
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In this VLOG for Polyphonic.org, I discuss the many pros of chamber music and share my experiences last weekend at a chamber music retreat on campus.
The week of traveling that made my friends think I’m nuts. Freelancing in LA, TX, and MA
Think you’re busy with gigs? Meghan can relate. In this vlog she talks about having rehearsals in Baton Rouge, and auditions in Boston and Houston. All within the same week. Orchestral playing is amazing, but logistics can be exhausting.
Meghan Caulkett
Meghan Caulkett is a graduate student at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she studies with Houston Symphony Principal, Paula Page. Meghan has performed as principal harpist with numerous orchestras, in solo recitals, chamber recitals, and for people such as legendary film composer John Williams, Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor James Levine, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree Summa Cum Laude from Boston University while studying with the principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Ann Hobson Pilot.
Originally from Tahoe City, California, she now freelances all over the greater Houston area and southeastern United States, while maintaining an active teaching studio of harp and piano students. Since November 2011, she has been the acting principal harpist of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and has recently been accepted to the Houston Symphony Substitute Musician list. This is in addition to performances with the Shepherd School of Music Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and Symphony of Southeast Texas. Meghan was also a Da Camera of Houston Young Artist from 2011- 2012.
Recently, she founded “47 Strings”- an innovative and educational outreach program designed to bring harp recitals to 47 different charitable organizations and free community concerts within the next year. These performances include educational outreach programs for schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, shelters for abused women and children, as well as community concerts open to the public.
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Picking Ensemble Literature
Lauren Denney Wright
Dr. Lauren Denney Wright is the current Director of Wind Ensemble activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Berry College where she conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches clarinet. Prior to her arrival at Berry College, Dr. Denney Wright was the Director of Bands, clarinet instructor, and taught Instrumental Music Education courses at Oklahoma Baptist University.
A native of Marietta, Ga., Dr. Denney Wright earned her bachelor of music degree in clarinet performance from Vanderbilt University, the master of music degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the bachelor of music degree in music education from Kennesaw State University. Dr. Denney Wright completed her doctoral studies in instrumental conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music under the mentorship of Gary Green, where she conducted the Frost Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Chamber Winds and Concert Band. In addition, she taught conducting courses, worked with the Band of the Hour marching band and ran the men and women’s basketball pep bands. Dr. Denney Wright has worked with such composers as John Corigliano, David Maslanka, Michael Daugherty, John Mackey and Steven Bryant. In addition, Dr. Denney Wright will be making her international debut conducting chamber music with members of the Berlin Philharmonic this summer in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Dr. Denney Wright holds professional memberships with College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society and Music Teachers National Association. In addition she is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma, a founding member of Sigma Alpha Iota at Vanderbilt University, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Educational Background:
B.M., Vanderbilt University
M.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
B.M., Kennesaw State University
D.M.A., University of Miami Frost School of Music
A native of Marietta, Georgia, Dr. Denney Wright earned her Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from Vanderbilt University, the Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Kennesaw State University. Prior to her appointment at Oklahoma Baptist University, Dr. Denney Wright completed her doctoral studies in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music under the mentorship of Gary Green, where she conducted the Frost Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Chamber Winds and Concert Band. In addition, she taught conducting courses, worked with the Band of the Hour marching band and ran the men and women's basketball pep bands. Dr. Denney Wright has worked with such composers as John Corigliano, David Maslanka, Michael Daugherty, John Mackey and Steven Bryant.
Dr. Denney Wright holds professional memberships with College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society and Music Teachers National Association. In addition she is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma, a founding member of Sigma Alpha Iota at Vanderbilt University, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
All posts from Lauren Denney Wright
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In this week’s VLOG I discuss strategies for picking literature for your ensemble and planning for a concert.
47 Strings- Programming for 4-year olds
47 Strings was recently awarded the Richter Fund for Musical Outreach from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. This grant will fund six performances at Houston Homeless Shelters this Spring. See how Meghan programs a concert for homeless preschoolers, as well as rehearsal time with bassist David Connor.
Meghan Caulkett
Meghan Caulkett is a graduate student at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she studies with Houston Symphony Principal, Paula Page. Meghan has performed as principal harpist with numerous orchestras, in solo recitals, chamber recitals, and for people such as legendary film composer John Williams, Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor James Levine, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree Summa Cum Laude from Boston University while studying with the principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Ann Hobson Pilot.
Originally from Tahoe City, California, she now freelances all over the greater Houston area and southeastern United States, while maintaining an active teaching studio of harp and piano students. Since November 2011, she has been the acting principal harpist of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and has recently been accepted to the Houston Symphony Substitute Musician list. This is in addition to performances with the Shepherd School of Music Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and Symphony of Southeast Texas. Meghan was also a Da Camera of Houston Young Artist from 2011- 2012.
Recently, she founded “47 Strings”- an innovative and educational outreach program designed to bring harp recitals to 47 different charitable organizations and free community concerts within the next year. These performances include educational outreach programs for schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, shelters for abused women and children, as well as community concerts open to the public.
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