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 Since my last message in the fall eAlumNotes, I’m pleased
to report that the Alumni Network Committee has been hard at work. We
have met monthly since November. We are actively reaching out to you
through our Alumni
Survey, and I hope you will take the time to respond. Feedback to
date has been very helpful in considering what Alumni would like from
the Alumni Network.
We have received many alumni contributions to the Student
Professional Development Fund. To date, several thousand dollars
have been awarded to students for the advancement of their professional
endeavors. These funds support non-tuition, non-room/board expenses
incurred related to auditions and competitions, as well as recording
activities and instrument maintenance.
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This new program would not have been so
successful without the contribution of many alumni.
The committee is actively working on a variety of services available to
alumni of the SFCM. Please visit the website for updates. Check the
website for access to www.workingadvantage.com.
This website offers discounts for travel, tickets, and almost every
kind of service imaginable. Furthermore, we will be announcing alumni
email and web services through NotesMail at SFCM. These services will
be provided for free to all SFCM alumni and should be available this
spring.
This is our conservatory. I urge each and every one of you to
participate in the development of our Alumni Network. Check the website
frequently for new opportunities and offerings. Feel free to make
suggestions.
Sincerely,
Gary A. Rust, M.D.,
Chair (B.M. piano, ’83)
Board of Trustees
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Frank French (B.M. piano, ’73) performs J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier in two
concerts. Volume 1 is Sunday, March 8, 2:00 p.m., and Volume 2 is
Sunday, March 22, 2:00 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187
Franklin Street in San Francisco. Tickets and more information are
available here.
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Switchboard Music Festival takes
place on Sunday, March 29, 2:00 p.m. at Dance Mission Theater, 3316
24th Street in San Francisco. Switchboard founders/producers Ryan Brown (M.M. composition, ’05), Jeff Anderle (M.M. clarinet, ’06)
and Jonathan Russell (M.M.
composition, ’03) are dedicated to bringing together an eclectic,
genre-crossing group of experimentalists, innovators, and musical
omnivores.
Sharmay Musacchio
(M.M. voice, ’99) makes her debut as the alto soloist in Vivaldi's Gloria at Carnegie Hall on Monday
April 13 at 8:00 p.m. with the New England Symphonic Ensemble. |
| check out full the performance calendar |
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Ivonne Atmojo (M.M. piano, ’04) has opened a unique and
successful music school in Jakarta, Indonesia. Music Republicain
is two schools in one: a school of music and a school of image. Ivonne
is director of the music school, which teaches courses in private
lessons, music theory, a capella and broadway choruses, and jazz and
classical bands. Ivana Atmojo (Ivonne’s sister) is director of the
image school, which offers classes in etiquette, image and style. The Jakarta Post
calls the school “a sanctuary for professionalism and
fun.” Keep up with Ivonne at www.ivonneatmojo.com.
Miguel del Aguila
(B.M. piano, ’82) was named the 2009 Composer of the Year by the
Lancaster (PA) Symphony Orchestra. This prestigious award is meant to
recognize contemporary composers who are making a substantial
contribution in the field of symphonic music, and is the central
feature of a program designed to develop an interest in contemporary
music and composers. Previous recipients include Vincent Persichetti,
Morton Gould, William Bolcom and Peter Schickele (otherwise known as
P.D.Q. Bach). Miguel is known for infusing Latin and world music idioms
into classical tradition and form. www.migueldelaguila.com
 Benjamin Jones (M.M. voice, ’08) recently joined
the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon,
San Francisco’s famous musical spoof of pop culture known for its
extravagant costumes and enormous hats. He appears regularly in various
roles: “I play a whole slew of celebrities and politicians, including
past presidents and ‘shouldabeens,’ like Bush, Clinton and Gore, and
singers like Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Elvis.” Ben is also
an active freelancer singer in and around the Bay Area, and is in his
third season as conductor of the San Jose Youth Symphony Concert
Orchestra. www.benjamindavidjones.com
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view
alumni directory
add/update
your directory listing
alumni artist links
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Gyan
Riley (guitar, ’01) was
featured in the January 2009 edition of Acoustic Guitar Magazine in an
article titled Gyan Riley Private Lesson: The classical guitarist and
composer talks about time, influences, and tone. Gyan maintains a busy
performing schedule including solo concerts, shows with Gyan Riley Trio
and Falla Guitar Trio, and collaborations with the Kronos Quartet,
mandolin master Mike Marshall and others. His 2009 tour schedule
includes a ten concert tour of Ireland and a performance at Carnegie
Hall. Click here for a
complete tour schedule, or visit Gyan’s web site.
 The newest CD release by composer Aaron Jay Kernis (composition, ’74),
Symphony in Waves,
received a review of the highest merit from ClassicsToday.com.
On a scale of 1 to 10, Kernis received a 10 for both artistic quality
and recording quality. Says Kernis, “I don't often toot my own horn in
this way, but I'm very pleased with this recent distinction.” The CD
features his orchestral works Symphony
in Waves (1989), Newly Drawn
Sky (2005) and Too Hot Toccata
(1996), and was recorded by the Grant Park Orchestra with conductor
Carlos Kalmar. More information is available here.
Kieun Steve Kim,
(B.M. composition, ’08) won first prize in the 2008 Chanticleer
Student Composition Competition. The competition is designed to
encourage composition students to write quality works for high school
level a capella choirs. His winning piece, Sanctus,
features South American rhythms and a liturgical Latin text, and was
originally written for the Conservatory's biannual Choral Composition
Competition. Sanctus received
its world premiere at the Chanticleer Youth Choral Festival, where it
was performed by a 200-voice choir under the baton of Chanticleer’s
director Joseph Jennings. Steve Kim studied with Conservatory Professor
David Garner. |
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Pacific Symphony is holding
auditions for Section Second Violin. Applications are due March 13,
with auditions on March 26.
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
is holding auditions for Assistant Principal Horn on March 31, and
Section Cello on May 11.
Wichita Grand Opera is holding
auditions for Resident Artist, Young Artist, and Chorus members.
Application deadline is March 13, 2009, with auditions on March 20,
2009.
These are a few of many alumni opportunities posted on our web site. Click
here to view them all, and check back often for new additions!
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 In Memoriam
Mel Graves (B.M.
composition, ’69) died of pancreatic cancer on November 8, 2008 - the
day before his friends and students staged the “Movin’ On” tribute
concert in his honor. He was 62. Known as a prolific jazz composer and
bassist, Graves was also director of the Sonoma State University jazz
program for 26 years.
Thanks to your generosity, 12 collegiate students received grants
through the Student
Professional Development Fund. This fund provides grant awards to
students for non-tuition and non-room & board expenses. Your
contributions helped underwrite expenses such as formal wear for
performances, travel for professional auditions and fees for
competitions. This year’s recipients are: Kate Davis, Sabrina He, Hanna
Hurwitz, Kathleen Lamb, Molly Mahoney, Andrew Meyerson, Ashley Seaton,
Roxana Walitzki, Huancheng Wang, Xi Wang, Michael Williams, and Zizhu
Zhao.
For more information or to make a contribution,
contact June Hom at (415) 503-6201 or jhom@sfcm.edu.
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| eAlumNotes is a
communication tool for Conservatory alumni. It is sent out quarterly
with recent updates from your fellow alumni. In addition to this
publication, at any time, you can find information on alumni in the new
alumni
sections of the website. To submit your current information,
complete and return the update forms. |
For
comments, suggestions or questions, email alum@sfcm.edu
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
50 Oak Street
San Francisco CA 94102
415.503.6201 |
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