Dr. Patricia Surman was awarded the 2011-12 Yamaha In-Service Fellowship, which will fund a series of concerts with the new music chamber ensemble DuoInteraktiv. www.patriciasurman.com/duointeraktivDr. Patricia Surman gave a lecture recital at the Rochester Flute Fair on Twentieth Century American Works for Piccolo and Piano. DuoInteraktiv, featuring Dr. Patricia Surman on flute gave a lecture-recital at the 2012 Florida Flute Association's State Convention on learning to perform music for flute and computer.Dr. Patricia Surman will be giving a presentation entitled "Approaching Music for Flute and Computer" at the CMS South Central Conference in Ada, OK on March 1st.Dr. Jason Dovel played recitals at the University of Memphis, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Arkansas Tech University, and Northeastern State University during October 2011, where he presented the solo recital, “Music for Trumpet and Computer.” While in Louisiana, he was featured in a radio interview with KEDM, the Monroe NPR affiliate. His article, "A Guide to Literature for Trumpet with Electroacoustic accompaniment" was published in the January 2012 International Trumpet Guild Journal.
The NSU Faculty Brass Quintet (Jason Dovel, Robert Bailey, Norman Wika, Marsha Thompson, and Kevin Miller) performed recitals at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Owasso High School, St. Joseph's Catholic School, and Northeastern State University in October 2011. They also performed at the Oklahoma Music Educators Conference in January.
Dr. Ronald Chioldi taught at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Michigan), and presented a workshop “Developing Sound Technique in Intermediate Piano Students” at the Arkansas State Music Teachers state conference. Currently he is coauthoring the 6th edition of the popular group-piano textbook, Keyboard Fundamentals, published by Stipes. Dr. Mark Bighley, professor of music and chair of the Department of Performing Arts, was granted the "Faithful Servant Award" of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. He received the honor July 25, 2011 in Seattle at the ALCM's 13th biennial conference. Bighley was a founding member of the ALCM, chaired its consitution committee, chaired a national convention committee in 1989, was the first national vice president from 1985-89 and edited the journal CrossAccent from 2003-11.
NSU Music Faculty with Grammy award-winning artist Gloria Gaynor
Drs. Tommy Poole, Norman Wika, and Jason Dovel performed with Grammy award-winning singer Gloria Gaynor during her 2011 summer concert in Oklahoma.
Dr. Jason Dovel taught at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Michigan) and Bowling Green State University Summer Music Institute (Ohio) in Summer 2011.
Dr. Norman Wika served as resident conductor for the Tulsa Camerata's 2010-2011 season. Dr. Anne Watson received the university-wide Model the Way award in August 2011, an annual award given to two faculty and two staff for their contributions to the university. She also performed as principal clarinet with Light Opera Oklahoma during Summer 2011.
Dr. Shannon Unger played the role of Dinah in Light Opera Oklahoma's production of Trouble in Tahiti in Summer 2011. The Tulsa World review of this performance can be found here.
The Tommy Poole Quartet was the featured band at the Claremore Jazz Festival on 2/25/11. Dr. Tommy Poole's group next appears at the Ciao Primo Room (3308 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa OK) on Sunday 6/19/11 and at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame on Sunday 7/24/11. In addition, Dr. Poole will be a guest clinician for the Oklahoma Bandmasters' Association 2011 summer conference.
Dr. Mark Bighley published the article "Martin Schalling's 'Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart'" in CrossAccent, the Journal of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (2011, XIX/1, 34-47). In addition, he performed faculty organ recitals in Tulsa and Tahlequah. He also performed a recital at the First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.
Shannon Unger successfully defended her dissertation at the University of Memphis over spring break, and will receive her D.M.A. in May. Additionally, she was contracted for upcoming engagements with Light Opera Oklahoma and the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus. Engagements include the role of Dinah in Bernstein's opera Trouble in Tahiti and Assistant Director for The Light in the Piazza with Light Opera Oklahoma, and mezzo-soprano soloist for the entire season with the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus. Future collaborations with Eric Gibson of Light Opera Oklahoma include the First Annual NSU Vocal workshop and Broadway recital on April 1, 2011. Shannon, together with her colleagues, Dr. Ronald Chioldi and Dr. Patricia Surman will present Jake Heggie's song cycle The Deepest Desire for the fundraising concert organized by the Japanese students association. This work was also presented at the College Music Society conference in March.
Over Spring Break, Dr. Anne Watson, founding Ironwood Trio member, was involved in a tour of universities in both Arkansas and Missouri. With the other two Trio members, she performed in recitals and gave masterclasses at each university.
Dr. Jason Dovel served as an adjudicator for the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association's solo and ensemble contest held at Skiatook High School. He also hosted Dr. Jason Bergman, trumpet professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Timothy McFadden, principal trumpet of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, as guest artists in March 2011.