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Alumni Newsletter of the Milligan College Music Area July 2002 Opus 18, No. 1
THINGS HAPPENING!
RUNNER PLAYS SPOLETO FESTIVAL
WAKEFIELD ANNOUNCES ARRIVAL OF GRANDDAUGHTER You wouldn’t believe how crazy he acts. Just like a grandpa - with good reason. The Wakefields’ son Scott and daughter-in-law Dagny had a beautiful (of course!) baby -- Sophia Noel - on January 9. Sophia recently moved her mommy and daddy to Johnson City, where the cost of living and going to seminary are less than in Chicago, and her daddy can finish school sooner. Scott was in the midst of an M.Div. program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Scott will be resident director in Webb Hall at Milligan. He’ll also be a full-time student at Emmanuel School of Religion. Dagny will be employed as a social worker while grandma takes care of little Sophia. Some of you remember when Scott was no bigger than little Sophia is now. Now he and his wife have brought beautiful little Sophia into the lives of John and Vicki. This little beauty has reduced Wakefield to a real softie.
NEW COURSE, NEW BAND
We’ve also added a Pep Band which will add to school spirit at basketball and soccer games. Rick Simerly leads the group, with just about all instruments welcome. The music? Great school spirit tunes and some rockin’ rock. Come visit, root for your team, and enjoy a new sound in music at Milligan College.
MUSIC ANNEX "SPRUCED UP" To some of you, the Practice House was a not-so-renovated house down the hill from Seeger. That building has become art studios. To more recent alumni, the Practice House was a bit more renovated white mobile unit that was the first home of the campus radio station. Now that we have much better practice rooms in Seeger, the mobile unit has been converted to office, music library, and additional teaching studio space. It even has a new name - the Music Annex. The music faculty calls it the Music Annex. Students call it the music shack! To make it less “shacky” the music faculty declared a work day this summer and “spruced up” the place. Earlier this year, one of the teaching studios in the Annex was given major acoustic treatment. But the building needed some major cosmetic treatment as well. So the work day brought new moldings to baseboards, ceilings and doors, and corner strips. Attractively framed music posters and programs were added to the walls. Not so “shacky!”
CONCERT CHOIR COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL EASTERN TOUR This spring the Concert Choir completed a successful choir tour throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Many alumni came out to support their favorite college choir. At Martinsville, Virginia, the choir was hosted by Concert Choir alumnus Harry Davis (’75), currently a public school principal. In Rockville, Maryland, Concert Choir alumni Debbie “Toots” Whitaker MacConnell (’78) and Steve Trolier (’80) hosted students. Cathy Pulliam Potter (’80) was at Mountain Christian Church to give the choir moral support. The Blanchard, Pennsylvania, choir tour stop is the home of former concert director Ruth “Blossom” White Wagner. Ruth is, however, not able to be out much and was unable to attend the concert at Blanchard Church of Christ. However, music alumnus Corey Spotts (’82) was in attendance.
CALLING ALL ALUMNI! We’re hoping to see you during Homecoming, October 25-26. Check the Milligan Web site later this summer for a schedule of great events and to register for the weekend.
FOURTH ANNUAL STRINGS CAMP PLANNED
Other faculty include Milligan music alumna Lisa Hollis (violin and chamber music) and Tim Mutschlecner (cello, bass, and jazz). Lisa Hollis is currently in graduate school at the Arizona State Univeristy. Brown not only directs the camp but also teaches throughout the week. The week will culminate in a wonderful concert on Friday evening. These kids put together an amazing repertoire in one week. Have any kids who are strings players? Send them our way!
In April, the Concert Choir sang two performances of the Faure “Requiem” with the Kingsport Symphony Orchestra. The first of the two concerts was in the Eastman Center in Kingsport, and the second was in the grand old Paramount Theatre in Bristol. These performances took the place of Choral Union, in which many of you have participated over the years.
SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS Auditions are held annually for acceptance as a music major. The auditions also are for consideration for scholarships in voice, piano, orchestral instruments and organ. Consideration is given to talented high school seniors who exhibit interest in a career in music education, music ministry or other music careers. Auditions may be arranged in person, by cassette or by video tape. Students wishing to be considered for music scholarships should audition by March 1. On February 21, 2003, Milligan College will host on-campus scholarship auditions during the Admissions Open House scheduled for that day. Students are also encouraged to audition during the fall Open House, on Friday, November 15. Scholarship amounts vary and are renewable annually. To be eligible for these awards, entrants must have applied and been accepted to Milligan College. Participation in the scholarship audition serves as an audition for music major status. Contact Rita Myers in the Music Office (423-461-8723) for details about auditions. Contact the Admissions Office (800-262-8337) for details about Open House weekends. Encourage potential music majors in your family, church and community to consider a music education at Milligan!
MUSIC EVENTS ON CAMPUS We’d love to have you join us for any of the following events. All events are at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Saturday,
October 12 Saturday,
November 2 Tuesday,
November 5 Friday,
November 15 Sunday,
November 17 Friday,
Novermber 22 Saturday,
November 23 Monday,
November 25 Sunday,
December 8 Friday,
January 24 Saturday,
February 1 Friday,
February 14 Friday,
February 21 Sunday,
February 23 Sunday, March
2 Friday, March
7 Thursday,
March 20 Saturday,
March 22 Tuesday,
March 25 Friday, April
4 Sunday, April
6 Friday April
11 Friday, April
25 Monday, April
28 Friday, May 2
CHRISTMAS We recently announced that we will not host the annual Christmas Madrigal Dinners this year, due to the college’s tight academic calendar between Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. “The dinners are usually held the two weekends between Thanksgiving holiday and our Christmas break,” said Dick Major, theatre director and chair of the Area of Performing, Visual and Communicative Arts. “This year’s calendar presented us with some challenges. As we return from Thanksgiving break, we will be in the last week of classes and there is simply not sufficient time for the performances.” Instead the college plans to host a one-evening Christmas concert. John Wakefield hopes the program will attract as many of the community members as the Christmas Dinners. “This will be a special evening,” said Wakefield. “It will be a festive, inspiring concert with the same quality as our Christmas Dinners.” The Christmas Dinners have been part of Milligan’s annual heritage for 35 years, and we hope that future academic calendars will permit the “show to go on” in upcoming years.
E-MAIL ADDRESSES
Milligan:
www.milligan.edu Adjunct professors this past year
have been: Tom Crawford woodwinds Deborah Eller Nichols voice Anne Elliott piano Francisco Fernandez guitar Deborah Gouge music education Jan Hinman flute Mike Imboden Heritage Mike Morgan music technology Tim Mutschlecner cello Lisa Runner music education
FACULTY NEWS
Brown served as concertmaster of the Kingsport Symphony Orchestra for its summer season, and she organized and conducted the collaborative concert of the Johnson City Civic Chorale and Milligan Chamber Orchestra. Brown attended the American String Teachers’ Conference at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and the Music Educators’ National Conference in Nashville. She was the guest conductor of the Dobyns-Bennett High School Orchestra and performed a recital at Emory & Henry College. She also adjudicated the Kingsport Youth Symphony Scholarship Auditions and the National Federation of Music Clubs’ Junior Festival. David Runner presented a lecture-demonstration on hymn playing at Orgelfest in Knoxville and performed a commissioned musical work by local composer Kenton Coe to dedicate a new sanctuary and organ at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnson City. He attended the annual Church Music Workshop sponsored by the University of Tennessee and the Knoxville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He and wife Lisa (Adkins '79) Runner also attended the National Convention of Music Educators’ National Conference with a group of students. Elsewhere in this newsletter are details about his major performance at the Spoleto Festival this summer. Earlier this year Carlene Eastridge attended the Southern Regional Convention of the American Choral Directors Association. This summer she directed the Milligan College Summer Arts Camp for young children. She also directs choirs at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnson City. She presented “Music Across the Curriculum” at the Arts in Education Conference at the Adelphia Center in Johnson City. Several faculty recitals were performed this past year. Carlene Eastridge and John Wakefield presented a joint voice and organ recital. Francisco Fernandez, Rick Simerly, and Eddie Dalton also presented a joint recital on guitar, trombone, and drums. Kellie Brown, accompanied by David and Lisa Runner, presented a violin recital. David Runner also presented an organ recital. This year John Wakefield attended the Regional Convention of the American Choral Dirctors Association. In January and February he served as interim choir director at Grandview Christian Church. In the spring he presented “Basic Vocal Techniques for Church Choirs” at the National Church Music Conference. This summer John is attending the conference of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada, the meeting of the Tennessee Association of Music Executies of Colleges and Universities, and the World Symposium on Choral Music. At the World Symposium, he and former faculty member John Campbell are rooming together, and he will be catching Campbell up on Milligan music news. John also served as a judge for the Miss Kingsport pageant this summer. The Wakefields appreciate that you ask about Vicki since her bout with cancer and her surgeries two years ago. She continues to have six-month checkups that show no evidence of additional cancer. John and Vicki are grateful for your concern and your prayers. An article by Rick Simerly entitled, “The Importance of Jazz in Music Education” was published in the December issue of The Tennessee Musician; he also published an article in the North Carolina Music Educators Journal. Rick performed at the South Carolina Jazz Festival with jazz legend Slide Hampton, in concert with the Benny Goodman Tribute Band, and in a concert with singer Harry Connick, Sr. He was featured artist and clinician at Virginia Tech, the University of Evansville (IN), and the University of North Carolina. He played in the Grove Park Inn Jazz Festival, featuring jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Rick was conductor of the 2002 Tennessee All-State Jazz Band in Nashville and conducted clinics and concerts at Furman University, Brevard College, Cumberland College, and Miami University (OH).
HERE’S WHAT YOU TOLD US Here are responses to the 2001-02 Music Alumni Survey, sent annually to alumni who graduated one, five, and ten years from the current year. You’ll find some interesting relationships between the suggestions made and the changes that are detailed elsewhere in this publication. Most felt that the majority of music courses were effective or very effective. Revisions have been made to the few courses rated ineffective. Fifty percent of respondents felt that we needed additional music faculty, facilities, or courses. The other fifty percent of respondents thought that the faculty, facilities, and music courses were adequate. Some also asked that we keep “raising the bar” on the quality level of Concert Choir. What additional courses were suggested? Music theatre/opera, studio recording, sound engineering, jazz, early childhood music, and contemporary music. Several people asked for individual and group practice rooms and recording studios. Use of performance tracks, more assistance in songwriting and arranging, and help with reconciling Christian faith and the music industry - these were all suggested. A cooperative program with the communications sub-area was suggested. What advice did alumni give to current music students? “Practice! Practice! Practice!…. Keep yourself focused! Don’t give up! Once you start your career, continue to perform, and all should continue to learn and better yourself as a musician.” “Even if a classical career is not desired, all classes should be given 110% to make you a better contemporary artist….. Take advantage of the small school atmosphere and get valuable experience. Get practical experience in your field before you graduate. Save your textbooks and notes so you can refer back to them as needed.” Other information you wanted to share with former professors and fellow alumni? “I loved Concert Choir - the trips, excellent music and performances. Thanks also for conducting class, music theory and sight reading classes which were helpful as I conducted our local church’s choir.” One student wrote that she “was very lucky to have the opportunities I was blessed with. Not many can say they were in the Milligan College Concert Choir all 5 years of college, serving as president, section leader and student conductor. Not many can say they were in Madrigal Dinners 5 years.” “I learned so much about music, about myself, about life in general. And I had amazing, solid relationships with my professors. I respect and admire and cherish David Runner and Rita Myers. They helped me grow and somehow saw something in me that they really built on. They gave me such an abundance of love and nurturing and had so much faith in me.” We’re grateful for your responses. We’ve listened and made numerous changes in music at Milligan. This edition of “Notation” gives lots of information about the changes we’ve made.
HERE'S WHAT WE'VE DONE ABOUT IT! Facilities - Just last year we constructed a bank of six practice rooms in the rear area of Lower Seeger. Each of these rooms opens onto the rear hallway. Each one is treated acoustically. And each one is a massive improvement over the rooms of the former practice house.Each practice room also has either a new Kawai grand or a Kawai studio upright in it. We’ve also secured acoustical treatment in two teaching studios. Courses - Elsewhere in “Notation,” you’ll find an article about the highly flexible and helpful independent study course we make available to our students now. The article also mentions our Pep Band as a new feature on the Milligan music scene. You asked for courses in music theatre/opera, studio recording, sound engineering, jazz, early childhood music, and contemporary music. We now offer some of those courses - Jazz Improvisation, Jazz History, Survey of Pop Music, and Survey of Contemporary Christian Music. Other courses are part of a continuing discussion with the Communications area. How can we work together to provide more technologically skillful experiences for our students? We’re getting there. We do now offer Introduction to Music Technology, taught by adjunct professor Mike Morgan. Courses in song-writing? Now you can take a course in composition, taught by Dr. Runner. Dr. Runner also teaches Orchestration and Arranging.
Louise (Green Griffin ’52) Clites attended a recent family reunion where Louise and her sister, Martha “Julie” Green Newby (’58), joined four of her grandchildren in a family orchestra. Louise is a violinist and Julie is a cellist. She plays with the Kingsport (TN) Symphony, and they both play in the Johnson City (TN) Symphony. Clites and husband, Roger (’50), received the George W. Hardin Spirit of Milligan Award at Homecoming 2001. Their address is P.O. Box 95, Milligan College, TN 37682. Email address is lclites@juno.com. Rich Cummings (’96) and wife Alana (Trueblood ’97) have an addition to their family - Richard Gordon Cummings, born on July 12, 2001. He weighed 6 lbs., 10˝ ounces, and was 20 inches long. Rich is now assistant professor of art at College of the Ozarks. The Cummings’ are at 167 Mystic Ave., Hollister, MO 65672. Email is rwc_artist_mfa@hotmail.com. Mary Lynn Dell (’81) was presented the Distinguished Alumna Award this past fall at Homecoming. She is a pediatric psychiatrist at the National Institute of Health in Washington, D. C. Mary Lynn is also an organist and ordained minister and serves pulpit supply in church positions from time to time. She and husband David live in Alexandria, VA, and they are the parents of a beautiful little baby girl, Laura. Laura (Thompson ’84) Golightly and family are busy people. She and her husband David teach Sunday school and David serves as an elder. Laura has completed her 5th year as a preschool director and David is nearing his 20th year of building tennis courts. Son David and the twins are all busy with music in their lives also. The Golightlys, with a kitty named Faith and a lab named Fisher, live at: 445 10th Ave., NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701-2007. Joanie (Morford ’90) Hauck completed her master’s degree from Wright State University in educational leadership. She teaches chorus, drama, and dance to grades 5-, and is designated to head the district’s choral department. Hauck is active in the Loveland Stage Company as a board member, actress, director, and dancer. She and Dean have two golden retrievers. Her address is 4207 Rapture Dr., Batavia, OH 45103. Email address is Cody1015@aol.com. Lisa Hollis (’99) has a new address: 1515 S. Yale St., #4-3, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; email address is lisa_hollis@hotmail.com. Susan (Hurst ’95) Houston is currently teaching music at Surgoinsville Middle School in Surgoinsville, Tennessee. This past year the Milligan College Chamber Singers performed for her school’s Renaissance Theme Week. Anita (LaValle ’87) Hughes, with husband Jonathan (’86), enjoys being a mother of four and being music minister at Hope Church (Houston, TX). She was a panelist at a workshop for women in ministry at the North American Christian Convention. Anita also directs the acappella ensemble “Saved By Grace.” Anita and Jonathan write that they enjoy being told their ensemble has a “Milligan sound.” She is also the vocalist with the 20-piece Big Band “Brass, Rhythm & Reeds” (www.Houstonbigband.com Nikki Hughston (’99) teaches vocal music at a middle school/high school in south Texas. She resigned her position as an elementary music teacher, and says, “I have great respect for elementary teachers. It’s a tough job.” Hughston also has a piano/voice studio and has 18 students. Grandfather Hughston (father of Milligan alum David Hughston (’75) had quadruple bypass surgery this year and came through “with flying colors.” Nikki’s brother, Brock, is currently a member of the Milligan College Concert Choir. Her email address is nhughston@hotmail.com. John Lawson (’79) completed another year with the May Festival Chorus of Cincinnati, which was recently featured on a PBS special. He also subs for several church choirs. John’s wife, Debbie, passed away on September 30. He stays busy with volunteer work, leading a Junior Girl Scout troop, and teaching First Aid, CPR, and AED for the Red Cross and Girl Scouts. John also chairs Fairfield (OH) Cultural Arts Advisory Committee and is on a Steering Committee to develop an outdoor drama for the City of Fairfield. He is vice president of the Fairfield Footlighters Board. John and children Whitney and Jason are at 5780 Windermere Ln., Fairfield, OH 45014-3750. His email address is JWLawson@fuse.net. Mark Lewis (’86) continues to serve with Church of Christ at Manor Woods in Rockville, Maryland, as associate minister for worship/music and adult ministries. The music program includes an adult choir of 50+ voices, an 18-member orchestra, handbell choir, and children’s choir. This summer he oversees a music ministry internship of aspiring Milligan music major Ben Strobl. Lewis says, “It was our privilege to host the Concert Choir during their 2002 Spring Tour. They were great!” His address is 4713 Brightwood Rd., Olney, MD 20832; email mark@manorwoods.com. Dr. Tim Martin (’80) heard the Concert Choir during their 2002 Spring Tour. He writes, “The Choir was wonderful. I wish we could have heard more!” Tim writes that his children, Matthew and Hannah, “had to listen to several hours of nostalgic reminiscing of previous choir tours and adventures with Mr. Wakefield!” He says “there have been many occasions through the years to remember the life-changing experiences” at Milligan. Dr. Martin is an ophthalmologist on the medical staff of Wake Forest University Hospital. He recently authored a textbook in the field of ophthalmology. His email address is tmmartin@wfubmc.edu. Derek McNatt (’99) is a third year grad student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, majoring in sacred music and voice. McNatt is the music minister at Flower Mound Methodist Church in Flower Mound, Texas. Last fall friends sponsored McNatt for the “Walk to Emmaus,” a three day spiritual retreat. His permanent mailing address is 5 Wilbur Lane, East Lyme, CT 06333. Rob Meier (’01) is minister of music at Eau Gallie Christian Church in Melbourne, Florida. Wife Lori (Turner ’99) Meier is a sixth grade teacher at a fine arts magnet school. The Meierses live at 150 Augusta Way, Melbourne, FL 32940. Their email address is rdmusic@hotmail.com. Stephen Morton (’79) is artistic director and conductor of the American Chamber Chorale and teaches on the music faculty of St. Louis University. The Chorale had a near-capacity crowd at a recent concert in the St. Louis Museum of Art. Amy West Moore (’77) and husband David reside in suburban Indianapolis. Daughter Allison will be a freshman at Milligan College this fall, and she plans to play in Chamber Orchestra. Angel Mumaw ('97) has resigned her position teaching music at Sullins Academy in Bristol, VA. She plans to move near her family in Indiana and is looking for a teaching position in the area. Tom (’75) and Beth (Roberts '74) Rogers of Bristol, VA, were on campus this year for several concerts and recitals. Tom is executive vice president of regulatory affairs at King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Bristol. Norma (Barker ’62) Rollins has taught music for Washington County, VA; Bristol, VA; and Jacksonville, FL. She now teaches piano privately. Norma has fond memories of her years in music at Milligan and especially the years of instruction from Richard Tappa. When he left the faculty her senior year, Norma got nominated to direct Concert Choir, and “we even took them on a tour,” she recalls. Her address is 209 Hunter Hill Circle #1, Bristol, TN 37620. She would enjoy hearing from classmates. J. D. Smith (’61) was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2002 conference of the National Church Music Conference in Indianapolis. The conference honored J. D. for pioneering music ministry at suburban Atlanta’s Mt. Carmel Christian Church. J. D. served in that ministry for many years when Christian Churches had no full-time music ministers. He was also one of the first in the United States to perform the “Living Christmas Tree.” Throughout those years he provided personal encouragement to many young music ministers. Cristy (Hershey ’93) Sonoda married Mark Sonoda in 1995. They have a son, Michael Kiyoshi, born in 1998, and a daughter, Kasumi Ruth, born in 2001. Mark is an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Sonoda is a stay-at-home wife and mom. Her address is 16206 Rill Ln., Houston, TX 77062. Becky (Morrison ’79) Tester teaches music at Cherokee Elementary School in Johnson City. She has taught for the past 22 years. She also recently became minister of music at Mountain View Baptist Church after serving in a similar position for 10 years at Tennessee Avenue Baptist Church in Bristol. Becky and husband Scott have one child, John Morrison Tester, 2˝ years old, whom she describes as “a miracle baby.” They live at 209 E. Mountain View Rd., Johnson City, TN 37601. This fall she will supervise music major Amanda Daugherty as Amanda does her student teaching. Vic Vogt (’83) is associate minister at Plum Creek Christian Church in northern Kentucky. The Vogts’ daughter, Lindsey, will be a freshman at Milligan College this fall.
Please send us news of your new addresses, new additions, marriages, children, graduations, honors, jobs, etc. You will see yourself in print in the next edition of Music Notation .
Name: ______________________________ Class of:_____ Address:______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________ News: _________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Please send your information to the Music Faculty, c/o John Wakefield,
P. O. Box 500, Milligan College, TN 37682 OR E-mail the "Alumni in
Touch" information (name, class of, address, phone, news) to John Wakefield. Send your information via internet (http://www.milligan.edu/music/) and use the Alumni in Touch form.
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What is the Music Notation? Music Notation is our annual newsletter that helps us stay in touch with music alumni and keep them informed about music at Milligan. |