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Alumni Newsletter of the Milligan College Music Area July 2004 Opus 20, No. 1
NEW CHAIR As part of Milligan’s policy of rotation in various areas of campus leadership, Dr. Kellie Brown was named chair of the music department on June 1. Teaching on the Milligan music faculty since 1998, Dr. Brown is the director of the strings program and has distinguished herself in developing the Milligan College Orchestra and the Milligan College String Quartet. She has become a favorite of students in conducting, world music, and music history classes. Dr. Brown is efficient, organized and visionary and will bring effective leadership to this role.
from Kellie Brown I am looking forward to the many challenges and opportunities that are ahead as I assume the leadership role in the music department. We are continuing to evolve and expand in our curriculum, ensembles, and recruitment strategies. One of our most recent changes is in scholarship allotments. In the past, the music area has had a limited amount of scholarship funds that were restricted to music majors only. Now, the college has given further scholarship money to the music area to help in recruitment for majors and for ensembles. In light of the new policy, we can now offer scholarship assistance to music electives and minors as well as majors. I am excited about the potential that these new funds have for us. Before I conclude my remarks, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Mr. John Wakefield. For the past five years, Mr. Wakefield has dedicated his time and service to providing leadership to the music area. He has led the music area through many challenging transitions including extensive degree and curriculum changes, ensemble restructuring, and faculty rotations. He has also been the driving force behind many great concerts including two highly successfully Christmas concerts and a well-received hymn festival this past spring. One of his greatest achievements as chair has been the remodeling project in lower Seeger which enabled the addition of much needed practice spaces. Thanks, Mr. Wakefield!
KEYBOARD NOTES from Anne Elliott & David Runner The keyboard division of the music department is flourishing. This past year was an especially good year with the performance of junior recitals, the use of a wonderful new keyboard lab, and the offering of a new piano course for non-music majors. This past April, two of our piano majors, Dawn Loughry and Rachel Cunningham presented exciting joint junior piano recitals. Having taken organ lessons in the spring, Dawn Loughry also performed one of her pieces on the organ in student recital. August 2003 was a landmark month in the music department as we installed two different and exciting additions in our existing keyboard lab. First, a practice pipe organ was given to the music department to use “indefinitely”. It found a perfect place of residence in the keyboard lab. Second, a brand new Roland digital keyboard lab with seven new digital keyboards and a lab monitor system was installed. Beginning piano students enjoyed playing on the new digital keyboards that have many fun and helpful features including a built-in disk drive for playing and recording. In order to share our new keyboard lab with the rest of the campus, this past year for the first time, the Milligan Music Department offered a group piano class for non-music major beginners. In both semesters, the classes were filled to capacity. The group instruction allows for much personal attention from the teacher and quality in-class practice time. It was exciting to see students, with no prior experience with piano, end each semester with a student recital demonstrating their music accomplishments! For more information about keyboard instruction at Milligan or just to chat, please contact us by e-mail or phone: Anne Elliott 423-461-8938 David Runner 423-461-8792
NEW FACULTY Starting this fall, Mr. David Butzu will be joining the adjunct faculty where he will be transitioning Milligan Singers, a former women’s ensemble, into a mixed choir focusing on the gospel repertoire. Mr. Butzu will also be serving in a music position at Hopwood Christian Church.
HOMECOMING 2004! We hope to see you during Homecoming October 22-23. Check the Milligan website (www.milligan.edu) for a schedule of great events. You’ll also be able to register for the weekend on line. This fall during Homecoming Weekend the Concert Choir alumni will sing three numbers with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. The entire proceeds from all symphony concert tickets purchased by Milligan alumni go for the Concert Choir trip to Europe.
MOMENTS 2003-2004 This past academic year was one of the greatest in the history of the music department because of the number of large-scale productions in which we were involved. First, we celebrated our second annual Milligan Christmas Concert that featured our vocal and instrumental ensembles, organ, and the Elizabethton Handbell Choir. The combination of the beauty of Seeger Chapel decked in its Christmas festivities and the wonderful music was a great way to celebrate our Savior’s birth. As with last year, the concert was very well-received, with a crowd of almost 1,000. We hope that you can attend the Milligan Christmas Concert 2004. On April 1-4, the Milligan music area collaborated with the theater departments of Milligan and ETSU to present the celebrated Gilbert & Sullivan opera The Pirates of Penzance. This performance directed by Milligan theater professor Richard Major was one of the largest theater productions in the history of our region with a full cast and 40+ member orchestra. Accolades from this production are still ringing. Another musical is in the works for next year, so stay tuned to hear more about the 80s phenomenon Footloose. Our grand finale took a new approach this year when for Choral Union the vocal and instrumental ensembles combined to present A Festival of Song. An idea developed by John Wakefield, the song festival featured a count down of the areas ten favorite hymns as voted on by the Milligan community and area churches. The glorious sound of the choirs, orchestra, and organ performing these masterworks of the faith left a lasting impression on the audience and performers. Look for a repeat performance in the future. A special thanks to all of the organizers, performers, and faculty members who made these special moments possible. Let’s do it again next year!
THE 
JAZZ CORNER
by Rick Simerly The Milligan College Jazz Ensemble had both an exciting and productive year. The fall concert marked the 22 piece ensemble's first performance. The November 24th event was held in Seeger Chapel for a large and enthusiastic audience. Rich Willey, former trumpeter with Maynard Ferguson's band, showcased his talents as guest artist. In addition, the ensemble performed songs from the Count Basie and Buddy Rich libraries. The highlight of our year occurred on January 30th when the Milligan College Jazz Ensemble opened the Grove Park Inn's 12th annual "All That Jazz" weekend. The ensemble was asked to perform as the opening act for the great patriarch of jazz, Ellis Marsalis. The weekend featured Marsalis on Friday night and Lou Rawls on Saturday. The night was especially rewarding because of the large number of Milligan faculty, students and alumni who were in attendance. Phil Thompson, professor of music at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, was featured as guest soloist on Cole Porter's "Love for Sale." Dr. Thompson wowed the audience by performing improvisations on flute, clarinet and alto saxophone. Ms. Loretta Bowers from Elizabethton was the guest vocalist featured on a medley of hymns and spirituals arranged for the band by Bill Scott. The estimated crowd of 1200 gave Loretta and the band a standing ovation, and compliments on the bands performance were abundant the entire weekend. All in all, it was a very exciting evening and provided some great exposure for the Milligan College Jazz Ensemble. The band concluded the year with two spring performances, the annual awards day convocation on April 22 and the spring concert on April 24th. This upcoming year promises more exciting jazz events beginning with the ensemble's fall concert on November 22nd. We hope to see you there.
STRINGS SOUNDS by Kellie Brown This past year has been an exciting one for the strings program. First, we saw a substantial growth in the size of the chamber orchestra due to more Milligan students and a relationship with ETSU which brings their string majors to Milligan for applied lessons, string methods, pedagogy, and ensembles. The growth has been so substantial that the chamber orchestra will be moving to full orchestra this fall and will now be called the Milligan College Orchestra. The Milligan College String Quartet has also been very active this year, performing for on- and off-campus events, including a performance for the Tennessee Association of Financial Aid Administrators. The highlight of the year for the strings at Milligan was our participation in The Pirates of Penzance this spring. Under the direction of Richard Major, Milligan’s professor of theater, the Milligan orchestra combined with wind and percussionists to perform as the pit orchestra for this amazing opera by Gilbert & Sullivan. Despite the sometimes grueling rehearsal schedules, the orchestra members enjoyed the production immensely and left the audiences amazed. Because of the great response, we plan to do more musical and operas in the future.
SCORES WANTED Do you have sheet music and scores sitting around unused? Instead of throwing them away, please send them to us. There is always a need at Milligan for music.
UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS ON CAMPUS Events are at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Saturday, October 23 Johnson City Symphony Orchestra – 8:00 pm Saturday, October 16 U.S. Army Field Band Saturday, November 13 Johnson City Symphony Orchestra – 8:00 pm Friday, November 19 Milligan College Orchestra Concert Monday, November 22 Jazz Ensemble Concert Saturday, November 20 Senior Piano Recital – Dawn Loughry Sunday, December 12 Christmas Concert – 8:00 pm Saturday, February 12 Johnson City Symphony Orchestra – 8:00 pm Friday, February 25 Joint Faculty Recital – John Wakefield Friday, February 18 Honors Recital Friday, March 25 Faculty Organ Recital – David Runner Friday, April 29 Concert Choir Home Concert Saturday, March 19 Johnson City Symphony Orchestra – 8:00 pm Friday, April 15Milligan College Orchestra Concert Monday, April 25 Jazz Ensemble Concert
Milligan:
www.milligan.edu Adjunct professors this past year
have been: Tom Crawford woodwinds Eddie Dalton percussion Anne Elliott piano Justin Butler guitar Deborah Gouge music education Mike Imboden Heritage Mike Morgan music technology Katie Hamilton cello 
FACULTY NEWS
David Runner played a joint organ-violin recital with Kellie Brown in Kingsport, TN and presented an annual faculty recital. John Wakefield studied “Worship, Theology, and Spirituality” and “Spirituality and Human Reights” at Christ Church College, Oxford University. He served as interim choir director at Colonial Heights Christian Church and was a worship consultant to two area churches. Rick Simerly conducted jazz clinics at Cumberland College (KY) and East Carolina University. He served as guest soloist or featured artist at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, the Johnson City Symphony, the Western North Carolina Jazz Society, and the Rocky Mount, NC, Community Band. The Milligan College Jazz Ensemble opened for the Ellis Marsalis Quartet at the 12th annual All That Jazz Weekend at the Grove Park Inn.
NEWS from MENC Milligan’s chapter of MENC (Music Educators National Conference) is alive and well. This year, under student president Michael Douty and faculty advisor Dr. Kellie Brown, MENC participated in several fund raisers and attended a conference. Our primary fundraiser again this year was the first semester care package. We had a lot of fun assembling them, and the students had even more fun eating them. We also raised money by selling concessions at the Johnson City Symphony Concerts. Each year, MENC helps its members and others attend a music-related conference. In April, we attended a church instrumental music workshop in Charlotte, NC. This event featured some of the biggest names in church music composing, arranging, and directing.
Here are responses to the 2003-04 Music Alumni Survey sent annually to alumni who graduated one, five, and ten years from the current year. We hope you’ll find that we paid attention, when making improvements to the program. Most of you felt that the majority of your music courses were effective. Seventy-five percent of respondents felt that we needed additional music faculty, facilities, or courses. Additional facility suggestions were for practice facilities not used by Vespers and/or chapel worship bands, a smaller recital facility, more teaching studios, and a building with performing facilities as well as up to date practice rooms apart from Seeger Chapel. To the response of a need to provide students knowledge of and chances to explore music related vocations/jobs other than ministry and education, we have been able to bring several adjunct professors to the music department, particularly in instrumental areas. Collaboration with Milligan and ETSU theater has also allowed us to expand our offerings into operas and musicals. Suggestions for additional courses included a generic ministry course for non ministry majors. Other needs listed were communication with other area departments since music can sometimes be very isolated, more credit hours granted for ensembles because of the work and time required, less ensemble credits and recital attendance for the minors, and more significant scholarships to attract better music students which yield better graduates and enhance Milligan’s reputation. What about advice to current music students? Get as much hands on experience as you can while in school, and make sure that’s where God is calling you to be. Volunteer at schools; take a part time ministry position; see where you fit best. Also, get to know your professors as people and keep in touch with them when you leave Milligan. Get off campus and into the real world as much as possible. Enjoy Concert Choir, and over prepare for juries and recitals. Learn all you can, everywhere you can, from everyone you can. The key to a successful music ministry career is versatility and productivity. Pay attention to major specific classes about music. Thank you for your thoughtful responses. We’ve listened and made numerous changes in music at Milligan.
ALUMNI NEWS Jim Byerly (’72) and Tim Mahn (’95) attended the ACCME (Association of Christian College Music Educators) this fall. Mahn was elected vice president of ACCME. Michael Fournier (’96) and wife Kathi (Knowles ’96) announce the birth of a daughter, Emma Grace. She was born March 28, 2003, and joins brother Aaron (6) and Andrew (4). Their address is 28 Madison Circle, Hillsboro, NH 03244. Their email address is fournier5@tds.net. Amanda (Daugherty ’02) Gonzales is currently teaching in Dekalb County schools as a K-5 General Music Teacher at Leslie J. Steele Elementary, a year round school. Her email address is pianoprincess7@hotmail.com. Her address is 2916 Links Dr., Atlanta, GA 30317. Lauren (Webb ’03) Herring was married to Josh Herring on July 12, 2003, on the Milligan College Campus Commons. She is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English Education from the Univeersity of Tennessee. Her email address is LWsinger11@hotmail.com. Her address is 3700 Sutherland Ave., Apt. G-03, Knoxville, TN 37919. Sabrina Hess (’00) email address has changed to sabbypig@hotmail.com
Anne (Robinson ’57) Hughes has been named senior organist and pianist for the Faith Lutheran Church, Dickinson, TX. She graduated with a Music Education degree and has served as a public school music teacher, private piano and voice teacher, choral director, music director and accompanist in churches for 46 years. Her address is 2702 Yorktown Dr., Dickinson, TX 77539-4425. Her email address is annerh@houston.rr.com. Nikki Hughston (’99) directed her first Madrigal Dinner this past year. She said, “It’s been a lot of fun and the kids are really working hard.” Her email address is nhughston@hotmail.com. Beth (Bostwick ’84) Lamb was chosen as a Teacher of the Year Finalist for the School District of Hillsborough County. Beth was the only music specialist among the 10 finalists chosen from the thousands of teachers in the county. Even though she didn’t win, she was thrilled to have the honor of being a finalist. Beth teaches at Gorrie Elementary School and has taught music for 17 years, seven of them at Gorrie where she incorporates reading and math into her music lessons. In order to learn about culture, customs and music styles throughout the world, her students created a world video program involving students with disabilities in eight countries as part of MusicLink 2003. Beth also implemented D.R.U.M. (Discipline, Respect and Unity Through Music), which is a program for at-risk students to improve social skills and self-esteem. Beth is the chairperson of the Music in Our School Month for district Elementary Music Council. Her email address is jlamb3@tampabay.rr.com. John Lawson (’79) is a man living every day to the fullest, even though he lost both hands more than 17 years ago in an electrical accident. His motto: If you want something, go out and achieve it. He is among other things, a certified private pilot. Despite several tragedies, Lawson kept living. As if being a pilot, singer, actor, husband and father weren’t enough, he found a new endeavor: scuba diving instructor. “There’s so much more to life than just breathing,” he said. “I’ve never focused on what I can’t do. I’ve always focused on what I can do.” His email address is jwlawson@cinci.rr.com. Debbie “Toots” (Whitaker ’78) MacConnell was on campus for one of the Christ in Youth weeks this past summer. She sends her greetings to all her Concert Choir friends. Her address is 3880 Gibbons Rd., Point of Rocks, MD 21777. Stephen Morton (’79) is the conductor of the American Chamber Chorale. The Chorale performed 20th Century Cathedral Classics this past March at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Church in St. Louis. Kristy L. Nicholson (’95) is currently the conductor/musical director on the national tour of “Kiss Me, Kate”. Her email address is kristylnicholson@earthlink.net. Her address is 729 W. 186th St., #3B, New York, NY 10033. Stephanie Randall (’03) is planning to attend the Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. She will be graduating this fall with a degree in Paralegal studies. She has been on the Dean’s List every semester and is an inducted member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for students with a 3.5 GPA or better. Her email address is Smurf3873@aol.com. Melanie (Oliver ’99) Reid reports that she and her husband, Everett, are now living on the base where he is currently stationed, at Hurlburt Field. She requests that we continue to keep our country and those who serve (and their spouses) in our prayers. Her email address is mrluvsbeach@hotmail.com. Her address is 20 McMillan Dr., Hurlburt Field, FL 32544. Cory Spotts (’82) is the Director of Fine Arts, Music Studies and Ensembles at Sugar Valley Rural Charter School in Loganton, PA. He and his wife, Jayne (Hardy), are very proud of their two kids, Zachary (17) and Meredith (13 going on 23), who are both musically involved. Zach is like his dad and Meredith like her mom, except she can sing. He says, “ I was very proud to see the Concert Choir and Mr. Wakefield last year at our church and the concert brought back a flood of wonderful memories.” He would love to hear from his “old” classmates. His email address is csspotts@yahoo.com. His address is 16 W. Peale Ave., Mill Hall, PA 17751. His phone number is 570-726-3058. Ben Strobl (’03) and Miranda McGrain (’02) will be married on September 25, 2004. Rod Sturtz (’65), who was Professor of Music at Atlanta Christian College from 1979 until 1993, passed away on June 2, 2004 at the age of 61 in Scottdale, Pennsylvania. Symphany cards may be sent to his wife, Pam, at RR1, Box 250, Scottdale, PA 15683. Elizabeth T. Treadway (Mrs. T), music secretary for several years, passed away on April 4, 2004 at the age of 92. Sheri Wilcox (’03) and Jared Shoemaker (’02) will be married on July 24, 2004. Sheri is the part time music director at First Christian Church in Erwin, TN. Her email address is devilishlyangelic98@hotmail.com.
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
Office,
P. O. Box 500, Milligan College, TN 37682 OR E-mail the "Alumni in
Touch" information (name, class of, address, phone, news). 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. |