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Alumni Newsletter of the Milligan College Music Area July 2005 Opus 21, No. 1
from Kellie Brown Well, summer is upon us again. It seems like the semesters go by so quickly. This past year has been filled with many exciting musical experiences at Milligan. As you will read about in the various columns, we have been striving constantly to improve our curriculum and experiences. We also are seeking greater collaborations with the other areas on campus. Our facilities this year have been one of the major areas of improvement. We added black theater curtains to the stage area in lower Seeger to make a very attractive performance venue. We are now having our afternoon student recitals there, which is a much better space than the large chapel, and also some faculty recitals. It makes a very intimate setting. Our computer lab also has undergone an expansion. We now have 8 computer stations on the network with Finale notation software. The lab also has an excellent printer and scanner. We have completed the upgrade to Roland keyboards with the purchase of the last one (number 8) in June. Other improvements include a new instrument storage room with lots of space and shelving, a faculty work room for the copier and various office supplies, and a storage system for orchestra scores. The orchestra scores now also have been cataloged electronically, which greatly aids in searching for music. Finally, I am very pleased to inform you of our new collaborative program with the education area. With the growing shortage of music teachers, we want to encourage as many students as possible to pursue music education, but know that sometimes the hours in the curriculum have discouraged potential students. Now, we have a new accelerated master's curriculum that will allow undergraduate music students to take some of the music methods classes for graduate credit, then apply those credits toward their master's degree. It would mean that Milligan students will only need an additional 12 months at Milligan to complete their master's. This is a great incentive since teachers with master's degrees are highly desirable in the job market and start at a higher pay. This new program has been received very enthusiastically by our current music students, and many of them have already made the change to that program. We also hope that this program will attract area music teachers who need to pursue a graduate program and/or want to add an additional licensure endorsement. I hope that you will rejoice with us in our new successes, and we would love to hear from you and any ideas that you have to improve music at Milligan.
NEW CHOIR Starting this fall, Milligan Singers, a former women’s ensemble, will become the Milligan Gospel Choir, a mixed choir focusing on the gospel repertoire. David Butzu, the director, serves at Hopwood Christian Church.
This has been an excellent year for the keyboard department. Dr. Runner presented a faculty organ recital in March, and two senior piano recitals were performed: Dawn Loughry in November and Rachel Cunningham in April. Erika Phillips also performed her junior recital in April. Congratulations to these ladies (and to their teacher Mrs. Elliott) for their hard work. The keyboard area also celebrates its enrollment this year. There were three piano majors, a good number of private organ and piano students, and two piano classes. We have seen several improvements to our facilities this year. A new Roland electronic keyboard has been added to the lab bringing the total number of stations to eight. We also have eight computers fitted with Finale and Auralia software. The 9-foot concert grand has undergone some much-needed mechanical work, and the 7-foot Steinway looks forward to the same in the coming year. This summer the organ has had some emergency repairs and should be in good shape for summer commencement and the beginning of school in August. We are looking forward to welcoming several new piano students in August as well as at least two organ students. If you know of anyone who would like to study organ or piano at Milligan, please contact us:
Mrs. Anne
Elliott (423) 461-8938 aepiano@aol.com
HOMECOMING 2005! We hope to see you during Homecoming October 28-29. 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.
THE The Milligan College Jazz Ensemble had five major performances during the academic year of 2004-2005. On November 22nd, the fall concert was held in Seeger Chapel. Saxophonist Doug Henry from Charlotte, NC, was the guest artist. Doug has performed with Harry Connick, Jr., The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and numerous others. He showcased his talents on several feature numbers with the ensemble. In addition, the ensemble performed songs from the Count Basie, Charles Mingus, and Gordon Goodwin libraries. Overall it was a great evening of jazz and for the opening performance of the 2004 - 2005 academic year. The following day the group performed at the final convocation of the semester for students and faculty. Doug Henry graciously stayed overnight, affording Milligan students the opportunity to hear his saxophone virtuosity. In April the ensemble performed three times. The first was a Chapel performance of two Bill Scott arrangements by guest vocalist, Loretta Bowers. The Milligan Singers, directed by David Butzu, also joined the jazz ensemble and Ms. Bowers on the songs, “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “I Believe.” The ensemble's next performance occurred on April 22nd at the annual awards convocation. The spring concert took place at 7:30 p.m. on April 25th before a very large audience in Seeger Chapel. In addition to Ms. Bowers and The Milligan Singers, several students and adults were featured on improvised solos throughout the ensemble. Featured arrangements from the libraries of the rock group Chicago, Ray Charles, and the jazz bands of Woody Herman, Count Basie, Bill Watrous and John Clayton were performed. The 2005-2006 academic year promises more exciting jazz events. The fall concert will be Monday, November 21st, 2005, and the spring concert will be Monday, April 24th, 2006. Both will start at 7:30 p.m. in Seeger Chapel on the Milligan campus. Hope to see you there.
This past year has been an exciting one for the strings program. First, we saw a substantial growth in the size of the orchestra due to more Milligan students and a relationship with ETSU that brings their string majors to Milligan for applied lessons, string methods, pedagogy, and ensembles. The orchestra presented two major concerts on campus, plus performed at several area churches including Munsey Memorial United Methodist, Central Baptist, and Boones Creek Christian. The Milligan College String Quartet has been very active this year, performing for on- and off-campus events. The group also made a recording of incidental music for Milligan’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The recording was made at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol because of its excellent acoustics and was used throughout the play. The orchestra is looking forward to the upcoming performance of the musical Oklahoma! this fall. One of the greatest shows of all time, Oklahoma! will provide the orchestra with an opportunity to use the orchestra pit in Seeger Chapel and to experience the fun and learning that comes from a large-scale production. We hope that you will be able to attend one of the performances. Also, stay tuned for an exciting announcement about the orchestra’s concert in April 2006!
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.
OUR GREATEST MOMENTS 2004-2005 We have had many memorable moments this past year. First, we celebrated our third annual Milligan Christmas Concert that featured our vocal and instrumental ensembles, organ, and the East Tennessee Children’s 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 700. We hope that you can attend the Milligan Christmas Concert 2005. In November, we continued our tradition of collaborating with the theater in the production of the '80s phenomenon Footloose. The sold-out performances were held at the Jonesborough Repertory Theater. Accolades from this production are still ringing. In the spring, the Concert Choir presented “On Broadway.” Designed as a dinner theater show, the attendance exceeded all of the estimates. The success of the show will probably bring a new tradition to the music area. We want to give 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!
E-MAIL ADDRESSES
Milligan:
www.milligan.edu Karen Smith voice Tom Crawford woodwinds & flute Rebecca Paluzzi flute Gene Jones woodwinds Eddie Dalton percussion Anne Elliott piano Justin Butler guitar Deborah Gouge music education Mike Imboden Heritage Mike Morgan music technology Katie Hamilton cello 
David Runner serves as interim organist at Central Baptist Church in Johnson City, TN, and as organ accompanist and member of the Johnson City Civic Chorale. He attended a Church Music Workshop at Furman University and the annual National Church Music Conference, sponsored by the Association of Christian College Music Educators in Indianapolis. He presented a faculty organ recital at Milligan College and served as organ consultant to Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Bristol, VA. John Wakefield reviewed a new book Music in the Ancient Middle East for the winter 2004 issue of the Stone-Campbell Journal and performed in a faculty recital. He attended summer school in the School of Theology at the University of the South, where he took courses in worship studies and current social issues in the American Church. He conducted research on “Music and Worship in Christian Churches/Churches of Christ as Reflected in Materials in Christian Standard 2001 to 2003” and “Baptismal Hymns in Current American Hymnals.” He wrote a 12-week adult study series on “A Christian Response to Social Issues” and presented a hymn festival at Hales Chapel Christian Church in Gray, TN. Rick Simerly performed in concerts and conducted clinics/master classes at Indiana University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Virginia Commonwealth University, Indiana State, UNC Charlotte, and the University of Louisville. He was a featured performer at numerous jazz clubs including The Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis), The Blue Wisp (Cincinnati), The Jazz Factory (Louisville), Bear’s Fables (Bloomington), Amilio’s (Richmond), and Twist (Charlotte). He taught for two weeks at the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops at the University of Louisville and taught a jazz workshop at Southern Wesleyan University, SC. He performed numerous concerts throughout the summer in several states.
NEWS from MENC Milligan’s chapter of MENC (Music Educators National Conference) is alive and well. This year, under student president Cheri Lomison and faculty advisor Dr. Kellie Brown, MENC participated in fundraising, providing service to the music area, and collecting instruments to send to Iraq. 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. MENC also continued to provide receptions for the senior recitals. In response to the critical need for instruments in Iraq, MENC organized an instrument drive and invited members of the community to donate instruments. We received a variety of instruments and shipped them out in May. We pray that our efforts will help bring the healing power of music to that war-torn country.
UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS ON CAMPUS Events are at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Saturday,
September 10 Sunday, September
11 October 26-29 Friday, November 4 Saturday, November
12 Monday, November
21 Sunday, December 4 Sunday, December
11 Saturday, February
11 Friday, February
24 & Saturday, February 25 Saturday, March 18 Friday, March 24 Friday, March 31 Friday, April 7 Friday, April 21 Monday, April 24
Here are responses to the 2004-05 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. One hundred percent of respondents felt that we needed additional music faculty, facilities, or courses. Additional facility suggestions were for recording studios and offices for faculty. Suggestions for additional courses included more music in ministry and worship courses – History of Worship, etc. Other needs listed were talented students – the music department should invest a substantial portion of time and funding in aggressive recruitment of talented students. The diversity of talent should be greatly expanded (i.e. not focused solely on vocal/piano students), and effective instrumental professors should be sought for all instruments. A stronger talent base will raise the excellence of the entire program. What about advice to current music students? Know your theory; be proficient in everything. You never know when you are going to need it. If you are majoring in it, you have to be sold out and committed. It’s a long haul. Work hard at student teaching; it was the most beneficial portion of my education. Thank you for your thoughtful responses. We listen.
ALUMNI NEWS Gary W. Ballou (’78) was recently named to the 2004 roster of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” This marks the fourth time (1996, 1998, 2002, and 2004) he has been named to “Who’s Who.” In June 2006, he will graduate from Antioch University with a Ph.D. in educational leadership and change. His address is 17629 Ashworth Ave., N., Shoreline, WA 98133 Doris (Schmidt ’94) and Bob Hawley (’94) moved to Antwerp, OH in 2003. They have four children: Nathan (8), Beth (6), Bo (14) – adopted from Uzbekistan in 2001, and Aaron (1 – born 6/13/03). Her email address is dorishawley@mail.com. Their address is P.O. Box 21, Antwerp, OH 45813. Erik Boggs (’04) has been hired as band director of St. Paul High School in St. Paul, Virginia. He and his wife, Melissa (Ruhl ’05), are enjoying their first child, a baby girl, born in July – Anna Makayla Boggs. Kristy Nicholson (’96) is currently working at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, conducting My Fair Lady and Children of Eden. She states, “The Milligan College Concert Choir was truly a life-changing experience for me on many levels. It was the first opportunity I had to be a part of truly amazing choral works, such as Mozart’s Requiem, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. Dr Williams, who conducted the choir while I was at Milligan, also introduced me to the world of musical theatre, which is now my profession. I have spent the past eight years working professionally as a keyboardist and conductor, and I have him to thank for it!” Kristy’s email address is kristylnicholson@earthlink.net. Cathy (Pulliam ’80) Potter and her husband Joey (’79) moved to Ft. Myers, Florida in June 2003 where Joey is the youth minister of Florida Christian Church. Cathy teaches private voice and piano at Edison College and has her own private voice studio. She sings with the Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus and conducted her own music camp this past July for age 8-12 students called “Music For Life.” Both of their children, Josiah and Hannah Beth, are currently students at Milligan College studying theater and music. Her email address is cpotter@iline.com. Their address is 7467 Dana Lin Cir., N. Ft. Myers, FL 33917. Miranda (McGrain ’02) and Ben Strobl (’03) are expecting their first child. Miranda states, “We’re extremely excited (and a little scared) about being parents.” She requests to keep all three of them in your prayers (especially over the next two months). She had a “threatened miscarriage” on April 30th, but as for now her OB says everything is looking great. Her email address is miranda_strobl@verizon.net. Edwin Woodruff Tait (’93) was married to Jennifer Woodruff on August 16, 2003. He is an adjunct professor of history at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. They reside at 546 River Rd., Chatham, NJ 07928. Al White (’80) and his wife Pam (Miller ’78) are very busy people. Al is heading up a new Charter School through the church. It is a lot of work, and the deadline to get all the guidelines, regulations, etc. in to Chicago Public Schools is before Thanksgiving. Pam is still doing her Juice Plus business. She says, “Spreading the word about good nutrition is equal to health and if we keep eating like the average American, we are digging ourselves into a grave at too early an age.” She does health presentations and talks to people one on one. Pam is also PTA President of her son’s grade school. They are playing in a volleyball league and really enjoy it. They will be singing in the annual community of churches choir that goes from January through April. They have four children - the oldest is in her second year at University of Illinois and wants to go into law; Leslie is a senior and sings in the concert choir; Ali is a sophomore and plays a little piano and sings in the mixed choir and is a cheerleader; Nathan is in sixth grade, has a very nice voice, but thinks it’s not cool to sing – he loves football and basketball. The second girl, Leslie, was in a district wide choir day. The accompanist was Sue Ellen Anderson Stookey (’77), who was accompanist for Milligan College Chamber Singers. Their email address is alpamw@juno.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, and we will share your news with the Milligan College Alumni Office for the Milligan Magazine Class Notes.
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. |