The Kalamazoo College Jazz Band swings into Ann Arbor as part of a concert series at the First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor. The Jazz Band performs at 7:30 PM on March 1, and the performance is free and open to public. First Baptist is a beautiful historic church located at 517 East Washington Street. It’s history is entwined with Kalamazoo College’s–President Allan Hoben (1922-1935) served at the church prior to his presidency, and First Baptist of Ann Arbor is the church home of Marlene Crandell Francis ’58, trustee emerita of Kalamazoo College. A reception with the student musicians will occur following the music! The Jazz Band is directed by Professor of Music Thomas Evans.
music
K Professor Honored at International Conductors’ Competition
Andrew Koehler, associate professor of music at Kalamazoo College and music director of the Kalamazoo Philharmonia and the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, was recently honored at the 9th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors, one of the more prestigious international competitions for conductors of all nationalities born after 1976.
The competition, held in Katowice, Poland, every five years, took place in three stages during November 17 to November 23, 2012. A selection committee, consisting of eminent Polish and international conductors and musicians, chose 50 participants from an initial pool of approximately 180 applicants. These 50 were invited to the first round of competition, from that 12 semifinalists were chosen for a second round, and from that, 6 finalists.
“I was the only American in the final round,” said Koehler. “We were judged on technical skill, our interpretative decisions, and our ability to work with the orchestra. It was a great honor.”
Koehler was awarded First Distinction, or fourth place, in the competition, with a monetary award of 10,000 Euros. The Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre also invited Koehler to perform sometime in the second half of 2013.
Yet a third award came in the form of Karol Szymanowski State General School of Music of the 2nd Degree in Katowice – the “YOUNG BATON MASTER” award granted by a Young Jury jointly to Koehler and Russian semi-finalist Stanslav Kochanowskiy.
Bach Festival Christmas Concert on December 2
On Sunday, December 2nd, at 4:00 p.m. in Stetson Chapel, the Bach Festival Chorus will present its annual BachFest Christmas! concert featuring works by Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, and others.
Lyric soprano Rhea Olivaccé will make her Kalamazoo debut with a performance of “O, Holy Night” and as the featured soloist in Moses Hogan’s “Glory to the Newborn King.” Familiar carols and an audience sing-along complete this often sold-out concert and much beloved family holiday tradition.
The first half of the concert will feature J.S. Bach’s Magnificat, with soloists, chorus, and orchestra under the direction of Maestro James Turner. Guest soloists for this piece are Emily Bennett, Giles Simmer and Kaitlin Spencer, sopranos; Sandra Maytan, mezzo-soprano; Steve Martin, tenor; and Marcus Jordan, baritone.
The second half of the program features holiday favorites performed by the choir, including some some traditional Christmas carols in which the audience is invited to sing along. Featured soloists in the second half of the concert include Rhea Olivaccé, soprano, and Carl Witt, piano.
Tickets for BachFest Christmas! are available through the Bach Festival office (269-337-7407) or online through the Bach Festival’s website. Tickets are $22 (center and balcony); $15 (sides); and $5 (students). Children ages 12 and under and free.
Tan Earns Lucasse Lectureship
By Rachel Leider ’15
Siu-Lan Tan, associate professor of psychology, has earned Kalamazoo College’s highest annual honor for classroom teaching, the Florence J. Lucasse Lectureship for Excellence in Teaching.
The “Lucasse,” was established in 1979 in honor of Florence J. Lucasse, Class of 1910, in response to the major unrestricted endowment gift she bequeathed to the College in her will. In addition to the Lectureship, a Florence J. Lucasse Fellowship for Excellence in Scholarship is also awarded. Andrew Mozina, associate professor of English, holds the current Lucasse Fellowship.
Tan was taken aback by her award: “I think the world of my colleagues and students, and knowing that they nominated and supported me for this was overwhelming. I immediately teared up, as I felt it deeply.”
President Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran expressed her admiration for Tan as she presented the award during the fall quarter all-campus gathering in Dalton Theatre on Sept. 20. “Professor Tan often extends students’ experiences beyond the classroom, and these service-learning experiences transform their learning, making concepts that may have once seemed dissonant in class become consonant in practice.”
Born in Indonesia, Tan grew up in Hong Kong where she taught music. After moving to California, she earned a B.A. degree in music at Pacific Union College and taught music for several years. Later, she became interested in psychology and earned both Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in psychology at Georgetown University.
Teaching at Kalamazoo College since 1998, Tan offers courses in developmental psychology, creativity, and the psychology of music. In 2010, she co-authored the textbook The Psychology of Music: From Sound to Significance.
Per Lucasse tradition, Tan will speak to students, faculty, staff, and quests about her work at a spring 2012 lecture.
Congratulations, Dr. Tan!
Voice Performance Students Place in Regional Audition
Three of Professor of Music Jim Turner’s voice students placed in the 2012 Great Lakes Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions, which were held in early March at Grand Valley State University.
Hannah Shaughnessey-Mogil ’14 was awarded an Honorable Mention for First Year Women. Jenna Hunt ’’13 took third place in Junior Women. And Erin Donevan ’12 placed first in Musical Theatre.
Canasta Chamber Pop Group Plays Mongolia
Usually if you wanted to hear the chamber pop group Canasta (featuring “K” alums Matt Priest ’97 and Elizabeth Lindau ’97) you’d drive to Chicago. But attending a concert in early February would have meant a longer trip…to Mongolia. Canasta members trekked to the Far East country as part of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs’ Arts Envoy Program. The group’s latest album is titled “The Fakeout, the Tease, and the Breather.”