MORSCH PASSES Dr. Robert S. Morsch, born December 31, 1942 in York, PA, passed away at home on January 4, 2009 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Dr. Morsch was a music educator and performer. He earned a B.A. and an M.A. in music education from Arizona State University and a Doctorate in Band Conducting from the University of Iowa. As director of bands, Morsch, who served Western from August 1973 to June 1979, guided the 190-member Leatherneck Marching Band; the Jazz Band; the Symphonic Wind Ensemble; and coordinated Western's annual fall high school marching band competition, which often brought in more than 4,000 high school musicians. His 1974 Marching Leatherneck Band recorded and produced a record album of their popular numbers performed during halftime shows; the 1975 Jazz Band recorded an album for Music Minus One Records; and the 1975 Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed, by invitation, at the Music Educators National Conference and presented a concert at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. For more information.
Lincoln Elementary Afterschool Piano Program The first "Lincoln Elementary Afterschool Piano Program" recital took place on Saturday, December 13 in Browne Hall.
The new Youth String Orchestra had their first rehearsal on 1/31 at the School of Music. Seventeen string players came together and rehearsed under the direction of Dr. Rich Cangro, Assistant Professor of Music Education. This ensemble is the first step in an initiative to start a Community Music School at WIU. The purpose is twofold: to offer arts opportunities to community youth and to provide a lab setting for college students to observe and teach, applying the concepts and methods learned in their music education classes. The orchestra's first concert will take place in the COFAC recital hall on May 21.
The 41st International Horn Symposium
You are CORdially invited to the
41st International Horn Symposium, to be held June 2-7, 2009, on the campus of Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois 61455.
Everything you've ever wanted to know about the 41st International Horn Symposium can be found by going to www.wiu.edu/HORN/ Professor Randall Faust is your gracious host for this spectacular event.
STUDENT NEWS
Tyler Ross, MM 2008, will be moving to Charleston, South Carolina sometime before next August. He has taken a position at the College of Charleston teaching jazz guitar. He also expects to be gigging with other guitarists in Charleston.
Congratulations to the Western Illinois University Trumpet Ensemble (Mike Scheck, Brady Schach, Diana Miller, and Ryan Mills), who advanced as semifinalists in the National Trumpet Competition's ensemble division. The group will travel to George Mason University in Fairfax, VA for the onsite competition in March. Diana Miller also advanced as a semifinalist in the graduate solo division.
Kevin Nichols adjudicated the All-State percussionists and presented twice at the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) All-State Convention on Friday, January 30.
His first clinic, "Drumset Pedagogy for the Music Educator: Developing Hi Hats Technique," was a "hands-on" clinic that assisted educators in a better understanding of an essential component of the drum set. Later that afternoon, Nichols co-presented with SSgt Jarrett Robinett of the USAF Band of Mid-America. Sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, the "Percussion Refresher Course for Ensemble Directors" was well attended by many current and future music educators. Kevin's portion focused on concert bass drum and concert tom technique. In addition to WIU support, the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company and Remo, Inc. sponsored both clinics.
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Virginia Broffitt and Tammie Walker presented a recital for the Quad City Flute Association Inaugural Event in Moline, IL. The event was sponsored by West Music, Miyazawa Flutes, and the QCFA. Broffitt was the featured guest artist and also presented a masterclass. Sunday, January 18.
John Vana and Jenny Perron will be the featured guest artists at "Le Journee du Saxophon" in Montreal, Quebec on March 17, 2009. This event will gather saxophonists throughout the province. Mr. Vana will teach a master class and perform a recital. The program will be the same one to be recorded on his next CD, entitled "The Parisian Saxophone."
Matt Warnock was in residency in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario during the week of December 15-19. He gave two clinics at White Pines High School, one clinic at Sir James Dunn High School, and a masterclass at Algoma University. He also gave a duo performance at Algoma University with jazz faculty member Jeff Holmes.
The Molina Duo (Moises Molina, cello and Andrea Molina, piano) will be performing and teaching at the 2009 Schlern International Music Festival in the Italian Alps. July 1 to July 21 (http://www.schlernmusicfestival.org/
Dr. Chung-Ha Kim, Assistant Professor of Piano, presented a lecture, a masterclass, and a recital at Radford University (Virginia) on February 9, 2009. Her recital program consisted of 20th/21st century American Piano Music and featured works by Bruce Mahin, Samuel Barber, Charles Griffes, and Lowell Liebermann.
School of Music Website.