MUSIC - July 2008

John Cooper's "This Little Light of Mine" from the Baecker Jazz Worship Service recording has been chosen as a finalist entry in a gospel music competition. The national competition raises awareness for Sickle Cell disease. There is an online voting component to the competition, and the recording is entered under the Chicago entries. Please take a minute to vote for "This Little Light of Mine." [More information.]

Cooper orchestrated Alpha Mass, a 15 movement work for 11 musicians; alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones; 2 trumpets; 2 trombones; piano, organ, bass, and drums, for the Peoria Heritage Ensemble's Juneteenth Celebration Concert. The composition is by Glenn Burleigh and the concert was presented at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Peoria Illinois on June 14, 2008.

Randall Faust's new DVD How to Stop a Horn is previewed on iTunes at http://www.wiu.edu/horn/product.html

Faust also performed or had his compositions performed at the following:

• June 3, 2008 — The University of California-Davis Horn Quartet performed the Scherzo from Faust's QUARTET for Four Horns.
• June 4, 2008 — The University of California-Davis Concert Band performed Faust's Symphony for Band. Faust was also featured as the soloist in Rondo from his CONCERTO for Horn and Wind Ensemble in this performance at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at the University of California-Davis.
• June 14, 2008 — Thomas Bacon, Julie Schleif, Ellen Campbell and Randall Faust, faculty of the Interlochen Horn Institute, performed Faust’s QUARTET for Four Horns at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.
• June 15, 2008 — Faust performed his Declamation for Natural Horn and Valved Horn as part of a Recital at the Interlochen Horn Institute of the Interlochen Center for the Arts.
• Faust also received news of recent performances of his works by Dr. Timothy Thompson of the University of Arkansas who performed Faust's CONCERTO for Horn and Wind Ensemble on several performances with the KasetsART Wind Symphony at Kasetsart University in Thailand, May 26—28, 2008.

Matthew Warnock was awarded the jazz guitar teaching position at the Interlochen Summer Arts Academy in Michigan where he is teaching the jazz guitar studio, jazz history, jazz improvisation and directing the jazz guitar ensemble. Recent publications include the following:

• Country Hits 2007-2008, arrangements, Hal Leonard Publications
• Hannah Montana: Music Inspired by the TV Show, arrangements, Hal Leonard Publications
• The Minor Side of the Blues, article published by the Jazz Guitar Gazette, June 2008.
• Scales for the Minor Blues, article published by the Jazz Guitar Gazette, June 2008.

Lynn Thompson performed the role of Richard in the WIU Studio Theatre production of A New Brain in March 2008. Also featured in the production was Thompson's voice student Wesley Urish who performed the lead role of Gordo.

Thompson performed the role of the Headmaster in the West Central Illinois Arts Center benefit production of Alan Bennett's play The History Boys in April 2008. The play was presented for three nights in downtown Macomb with a cast of community and WIU actors.

Thompson performed at the Al Sears Benefit Sears to Broadway on June 7. He sang a solo song and also performed a duet with Kitty Karn. Thompson also arranged for BFA student Micah Spayer (Lynn's private voice pupil) and SMT company member Liz Ali to sing at the same event. Micah and Liz each sang a solo, and they sang a duet together.

Thompson has served his ninth season as musical director for SMT, this summer conducting "Children of Eden" and "Me and My Girl." Lynn served as a casting representative at SMT auditions and was casting director for "Children of Eden."

Thompson's students and former students are performing in the following summer 2008 productions:

• Richard Furman (Music alum) Professional Chorus Member, Cincinnati Opera (June, July); Performing the Role of Rodolfo in La Boheme, Opera Company of Middlebury, Middlebury, VT. (August)
• Tristan Tapscott (BFA Alum) Performing with Circa 21 Dinner Theatre, RockIsland in Empty Nest (May-July) and Are We There Yet (July-Sept). Director, The Sound of Music , Countryside Community Theatre, Eldrige, IA (May-June)
• Micah Spayer (BFA student) Leading roles in all three 2008 SMT productions
• Jillian Weingart (BFA student) Leading roles of Eve in Children of Eden and Janet in TheRocky Horror Show with SMT 2008.
• Wesley Urish (BFA Student) Performing role of Jeter in Footloose at Dutch Apple Playhouse in Lancaster PA (June and July). This production will be revived for a national tour from Dec 2008-May 2009). Wesley will play the same role on tour.
• Lee Bussie (BFA student) Performing roles in Big River and The Boys Next Door with Black Hills Playhouse, Rapids City, SD (June-August)
• CJ Langdon (BFA student) Performing numerous roles and vaudeville acts with the Virginia City Players, irginia City, MT (May-Aug)
• Drew Hampton (MFA student) Performing numerous roles with the Virginia City Players, Virginia City, MT (June-Aug)

 

Michael Stryker performed with the Shirantha Beddage Quartet at the 7th Annual Rochester International Jazz Festival. The festival dates were 6/13 to 6/21 and his concert was on June 16th. It was part of the festival's Club Pass Series.

See an online multimedia slideshow from the Festival.

 

 

 

Stryker on stage with Shirantha Beddage Quartet. The group met and formed while students at the Eastman School of Music.

Kitty Karn is a resident actor this summer at Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll, IL, playing the following roles:

• The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina in You Can't Take it With You
• Mayor Matilda Hyde in All Shook Up
• Betty Meeks in The Foreigner
• Mavis Gilmerson in Church Basement Ladies

Last May, Karn also performed as a featured singer/dancer in a show called Poetry of the Divine with the Spirit in the House Theatre Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The festival was comprised of over 30 different shows and 150 performers tackling many difficult ethical and spiritual topics.