Class Notes
Eastman School of Music
1953
Arnold Berleant ’55 (MA), a professor emeritus of philosophy at Long Island University and the author of seven books on aesthetics and environmental philosophy, received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design in June.
1955
Lewis Rowell ’58E (PhD), a professor emeritus of music, ethnomusicology, and India studies at Indiana University at Bloomington, delivered two invited lectures at Princeton University this past March: a workshop, “The Origins and Evolution of the South India Tala System,” and a colloquium, “Tribal Musics of India.” In April, his Overture to “The Eumenides” was performed by the Indiana University Symphony Orchestra under the direction of former Eastman School conducting professor David Effron.
1961
James Willey ’72 (PhD) writes that the first recording of his String Quartets Nos. 3, 7, and 8 (Albany Records) has been released. The quartets are performed by the Esterhazy Quartet. James retired in 2000 from the position of Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music at SUNY Geneseo.
1970
Geary Larrick (MA) writes: “I recognized Women’s History Month in March with performances featuring music of women composers. I played marimba at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church and piano at Washington Service Learning Center, both in Stevens Point, Wis. I’m celebrating 60 years of playing the marimba.”
1972
James Willey (PhD) (see ’61).
1974
Jeffrey Showell ’76 (MM) has been named dean of the musical arts college at Bowling Green State University. Jeffrey was most recently a professor and director at James Madison University’s school of music.
1979
Ken Carper (MM), director of the Naples New Horizons Band in Florida, writes: “I presented a ‘nearly solo’ trumpet recital on March 6. Given as a benefit concert for a church in the Holguin district of eastern Cuba that I visited on several musical church-related trips, the funds will be transferred through the East Naples United Methodist Church, which hosted the performance.” Ken adds that among the goals of the performance was building relationships between the Naples community and friends in Cuba.
1981
Isabelle Ganz (DMA), a mezzo-soprano, sends an update. In 2001, she released Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off!: Songs of the Gershwins (Ganz), on which she was accompanied by pianist Edward Murray and bassist Peter Chwazik. In 2006, she performed Sequenza III on the three-CD box set of the works of Luciano Berio, Berio: The Complete Sequenzas, Alternate Sequenzas and Works for Solo Instruments (Mode Records).
1983
Chris Norton ’86 (MA) (see ’94).
1993
Linda Lister (MM) writes that she’s published a book, Yoga for Singers: Freeing Your Voice and Spirit Through Yoga (Lulu). Linda is the director of the Opera Theatre at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
1994
Zeneba Bowers ’96 (MM), a violinist and artistic director for the Alias Chamber Ensemble in Nashville, Tenn., writes that the ensemble has recorded its debut CD, Hilos (Naxos American Classics), featuring a world premiere recording of four works by modern composer Gabriela Lena Frank. She adds that Chris Norton ’83, ’86 (MA) performs marimba on the recording. As of early March, Zeneba writes, the CD “sold out of its first run—in fact, it already made the Billboard charts in the Top 100 Classical category!”
2001
Andrew Parker has been named principal oboe with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in Iowa. Andrew is an assistant professor of oboe at the University of Iowa.
2002
Micaela Gutierrez Schmitz (DMA) writes that Lady Georgianna, the “18th-century girl band,” for which she’s the harpsichordist, is touring the United Kingdom this summer. The “Love in the Pleasure Gardens” tour began in May and continues into October. . . . Susan Tang ’04 (MM) writes that she and Brady Miller ’03 were married in June 2010 in New York City. “The ceremony was officiated by Red Wierenga and included a performance by Nicole Cabell ’01 and Lisa Conlon of Mozart’s ‘Sull’aria.’ Later in the evening, Red, Ben Gallina ’04, David Crowell ’03, and Eli Asher (MM) performed jazz tunes. We will be moving this summer from North Dakota to Chicago, where Brady will continue to freelance and I will be teaching at Northeastern Illinois University.”
2003
Brady Miller (see ’02).
2004
Susan Tang (MM) (see ’02).
2006
Alan Pierson (DMA) has been named artistic director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He’ll continue in his role as artistic director and conductor of Alarm Will Sound, the 20-member orchestra formed at the Eastman School in 2001.
2009
James Allen Anderson (DMA) has been elected president of the Conductors Guild, an international organization of professional conductors. James is the director of orchestral activities at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.
