Class Notes

1970 Geary Larrick (MM) writes he performed six programs of 15 of his own compositions on solo marimba and piano in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, last fall.

1971 Rick Lawn ’76 (MM) has published Jazz Scores and Analysis, Volume I (Sher Music), inspired by his mentor, the late Rayburn Wright ’43, former professor of jazz studies and contemporary media at Eastman. It includes full scores of large-ensemble works by Grammy-nominated composers including John Hollenbeck ’90, ’91 (MM) and John Fedchock ’85 (MM).

1972 Richard Decker retired last July after a 43-year career in the symphony field. Prior to his eight years serving as vice president of artistic administration at the Rochester Philharmonic, he spent 35 years with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, both as a member of the horn section and later as general manager. He writes: “I was grateful for the opportunity to come ‘home’ for the final years of my career working with many fellow Eastman graduates both with the RPO and the Eastman School of Music.” . . . Composer and vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker has released a CD, Brindica (ZoHo Music), reflecting on his world travels.

1973 Orlan Thomas (DMA) has published God Had a Plan: The Biographical Memoirs of Orlan E. Thomas and Marcella Evangeline Frisbie Thomas (iUniverse). Orlan is an associate professor emeritus of music, oboe, and music literature and theory at Texas Tech University. He lives in Norman, Oklahoma, and is principal oboist in the First Moore Baptist Church Orchestra and the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony.

1976 Rick Lawn (MM) (see ’71).

1977 Frederick Hohman ’79 (MM), ’89 (DMA), a composer, teacher, and producer, performed a recital for the rededication of the Lyon & Healy pipe organ located at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago. Frederick writes: “The organ was damaged when the roof leaked in 2012 and underwent restorations that rendered the organ as it sounded when first opened in 1902.”

1980 Dave Ratajczak (see ’85).

1981 William Picher (MM) directed the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, for its recording The Basilica Choir Live at the Timucua Arts Foundation (Stemik Music). The live recording, released on Blu-ray video disc, features music of Rachmaninoff, Dawson, Whitacre, Schubert, and more. William writes that he is “entering my 18th year directing this professional choir which has been called ‘one of the treasures of Central Florida.’ ”

1982 John Toomey (MM) (see ’85).

1983 David Evan Thomas (MM) was initiated into the Minneapolis/St. Paul Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota as a national arts associate. According to Sigma Alpha Iota, a national arts associate is “a man or woman who is nationally recognized for distinguished contributions to the arts.”

1985 John Fedchock (MM) has released a live quartet recording, Reminiscence (Summit Records), which features pianist John Toomey ’82 (MM) and the late drummer Dave Ratajczak ’80 (see also ’71). . . . Kevin Honeycutt was named president and CEO of Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy last December.

1989 Frederick Hohman (DMA) (see ’77).

1990 Linda Day played with the Austin Symphony for 22 years before retiring and moving to Massachusetts with her husband, John, whom she met in Austin. They’re now living in a house built in 1758 on 30 acres of woods. Linda teaches music and prepares short fairy-tale musicals for student ensembles and does Photoshop illustrations for them. . . . John Hollenbeck ’91 (MM) (see ’71).

1992 Mark Bergman, director of strings and orchestral studies at Sheridan College, received the 2018–19 Performing Arts Fellowship in Music Composition from the Wyoming Arts Council. Mark’s winning compositions include Ondine, The Temple, based on a short story by H. P. Lovecraft, and Shenandoah Suite, a string trio commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of Shenandoah National Park. Mark plans to produce commercial recordings of his compositions with his award.

1993 Chris Jentsch (MM) has released Topics in American History (Blue Schist Records), a 70-minute American history–themed chamber jazz recording commissioned by Chamber Music America and Doris Duke New Jazz Works. Chris writes that the work “abstracts my impressions of various episodes in American history” and “displays my eclectic amalgam of jazz improvisation and contemporary composition, sometimes with a strong electric guitar component as that is my main instrument.”

1995 Robert Paterson sends an update. Last summer, he founded the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, New York. He plans that the festival will take place annually in June at the Arthur Zankel Music Center on the campus of Skidmore College. In September, Robert was presented with the Delaware Symphony’s Alfred I. duPont Composers Award, which recognizes “a distinguished living American composer or conductor who has made a significant contribution in the field of contemporary classical music.” The symphony performed Robert’s composition Dark Mountains as part of the ceremony. Robert is spending the 2018–19 year as composer-in-residence with the Charles Ives Concert Series.

1998 Vanessa Rose has been appointed president and CEO of the American Composers Forum. She began the role in January.

2007 Trumpeter Phillip Hawkins ’10 (MM) has released his debut CD, Great Southern Land (Navona Records). The recording features Australian music for trumpet by composer Brendan Collins.

2009 Pianist and composer Connor Chee won Best New Age Instrumental Song at the 18th annual Native American Music Awards in October. The winning song was “Beginnings” from his album Emergence (Wild Saguaro Records).

2010 Phillip Hawkins (MM) (see ’07).

2012 Sasami Ashworth has been signed to Domino records, where she records as SASAMI. Her first single, “Callous” was named a best new track by the online magazine Pitchfork last April.

2015 Jacqueline Arrington (DMA) has been named professor of flute at the University of Oregon.