Class Notes
Eastman School of Music
1955
John Beck ’62E (MM) (see ’70).
1970
Geary Larrick (MM) writes that he published an article about John Beck ’55E, ’62E (MM), professor emeritus of percussion at the Eastman School. The article, “An Extraordinary Percussion Instructor: John H. Beck,” appeared in the spring 2012 issue of the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Journal.
1975
Stanley (Kingsley) Day (MA) writes: “I have done a new reconstruction of the sketch of Chopin’s posthumous Mazurka in F Minor, generally considered his last composition. This edition—Mazurka in F Minor, Opus Posthumous by Frédéric Chopin (Schirmer Performance Editions, Hal Leonard Corp.)—is the first to include every measure (except those the composer crossed out) of the sketch. The publication also offers alternate readings for individual passages and surveys previous reconstructions of the piece.”
1976
Judith Paniccia Ricker ’81E (MM), ’91S (MBA), the executive vice president of brand research at the marketing research firm Market Probe, has been awarded the 2012 Great Minds Silver Innovation Award by the Advertising Research Foundation. The award recognizes Judith’s research on “brand passion”—what drives consumers’ passion for brands in various industries and over time.
1978
Steven Herbert Smith (DMA), professor of piano at Penn State, sends an update. He writes: “I’ve completed a series of 11 recitals at the University Park main campus, ‘Piano Masterworks of Beethoven.’ The series began in 2009, and encompassed all 32 sonatas as well as many other major works, including Diabelli, Eroica/Prometheus, Rondos, Opus 51, and Bagatelles, Opus 126. I also performed a solo recital in Morgantown, W.Va., and a lecture-recital for the Philadelphia Music Teachers Association, both featuring Beethoven works. I also performed Tchaikovsky’s Concerto No. 1 in March with the Nittany Valley Symphony, Michael Jinbo conducting.”
1984
Charles Pillow (MM) sends news of his most recent recording, Van Gogh Letters (ELCM, 2010). He writes that it’s “an original tone poem using melodies based on the words of Vincent Van Gogh to his brother, Theo.” The recording features Charles playing oboe, English horn, and bass clarinet, Gary Versace ’93E (MM), accordion, and Jim Ridl, synthesizer.
1985
Stephen Rush (DMA) writes that he recorded 8-8-88 by composer and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell of the Art Ensemble of Chicago (RogueArt) in 2011. Also in 2011, he released Naked Dance! with drummer Jeremy Edwards and clarinetist Andrew Bishop. It includes six of Stephen’s compositions and was released on uncompressed vinyl and as an MP3. Stephen is a professor of music at the University of Michigan.
1986
Alan Weinstein (MM), assistant professor of music at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, has won the 2012 Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Teaching. Created by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the award recognizes two Virginia Tech faculty members each year. A faculty member at the Blacksburg, Va., university since 2003, Alan has developed cello, bass, and chamber music courses for music majors and minors, and is a cofounder of the Virginia Tech String Project, which offers string instruction to elementary school students as a means to recruit and train future string teachers.
1993
Gary Versace (MM) (see ’84).
2000
Chris Vatalaro (see ’03).
2003
Trumpeter and composer Andre Canniere (MM) writes that he’s living in London and has released a CD, Forward Space (Whirlwind Recordings). Chris Vatalaro ’00 plays percussion on the recording.
2005
Violinist Kathleen Carter (MM) has released Amy Wurtz String Quartets (Chicago Q Ensemble) as part of the Chicago Q Ensemble. The ensemble is a quartet devoted to performing the works of living composers and to collaborations across musical genres. The CD is their debut recording.
2010
Singer and songwriter Christina Custode released a CD, I (Christina Custode), her first recording of original music. Christina has been named Best Female Vocalist twice by the Buffalo newsweekly Artvoice. . . . Sarah Franz performs in My Fair Lady this summer at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. The summer-long festival, held in Auburn, N.Y., includes 250 performances by more than 200 professional actors from across the country. My Fair Lady runs from July 25 to August 15.
2011
Jennifer Sansom writes that she married Jon Ney in June 2011. Pictured are Katelyn Benedict, Emily Schroeder, Aimee Morris ’10E, and Jennifer. The photo was taken by Kate Lemmon ’12E.
