Welcome!
Below you can read about the impressive achievements of our KU fine arts students.
Nathan Towns, a sophomore studying music composition and film studies, co-wrote the score for "Bunker Hill," the newest feature by University of Kansas professor Kevin Wilmott. Towns co-wrote the music with acclaimed songwriter, Kelley Hunt. The score pays homage to the great western scores of the past, while still paving new ground with the incorporation of Middle-Eastern percussion and string instruments. The score was written from May to October of 2007, and the production of the music took place from November 2007 to January 2008. The score called for a variety of instruments including banjo, guitar, piano, pipe organ, sitar and string orchestra. Also involved in the production and recording of the music was Colin Mahoney, recording technician for the Department of Music & Dance.
KU music student invited to appear at Washburn University’s “April Flute’s Day”
Matthew Allison, a University of Kansas doctoral candidate in flute performance and student of David Fedele, KU assistant professor of flute, was recently invited to appear as guest coach at the Washburn University Flute Association’s “April Flute’s Day.”
“April Flute’s Day” is an event devoted to teaching and mentoring elementary through high school age flutists. Allison will coach students and present exercises and activities to promote healthy posture, proper hand position and more.
Allison is a DMA candidate at KU and also serves as a graduate teaching assistant for the flute division, where he teaches independent study flute lessons and co-directs the KU Flute Choir. He has also appeared as guest artist and/or clinician at various universities and colleges, including Bellarmine University, the University of Louisville, Washburn University and more.
John Wickersham, a senior music education major with percussion emphasis, has just been named a Kansas Emerging Artist by the Kansas Arts Commission. The focus of John's application was his composition for marimba, ATIMIA (2004).
Emma Casey, a KU undergraduate student studying flute performance, was recently awarded first prize in the Hays Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, held on Sunday, November 11, on the Fort Hays State University campus in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
Casey, who studies under David Fedele, KU assistant professor of flute, was chosen as one of three finalists in the competition. Finalists had to perform a work from memory with the Hays Symphony Orchestra during the group's performance on November 11. Casey won with her performance of “Concertino for Flute and Orchestra” (Opus 107, 1902) by Cecile Chaminade. As part of her award, she received a cash prize of $500.
Matthew Allison, GTA and flute performance major who is a student studying under Professor David Fedele, was invited to perform a master class and recital at the University of Louisville on November 19, 2007. He was also asked to perform "Hymn Festival" at St. Paul's Presbyterian, with Dr. Alexander T. Simpson on piano. Allison's various outreach activities include a master class and recital at Youth Performing Art School in Louisville, coaching the University of Louisville Flute Ensemble and performing a concert that took place on November 20, and teaching courses at the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning at KU.
Justin White, a DMA candidate who also has a MM in trumpet performance from KU has been appointed as Assistant Personnel Manager of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra.
Piano DMA student Nathanael May is featured on a CD entitled Chamber Music of Paul Richards "Fables, Forms & Fears." This CD was released in July of 2007 on Meyer Media Records, and features two pieces written for May and a violin and guitar group, Duo46. Paul Richards is associate professor of composition at the University of Florida.
Alexandria Schmidt (Lexie) is a first semester sophomore in graphic design and had support from her faculty in Foundations last year to receive this notable scholarship.
Mary Lamboley (Painting BFA in 1997) has been offered the visiting artist position at Webster University in St. Louis. This summer she will move back to her hometown from Sicily, Italy, where she has been teaching at another university.
Bailey Pike, a musicology and art history undergraduate, recently won the undergraduate division of the KU Libraries 51st Annual Snyder Book Collecting Contest. Her winning collection was called "Beyond Sound: Music, Academics and Allied Fields in 20th Century Scholarship." She won a cash prize and gift certificate to the Oread Bookstore.
DMA flute student Mary Fukushima and DMA piano student Michael Kirkendoll returned from a successful tour of Singapore. The duo, under the name DuoSolo, performed four concerts at the Esplanade Concourse in addition to giving a master class and lecture/demonstration at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. On December 12, 2006, they were guest judges for the first annual Merlion38 flute competition. They have been invited to return for recitals and demonstrations during the 2007-2008 season. While in Singapore, Fukushima and Kirkendoll also assisted professor Shuichi Komiyama of Montana State University in several workshops for high school students.
Mary Fukushima, DMA flute student, and Michael Kirkendoll, DMA piano student, were selected to perform in the spring 2007 Trinity Church Concerts at One series in New York City. Fukushima and Kirkendoll make up the duo DuoSolo. DuoSolo performed a live audition last October and was chosen from among hundreds of applicants to perform in the spring concert. The concert will take place at Trinity Church in NYC on February 12, 2007.
John Stamos, an illustration undergraduate, was chosen as a winner in the 5 th annual Creative Quarterly magazine international competition; Creative Quarterly is a student art and design journal.
Mason Tyler, undergraduate student studying trumpet performance, won the 2006 Young Artist Brass Division in the Kansas MTNA competition. Annie Davidson, MM graduate in flute performance, was selected as winner of the state MTNA competitions. She will go on to the regional level of competition next semester.
Mary Fukushima, doctoral flute student, has toured Singapore with pianist Michael Kirkendoll, doctoral piano student, performing recitals and clinics for two weeks starting late November '06.
Alyssa Boone, undergraduate flute student, was selected to perform on the honor recital in the fall of 2006.
KU School of Fine Arts undergraduate student Daniel O'Brien was recently selected as the lead trumpet for the Grammy-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra, one of the hottest jazz big bands in the world. O'Brien is a student of Steve Leisring, KU assistant professor of trumpet in the Department of Music and Dance.
In response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, students in the Ministry of Sculpture, a KU student sculpture club, created nearly 100 wooden dolls to donate to hurricane victims. The students were able to deliver these dolls to the hurricane victims this year.
 |
 |
As winners of the 2005 Artists International Debut Auditions in New York, KU DMA students Mary Fukushima (flute) and Michael Kirkendoll (piano) will present their Carnegie Hall debut recital on Sunday, June 4, 2006, in Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.
In addition, Fukushima and Kirkendoll will also be featured as guest artists at the upcoming Cortona Contemporary Music Festival in Cortona, Italy, in mid-July
Shana Rossi Talley, a design graduate student, studying textiles, received news that several of her works will be published in Matrika Yoga magazine (www.matrikayoga.com), in the winter 2006 edition.
 |
 |
Shana Rossi-Talley |
|
Dean, School of Fine Arts
University of Kansas
School of Fine Arts
Murphy Hall
1530 Naismith Drive, Room 446
Lawrence, KS 66045-3102
Telephone: 785-864-3421
Fax: 785-864-5387
E-mail: finearts@ku.edu
Administration Staff
Communications
Fine Arts Advisory Board
|
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lawrence, KS 66045 785/864-3421 |
Copyright © 2008 by The University of Kansas |
