News From the Hartt Dean's Office
February 27, 2008

Hartt Wind Ensemble and Hartt Symphony Band, Feb. 29

The Hartt School presents the Hartt Wind Ensemble and Hartt Symphony Band on Friday, Feb. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Millard Auditorium on the University of Hartford’s West Hartford campus.  This performance will feature works by Mennin, Whitaker, Sousa, Grantham and more.  Admission is $20, with discounts for seniors, students and groups.  Please call the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587 or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt for more information.

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Lions Gate Trio, March 1

The Hartt School of the University of Hartford will present a concert by the Lions Gate Trio, its trio-in-residence, on Saturday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Millard Auditorium on the University’s West Hartford campus.  Admission to the concert is free.

The evening’s program includes Mozart’s Trio in B-flat Major, Brahms’ Sonata for Piano and Violoncello in e minor and Faure’s Trio op. 120.  A complimentary reception with Viennese desserts will follow the concert.

The Lions Gate Trio, now a highly successful international chamber ensemble, first collaborated thirteen years ago as Fellows at the Tanglewood Music Center, where they won the highest awards for their contributions. Trio members are pianist Florence Millet, violinist Katie Lansdale and cellist Scott Kluksdahl; Lansdale is an assistant professor of violin in Hartt’s string department.  The Trio tours Europe frequently, appearing in international festivals in France (La Pree) and Finland (Kuhmo) and in concert in Germany, Belgium, and France to critical acclaim.  The Berlin Morgenpost wrote, “These three stunning young musicians are wonderful soloists and as a trio, unbeatable.  Their joy of music-making is infectious and their technique brilliant.  They are a wonderful addition to the international community.”  The Erlangen Zeitung said of their recent Schumann tour:  “Sensitive and clear, delicate and pearly…This was Schumann so ethereal the ground beneath our feet seemed to disappear.”

Having won residencies at Yale, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of South Florida-Tampa, and Tanglewood, the Trio is currently in residence at The Hartt School.  In concert, they often combine duos, trios and collaborations with additional artists, performing in Weill Hall, Merkin Hall, the Phillips collection, the Palais de l’Europe, the Berlin Contemporary Music Festival, and the Costa Rica Festival Internacional de Musica.  Their performance at the Organization of American States was televised in nine states and sixteen Latin American countries.  The Lions are passionate advocates of new music, and have worked closely with a number of leading composers, among them Eliot Carter, Ralph Shapey, Andrew Imbrie, Alexander Goehr, Augusta Read Thomas, Robert Helps, Eric Moe, Tamar Diesendruck, and Nicolas Bacri.  In concert, they frequently feature duos and collaborations with guest artists in addition to trios. Duo concerti have included Lansdale and Kluksdahl in a premiere of the Lewis Doubles Singles Variables with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and Millet and Kluksdahl in Shapey’s Double Concerto at the Kennedy Center’s Friedham Awards.

On the Town, March 6-9 and March 12-14

The Hartt School Theatre Division will present On the Town, in Lincoln Theater on the campus of the University of Hartford from Thursday, March 6 through Sunday, March 9 and again from Wednesday, March 12 through Friday, March 14, 2008.

All performances are 7:30 p.m. except Sunday’s performance at 3:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20, with discounts for senior citizens, students and groups.  For more information, contact the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.hartford.edu/hartt.

On the Town, with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, follows three American sailors on a 24-hour shore leave in New York City during war-time 1944.  Each of the three sailors becomes enamored of a particular woman — and of the City itself in this fun production.  Based on the 1944 ballet Fancy Free the popular 1949 musical has produced several classic songs, among them: New York, New York; Lonely Town; I Can Cook Too and Some Other Time.

Hartt’s production of On the Town is directed by Michael John McGann. The music director is Michael Morris and choreographer is Ralph Perkins.  McGann has previously directed productions of The Music Man, Falsettos, Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and Tennessee Williams’ Small Craft Warnings at Hartt.  His 35 year career includes acting and directing credits on Broadway, off-Broadway, TV, radio and films.

Photo: from Parade, Fall 2007

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION

ACADEMIC ACCOLADES

Dee Hansen, Hartt’s Chair of the Music Education division, had an article published in the CMEA News Winter 2008 edition, entitled “Music Education Advocacy: From the Inside Out”.  Hansen is Co-Chair of the Statewide Common Arts Assessment Committee sponsored by the Connecticut State Department of Education.  She is also a member of the Statewide Advisory Committee sponsored by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, whose purpose is to develop long term goals for artists with disabilities in building opportunities and organizations enabling work.

The Avery Ensemble, which includes violinist Annie Trepanier, cellist Hans Twitchell, Hartt viola faculty member Steve Larson and pianist/harpsichordist Adriana Jarvis, released a new CD in January of piano quartets by Mahler, Schnittke and Brahms.  A review was published on Classical Voice of New England (www.cvneweng.org).
The Avery Ensemble will be performing on Sunday, March 9 at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity-on-Main in New Britain.  This “Coming to America” chamber music concert will feature the music of composers who immigrated to the USA, including Bohuslav Martinu, Ernst von Dohnanyi, Ernst Bloch and Carlos Surinach.  A pre-concert lecture will be given by composer Dan Roman (MM, 1999; DMA, 2006) at 2:15 p.m.  For more information, please visit www.averyensemble.org or www.trinityonmain.org or call 860.229.2072.

Pianist Donna Menhart, Hartt adjunct faculty of music theory, will join the Blackledge Woodwind Quintet for a performance of Ludwig Thuille’s Sextet, Op. 6 on Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 p.m. at the Avon Public Library.  This performance will also feature works by Persichetti, Deussen, and Still/Lesnick.  Admission is free and open to the public.  A reception will follow the performance.  For more information, please call 860.673.9712 or go to www.avonctlibrary.info.

STUDENT & ALUMNI NEWS

Bill Soloman, a doctoral candidate at The Hartt School, will join cellist Katie Kennedy as part of the Uncanny Valley, a new cello-percussion duo, in a performance at the University of Maine at Farmington. Soloman has performed in Bang on a Can Marathon, Quixotic Performance Fusion, and Sequenza21, and has received many awards, including second prize at the National MTNA competition.

Mezzo-soprano Ruby Hinds (certificate 1981) presented a one-woman multimedia show chronicling the life of legendary contralto Marian Anderson, the first black person to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House, at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s Communication Arts Theatre. (The Journal Times, Feb. 10)

Pianist George Sebastian Lopez (BM, 1990) returned to the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston, Maine for two performances and a master class in February.
(The Sun Journal, Feb. 10)

Jonathan Lasch (BM, 2005), who currently attends the CCM/University of Cincinnati AD Opera Program, performed the lead baritone role of Shrike in the midwest premiere of Miss Lonelyhearts by Lowell Lieberman.  In May, he will play the role of Marcello in La Boheme with CCM.  Lasch has participated in young artist programs with the Chautauqua, Portland, and Seattle Operas.  He recently won the Tri-state region of The Metropolitan Opera Competition.  This summer he will join the Glimmerglass Young American Artist Program performing Achilla in Handel's Giulio Cesare and cover the role of Friedrich in Wagner's Das Liebesverbot.

Ron Brough (degree/year) is remembered for his contribution to local music and his effect on the musical talents of many local children.  Brough passed away at 65 on February 7.
(The Community Journal, Feb. 15)

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Free Trial of First Steps in Music Class at Hartt

Children through age 5, as well as their parents or caregivers, are invited to try a free sample of First Steps in Music Class at The Hartt School Community Division at Simsmore Square. These free sample classes are scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at the Yakemore Family Performing Arts Center, 540 Hopmeadow Street, in Simsbury.   An Infant/Toddler class is scheduled from 9:40 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. for children through 29 months and a Nursery/Preschool class is scheduled from 10:20 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. for children from 30 months to 5 years.  Both classes will be lead by Hartt Community Division faculty member Luann Saunders.  Reserve a space by contacting The Hartt School Community Division at Simsmore Square at 860.651.3570 or simsmore@hartford.edu.

There is a 10-week First Steps in Music spring session beginning Saturday, March 8th.  For more details visit our website at www.hcd.hartford.edu.

Alexander Technique Class

The Hartt School Community Division will offer Alexander Technique classes beginning March 6 through April 24 at 7 p.m.  For more information, please call 860.768.4451 or email harttcomm@hartford.edu.  Download a registration form at www.hcd.hartford.edu.

Over the past 100 years, performing artists have found the Alexander Technique to be an effective method for managing the many demands faced both on and off the stage. In this experiential course you will begin to improve your body awareness and reduce unnecessary muscle tension, allowing you to perform with greater ease and control. Through group activity and one-on-one instruction, you will learn healthy practice techniques, how to prevent injuries, and to develop skills for improving your musicality and sound. This class is intended for instrumentalists and vocalists at all levels. Classes are taught by Eric Miller, an experienced teacher of the Alexander Technique as well as musician and composer.