STUDENT NEWS

Samantha van Adelsburg, a voice student of Bronwyn Fix-Keller, was one of twelve performers chosen from a field of fifty-three competitors to sing in the final recital at the Rowan University Young Vocal Scholars Camp.  She was also awarded a position as a member of the professional choir at St. John’s Church in Bala Cynwyd.

Kelly Brobson, a voice student of Judith Malis, sang both alto and soprano solos in the West Chester University Concert Choir’s performances of Handel’s Dixit Dominus under the direction of David P. DeVenney at the West Chester University Performing Arts Center and at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Ardmore in February.

Brian Cai, a piano student of Marcantonio Barone, received honorable mention in the thirteen- to fifteen-year-old division of the 2008 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Annual Piano Competition.

James Carino, a piano student of Laurie Ticehurst, plays keyboard in the Radnor Middle School Jazz band and was a co-composer of the school musical this year.  He also plays alto saxophone in the eighth-grade band and studied bass guitar at the Summer Music Program at Harcum College over the summer.

Anil Chitrapu, a piano student of Laurie Ticehurst, sang at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia as a member of Wissahickon High School’s Camerata.  As an actor, he performed the rôle of the Old Man in the play Prelude to a Kiss, and in the musical Chess in productions at his school.  He also continues his advanced lessons in Indian classical vocal music and has given concerts at the Bharatiya Temple in Montgomeryville.

Leah Golub, a voice student of Bronwyn Fix-Keller, sang the rôle of Sally Simpson in Harriton High School’s production of The Who’s Tommy in November.

Nathan D’Ignazio, a twelve-year-old piano student of Marcantonio Barone, performed the Schubert Impromptu Opus 90 № 4 at Lang Concert Hall at Swarthmore College in March at a benefit concert for Strath Haven High School’s ‘A Better Chance’ program.

David Lee, a piano student of Laurie Ticehurst and a third-grade student at the Radnor Elementary School, has been asked to play trumpet in the fifth-grade band at his school.

Kevin Li, a piano student of Marcantonio Barone, won first prize in the thirteen- to fifteen-year-old division of the 2008 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Annual Piano Competition and second place in the Junior Piano division of the 2008 Tri-County Concerts Association Youth Festival.

Stephen Li, a piano student of Marcantonio Barone, performed a recital at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr in January.

Mitchell Lyon, a composition student of Benjamin C. S. Boyle, has been accepted as a cello major at the Juilliard School.

Rouzbeh Mashayekhi, a guitar student of Emiliano Pardo-Tristán, performed at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia on 9 March in the public semifinal round of the High School Division of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Competition.

Angela Petrone, a piano student of Laurie Ticehurst, was pianist of the 2007 Archdiocesan Jazz Band.  As an oboist, she is a member of the Delaware Valley Young Musicians’ Orchestra, the All-Catholic Band, the All-Catholic Orchestra, and the pit orchestra for the annual musical-theater production of Cardinal O’Hara High School.

Mary Punshon, a voice student of Kathryna Barone, performed in ThespisEtc.’s production of Yeomen of the Guard by Gilbert and Sullivan in February.  A review on the website RyanBunch.com declared that “Punshon is in a class by herself—an accomplished classical singer and a wonderful actor, she is the consummate artist in the role of Elsie.”

Elizabeth Reeves, a voice student of Kathryna Barone and Perry Brisbon and a piano student of Mackenzie Carlson, won the Vocal Prize for area Catholic High School students.

Bronwyn Fix-Keller, a member of the Conservatory’s voice faculty, was mezzo-soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy in a concert of the Ama Deus Ensemble at the Perelman Theatre of Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on 2 November.  Ms. Fix-Keller also performed as continuo harpsichordist in an all-Bach concert with the Ama Deus Ensemble on 21 October.

Mackenzie Carlson, of the Conservatory’s piano faculty, performed Cycles of Remembrance, a piano recital with music by Rameau, Debussy, Dukas, Messiaen, Takemitsu, Couperin, and Ravel, at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Oreland in October and at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in November.

The Concerto for Organ and Orchestra by Benjamin Boyle, who teaches composition, theory, and musicianship at the Conservatory, was given its world première by organist Huw Lewis and the Hope College Orchestra at the Dimnent Memorial Chapel, in Holland, Michigan, on 2 November.  The Concerto was commissioned by Hope College to celebrate the refurbishing of its Skinner organ.  Dr. Boyle’s song cycle Le Passage des Rêves, for baritone and piano will be premièred on 15 January in Washington D.C.

As a member of Volanti Flutes, a flute quartet based in Princeton, Ellen Fisher Deerberg, flute teacher at the Conservatory, performed in a concert of 19th- and 20th-century French music at Westminster Choir College’s Bristol Chapel on 25 November.  She is a collaborative artist on the compact disc The Colors Fall, featuring flutist Lisamarie McGrath, and will perform in a CD-release recital on 2 December at St. John Lutheran Church in Center Square, Pennsylvania.

Viaje a través de la Guitarra Clásica, a new compact disc by guitarist and composer Emiliano Pardo-Tristán, of the Conservatory’s faculty, including music by Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla, Brouwer, Reis, Barrios, Tárrega, and Calevaro, is soon to be released on the Fermata label.  With guest artists Anna Noggle, singer, and Luigi Mazzocchi, violinist, Dr. Pardo-Tristán will perform a CD-release recital at Temple University’s Rock Hall on 1 December.

Rhonda Stull, a member of the piano faculty at the Conservatory, will perform with her husband, clarinettist Norman Stull, at their annual Christmas Concert on 1 December at Pocono Manor in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.  On 16 December, Mrs. Stull will direct the cantata One Small Child, arranged by Benjamin Harlan, at the Trinity Great Swamp Church in Spinnerstown, Pennsylvania.

STUDENT NEWS

Stephen Li, 10, a piano student of Marcantonio Barone, won Honorable Mention in Level 8 at the 51st World Piano Competition of the American Music Scholarship Association in Cincinnati in June.

Richard Shapp, a voice student of Kathryna Barone, sang to critical acclaim in a production of Iolanthe at the The 14th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England, this past August.  In November, he sang the rôle of Captain Sir Edward Corcoran, K.C.B. in Utopia, Limited with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Chester County.  He appears with the Society in their current production of Trial by Jury.

Kelsey De Angelis, a voice student of Bronwyn Fix-Keller, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the grand opening of the new Radnor Middle School on 13 October.

Samantha Sutliff, a voice student of Perry Brisbon, performed the rôle of Mrs. Walker in Harriton High School’s production of the musical Tommy in November.

Patrick McMillan, a piano student of Rhonda Stull, performed at the Valley Forge Elementary School in November.

• Oliver Hsu, teacher of cello at the Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music, toured Korea this summer as guest performer with the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra.

Student News

• Ashley Chiang, flute student of Ellen Fisher, was appointed Principal Flute of the Conestoga High School Orchestra.
• Anil Chitrapu, piano student of Laurie Ticehurst Poole, was chosen to sing the National Anthem at a Phantom’s Hockey Game in Philadelphia, and travelled to India to sing a full length recital of Indian music and appear on Indian Television. He also starred in the MTI- and Disney-sponsored Broadway Junior Production of “Cinderella”.
• Nicole Farbes-Lyons, voice student of Kathryna Barone, is a new member of the Di Capo Opera Company of New York City.
• Chelsea Grossman, piano student of Laurie Ticehurst Poole, was piano soloist in concert at the Chester County Branch of Jewish Community High School at Gratz College in Philadelphia.
• Lisa Kim, flute student of Ellen Fisher, was selected to join the flute section of the Delaware County Young Musician’s Orchestra.
• Benjamin Lei, violin student of John Sergovic, has become Principal Second Violin in the Conestoga High School Orchestra.
• Grace Li, piano student of Laurie Ticehurst-Poole, was awarded a $2,000 Grant from the George H. Slick Arts Endowment. The honor also includes a solo recital to be performed during her Junior year at Strath Haven High School in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
• Mitchell Lyon, composition student of Benjamin Boyle, was chosen to conduct and record a concert performance of his own composition Gnomic Migration with the Lower Merion Senior High School Orchestra.
• Edward Poll, composition student of Benjamin Boyle and piano student of Marcantonio Barone, was the recipient of the 2007 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award. He was chosen from a national field of over 600 contestants.
• Daniel Sacerio, piano student of Laurie Ticehurst Poole, travelled to France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany with the American Music Abroad Bronze Tour.
• Gregory Wang, violin student of John Sergovic, is now Assistant Concertmaster of the Wissahickon Middle School Orchestra.