Department of Music Fall 2021 Newsletter
2 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter
Contents Welcome from the Chair.........................................................................................................4 Associate Professor Dr. Martha Sprigge awarded tenure....................................................5 International Computer Music Conference features Faculty and Students.......................6 Faculty and Alumna published in Music Theory Online.......................................................7 Meet the Department of Music Staff.....................................................................................9 Virtual Summer Student Recital Series.................................................................................11 Q&A with Alumnus Brandon J. Rolle ‘19.............................................................................12 UCSB Summer Music Festival “Under One Sky”................................................................14 Faculty News and Accomplishments...................................................................................18 Staff and Faculty Emeriti News.............................................................................................19 Current Student Successes...................................................................................................20 Alumni News.......................................................................................................................... 21
Stay Connected View upcoming events on our website, subscribe to our weekly events newsletter, or follow the Department of Music on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Pictured on cover: Alumni Dr. Chenoa Orme-Stone ‘20 and Katrina Agate ‘19 performing as part of the virtual 2021 UCSB Summer Music Festival “Under One Sky” (photo by Zach Mendez ‘18) Copyright © 2021 The Regents of the University of California, All Rights Reserved. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter | 3
Welcome from the Chair As I arrived on campus for the first day of classes on September 23rd, I immediately noticed an incredible buzz of excitement all around the music building. We were back, in-person, for the first time in 18 months! The practice rooms were occupied, glorious music was pouring from everywhere, students were seeing their colleagues and friends in classes for the first time in nearly 2 years, and the faculty and staff were smiling, laughing, and ready to get back to doing what we all love so dearly. As we cautiously start to return to a sense of normalcy on campus, I am full of admiration for all of our music community that has endured this difficult and challenging time during the pandemic. Through everyone’s determination, strength, and ability to work together, we are emerging stronger than ever, and can once again demonstrate to the world that music is not going anywhere. Welcome back to all of our returning and new students! I wish all of you a productive and joyous school year during 2021-22.
Robert Koenig, Chair and Professor of Keyboard
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Associate Professor of Musicology Dr. Martha Sprigge awarded tenure UC Santa Barbara faculty member Dr. Martha Sprigge was awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Musicology on July 1, 2021, having joined the Department of Music faculty in Fall 2015 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Sprigge holds a PhD in music history and theory from the University of Chicago (2013) and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto (2006). Before joining the faculty at UCSB, she held a postdoctoral fellowship in the University of Michigan’s Society of Fellows, where she was cross-appointed in the Department of German and the School of Music. Dr. Sprigge is a historical musicologist whose research examines musical expressions of mourning, grief, and loss in Germany and Eastern Europe from 1945 to the present day. She is interested in how composers, performers, and audiences used music as an alternative to language in forming responses to the immense political, cultural, and individual upheavals induced by World War II and the Cold War. These research interests coalesced in her first book, Socialist Laments: Musical Mourning in the German Democratic Republic, published as part of the New Cultural History of Music series from Oxford University Press in April 2021. The book examines a vast repertoire of commemorative works to present a history of musical mourning in communist East Germany (1949–1990). Taking a site-specific approach to this repertoire, Dr. Sprigge demonstrates how music became a crucial outlet for processing loss in a country where the ruling Socialist Unity Party tightly regulated public expressions of grief. Working on Socialist Laments led Dr. Sprigge to explore the role of gender in memorial practices. She recently began a new research project on musical widowhood, which examines how the relationship between gender and archival practice has shaped the historiography of twentieth-century European art music. In the Department of Music, Dr. Sprigge teaches a range of undergraduate courses in music history, where students learn about musical practices within their cultural contexts, as well as the act of writing (music) history itself. At the graduate level her courses are interdisciplinary. Students in recent seminars have explored the relationship between music and trauma, cultural memory, and death studies. She has enjoyed working with, and learning from, students in her courses over the past six years, and looks forward to developing new courses in the future.
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Composition Faculty and Doctoral Candidates featured at International Computer Music Conference Members of the UC Santa Barbara Composition Program were featured at the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC) in Santiago, Chile from July 25-31, 2021. Hosted by the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the conference took place in a completely virtual format, and opened with a keynote address by UC Santa Barbara Corwin Chair of Composition, Professor João Pedro Oliveira, titled “Visual Music: Connecting Image and Sound. Some Considerations.” In the opening concert, Oliveira’s pieces Kontrol (percussion and electronics) and Tesseract (visual music) were part of the program. Along with Oliveira, Professor Emeritus Clarence Barlow and doctoral candidates Raphael Radna and Stewart Engart had their works featured in the conference. The virtual Listening Rooms include works by UC Santa Barbara composers, including Barlow’s Coronialus, Engart’s Sublimation, and Radna’s strung. Radna and Oliveira also presented a paper, titled “Space Control: A New Software Application for Intuitive Sound Spatialization,” which introduces Space Control, a forthcoming software application by Radna and Oliveira enabling the realization and mixture of spatial gestures for electronic music composition. The software aims to provide an intuitive graphical interface for defining and combining spatial sound movements of arbitrary number and complexity within a user-defined loudspeaker arrangement, emphasizing precision, versatility, and ease of use. Space Control will be released later this year. The ICMC is the preeminent annual gathering for computer music practitioners from around the world. Its unique interweaving of professional paper presentations and concerts of new computer music, refereed by ICMA-approved international panels, creates a vital synthesis of science, technology, and the art of music. Find program notes for each of the pieces featured above in the full announcement on the Department of Music’s website. Pictured from top: João Pedro Oliveira, Clarence Barlow, Stewart Engart, and Raphael Radna
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Pictured from left: Associate Professor Benjamin Levy and UC Santa Barbara alumna Dr. Laura Emmery ‘14
Associate Professor Benjamin Levy publishes article with Alumna Laura Emmery ‘14 in Music Theory Online Dr. Benjamin Levy, Associate Professor of Music Theory at UC Santa Barbara, recently co-curated a collection of essays with UC Santa Barbara alumna Dr. Laura Emmery ‘14. Their introductory essay to the Special Symposium, “Archival Research in Music: New Materials, Methods, and Arguments,” appears in the most recent issue of Music Theory Online, the official online journal of the Society for Music Theory, which was founded by Dr. Lee Rothfarb, Professor of Music Theory at UC Santa Barbara. “The collection of essays is something that Laura and I had been working on for a while,” shared Dr. Levy. “We wanted to highlight a lot of the recent archival research that is going on in music right now, because there are a lot of scholars taking really clever and creative new approaches. There are articles that are looking at musical recordings, computer code, the documents created by copyists and arrangers, and all kinds of archival documentation—so really going beyond what most people imagine when they think of sketch studies and scholars pouring over dusty manuscripts in order to make a definitive critical edition.” UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter | 7
For this most recent issue of Music Theory Online, Dr. Levy authored another article focusing on the works of pianist and composer Bruce Goff, titled “Material Connections: Bruce Goff, Music, and Modernism Across the Arts.” “My article is actually about an architect, Bruce Goff (1904-82), who played the piano and composed as a younger man and kept up correspondence with composers like Harry Partch and Edgard Varèse throughout his life,” noted Levy. “Goff was also writing music for player piano in the 1930s, a decade before Conlon Nancarrow, even though Nancarrow is often thought of as a pioneer in this regard. Goff cut his own piano rolls by hand and even used them to decorate one of his houses. “Since the collection is being published in Music Theory Online, I actually was able to include a video example of one of his piano rolls being fed through the instrument, which is a lot of fun to watch and hear. I had known about Goff’s architecture for years, because he built several houses in Norman, Oklahoma, where I grew up. So after hearing an off-hand comment about his musical activities, and when I had a conference in Chicago, I made a side trip to the Art Institute there, which has his archival materials to see what was there. After seeing how rich the materials were, I started doing this research in a more serious way, and it’s great to see it come out now, with this Special Symposium.” Dr. Emmery, who earned her PhD in Music Theory from UC Santa Barbara in 2014 and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Emory University, also authored an additional article for this issue of Music Theory Online. Titled “Gender Identity and Gestural Representations in Jonathan Harvey’s String Quartet No. 2,” Dr. Emmery’s article builds on the scholarship of gender theory and musical gesture and embodiment to examine the meaning of gender in Harvey’s work. “It was such an enriching experience working on this special MTO symposium with friends and colleagues who share the same passion of archival research in its many forms,” said Dr. Emmery. “The special issue shows not only how much the field of sketch studies has changed in recent years, but the field of music theory, in general, in that the collection of essays features such diverse methodologies and disciplines. In my essay alone, I draw on gender studies, feminist theory, music and spirituality, intercontextuality, and musical gestures to comprehend Harvey’s markings on the score. I am always fascinated by what we can learn from the notes and sketches left behind and ‘buried’ in the archives.” In addition to scholarship by Dr. Levy and Dr. Emmery, the Music Theory Online essay collection also features former UC Santa Barbara faculty member Patricia Hall, whose article, “Giving Voice to a Foxtrot from Auschwitz-Birkenau,” features music that was arranged and performed in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Dr. Hall taught at UC Santa Barbara for 25 years before joining the faculty at the University of Michigan as Chair of the Department of Music Theory (20112017), where she continues to serve as Professor of Music Theory. View the table of contents and links to all of the articles for the most recent issue of Music Theory Online 27.3 (2021) on the Society for Music Theory website.
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Meet the Department of Music Staff A dynamic team consisting of many UC Santa Barbara alumni, the Department of Music Staff love serving the students and faculty at UC Santa Barbara. Whether you are planning your first student recital or need help registering for a class, the Department of Music Staff are committed to supporting you during your time at UC Santa Barbara.
David Holmes
Management Services Officer “As the MSO of the Music Department I am the Chief Administrative Officer and provide management services, support, and oversight to every area of the department; from operations and academic advising to human resources and department finances. As the staff team leader, it is my responsibility to ensure team members are set up to succeed in their positions in a positive and supportive environment and that our team is providing the highest level of service and support possible to our students and faculty.”
David Cesca Piano Technician
“I am the Piano Technician for the Music Department. I am responsible for the tuning and maintenance of the department’s 85 pianos and other keyboard instruments including two harpsichords, a celesta, and 17 digital keyboards in the piano lab. I also oversee the tuning and maintenance of two pipe organs. I have been with the department nearly 18 years as the sole piano technician, but have been fortunate at times in the past to have had two graduate student assistants with piano technology experience. My trade is unique and specialized yet very important to the success of musical performances, rehearsals, teaching, and practice.”
Adriane Cleary
Marketing and Communications Manager “We host over 150 events each year in the Department of Music, and I love being part of the team of faculty, staff, and students that make those events a reality. I enjoy sharing our events with the community, as well as sharing the exciting news and accomplishments of our faculty and students. I am a proud UC Santa Barbara alumna, having received my MM in Flute Performance with Professor Jill Felber.”
Heidi Dinnogen
Undergraduate Advisor “Hello! This is the start of my 5th year in Music and I LOVE working with undergrads as they navigate this amazing university and reach for their goals. I also graduated UCSB, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and then went on to receive a MA. I’ve been married for 12 years and we have two kids, two dogs, a cat and chickens. Hope to see you soon!”
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David Farrar Financial Analyst
“I manage the financial records for the Department, hiring, payroll, timekeeping, ordering, reimbursements, contracts, and upkeep of office equipment. While working, I hear violinists, opera singers, pianists, and other artists that makes being part of this Department so unique and enjoyable. I feel lucky to be part of the University and such a close knit community!”
Anthony Garcia Photo by Gaby Goldberg
Production and Events Manager “As the Production Manager, I have the pleasure of working directly with our students and faculty to help them produce incredible performances. Apart from working with our performers, I most enjoy working with our fantastic staff and our team of student workers—without whom our productions wouldn’t be possible!”
Yasmine Ibrahim
Academic Personnel Coordinator “I work on faculty recruitment, advancement, and other administrative issues. I am a proud Gaucho and I majored in political science. My favorite part about the department is hearing all the music that is going on! Feel free to stop by and say hi to me in the main office!”
Connor Long
Operations Manager/Technical Specialist “I am both the Operations Manager and Technical Specialist. I help coordinate work orders for our facilities, manage our keys and instrument inventory, and work on various projects throughout the music building. On the tech side of things, I help run our productions, manage a team of student techs and ushers, and work as an audio and lighting engineer. Also, I work as recording/mixing engineer in the Kerr Hall Recording Studio, working with music majors and faculty. Lastly, I produce the Department of Music’s podcast, Through My Ears.”
Carly Yartz
Graduate Advisor “Hi! I am the staff graduate advisor, and UCSB alumni, and have been in this position for over 10 years. I handle all things related to the graduate degree program including degree progress, admissions, funding, employment, and advising. I really enjoy working with the talented graduate students in the music department.”
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Student Recital Series: Summer 2021 Virtual events presented by Jansons, Thomson, Torres, and Mak-Neiman Summer 2021 marked the last quarter of the Department of Music’s virtual student recital series, and featured outstanding performances by some of the department’s talented graduate students, including Valdis Jansons, Steven Thomson, David Torres, and Ariella Mak-Neiman. Graduate vocalist Valdis Jansons (baritone), a student of Associate Professor Dr. Isabel Bayrakdarian, presented a virtual Doctor of Musical Arts recital with pianist Erik Lawrence. The program included Gustav Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Song of a Wayfarer); Jānis Mediņš’ In Signo Domini; Kurt Weill’s Speak Low, September Song, and Here I’ll Stay; and Francesco Paolo Tosti’s Aprile, Chanson de l’Adieu, and L’Alba separa dalla luce l’ombra. Watch Jansons’ full recital on the Department of Music’s YouTube channel. Graduate student Steven Thomson (Choral Conducting) presented a virtual Master of Music recital that included performances by Dr. Naomi Merer (soprano), Marta Hovhannisyan (soprano and alto), Lauren Vanderlinden (alto), Soohyun Ryu (alto), Kartik Sundaram (tenor), and Benjamin Hanson (tenor). Thomson conducted the program, which featured two pieces for choir—K’eler Ts’oler by Komitas Vardapet and Khorumi by Mamia Khatelishvili. Thomson is a student of Dr. Nicole Lamartine, UC Santa Barbara Sorensen Director of Choral Music. Watch Thomson’s full recital on YouTube. David Torres, a doctoral student in the Choral Conducting Program and a student of Dr. Nicole Lamartine, presented a Doctor of Musical Arts recital, titled “Coming Home,” featuring members of Vocal Affinity. The program included Mack Wilburg’s Bound for the Promised Land; Don MacDonald’s When the Earth Stands Still; William Billings’ David’s Lamentation; Robert Manookin’s O Lord, I Have Trusted in Thee; and more. Watch Torres’ full recital on YouTube. Graduate pianist Ariella Mak-Neiman, a student of Professor Paul Berkowitz, closed out the Virtual Summer Recital Series with a Doctor of Musical Arts recital. Mak-Neiman’s program included Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sonata in d minor, BWV 964; Joseph Haydn’s Sonata in A Major, Hob. XVI:30; Frédéric Chopin’s Polonaise in f-sharp minor, Op. 44; and Sergei Prokofiev’s Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 84. Watch Mak-Neiman’s full recital on YouTube. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter | 11
Q&A with Alumnus Brandon J. Rolle ‘19 Composer and founder of the Impulse New Music Festival Interview by Audrey Sandlin on April 21, 2021 via Zoom Brandon J. Rolle is a composer and conductor who lives in Los Angeles. He received his PhD in Music Composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara in the Spring of 2019. Rolle’s music is published under Precious Noise Music (ASCAP), and he is represented by Black Tea Music; his debut album, Glitch Portraiture, is set to be released at the end of 2021 by Arpaviva Records. Rolle spoke with us about recent projects, including the Impulse New Music Festival, a non-profit organization that Rolle co-founded and for which he serves as Artistic Director. Impulse’s 2021 festival was held online this past August, and included nearly 150 events, sixteen commissions, and four concerts of new music. What was your motivation for creating the Impulse New Music Festival, and what is the festival’s mission? “The festival was started with a colleague of mine, Vlad Vizireanu, who was working with the UCSB orchestra. I was lending a hand with the orchestra and teaching quite a lot, and working with these students really made me reevaluate how we could better support and prepare these young musicians for the early stages of their career. Honestly, this was a topic close to my own heart, having just gone through that transition myself, and it had become clear to me that there are certain aspects of working in the field that can be difficult to address in an academic music program—how to receive commissions, create a business plan, work with non-profits and fiscal sponsors, adapt to nonacademic grant writing, where to even find those grants and know which are a smart investment of your time. These were things that I had only really learned after diving into the deep end and having to figure it out for myself. The pivotal early stages of your career can be extremely difficult, especially if you don’t have personal or family financial resources to help weather that storm for the first few years as you’re figuring it out. Ultimately, it means that the music community loses out on bringing a lot of new voices into the fold. So, more than anything, it was important to me to find ways to help early-career musicians explore and develop the tools to express their own musical language, which absolutely must include strategies for these types of professional development issues.” Who is the INMF faculty composed of, and what kind of support and guidance do they offer attending composers and performers? “These are some of the most outstanding musicians, people, and teachers I know. If the faculty I’ve put together is trying to model one thing, really, it is a virtuosic open-mindedness. They want to share what they know, learn what they don’t, and explore new pathways in musical expression wherever they arise. Helping our participants build that particular combination of confidence and receptivity is ultimately what we would hope for them to get out of our program.” 12 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter
On the set of the Impulse New Music Festival “New Voices Concert,” a live-streamed concert from Brandon J. Rolle’s living room, featuring works by 6 female-identifying composers, performed by Robert Demaine, Principal Cello of the LA Phil and a member of the INMF faculty. Pictured left: INMF Executive Director Vlad Vizireanu. Photo by Brandon J. Rolle.
We talked a little bit about the pandemic already. Could you elaborate on the transfer to the online format? “Translating the program to an online platform turned out to be a...Herculean task, haha. In the end, though, we managed to get the program moved to an online platform and our participants in 2020 were able to take part in readings, workshops, and lessons, as well as evening lectures and masterclasses. This year, since we knew in advance that the festival was going to be online, we were able to plan a more robust program, which included the recording and premiere of all the composers’ works as part of a streaming concert series.” Is there anything else that you’d like to say? “Thanks so much for interviewing me about my work! I am really grateful for my time there at UC Santa Barbara—Professors Emeriti Joel Feigin and Clarence Barlow profoundly impacted my craft and work, and I am so thankful to have them now as colleagues and friends. Also, I want to give a shoutout to the incredible cohort of graduate composers and performers I was with at UCSB. Maybe everyone feels this way about their cohort, but I really do think I hit the jackpot with the colleagues I overlapped with while in Santa Barbara. Many of them remain close friends who inspire me as people and as artists, and I am very thankful for them—especially this past crazy year.” Read the full interview on the Department of Music website. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter | 13
Dr. Petra Peršolja and Adam Gravelle of Duo con Fuoco
UCSB Summer Music Festival “Under One Sky” Sixth-annual festival features dynamic virtual lineup The Department of Music presented the sixth annual UCSB Summer Music Festival, titled “Under One Sky,” on Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29, 2021 as a virtual event. Sponsored by the UC Santa Barbara Office of Summer Sessions, the festival featured performances by UC Santa Barbara’s University Carillonist Wesley Arai; Daniel Ohara and Shashank Aswathanarayana; CRUSH Duo and dancer Ahna Lipchik; Duo con Fuoco; Professor Scott Marcus and Shashank Aswathanarayana; and Gamelan Sinar Surya. All events were streamed free of charge from the UC Santa Barbara Department of Music’s YouTube channel as YouTube Premieres or YouTube Live events. Founded in 2016 by Composition alumnus Federico Llach ‘17, the UCSB Summer Music Festival continues to thrive as a student-curated and managed event. This year’s event was coordinated by UC Santa Barbara graduate composition student Alexandra Jones, who served as Artistic Director. “If there was ever a word to sum up the UCSB music community, it would be resilient,” shared Jones in advance of the event. “These last few years have been hard for all of us; the music world had to stop practically overnight, but that could not stop us. We will always continue to create and produce and inspire. The UCSB community is now even more so spread out throughout the world, but we can’t forget that we are all under one sky. This year we are eager to celebrate with local artists and truly relish in the best of UCSB. The community is alive and well, and it is truly something to appreciate.” 14 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter
As with previous years’ programs, the 2021 UCSB Summer Music Festival boasted a diverse collection of artists from Southern California, offering audience members the opportunity to experience music of various genres, cultures, and time periods in one weekend. UC Santa Barbara University Carillonist Wesley Arai opened the UCSB Summer Music Festival with a liveUniversity Carillonist Wesley Arai seated at the carillon in Storke Tower during his streamed recital from Summer Music Festival performance. Note the picture-in-picture view of Arai’s feet the carillon in UC Santa on the pedals of the carillon (the carillon is played using the fists and feet). Barbara’s Storke Tower. The program included arrangements of well-known classical and popular music, as well as works composed for the carillon, including pieces written specifically for UC Santa Barbara’s carillon. Listeners had the option of attending the recital in person, and as with all on-campus carillon recitals, were encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on the lawn outside the tower and enjoy the recital and the beautiful UC Santa Barbara campus. A performance of North Indian Classical music by UC Santa Barbara graduate student Shashank Aswathanarayana on tabla and alumnus Daniel Ohara on sitar, showcasing Raga Malkauns, followed the carillon recital. The performance featured an alap (a solo section on the sitar without rhythmic accompaniment), followed by gat-s (small traditional compositions which serve as a foundation for ongoing improvisations) in slow and fast tempo set to a 16-beat rhythmic cycle called teental. Saturday’s program closed with a performance by CRUSH (pictured on cover), a duo composed of two UC Santa Barbara alumni, cellists Dr. Chenoa Orme-Stone ‘20 and Katrina Agate ‘19—both former students of UC Santa Barbara Professor Jennifer Kloetzel. The program featured classical works for two cellos, as well as original arrangements of a wide selection of short pieces, with works by Astor Piazzolla, Camille SaintSaëns, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Béla Bartók. The program also featured performances by dancer Ahna Lipchik, a leading dancer with State Street Ballet, and was filmed by Zach Mendez ‘18, who received a Master of Music in Voice from UC Santa Barbara and is currently Director of Operations for Opera Santa Barbara. Composed of pianists Dr. Petra Peršolja and Adam Gravelle, Duo con Fuoco opened Sunday’s program with an assortment of piano favorites, including George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue and Gioachino Rossini’s Barber of Seville. Born in Slovenia, Peršolja earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano
UCSB Summer Music Festival Artistic Director, Alexandra Jones
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Dancer Noah Malik performing with Gamelan Sinar Surya during the UCSB Summer Music Festival
Performance in 2020 from UC Santa Barbara, where she studied with Professor Paul Berkowitz and was awarded the Graduate Division Fellowship and Second Prize at the International Liszt Competition in LA. A Canadian native, Gravelle has concertized throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, Vienna, Prague, Scotland, and Slovenia. Dr. Peršolja was a featured artist in the virtual 2020 UCSB Summer Music Festival, for which she organized, presented, and filmed a highlypopular Children’s Concert that featured performances of beloved piano pieces, plus interactive activities to engage young musicians during the recital. Professor Scott Marcus—Director of the UCSB Middle East and Music of India ensembles—and graduate student Shashank Aswathanarayana presented a performance of North Indian Classical music on sitar and tabla, presenting Raga Yaman. The performance featured an alap (a solo section on the sitar without rhythmic accompaniment), followed by gat-s (small traditional compositions which serve as a foundation for ongoing improvisations) in slow, medium, and fast tempo set to a 16beat rhythmic cycle called teental. Under the direction of UC Santa Barbara Continuing Lecturer Richard North, Gamelan Sinar Surya closed the sixth annual UCSB Summer Music Festival with a performance of traditional music from Indonesia on gamelan, an enchanting orchestra of gongs, xylophones, drums, and bamboo flutes from Indonesia. Gamelan Sinar Surya is a community ensemble that has been based in Santa Barbara since 2002, and is dedicated to the preservation, teaching, and performance of traditional Indonesian music and dance. The group specializes in rare music from the ancient kingdom of Cirebon, West Java. This dynamic group of local musicians performed a variety of styles of traditional Indonesian Gamelan music, ranging from spiritual and lyrical to lively and dynamic. The performance also included an exciting ancient Topeng mask dance, performed by Noah Malik. Gamelan Sinar Surya 16 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Fall 2021 Newsletter
members include Chaye Alexander, kemanak; Lex Benes, saron and kendang; Felicia Danon North, lead saron; Ed Dorsey, gambang; Donn Howell (UCSB Gamelan founder), gong; Kailee Lencioni, kenong; Noah Malik, dancer and bonang; Richard North, kendang and gambang (director); Kendra Oviedo, titil and gong; Lucia Torres, brong; with special guest artist Endang Rukandi on suling. With over 1,987 collective video views, this year’s festival brought in viewers from all over California, as well as international viewers from Slovenia, Indonesia, and India. The video performances will remain on the Department of Music’s YouTube channel as part of the UCSB Summer Music Festival 2021 playlist for on-demand viewing over the next year. View the full program book online for more information on the pieces and artists. Watch Artistic Director Alexandra Jones’ introduction to the festival and watch each concert on-demand on YouTube via the links below.
University Carillonist Wesley Arai
Duo con Fuoco
Daniel Ohara and Shashank Aswathanarayana
Professor Scott Marcus and Shashank Aswathanarayana
CRUSH Duo featuring dancer Ahna Lipchik
Gamelan Sinar Surya
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Faculty News and Accomplishments Professor Steven Gross featured at Crescendo Summer Institute in Tokaj, Hungary
Dr. Steven Gross, Professor of Horn and Head of the Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Area at UC Santa Barbara, was on the faculty and performed at the Crescendo Summer Institute in Tokaj, Hungary from July 21-August 2, 2021. Professor Gross presented the European premiere of a work he commissioned, Concerto for Horn, by Daniel Baldwin, during his time at the Crescendo Summer Institute. In addition, Professor Gross played George Frideric Handel’s Water Music in the Baroque Orchestra, taught horn, and conducted the Brass Ensemble in works of Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Jean-Joseph Mouret. He was the only non-Hungarian member of the orchestra, and delivered horn instruction in English and German.
Chamber music mentorship and residencies for string faculty members Jennifer Kloetzel and Ertan Torgul
Professor Jennifer Kloetzel and Lecturer Ertan Torgul had a few months full of performances, master classes, chamber music coachings, and educational workshops. As founding members of QuartetES, Kloetzel and Torgul traveled to Lake Dunmore, Vermont for a two-week residency at Point Counterpoint, working closely with young chamber musicians, giving private lessons, coachings, and performances with colleagues violinist Anton Miller and violist Rita Porfiris. The quartet traveled to Rock Island, Tennessee for a week-long residency at Bach at the Rock (BATR) chamber music workshop. Kloetzel and Torgul also joined their QuartetES colleagues for a residency at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford in early September.
Professor Jennifer Kloetzel featured in second interview for Creative Peacemeal Podcast
Professor Jennifer Kloetzel was featured on the Houston-based arts podcast, Creative Peacemeal, which marked her second appearance for the series this year. Following Kloetzel’s initial interview with Board Certified-Music and Neurologic Music Therapist and educator Tammy Takaishi in late March 2021, which focused on Kloetzel’s career as a performer and educator, Takaishi was eager to continue the conversation and promptly scheduled Kloetzel for a second interview. This second interview covered a wide range of topics including Kloetzel’s upcoming Beethoven CD release and her Bach commissioning project, the importance of live concerts and the special relationship between an audience and a performer, and much more.
Professor João Pedro Oliveira awarded Honorable Mention in 2021 Prix CIME Electroacoustic Music Competition
Corwin Chair of Composition João Pedro Oliveira was named a prize winner in the 2021 Prix CIME Electroacoustic Music Competition, hosted by the International Confederation for Electroacoustic Music. In the Prix CIME category, Professor Oliveira was awarded Honorable Mention for his piece, Dark Energy (2018), for cello, double bass, electronics, and video, which was originally commissioned by Contracello Duo. “In astronomy and physical cosmology, dark energy is a form of energy still unknown and believed to fill the entire space of the universe, causing the acceleration of its expansion, from the initial Big Bang to the infinite future,” wrote Oliveira of his work. “Dark Energy aims to be a dark and energetic work.”
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Staff News Photo by Gaby Goldberg
Production and Events Manager Dr. Anthony Garcia ‘16 shares his experience as an LGBTQ+ Employee with Daily Nexus
The Daily Nexus interviewed UC Santa Barbara faculty and staff members on UC Santa Barbara’s Out List about their experiences within the field of higher education as members of the LGBTQ+ community. For the article, the Department of Music’s Production and Events Manager and alumnus, Dr. Anthony Garcia ‘16, spoke about how his decision to join the Out List and publicly come out came from the importance of representation for his identity as a bisexual man. “I felt it was important for me to come out publicly...because I have a sort of belief that no one’s really that straight, or that much on any end of the spectrum, to be honest,” shared Dr. Garcia. “I think it’s important that we recognize that there are more examples of the in-between and where people fall on the spectrum.”
Faculty Emeritus News Photo by Gaby Goldberg
Professor Emeritus Dr. Joel Feigin releases New Album of Music for Chamber Orchestra with Toccata Classics
Professor Emeritus Dr. Joel Feigin released his latest album, Joel Feigin: Music for Chamber Orchestra, on Friday, July 2 with Toccata Classics. The album includes Aviv: Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (2009); Surging Seas for string orchestra (2012); and Mosaic in Two Panels (1997) for string orchestra; as well as Two Songs from Twelfth Night (2013), excerpted from Feigin’s opera Twelfth Night. Based on Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night received its West Coast premiere in 2015 by UC Santa Barbara Opera Theatre, and was hailed as a “glittering masterpiece” by critic Dan Kepl. The production received First Place in the National Opera Association’s Production Competition in Division II.
The Absolute Sound reviews Professor Emeritus Jeremy Haladyna’s latest album Pok-ta-Pok
A review of Faculty Emeritus Jeremy Haladyna’s latest album, Pok-ta-Pok: Sky Games from the Mayan Cycle, was featured in the October 2021 issue of The Absolute Sound, a recognized source of expert reviews and commentary on high-performance audio and music. Released via Centaur Records in early April 2021, Pok-ta-Pok is Haladyna’s third album, and features all original music by Haladyna, with performances by UC Santa Barbara Professor of Flute Jill Felber, alumna vocalist Allison Bernal (Bachelor of Music, 2011), and cellist Virginia Kron, who has appeared as a guest soloist at UC Santa Barbara’s Primavera Festival. Haladyna retired from UC Santa Barbara in June 2019, after serving over 25 years on the Composition faculty.
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Current Student Successes Doctoral Candidate Stewart Engart featured on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Compose Carolina Series
Doctoral candidate Stewart Engart had his work, Usynlig, featured on Friday, July 23 as part of the second-annual Compose Carolina summer music series, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Music and Carolina Performing Arts. The livestreamed event featured Engart in conversation with a faculty moderator, the premiere of his work, and a casual “program notes” conversation and Q&A. Engart is currently completing his PhD dissertation on algorithmic music composition at UC Santa Barbara where he studies with Clarence Barlow, João Pedro Oliveira, Curtis Roads, and Andrew Tholl. His work explores computer-assisted musical form and gesture, as well as experimental synthesis techniques.
Photo by Brandon J. Rolle
Doctoral Candidate Luvi Avendano featured in Opera Santa Barbara’s Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
Doctoral Candidate Luvi Avendano was featured in Opera Santa Barbara’s production of José “Pepe” Martinez’s 75-minute Mariachi operetta, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (“To Cross the Face of the Moon”). Avendano sang the role of Victor for both productions of the operetta, which were performed at the Granada Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara on October 1 and October 3. Conducted by David Hanlon and directed by Octavio Cardenas, this Opera Santa Barbara premiere featured performances by Grammy-Award winning, Los Angeles-based Mariachi Los Camperos, who performed the opera at its New York City premiere in 2017 and the Houston revival in 2018.
Doctoral Student Dariush Derakhshani awarded prize in 2021 Prix CIME Electroacoustic Music Competition
Doctoral Student Dariush Derakhshani was named a prize winner in the 2021 Prix CIME Electroacoustic Music Competition, hosted by the International Confederation for Electroacoustic Music. Derakhshani was named one of five winners of the Residency Prix CIME category for his work, Pārsa (2021), for electronics. “Pārsa can be categorized as a programmatic piece,” noted Derakhshani. “The inspiration of its form and direction came from the history of Persepolis and its demolition by Alexander the Great. The initial section is meant to represent a grand sound which is slowly ravaged as the piece continues. What remains by the end are broken parts and pieces representing the slow destruction of Persepolis by fire.”
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Alumni News Photo by Zach Mendez
Alumna Noelle Barr ‘21 appointed Principal Violin for New York Youth Symphony’s 2021-2022 Season
UC Santa Barbara alumna Noelle Barr ‘21 was recently appointed as Assistant Principal Second Violin for the New York Youth Symphony’s 2021-2022 Season. Under the direction of Michael Repper, Barr will participate in a series of three performances throughout the 2021-2022 academic year at Carnegie Hall. Repertoire will include Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5; Valerie Coleman’s Umoja; Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto; and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. As a scholarship recipient, Barr’s responsibilities will include mentoring musicians within her section, participation in community outreach activities, and performing new works by students of the New York Youth Symphony’s Composition Program.
Alumnus Azeem Ward ‘15 selected as participant for Crescendo Summer Institute in Tokaj, Hungary
Alumnus Azeem Ward ‘15 was selected as a participant for the Crescendo Summer Institute in Tokaj, Hungary from July 21-August 2, 2021. While at the Crescendo Summer Institute, Ward gave solo, chamber, and flute ensemble performances, including those from classical, beatbox, and jazz sources. Of the festival, Ward shared that he “really enjoyed exploring various genres and new perspectives of music,” and he “also appreciated the opportunity to discuss real world issues at the Institute.” Ward received a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance in 2015 at UC Santa Barbara, where he studied with Professor Jill Felber. Ward’s senior recital went viral and was viewed by 55,000 people via live stream, earning him a feature on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Photo by JShoots
Alumna Dr. Kelly Guerra ‘21 selected for Cleveland Institute of Music’s inaugural Future of Music Faculty Fellowship
Alumna Dr. Kelly Guerra ‘21 was selected for the Cleveland Institute of Music’s inaugural Future of Music Faculty Fellowship. Supported by a grant awarded by the Sphinx Venture Fund, this unique program is designed to prepare Black and Latinx professionals in the music field for a successful and fulfilling career in academia. With more than 160 applicants from 30 states and seven countries, the inaugural cohort of 35 fellows includes scholars representing areas of study such as jazz, music education, vocal performance, ethnomusicology, music theory, and more, from institutions such as the University of Michigan, Eastman School of Music, Rice University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Alumna Dr. Kelly Guerra ‘21 featured in Opera Santa Barbara’s Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
UC Santa Barbara alumna Dr. Kelly Guerra ‘21 was featured in Opera Santa Barbara’s production of José “Pepe” Martinez’s 75-minute Mariachi operetta, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (“To Cross the Face of the Moon”). Guerra, a former Opera Santa Barbara Chrisman Studio Artist, sang the role of Lupita for both productions of the operetta, which were performed at the Granada Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara on October 1 and 3. With lyrics by Martínez (founder of the Mariachi Vargas de Tecatlá) and acclaimed American stage director Leonard Foglia, the operetta tells the tale of three generations of an immigrant family as they journey across borders to find one another and to make a home together.
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Support the Department of Music Our alumni, parents, and friends provide essential support for teaching, research, and program needs. The department benefits from annual unrestricted support and major gifts designated for special purposes. Your generosity plays a critical role in our ability to fulfill our mission and is truly appreciated. Every gift counts. Listed below are some of our highest priorities: Funding for undergraduate scholarships and graduate student fellowships Chamber Music Program Community Outreach Support Cross-campus Interdisciplinary Projects Contact Leslie Gray, Senior Director of Development, at (805) 893-4193 or leslie.gray@ucsb.edu to make a donation. Gifts can also be made online at giving.ucsb.edu. It is the policy of the University of California, Santa Barbara that a modest portion of gifts and/or income from gifts may be used to defray the costs of raising and administering funds. music.ucsb.edu
Department of Music
University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6070
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