Manuscript The magazine of the Northeastern State University Department of Music Spring 2021 - Academic ...
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Manuscript
The magazine of the Northeastern State University
Department of Music
Spring 2021
Contents
2 Welcome from the Chair
Features
3 Guest Artists
5 NSU @ OkMEA
6 New Student Lounge & Opera Workshop
7 Green Country Jazz Festival
9 “Can’t stop the Music”
(AKA NSU Music during
a global pandemic)
11 Announcement of a new music degree
12 Student News
13 Alumni Feature
14 In Memorium
15 Faculty News
17 Endowments,
Scholarships, & Donors
Musicians: we are the most romantic of all artists. We believe
in, and chase the illusive, intoxicating, unseen magic/beauty
that exists in the universe. We are conduits for this magic/
beauty that has the ability to stir emotions that are
fundamental to what it means to be human and alive.
Here’s to us all....!
- Dr. Ron Chioldi
Welcome
FROM THE CHAIR
Spring 2021 marks the end of an academic year unlike any other.
It was difficult. It was certainly stressful. So many modifications
were made to our normal operating procedures due to the pandemic.
Some of these modifications will inform how we operate in the
future. Others, I hope we never have to implement ever again.
Our faculty, staff, and students were resilient in the face of highly pressurized circum-
stances. I want to thank them for their grace, adaptability, and understanding as things
constantly changed.
Early on in the pandemic, the performing arts were singled out as being particularly risky
for infection. We took measures to ensure the safety of our faculty, staff, and students as
best we could under state, local, and university protocols. We found ways to increase air
flow, ventilated spaces with open windows year round, incorporated HEPA filters, spaced
desks and chairs for social distancing, relocated classes and ensembles to larger areas, and
wore masks throughout wherever feasible. We did have a few waves of required
quarantine in the fall semester, but were very grateful for the opportunity to still meet,
study, and make music together. Many universities across the country were not meeting
in-person at all, so we counted ourselves lucky in that regard. We kept measures in place
for the spring semester, but infection and quarantine rates were much, much improved.
As a department, we managed to continue offering public performances. In total, we
published 47 public performances via virtual online stream! Towards the end of the
spring semester, we were able to have a couple of events with live audience at the NSU
Blues & BBQ fund raiser for the Jazz program and the Wind Ensemble/Communiversity
Band Joint Concert on April 27th. These were joyous occasions and we were glad to
welcome people back into the Center for the Performing Arts for live performance. I
expect the coming fall semester will be fully in-person and I hope you will join us for
as many performances as possible. We have missed you! Though not exhaustive in the
least, please read on in this issue of Manuscript to see the many ways that this department
and the great students we teach remained active and creative.
2
GUEST ARTISTS AT NSU MUSIC
The NSU Department of Music hosted several guest artists this 2020-2021 academic year. These
artists are experts in their respective fields and instruments and collaborated with music faculty to
bring their talents and expertise to our students and the community. While most were virtual
offerings, the benefit to our students and community were immesaurable.
Dr. Christopher Wilson joined the NSU
trumpet studio for a virtual masterclass on
September 23rd. Dr. Wilson is principal
trumpet for the Pittsburgh Opera and
Ballet. As an educator, Wilson was
formerly Artist/Full Professor of Trumpet
at Arkansas State University for 11 years
where he built a nationally competitive
trumpet studio.
Mr. Roger Hoverson joined all music majors to lead a virtual session on
Musician’s Health and Wellness on September 28th as a part of Recital
Lab course. Mr. Hoverson is an avid practitioner of Pilates and became a
Balanced Body Pilates instructor in 2017. He is keenly interested in how
the Pilates method can assist musicians in both preventing and
recovering from injuries. Hoverson is pursuing a Master’s Degree at the
University of North Texas and is involved in the Texas Center for
Performing Arts Health at UNT. Mr. Hoverson is an alumnus of NSU,
holding the Bachelor of Arts in Flute Performance.
Dr. Everett McCorvey is Professor of Voice and Director of Opera at the
University of Kentucky. His many accolades include founding and acting as
Music Director of the acclaimed American Spiritual Ensemble, a group of 24
professional singers performing spirituals and other compositions of African-
American composers dedicated to keeping the American Negro Spiritual alive.
Dr. McCorvey is also in his sixth season as the Artistic Director of the National
Chorale of New York City. Celebrating over 50 years of great choral singing,
the National Chorale is a symphonic choir which performs at Lincoln Center in
New York City. He joined the Joint Voice Studios of Dr. Myers and Dr. Bester
as guest speaker for their recital on the American Negro Spiritual on
October 8th.
3
Dr. Sarah Herbert presented a virtual session to the NSU Trumpet Studio
on Alexander Technique and Performance Anxiety on November 12th.
Dr. Herbert joined the faculty at Western Kentucky University in 2020 as
the Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz. Other appointments include
University of Wyoming, the University of Cincinnati College -
Conservatory of Music, and Miami University Regionals in Hamilton,
OH. As a K-12 music educator, Dr. Herbert spent four years as the
Director of Instrumental Music for The Menaul School, an Independent
School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Two virtual masterclasses were held via Zoom
for the voice studios, led by Dr. Linda Di
Fiore, Professor of Voice and Opera at DePaul
University, and Dr. Jeffrey Williams,
Associate Professor of Voice at Austin Peay
State University. Di Fiore, a mezzo-soprano
and Regents Professor Emeritus from the
University of North Texas, recently retired
from the University of California-Santa Barbara where she served as Area Head of Voice.
Williams joined the Voice Faculty at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee as
Assistant Professor of Voice in the Fall of 2014. He maintains an active performance schedule
including with the Nashville Opera, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Public Radio – Live
in Studio C, Gateway Chamber Orchestra, and in other featured concert and recital performances
throughout the country.
The trumpet studio of Dr. Hay was pleased to welcome, Mr. Rob
Waugh for a virtual masterclass on February 10th. Mr. Waugh is the
Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Austin Peay State University where
he provides private studio instruction and conducts the university’s big
band the Jazz Collegians. Prior to his appointment to APSU, Mr. Waugh
was the trumpet and jazz ensemble director at Indiana State University
for eight years.
Bassist, Mr. Jon Hamar, was the featured guest artist for the 54th
annual Green Country Jazz Festival. In 2012 Jon joined the faculty
at the Centrum Jazz Workshop under the Artistic Direction of John
Clayton. While living in Seattle Jon taught at Central Washington
University, Northwest University and Edmonds Community
College as well as maintaining a private studio. In Fall of 2015
Hamar joined the faculty of Natalie Haslam School of Music at the
University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN, where he is the Assistant
Professor of Jazz & Classical Double Bass.
4
NSU at the Oklahoma Music Educators
Association conference
Normally, the NSU Department of Music is very active at the Oklahoma Music Educators Asso-
ciation winter conference. Despite the pandemic and the conference being delivered all-virtually,
this year was no exception. The University Singers performed a virtual concert as invited honor
group on January 28th. Several of our faculty also led sectionals with virtual members of the
OkMEA High School All-State Ensembles via Zoom. Dr. Hay led the trumpet sectional and Dr.
Raya the trombone sectional for the All-State Symphonic Band. Dr. Wall led the alto sectional
for the All-State Mixed Chorus.
5
Work Day
&
New Student Lounge
Music Students came together on a Saturday this Spring to help create a new student lounge area. The previous lounge
was housed in a small room with no windows. Given the pandemic, the need for open windows for ventilation, and need
for more storage space, these dedicated students devoted their time and labor to move furniture and equipment. Before,
the lounge had to be closed for safety. Now, the lounge is open as a place for students to gather, study, rest between
classes, and receive tutoring. They also helped to create a wardrobe/costume storage area for Opera Workshop. Thanks
to Cheryl Nobles, Department Administrative Assistant, and Megan Gasca, our Performing Facilities Technical Director,
for helping supervise this work day. Special thanks to all the students that came to help!
Opera Workshop
performs “All that Jazz”
A Chicago Musical Review
Directed by Dr. Whitney Myers, the combined efforts of Opera
Workshop and the NSU Jazz Combo resulted in a compelling virtual
show that highlighted musical numbers from the musical Chicago on
April 26th. Cast included Megan Jacobs, Courtney Creel, Elizabeth
Stroud, Lissie Franklin, and Bretly Crawford with special appearance
by Professor Emeritus, Dr. Bob Daniel. NSU Jazz Combo included
Dr. Clark Gibson, Farren Mayfield, Jacob Martin, DeNario Shoates,
Dylan Ward, Brennan Marcotte.
6
Green Country Jazz Festival
While most of our festivals and workshops were cancelled this year, the Green Country
Jazz Festival Judges’ Jam and Performance proceeded with alterations.
Dr. Clark Gibson and the NSU Jazz Ensemble joined guest artist, Mr. Jon Hamar, to
record a professional video for virtual release for this 54th Green Country.
7
8
“Can’t stop the Music”
(AKA NSU Music during a global pandemic)
NSU RiverHawk Marching Band played
for RiverHawk Rally, RiverHawk Jam,
and several other recruiting events on
campus.
To the delight of many in downtown
Tahlequah, the NSU Jazz Band moved their
rehearsals outdoors.
Ensembles like the University/Community
Chorus, the NSU Wind Ensemble, and the
NSU Communiversity Band relocated their
rehearsals to larger spaces like the Jack
Dobbins Field House gym.
Like many places around the world, our
students adjusted to a world of online
masterclasses and virtual learning.
9Faculty and students adapted to applied
lessons outdoors whenever possible.
Here, Dr. Raya gives music student,
Keven Nava-Hinojosa a trombone lesson
outside the Fine Arts building.
Music Education
students gaining
clinical experience
in the field with their
full internships at area
schools were creative
in their methods of
instructional
delivery. Pictured,
Jace Davison
teaches band and
Lacey Franklin
teaches choir.
Though invitations to clinic at area high
schools were rarer for our faculty this year,
they had to adapt to district protocols
including distancing, masking, etc. Pictured
here, Dr. Bester helps the Muskogee High
School Choir with pronunciation of a piece
they were working on in Afrikaans.
10Starting Fall 2021, the NSU Department of Music and the NSU Jazz Program is proud to announce a new degree that modernizes our Jazz Studies degree into a program of study that is applicable to the modern day music industry. 11
Student News
Senior Music Business major LeRoicia Penney served with
Chamber Music Tulsa for her Music Capstone Internship
Fall 2020. Her intern supervisors at CMT had wonderful
things to say about LeRoicia during her final evaluation.
Carson Mathes & Megan Jacobs were semifinalists at the
Texhoma National Association of Teachers of Singing
competition and Carson later went on to place 2nd in
Category 8B (2nd year college men) in the Oklahoma NATS
Chapter competition.
Freshman trombonist, Dylan Ward, won the NSU Concerto Competition. The
competition allows instrumentalists and vocalists to prepare music judged by a panel of
all music faculty. Dylan was given the opportunity to perform as featured soloist with the
NSU Wind Ensemble on a work for solo trombone and wind band titled Morceau
Symphonique by Alexandre Guilmant, arr. by Wesley Shepard.
Special Congratulations to our Fall and
Degree Recitals Spring graduates!
Timothy Caputo - Junior Trumpet Performance Major Recital, August 31
Jackson Washburn - Junior Trumpet Jazz Major Recital, August 31
Kaitlyn Ryan - Senior Music Ed Clarinet Recital, September 1
Kelli Martin - Senior Music Ed Saxophone Recital, October 17
Jacob Martin - Junior Percussion Jazz Major Recital, October 23
Lissie Franklin - Senior Music Ed Vocal Recital, April 2
Maxwell Sellars - Senior Music Ed Trumpet Recital, April 5
Brennan Marcotte - Senior Trumpet Jazz Major Recital, April 8
Timothy Caputo - Senior Trumpet Performance Major Recital, May 6 Fall 2020
Lacey Franklin, Myklind Reyes-Sosi, and
Joshua Bowling - Music Education
Junior Standing Status Earned LeRoicia Penney - Music Business
Clinton Beeler, saxophone - Fall semester
Morgan Foshee, percussion - Fall semester
Lissie Franklin, vocal - Fall semester
Andrew Pearson, trumpet - Fall semester
DeNario Shoates, horn - Fall semester
Megan Jacobs, vocal - Spring semester
Logan Edwards, clarinet - Spring semester
Spring 2021
Skye Lawrence, Kelli Martin, Jace Davison -
Music Education 12
Timothy Caputo - Music PerformanceAlumni Feature
Stephen Clark, BA Music Performance 2010
A young American bass noted for his “stalwart” and “metallic” voice, Stephen Clark is quickly developing an
exciting international opera career. Since 2018, he has been an ensemble member of the Theater am Goetheplatz in
Bremen, Germany, where he has given performances as Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem
Serail, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni, Melisso in Alcina, Graf Ribbing in Un ballo in maschera, and Der
Bankier and Der Theaterdirektor in Lulu. In the 2020-21 season, he returns to Theater Bremen, reprising the role of
Sarastro as well as singing Der Sprecher, in Die Zauberflöte and also making a role debuts as Mustafà in L’italiana in
Algeri Harašta in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen.
From 2016-2018, Mr. Clark was a member of the prestigious Yale Opera program. During his time there, he made a
number of role debuts, such as Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Luka in William Walton’s The
Bear, and the Father-in-Law in Milhaud’s Le pauvre matelot. Along with his time on the stage at Yale, he performed
frequently in concert, appearing as a soloist in the first two parts of Handel’s Messiah with the Hartford Chorale, in
Stravinsky’s Renard with Orchestra New England, and in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Waterbury Symphony,
the Hartford Symphony, and most notably with the Yale Philharmonia, a performance conducted by Marin Alsop.
Mr. Clark was featured as an Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera in the summer of 2018, singing Masetto in Don
Giovanni while covering Leporello in the same production and also covering Pangloss in their production of Leonard
Bernstein’s Candide. During the summers of 2017 and 2016, he was a member of Central City Opera’s Apprentice
Artist Program. Highlights from his summers there include singing Angelotti in Tosca, a Denver Politician in The Ballad
of Baby Doe, Azarias in Britten’s The Burning Fiery Furnace, and the title role in Mozart’s The Impresario. He has also
given performances with regional opera companies such as the Fort Worth Opera Festival, Sarasota Opera, and his home-
town opera company, Tulsa Opera.
13In Memorium
James “Ralph” Whitworth, music teacher, choral director and voice teacher
at Northeastern State University for 34 years, died October 1, 2020. Ralph
contributed immensely to the artistic and cultural development of Tahlequah.
Most memorable were the Christmas Candlelight Concerts, midnight caroling
and European concert tours by the Northeastern singers (financed by baking
and selling Swedish tea rings that Ralph and Beth made with students), and
the Boar’s Head Feasts that allowed so many to experience the Renaissance
celebration of song, dance and community and the sacred performances at
Christmas with choir, artistic sets and orchestra. Ralph was welcomed into the
Oklahoma Music Educator’s Hall of Fame in 1994 and chosen as a “Centu-
rion” at the 100th anniversary of Northeastern’s founding.
Kenneth “Ken” G. Grass graduated from Northeastern State College in 1969,
with a double major in instrumental and vocal music. After graduation, Paris
York asked Ken to consider coming to Broken Arrow to take over the jazz band
and band director position, where he and the BA staff took the marching band
to several state and regional marching championships. He arranged almost
all of the marching music for BA and later TU. The BA Jazz Band won many
competitions and was selected to play for the National School Board Conven-
tion in Miami, Florida. In 1991, Ken was approached to consider going to the
University of Tulsa as assistant professor to the marching band, basketball pep
bands, symphonic wind director and teach woodwind pedagogy, saxophone
and supervise interns and first year teachers. Eventually more courses and
titles were added including full professor. He was so proud to be called “Prof”.
He joined his father, mother and many loved ones in Heaven on November 6th,
2020.
Jane Bailey was born in Corinth, Mississippi on March 13, 1937 to Forrest and Hazel L (Preston)
Bailey. She departed this life on April 10, 2021 at the age of 87 years and 28 days.
Jane began playing on the radio at the age of seven for a Christian show. She learned how to play
the organ and began playing and sharing her talent in church.
Jane attended Tulsa University where she earned her Bachelors Degree and Indiana University
where she would earn he Master’s Degree in Music.
Jane taught music at Indiana University before coming to Oklahoma where she taught music for
over 30 years at Northeastern State. She taught form and analysis, and counter point and also
taught piano.
Robert “Eugene” Sparks passed from this life on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 surrounded by friends
and family. Eugene had a lifelong career at NSU as the night supervisor for the Sanitation Techni-
cians. He spent a good deal of his career taking care of the Fine Arts building. Eugene loved his
job, and he was the kindest person to speak words of encouragement. When the work was done, it
was time to do some serious fishing and hunting. He would hunt for animals like quail, deer, rab-
bits, ducks and always loved a day spent fishing. Fishing for Eugene was a competitors sport, and
the inability to reel in the big one would make his sense of humor fade fast. He enjoyed working
on small engines like lawnmowers and the occasional odd car engines. This country boy loved the
view of sunrise from his own front porch. He was normally in the company of his dog and getting
ready to go out and do a little gardening, he raised the most beautiful gardens. Eugene was blessed
with a great sense of humor and the ability to tell a story for every occasion.
14Faculty News
Dr. Christian Bester gave many recitals both on campus and off, including Washington D.C.’s
Church of the Epiphany Tuesday Concert Series, and with Voces Intimae: The Art of Song - Texas.
He was a Filstrup Resident Artist with Tulsa Opera and also contributed to the “I Can’t Enjoy Op-
era” workshop. Dr. Bester’s article “LGBTQ+ Vocal Literature - Songs for Life” was published
with the National Association of Teachers of Singing Journal. He gave several lectures on Afrikaans
Art Songs - An Introduction to Afrikaans Song Repertoire with The University of Memphis, Baylor
University, and Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ’s Arts and Spirituality Virtual
Series. Bester gave and hosted virtual masterclasses, served as adjudicator for many events.
Dr. Ron Chioldi continued his work as co-author of the group piano textbook for college and
universities titled, Keyboard Musicianship, Book 2, 11th edition with Stipes Publishing.
Dr. Chioldi also performed a limited audience house piano recital in Fayetteville, AR.
Dr. Clark Gibson was named as featured artist with Taylor Entertainment Group of Tulsa. He per-
formed for TEG’s International Jazz Festival. He also performed with Maybelle Wallace, Theater
North and the Greenwood Cultural Center for the 100th year commemoration of the Tulsa Race
Massacre. Dr. Gibson hosted a virtual Green Country Jazz Festival this year with guest artist, Jon
Hamar.
Dr. Ben Hay is Principal Trumpet for the Bartlesville Symphony, Acting Principal Trumpet for
Signature Symphony at TCC, and Extra/Substitute Trumpet for Tulsa Symphony and Symphony
of Northwest Arkansas. He recorded as second trumpet for a YouTube concert video with Gateway
Chamber Orchestra (Clarkesville, TN). Hay gave presentations and masterclasses with Humboldt
State University (Arcata, CA), University of Northern Alabama (Florence, AL), and Western Ken-
tucky University (Bowling Green, KY). He plays with Zen Brass (national brass chamber group)
and is a founding member of Ionic Brass, an emerging chamber group. Dr. Hay was named as
award-recipient for the NSU Presidential Model the Way award.
15Dr. James Lindroth’s article “Taking a Break” was published with Rhythm Scene, a publication of
the Percussive Arts Society in February 2021.
Dr. Whitney Myers performed many recitals and roles this year. She performed often as a Filstrup
Resident Artist with Tulsa Opera. Notably, Dr. Myers performed the role of Lucy in Billy Goats
Gruff with Tulsa Opera, sang for donors and board members, participated in the “I Can’t Enjoy
Opera” workshop series, and for Tuesdays at Trinity Episcopal. She also performed the world pre-
miere of the one-act opera, Royal Flush, with Marble City Opera in the role of Franckie. She sang
with Marble City Opera for Opera on Tap and Women’s History Month. Dr. Myers performed for
The Jefferson in Arlington, VA and for Roland Park in Baltimore, MD. In addition to her activity
as a performer, she adjudicated several competitions and was a finalist in Opera Ithaca’s Interna-
tional Competition of Voice and Lyra New York’s International Vocal Competition. She was a
semi-finalist in the Grand Prix International Music Competition.
Dr. Bryan Raya served as guest clinician for the Oklahoma Music Educators Association All-State
Symphonic Band trombone section. He also coordinated many on-campus events including a
virtual Department of Music open house - a first for NSU Music. Dr. Raya coordinates the NSU
Music Concerto Competition, mentored and supervised the competition winner, Dylan Ward, as
well as seven student conductors towards performance with the Wind Ensemble and Communi-
versity Band.
Dr. Jeffery Wall conducted the University Singers as invited honor choir at the virtual conference
of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association. He continues his work with the professional-level
chamber choir, Vox Solaris in Tulsa and serves as College/University Repertoire & Resources
Chair for the Oklahoma state chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He also
serves as Interest Session Chair for the Southwestern division of the American Choral Directors
Association. Dr. Wall was a guest clinician for the Oklahoma Music Educators Association All-
State Mixed Chorus alto section.
Dr. Anne Watson was contributor for bass clarinet finger drills, extended scales, and technique
studies in the book Finger Fitness Etudes for Clarinet and Auxiliary Clarinets by Kristen Denny-
Chambers. She was guest clinician for the Oklahoma State University clarinet studio and the
clarinet studio of Kristen Denny-Chambers. She performed with the Symphony of Northwest
Arkansas in the virtual collaboration of Latency Canons by Raymond J. Lustig.
16THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
NSU Music Support
Gifts to support the music program through the NSU Foundation play an important role in the lives of our music students.
Whether for the Music Scholarship Fund or for music programming, your investment, regardless of the amount, will help
our music program remain strong and vital. Please make out your check to the NSU Foundation, marked for the Music
Scholarship Fund or music programming and send it to: Dr. Jeffery Wall, Department of Music, 605 N. Grand Avenue,
Tahlequah, OK 74464. Thank you.
Endowed Music Funds
Dr. Lowell “Chief” Lehman Endowed Fund Thelma Parker Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Mark S. Bighley Music Scholarship Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Music Scholarship
Donald E. & Martha Sory Blair Music & COLA Scholarship Dr. William J. Rauch Band Scholarship
Joe Davis & Jacob Farinelli Memorial Scholarship Clare M. Stroup & Thomas E. Stroup Memorial Scholarship
Frances Fite Memorial Jazz Scholarship Lou Summers Memorial Vocal Scholarship
NSU Marching Band Endowed Fund
2020-2021 NSU Music Contributors
Reflected below are donations January 2020 –March 2021.
Please let us know if we have accidentally left off a donor or placed someone in the wrong category.
$50,000+ $1,000–1,999 $100–249 $1–$99
Donald and Martha Blair Anonymous Ken and Rhonda Beard Benevity Causes
Ernst and Gaye Bekkering John Benge Dr. Sara Brown
$25,000+ Carl Bivins Memorial Steven Chase Doug and Erica Caputo
Scholarship Anne Davey Wayne and April Felts
$10,000+ Michael Dill Mindi Hendrix Terry and Maria Foster
Danna and Tim Grear Family Eve L Kuniansky Delena Goss
$5,000-$9,999 Fund David Laney Lori Martin
Max McCullough David Rader Farren and Gail Mayfield Sindi McGuire
Dr. Diana Metzger Kay Vincent Cheryl Nobles Fred Monachello
John Yeutter Donna Roberson Sarah Whittle
$2,000–4,999 Ann Sheldon Carla Young
Anonymous $500–999 Linda Spyres
Dr. Mark Bighley Virginia Davis Dr. Donald W Studebaker
Bob and Kathy Daniel ONEOK Foundation Lenore Wilson
Dr. Chuck DeShong
Memorial Scholarship $250–499
Betty Jo Hays Dr. Deborah Landry
Judith Sherman
Anne Watson
17 visit www.nsumusic.com to giveYou can also read
