semester highlights
jazz musicians in the Washington, D.C.,
area. Visiting artists included the U.S.
Army Blues, the Navy Commodores,
the Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, the
Capitol Bones and others. The workshop
also hosted free, daily concerts by guest
performers. The National Jazz Workshop
was founded by Adjunct Associate
Professor of Jazz Matt Niess, M.M., a
trombonist with the Army Blues and senior
instrumentalist with the U.S. Army Band
(Pershing’s Own).
Senior music performance major Michael
Hollin ’15 and senior music education
major Sara Johnson ’15 received inaugural
“100 Mile Joe” Scholarships at the Horn
Concert in September 2014. In March,
Adjunct Associate Professor of Music/
French Horn Joe Lovinsky, M.M., also
known as “100 Mile Joe,” completed a 100mile run, which raised $8,500 for French
horn scholarships at Shenandoah University.
The Shenandoah Singers performed in
September 2014 at a Candlelight Vigil
event for 1,000 advocates and activists
working to expand research and support
efforts in the fight against childhood
cancer. According to Shenandoah Singers
Director and Associate Professor of
Music Education Jeffrey Marlatt, Ph.D.,
the group’s participation resulted from
the university’s relationship with 10-yearold Smashing Walnuts childhood cancer
research spokesperson Gabriella Miller
’13 of Leesburg, Virginia. Miller was the
youngest person to receive an honorary
Bachelor of Arts from Shenandoah
University on Oct. 11, 2013. She was
diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor
in November 2012 and became a national
childhood cancer research advocate
through public speaking engagements and
fundraising efforts. Miller lost her year-long
battle with brain cancer on Oct. 26, 2013.
Shenandoah University’s All-Steinway
Initiative nears completion as it enters
the fourth year of its five-year fundraising
program. According to Vice President
for Advancement & Planning Mitch
Moore, the university’s goal was to
purchase a fleet of 96 pianos. At present,
64 pianos have been purchased, making
the campaign two-thirds of the way to
completing this objective. Some donor
opportunities are still available, including
a three-room student practice suite that
will cost approximately $250,000. The
first Steinway practice suite was completed
during the first year with donor gifts. “We
completed our permanent faculty teaching
suites through the generosity of alumnus
Aubrey Liskey ’51, whose estate provided
a $150,000 matching gift that allowed us
to raise a matching amount,” said Moore.
“As a result, we were able to make a trip
this spring with Professor of Piano Beth
Caluda; Distinguished Artist-in Residence,
Professor Music and Chair of Keyboard
Division John O’Conor; and several
donors, who helped fulfill that challenge.”
Two dramatic, dynamic works
choreographed by Visiting Associate
Professor of Jazz Dance Bob Boross, M.A.,
“Down into Muddy Water” and “Life,”
were showcased at the 28th Annual Jazz &
Tap Festival in Annandale, Virginia. The
cast included 12 Shenandoah Conservatory
freshmen and sophomore dancers.
Senior KerryLyn Kercher ’14 adjudicated
her solo, “The Perspiring,” during the
Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of
the American College Dance Festival
Association, attended by 570 dancers
representing 30 university dance programs.
Kercher received exceptional feedback from
adjudicators Sylvia Waters, a principal
artist with Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theatre and the Artistic Director of
Ailey II for 38 years; and Zvi Gotheiner
and Sarah Skaggs, both of whom have
directed their own companies in New
York City. These internationally acclaimed
artists complimented Kercher’s “exquisite
performance” and “very well-crafted,”
“deeply original” choreography, selecting
her piece as one of only 12 works to be
presented in the closing night Gala concert.
Associate Professor of Dance Erica Helm,
M.F.A., Assistant Professor of Dance
Maurice Fraga, M.F.A., and Visiting
Associate Professor of Jazz Dance Bob
Boross, M.A., taught masterclasses; Music
Director and Dance Accompanist Karen
Follett, M.M., accompanied 11 classes; and
four Shenandoah underclassmen danced all
day long at this exciting, four-day conference
hosted by George Mason University.
Shenandoah Conservatory’s High
School Flute Workshop was led this
summer by Shenandoah’s internationally
renowned Professor of Flute Jonathan
Snowden and Professor of Flute Rebecca
Collaros of Levine Music. Students, ages
13 through 18, received private lessons,
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