TMEA Faculty & Students at TMEA 2008

The Texas Tech University School of Music is proudly represented at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas, February 12-16, 2008, by numerous esteemed faculty and gifted student music educators, and by several internationally recognized performing ensembles.

Below is a listing of the participants and the events which feature them. For more information, please refer to the TMEA webpage or to the latest edition of the TMEA magazine, Southwestern Musician.

ENSEMBLES

Texas Tech University Symphony Orchestra, Gary Lewis, conductor
This acclaimed orchestra will perform a featured concert and will serve as orchestral accompaniment in the All-State Choir concerts. Members of the orchestra are among the finest student musicians at Texas Tech University. Mr. Gary Lewis, Professor of Orchestra Studies, will lead this orchestra in its second appearance as the featured university orchestra at TMEA during his tenure at TTU.

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Texas Tech University Choir, John Dickson, conductor
The premier choral ensemble at Texas Tech University makes its fifth appearance as the featured collegiate choir to appear at TMEA. This organization has fostered a long tradition of excellence, receiving high praise from audiences in international venues. Dr. John Dickson, Director of Choral Activities, and current Vice President for the College & Community division of TCDA, will feature this fine organization in a number of appearances at TMEA. The choir will be accompanied by Clinton Barrick, Staff Accompanist, and will feature, as soloist, Karl Dent, Professor of Voice.

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The West Texas Children's Chorus, Susan Brumfield, conductor
The West Texas Children's Chorus is a regional, auditioned treble choir for musically motivated young singers from Lubbock and the surrounding areas. Now in its fourth season, the Chorus has been featured in the Texas Tech University Caprock Celtic Christmas Concert, Bach's St. Matthew Passion (with the Texas Tech University Chorus and Orchestra) and Britten's A Ceremony of Carols. In June of 2007, the WTCC was the choir-in-residence for the West Texas Kodály Initiative, an intensive training course for music teachers from Texas and throughout the United States. During the course, the children served as a demonstration group for acclaimed conductor Henry Leck; 2007 and 2008 performances include workshops and demonstrations with noted children's choral expert Mary Goetze and Kodály master teacher and folk music authority Jill Trinka. The choir also serves as a lab chorus for music education classes at Texas Tech University.

Texas Tech faculty members performing with the choir include: Lisa Rogers, percussion; Alan Shinn, percussion; Angela Mariani, voice; John Gilbert, violin; Renee Skerik, viola; Jack Unzicker, string bass; Will Strieder, trumpet and New Orleans jazz pianist John Autin. Texas Tech alumnus Kathryn Zetterstrom, MM, 1993, is the accompanist. Teaching staff for the WTCC consists of TTU alumni and students: Daniel Todd, Donna Hogan, Beth Berridge, Brad Green, John Magee, Kristin King and Liz Whitehead.

PRESENTERS & ADJUDICATORS

Christopher J. Smith, Professor of Ethnomusicology
Three sessions on world music pedagogy will include both a panel discussion featuring educators specializing in K-college instruction in these areas ("Living in the Whole World of Music: Pedagogical Approaches to Global Musical Styles") and a slate of practical workshop-demonstrations.

Collaborating faculty will include: Dr. Susan Brumfield (Texas Tech University; West Texas Children's Choir); Dr. Allen Teel (Abilene Christian University; world percussion); Mr. Ronnie Rios (Harlingen High School; band, jazz band, mariachi); Dr. Christopher J. Smith (Texas Tech University; ethnomusicology & TTU Celtic Ensemble)

Eric Fried, Assistant to the Director
Eric Fried will be delivering a report to the Texas Chapter of the American String Teachers Association on the Texas division of the ASTA National Solo Competition, which he chairs. He will also present and briefly discuss the first handbook for the Texas competition, which he recently composed.

RESEARCH POSTER SESSION