Former Hartt Dean - Donald Harris - Passes Away

Here is a link to the obituary for Dean Donald Harris, Dean of The Hartt School of Music from 1977-88.


http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=donald-harris&pid=179450799


Condolences to the Harris family.

5 Questions with Matthew Aubin

Matthew Aubin, Doctor of Musical Arts (2010) and Masters (2006) in Music Education both with a conducting emphasis, is currently living in Jackson, Michigan. 

 

What have you been up to since you graduated from Hartt?

In 2006, after completing my Masters, I applied for the DMA program and was offered a fellowship.  I accepted this offer, and left my teaching position at The Norwich Free Academy. In addition to my core course work in music education and wind conducting with Glen Adsit, I took the opportunity as a full-time student to play the French horn again and explore orchestral conducting.  I worked very hard to get my horn chops back into shape and performed with the top instrumental ensembles at The Hartt School.  Additionally, I supplemented my conducting study with Glen by taking score reading courses with Larry Alan Smith and participated in the orchestral conducting seminar with Chris Zimmerman.  These experiences along with some outside conducting workshops and extracurricular study led to a variety of opportunities.

After achieving ABD status in 2008, Hartt kept me on as an adjunct faculty member.  Glen asked me to conduct the Symphony Band, Foot in the Door and the Pep Band.  I also taught several undergraduate courses.  I began to make connections with many of the local professional orchestras and freelanced often on horn in Connecticut.  It was during this period that I was contracted to design and conduct educational concerts with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.  Concurrently, I began to play with a new orchestra in New York City called The Chelsea Symphony.  In 2010, I successfully auditioned to be one of that group’s conductors, eventually becoming Artistic Director.  After completing my doctorate in 2010, I continued as an adjunct faculty member at Hartt and was a candidate for two local community orchestra music director positions.  

The day I learned that I was selected to be the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra’s Music Director was the same day that I learned I had successfully won the position of Assistant Professor of Music at Washington State University (orchestra conductor and studio horn).  My wife and I discussed the situation and decided that it was a good career move for me to accept the job offer in Washington even though she had 4 more years of training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester where we were living at the time.  For the next 4 years I traveled across the country regularly, conducting The Chelsea Symphony in NYC, teaching at WSU and managing to visit my wife in Massachusetts.  The students at WSU were fantastic and both the orchestra and horn studio improved a great deal while I was there.  At WSU, I performed in faculty ensembles and performed with many professional orchestras including the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and Walla Walla Symphony.  However, the travel was exhausting and as my wife finished fellowship and was looking for jobs we decided that we could no longer live apart. 

We discussed our situation and made the decision for her to take a job in Jackson, Michigan as a hand surgeon and for me to leave WSU.  The Jackson position was a dream job for my wife.  For me, The Chelsea Symphony was demanding more of my attention as it grew from a modest start-up to a more mature organization.  Leaving WSU allowed me to devote more time to The Chelsea Symphony and to finally live with my wife again.

What are you involved with right now?

Today we reside in Jackson and I commute to NYC about 2 times per month.  The Chelsea Symphony is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season. The orchestra is unique in that we provide professional development opportunities for our members by featuring them as conductors, composers and soloists.  This season we are celebrating our anniversary by performing at some different venues such as Merkin Hall and the DiMenna Center.  We are performing the music of some fantastic contemporary composers like Caroline Shaw, Michael Daugherty and Gerard Schwarz.  The orchestra is continuing to play a role as background musicians and coaches for the Amazon television series Mozart in the Jungle.  I consult for the series and contract many of the musicians that appear on camera. 

While at WSU I began researching the composer, Fernande Breilh-Decruck.  She is a French, female composer from the first part of the 20th century who is primarily known as the composer of several important classical saxophone works.  I won a number of research grants for this work and in my travels to France I have discovered many manuscripts that were written for and performed by many of the top performers and ensembles in France in the 1930’s and 1940’s. For the past few years, I’ve worked to disseminate this music to performers and provide more information about her through a website that I’ve created (www.fernandedecruck.com). 

Additionally, I am continuing to be an active horn player and have performed with the Traverse City Symphony and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra.  Both ensembles are exceptional regional orchestras.

What is one of your most memorable things about your time at Hartt?

It was extremely rewarding to prepare for our tours and to create our recordings for Naxos.  Glen was very gracious about giving me opportunities to conduct (tours) and produce (recordings) and I will never forget those experiences.  The wind ensemble performance at Hill Auditorium and Foot in the Door’s performance at Benaroya Hall were both the culmination of many months of hard work.  In 2008 we toured Germany and Austria with the Greater Hartford Youth Wind Ensemble and I still remember standing on the rostrum at the Musikverein listening to the resonance last forever.  I remember sitting in the sound booth with Steve Gryc as we recorded his trombone concerto with Joe Alessi.  As I look back, I recognize the value of breaking out of our daily routine with projects such as these.  They heightened everyone's musical standards, exposed the musicians to new experiences but most importantly brought the members of the ensemble together.  I appreciate the support of the university in these opportunities and especially the support, motivation and mentorship of Glen Adsit.

What did you learn during while at Hartt that you did not appreciate or recognize until after time passed and you had some time to reflect?

 

Series of Concerts to Honor Bert Lucarelli

On December 10 and 11, 2015, The Hartt School will present a series of concerts to honor recently retired, professor emeritus Bert Lucarelli.  Professor Lucarelli has retired after 45 years of teaching. 

On December 10, Hartt is celebrating his legacy by hosting a recital performed by his former Hartt students. The recital begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Ave.  The concert is free and open to the public.  Performing on the recital are:

Karen Birch Blundell

Dan Brimhall

Jolie Chrisman

Dan Frostman

Ziqian Guan

Trevor Johnson

Katy Kammeyer

Galit Kaunitz

Micheal Loveland

Lissa Stoltz

On December 11, the Hartt Symphony Orchestra will accompany five of Professor Lucarelli's students as they perform the John Corigliano's Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (1975), which was written for him.  Each student will perform one of the movements.  This concert will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person.  The soloists will be:

Karen Birch Blundell

Stuart Breczinski

Casey Hill

Charles Huang

Kirstin Leitterman

In the meantime, here are some photos of Prof. Lucarelli from throughout his career.

5 Questions with Ryan Bauer-Walsh

Ryan Bauer-Walsh (BFA ‘o6), studied Music Theatre at Hartt from 2002 to 2006.  He is currently living in New York City. 

What have you been up to since you graduated from Hartt?

After Graduating in 2006 from the Theatre Division at Hartt I moved straight to NYC. I had worked with Goodspeed’s Festival of New Artists through the Music Theatre divisions relationship with their theatre company and it helped them get to know me. After a few auditions in NYC, Goodspeed cast me in Nell Benjamin’s PIRATES! It was a new take on Pirates of Penzance and I got my Equity card.  Getting my card helped me make the transition from school to performing professionally. I went on tour after that with Theatre Works USA for my first national touring experience with Paul Revere. It was a great way to see the country and it really developed my work ethic.

After that I realized the only way to work in NYC was to audition constantly. I did about 260 auditions in one year back when you could go to four a day. I was running between audition studios and getting to know all the casting directors in town and finally I booked my first Production Contract. Lonny Price, who I had met at the American Theatre Wing’s SPRINGBOARD boot camp two years prior, cast me in BROADWAY: 3 GENERATIONS at The Kennedy Center. It was my birthday that day and he called me personally to let me know I was going to be part of the show. It was life changing to work with that team of creatives. After that, I did the First National Tour of BILLY ELLIOT, the International tour of ZORRO, toured Europe with Silver Sea, ENCORES Most Happy Fella, and I’ve worked regionally in theater around the country.

I also have built a career as a Voice Over actor, as an illustration artist, commissioned painter and I recently published my first book; Rusty The Rescue- which proceeds from the sales go to help shelter dogs. 

What are you involved with right now and is there a specific career highlight?

I was recently invited back to reprise my role as Pietro, with the Prospect Theatre Company in their production of Death For Five Voices. We will be doing a developmental residency to workshop the production in Gesualdo, Italy- which is where the story in the musical takes place.  We will be performing in the castle where the protagonist lived. I also just made my debut as Jean Valjean in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s production of Les Miserables— which to date was one of the most thrilling experiences I have had on stage.

But I think one of the best experiences I have had as a performer in a while was actually just this last month. I was invited by The New York Special Olympics to perform at their opening ceremony on October 16th. Over 1000 athletes gathered with supporters and fans at the Glenn Falls Civic Center for the event. Meeting such an amazing group of people and being able to be a part of that evening was incredible! The event is completely built on the strength of volunteers. We had less than 20 minutes to tech the performance, but in that time we were able to create a flash mob of 60 dancers who took to the floor while I sang a version of Katy Perry’s FIREWORK— for which Hartt Professor Michael Morris created an amazing orchestration for the evening. Thank you again, Mike!!

What is one of your most memorable moments from your time at Hartt?

5 Questions with Trevor Johnson

Trevor Johnson (MM degree Oboe Performance ‘95) studied at Hartt from 1993 to 1995. He is currently living in Jeffersonville, Indiana (suburb of Louisville, Kentucky).

What have you been up to since you graduated from Hartt?

A few months after graduating from Hartt, I won an audition for a position with the Louisville Orchestra, and with the exception of two seasons’ leaves of absence, have been 2nd and Assistant Principal Oboe ever since.  In the past few years, I have also been playing English horn regularly with the orchestra.  In 2000, I was the host/conference coordinator of the annual meeting of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) when it met in Louisville.

What are you involved with right now?

Coaching double reeds in a local high school, and a recording project with the Louisville Orchestra to provide the soundtrack to Thunder Over Louisville, the largest fireworks display in North America.

What is one of your most memorable things about your time at Hartt? What is a career highlight?

Performing with the Emerson String Quartet and traveling to New York with Performance 20/20 to see performances at Carnegie Hall and Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Performing under the baton of John Williams, and accompanying Rostropovich in a performance of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto.

What did you learn during while at Hartt that you did not appreciate or recognize until after time passed and you had some time to reflect?

Not only did I receive excellent performance instruction and opportunities while at Hartt, but I also had hands-on experience with other aspects of being a musician that are necessary to make a career.  As part of my financial aid package, I learned a great deal about behind-the-scenes responsibilities as stage manager for the Conductors’ Institute Orchestra, manager of the Hartt Contemporary Players, and producing aspects of the first Performance 20/20 CD recording.

What is next for you?

I plan to continue to work with the ever-rising Louisville Orchestra and collaborate in a recording project with my chamber music group, the Ceruti Chamber Players. I also will serve on the Executive Board of the local chapter of the American Federation of Musicians.

If people to get in touch, how can they do so?

Trevoboe1@msn.com and https://www.facebook.com/trevor.johnson.3766952

5 Questions with Javier Colon

Javier Colon (B.M. 2000) studied Music Education at Hartt from 1995 to 2000.  He is currently living in West Hartford.

What have you been up to since you graduated from Hartt?

A couple months after graduating from Hartt, I was asked to be the lead singer of a band called The Derek Trucks Band. (Now known as the Tedeschi Trucks Band.) It was my 1st touring gig as a musician and I got to see what being on the road was like. I learned so much from Derek, who I believe is one of the best guitarists out there. I was with him for almost 2 years before I left the band to pursue a solo career. I signed to Capitol Records as a solo artist in 2002 and released albums with them in 2003 and 2006. The albums had moderate success but I was eventually dropped from Capitol and found myself searching for a new deal. 

After 5 years and many meetings with labels but no offers, I found myself in a tough position. I still toured as much as I could doing mainly college and corporate gigs but it was getting to the point where it wasn’t enough to support my family. Right around that time, my management had heard about a new show called “The Voice” that was starting up. After being talked into auditioning by my family and friends, I made it on the show and eventually won the 1st season. It was an amazing experience and opportunity that changed the course of my career and life. 

What are you involved with right now?

I continue to tour the US and the world with my music and will be releasing a new album with the new label I recently signed with, Concord Music Group. 

What is one of your most memorable things about your time at Hartt?  What is a career highlight?

5 Questions with Bernadette Baker

Bernadette Baker (Bachelor of Music 1994) studied Violin Performance at Hartt from 1990 to 1994.  She is currently living in Melbourne VIC Australia.

What have you been up to since you graduated from Hartt?

Well, I’ve moved around a lot! I lived in Boston for a year and a half, then Dallas for 8 years, then back to Racine WI for a year and a half, and then I moved to Melbourne, Australia 10 years ago, which is where I now happily reside. In that time I’ve done a lot of freelance playing and private teaching, as well as working “normal jobs.”

What are you involved with right now?

I’m currently playing in the Melbourne Opera Orchestra, which I started playing in shortly after moving to Melbourne. They have become like my second family, this group of musicians. I thoroughly enjoy making music with them and I am in love with the operatic repertoire. This became a springboard for my other music project, my violin duo, Operatic Strings. In 2008 started making arrangements of my favourite opera arias for two violins as a way of being able to play this amazing music whenever I wanted. My concept then grew to include musical theatre songs, standard classical tunes and some popular music. I asked my friend and colleague Emma to play through the arrangements with me to see if they worked, et voila! We play for weddings, special occasions, and we put on regular concerts for fun and entertainment.

What is one of your most memorable things about your time at Hartt?