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Inspiring the next generation of musicians

WSU continues 28-year tradition with youth camp

Thirty-four adolescent musicians, adorned in matching red T-shirts, invaded the Washington State University Pullman campus on Sunday for the university’s week-long Summer Keyboard Exploration. They came from as far away as Singapore and as close as the Palouse.

The program, now in its 28th year, allowed the 7th- through 12th-grade performers the chance to improve themselves musically as well as worldly by working with the university’s School of Music faculty, studying classical and jazz piano, improvisation and organ.

Jeffrey Savage
Jeffrey Savage

WSU music professor Dr. Jeffrey Savage said the students had the opportunity to work with a different instructor each day of the camp, individually and together in a group setting during several master classes, concentrating on solo performance literature, technique and ensemble playing.

“I think they come away from the camp really inspired,” Savage said. “To get to know them as young students and then to help them develop as college students is really a treat.”

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News (login required)

May 16: WSU Museum of Art summer exhibit opens

The Museum of Art/WSU will present its summer exhibit “Points of Interest: Reflections on Place,” May 16-June 30.

Art

This exhibit offers a glimpse into the idea of place through the works of four WSU faculty members, including Ruth Boden, associate professor of music; Kevin Haas, professor of art/printmaking; Taiji Miyasaka, associate professor of architecture; and Linda Russo, clinical associate professor of English and poetry.

Each artist provides a unique, multifaceted view of place through their creativity and research. Supplementing and providing context to their inquiries will be selections of place-based works drawn from the museum’s permanent collection of over 3500 objects.

Admission to the exhibit is free.

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WSU News

Junior faculty receive seed funding from WSU

Three faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences are among the nine junior faculty from across WSU colleges and campuses who received New Faculty Seed Grants to kick-start development of their research, scholarly or creative portfolios.

Grant winners and their projects include:

  • Zachariah Heiden: Using fluorescent dyes for the generation of switchable catalysts, Department of Chemistry
  • Emily Huddart Kennedy: Green consumerism and social inequality, Department of Sociology
  • Shannon Scott: Asian and Asian American wind quintet commissions tour and recording project, School of Music

The Office of Research and Office of the Provost support the annual New Faculty Seed Grants to help junior faculty develop research, scholarly or creative programs that lead to sustained professional development and extramural funding.

Faculty who have been at WSU for less than four years were encouraged to send in proposals. This year, 49 proposals were received. Each proposal underwent a rigorous process that included a primary review by an emphasis area review panel, followed by a secondary review by the Research and Arts Committee.

The nine selected proposals represent the range of scholarly activity taking place at WSU. The total amount of grant funding is $259,280.

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WSU News

 

Arts & Sciences recognizes top faculty, staff, students

Fourteen faculty, six staff and six graduate students were honored for outstanding achievement at the 2017 College of Arts and Sciences Appreciation and Recognition Social in April.

Greg Yasinitsky
Greg Yasinitsky

Regents Professor Greg Yasinitsky, director of the School of Music and acclaimed saxophonist, received the college’s highest honor, the Distinguished Faculty award, in recognition of his 35-year career as an outstanding educator, world-class performer and prolific composer with more than 200 published original scores.

The WSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble recently premiered his composition “Drive,” written to commemorate the appointment of WSU’s 11th president.

College of Arts and Sciences awards poster
College of Arts and Sciences awards gallery

Outstanding seniors in each of the 24 College of Arts and Sciences’ undergraduate degree programs will be honored at a separate event on May 5, 2017.

To see all award recipients, go to the CAS online award gallery.

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WSU News

North West Montana Band Festival educates student musicians

Hamilton High School hosted the North West Montana Band Festival with bands from Hamilton, Stevensville, Polson, and Libby, on Jan. 30 and 31.

Troy Bennefield
Bennefield
Danh Pham
Pham

Guest directors Danh Pahm and Troy Bennefield, from the Washington State University School of Music, and Stephen Versaevel adjudicated the bands on Monday. The bands then combined into two bands and a percussion ensemble rehearsing music and studying musical concepts. The bands performed a Festival Gala Concert Tuesday evening in the Hamilton High School Performing Arts Center.

The three guest directors guided the student learning at the festival.

Danh Pham is an assistant professor of music and director of bands at WSU, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and serves as the coordinator of instrumental music education within the School of Music and as liaison to the College of Education.

Troy Bennefield is the associate director of bands and director of athletic bands at WSU, where he manages all aspects of the WSU athletic band program, conducts the Symphonic Band, and assists the director of bands with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and graduate conducting.

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