Jenece Gerber earned a BA at Bowling Green State University (1995) in a self-designed program of study in Ethnomusicology with an emphasis in Music Composition and a minor in Women's Studies. MMus University of Akron (2005) in Music Composition. Also just a recital short of the MMus from the University of Akron in Vocal Performance. Beginning PhD work at SUNY Buffalo in Music Composition in Fall 2005.

Special studies in Balinese Music on Bali, Indonesia (summer 1993), 1995 National Winner of the MTNA/CPP-Belwin Student Composition Competition (collegiate division), member of ASCAP, SCI, AMC, and IAWM. Upcoming event: "Oregon Sketches" for solo piano to be performed at SCI National Convention in Greensboro, NC.

Currently serving as Teaching Assistant in Music Composition at Brevard Music Center (Summer 2005).


Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Fireworks!

In response to one reader's comment in regard to my mention of alcohol, let it be known that I do not condone the use of alcohol by any underage students NOR the abuse of alcohol by anyone. These scenarios are NOT my scene.

For the 4th of July we had two parties, one for the YAs ("Young Artists") and one for the ADs ("Advanced Divisions"). Both were held fairly close, the YA's party at Sonata Lake and the AD's (nonalcoholic) party at FRENCH QUARTER. The only folks allowed at both parties were the Head Residents/Deans of Students, so I can't report with a first-person account on the success of the YA party. The AD party was a "bring your own meat, veggies, and drink" affair. I was surprised to find "veggie brats" in the local supermarket. I shared them with other vegetarian/mostly vegetarian friends...they were a rare treat, as was the grilled asparagus. After dark there were fireworks from the meadow area near Sonata Lake, for the viewing pleasure of YAs and ADs alike. And quite a showing it was, in fact. Rather spectacular, especially for a private party.

Our guest composer is now in residence. Don Freund is no newbie to the Brevard scene. He will be working with the studio class every weekday and teaching private lessons. I had my first lesson yesterday, followed by a JULY 5th PORCH PARTY at the Composers' Cottage. Dr. Freund is amiable, well-spoken, and insightful. I think it will prove a useful experience for all the composition students involved.

Joshua Bell made his Brevard Music Center debut on Sunday, which was a sell-out show in which he played the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra under the direction of Maestro David Effron. A lot of students crowded into the pit for the best view in town. Swooning young women were in abundance and Mr. Bell was quite approachable, even attending a party on campus one night and a celebration in town later on Sunday night. It was good to see a classical performer who knows that there's more to life than practice rooms and stages. The BMCO also performed Sibelius' "The Swan of Tuonela" and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 12. Shostakovich finished this symphony in 1961. It was not without a dose of despair that I had to think that surely Shostakovich's symphonies are among the most recently-composed works to have become standard orchestral repertoire. I'd like to say that things are different here as far as new music is concerned, but the truth is that the performance of new music here at Brevard is similar to its plight in the "outside world". There has been some effort to arrange a New Music Ensemble here at Brevard this year, but it's having a hard time getting off the ground...as is the case with New Music Ensembles the world 'round. There are a few performers committed to new music performance, and we have to embrace them here just as we do "out there".

And one more bit of fireworks...you've not seen anything until you've seen the smoldering of tempers of those who would rather not live communally but have to or are willing to put up with it for other advantages (the group in which I put myself). Despite the "chore list" in my cabin, only a couple of us demonstrate that we really care to make a difference. It's one thing to not want to clean/put off cleaning for later when it's only YOU that has to deal with it, but we have different "clean enough" limits. I promise not to gripe about after today's post, but because I'd actually cleaned the entire bathroom myself on what was supposed to be MY WEEK OFF, I decided to let the trash can mess created by (undoubtedly) our friendly neighborhood raccoon(s) for someone else to clean up. Admittedly that's not a good attitude, but I was fed up and curious. There IS someone assigned to empty the trash and someone else assigned to clean the porch. All I know is that it hadn't been touched/cleaned at all in 24 hours. I haven't been back to see what has become of it today, but I vow to clean it today if no one else had (and give them all a little mental black mark).

To end on a good note, since I've accomplished so much on my Pierrot ensemble piece (with singer)for our New Music Ensemble, I've decided to expand it to three movements, all using poetry that I wrote a couple of years ago. The first movement is in revision stage, the second movement is 2/3 written and the third movement is started. I have accomplished more here in a week than I'd accomplished at home in a month.
posted by Jenece C. Gerber