| 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).
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, July 25, 2005
The Thrill
 There's a lot of thrill going on around here right about now. Although we've had to say goodbye to our visitor Don Freund, this Friday (July 29th) brings the first of three performances of student works (free and open to the public at 6pm in Searcy Hall, for those who might like to attend). My piece entitled Three Dream Songs will be premiered then, along with works by Alex Kotch, Lee Hartman, Michael Bies, and Morgan Eiland. My piece is the longest on the program, and was written entirely while in residence here. It's comprised of three movements and is set to text I wrote several years ago. The instrumentation is flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, cello and medium-high voice (in this performance, a full lyric soprano). Putting the ensemble together, conducting it, and anticipating its first performance is a thrill. I have to admit that finding rehearsal space for such an ad-hoc ensemble is not.
This past weekend brought us a rousing performance of Sweeney Todd, Strauss' Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, and Mahler 4, as well as a stunning performance by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. It's no exaggeration that Sweeney Todd is my favorite musical, Mahler is one of my favorite symphonic composers, and that von Stade was the first singer that I ever heard that inspired me to be an opera singer. This week, then, along with New Music premieres comes my primary composition teacher for the last two years, Daniel McCarthy, for the premiere of his Bassoon Concerto with Barrick Stees and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra under the direction of guest director Steven Smith. It's certainly OHIO week at Brevard, because the Miami Quartet (in residence at Kent State) is also visiting/performing and holding masterclasses and coachings this week.
Still, I'm thankful to have the thrill of the wild nature to round out the adventure. This picture is from the John Rock trail in the Pisgah National Forest, just 20 minutes from here, where I endeavored to hike on Saturday morning with violist Jim Lichtenberger (seen here in the photo). Never mind that we missed the fork in the trail and hiked up the steep part of the trail to the top of the mountain before finding another trail that eventually did lead us up to John Rock (with its spectacular panoramic view).
posted by Jenece C. Gerber
| |
