News

Andrew O. Hallock (BM, 2002, Music Composition) and the five other musicians in the ensemble "Sopra il Basso", based out of the Hague, Netherlands, have been invited to become the Resident Ensemble for 2012 at the Academie Ambronay in France.

After graduating from UT Austin in 2002, Hallock moved to Europe to study singing at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague; he graduated in 2009. Hallock also works as a freelance instrument maker, producing a variety of historical woodwind instruments in his workshop in the Hague.

The Texas Guitar Quartet, comprised of BSoM graduates Isaac Bustos (DMA, Music, 2010), Jonathan Dotson (DMA, Music, 2010), Alejandro Montiel, (DMA, Music, 2009) and Joseph Williams II, released their debut album titled "Red" in March of 2012. Produced in Houston, the recording contains new pieces and arrangements for guitar quartet, including the world-premiere recording of Antoine de Lhoyer's "Air Varié et dialogué" and Joseph Williams' "Red" quartet. For more information, please visit www.txgq.net.

The Virtuosi Quintet, founded by alumnus James Jeter (BM, 1971), bassonist, performed the world premiere of Jim Lahti's "Woodwind Quintet," written for Dr. Jeter, on March 25, 2012 at St. Malachy's Church in New York City. Works of Bach, Bozza, Grieg and Reicha were also featured. The other members of the Virtuosi include Karla Moe, flute, Bette Condon, oboe, Larry Tietze, clarinet, and Janet Lantz, horn.

David Cloyd (BM, Music Performance, 1998) offers up a fresh take on a Paul McCartney classic—"Dear Boy" from the 1971 album Ram. "David's talents as a multi-instrumentalist and his vocal work on the song 'Unhand Me, You Fiend!' made 'Dear Boy' both an obvious choice and an ideal challenge for a new recording," says producer Blake Morgan.  Worldwide Release TODAY, September 13th, 2011 on Engine Company Records. Watch the Official YouTube Video: HERE Worldwide Release TODAY, September 13th, 2011 on Engine Company Records

Following the release and success of recording artist David Cloyd’s (B.M., Music Performance, 1998) second album, I Could Disappear, Cloyd has been named Vice President of New York City record label Engine Company Records. While Cloyd is currently writing material for his next album, he and ECR are releasing a new worldwide single in August 2011, available on iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, and everywhere else music is sold. Visit the ECR website at www.EngineCompanyRecords.com for more information.

Dr. Kayoko Dan (B.M., Music Studies, ’00) has been announced, after a two year search, as the new music director at the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera.  Dan has been selected as the eighth Music Director of the CSO and the first woman to hold the position.

Kim Perlak (D.M.A., ’08) is a classical guitarist, scholar, and educator whose versatile and inclusive approach to music values new composition, multi-stylistic collaboration, the expression of American culture, and public service.

Perlak is on the faculty of Concordia University Texas, Austin Community College, and the National Guitar Workshop. 

See Perlak this Sunday, April 3^rd at 3pm at Concordia University-Texas for "Ben and I Play for Peace," an instrumental concert in the classical and jazz styles.  This concert will help raise money for disabled children in Iraq.  Suggested donations for this event are $25 for general admission and $10 for students.

Butler School of Music Alumni have joined forces with 13yr old guitarist Ben Werdegar, CNN Hero Brad Blauser, and classical musicians from across the country to purchase wheelchairs for disabled children in Iraq. This concert event, “Ben & I Play for Peace” will take place on April 3, 2011 at 3 p.m. in Austin, TX and in two “sister cities” - Denver, CO and Sarasota, FL. The proceeds will benefit Blauser’s “Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids”, adding to Ben’s personal fund raising total of $19,000 - which he raised by playing at his neighborhood coffee shop in San Francisco. This event was conceived by Austin guitarist and professor Dr. Kim Perlak (Butler School of Music - DMA 2008) after meeting Werdegar at the 2010 Verdery Guitar Masterclass in Kihei, Maui, run by critically acclaimed guitarist/composer Benjamin Verdery. The Austin program will include the world premiere of a work by composed by Verdery especially for this event. Perlak and Werdegar will be joined by additional Butler School of Music Alumni: Karla Hamelin, cello; Ellen Johnson, flute; Blythe Cates, voice; Eric Miller, bassoon; Tenly Williams, oboe; Josh Davies, trumpet; Amy Harris, violin. For ticket information and to donate, please visit: www.kimperlak.com  and click on "ben-and-i-play-for-peace". WHERE: Austin Concert: Concordia University Auditorium; Building A; 11400 Concordia Univevrsity Drive; Austin, TX 78726 - WHEN: Sunday April 3, 2011 @ 3pm  ADMISSION: Donations accepted at the door.

B. Suzanne Hassler (M.A., ’91) received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship to attend the NEA Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in fall 2010. The institute, co-directed by András Szántó and Anya Grundmann, included study with noted artistic director and author Joseph Horowitz. In addition to daily sessions taught by Columbia University faculty and invited experts, the institute included performances by Joshua Bell, Jeremy Denk, René Pape, Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Philharmonic.

For more information on the NEA Arts Journalism Institute visit http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/page/217-nea-arts-journalism-institute-in-classical-music-and-opera/218.

Cherise Lukow (B.M., Music Performance, 2009) moved to Paris after graduation, and has performed as a FAVA guest artist for the city of Paris at both the l’Hôtel de Ville de Paris and la Residence de l’Ambassadeur des Etats-Unis. She was awarded the top prize for female voice in FAVA’s Grands Concours de Chant, and signed with the Added-Lewis International Artists Agency. She also received the first prize mention marked “à l’unanimité avec les félicitations du jury” at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris.