K-State department of music to feature top student performers at honors recital

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Source: Cora Cooper, 785-532-3820, corac@k-state.edu

Friday, April 13, 2007

K-STATE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC TO FEATURE TOP STUDENT PERFORMERS AT HONORS RECITAL

MANHATTAN -- Seven music students at Kansas State University have been selected to perform at the department of music's second annual Honors Recital. The recital will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in All Faiths Chapel.

The students were selected through two rounds of competition. By earning a place in the recital, each student will receive a Certificate of Excellence and three will be chosen to receive scholarships by a panel of judges. The recital, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a reception in the Leavengood Courtyard at McCain Auditorium.

In addition to the scholarships awarded for the performances, several other scholarship winners will be announced at the end of the recital. These include the winners of the Lloyd R. Muir and Dick Mason scholarships and the Presser Award. One of the most prestigious honors available to K-State music students, the Presser Award is presented to a junior for musical and academic excellence. The recipient must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and have been named to the College of Arts and Sciences' Dean's List. At least one-third of the student's credits must be outside the field of music. The award honors the memory of Theodore Presser, American publisher and musical philanthropist, and is presented annually by the Presser Foundation.

New inductees to the Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society, also will be announced at the recital.

K-State students selected to perform at the Honors Recital include:

Adam Paxson, senior in horn performance, Chetopa. Paxson is currently studying with Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter, associate professor of music. He has been a member of the K-State Symphony Band, Orchestra, Brass Ensemble and Woodwind Quintet. He also is currently the fourth horn in the Topeka Symphony.

Amanda Jolly, senior in vocal music literature and instrumental music education, Goodland. At K-State, Jolly has participated in several ensembles including the K-State Choir and Chorale, Women's Glee Club, Symphony Band, Concert Band and University Band. She also has served as the assistant drum major of the K-State Marching Band for the last two seasons.

Jolly was a member of the chorus in K-State Opera's spring 2007 production of "Cosi Fan Tutte." She is a member of CMENC, the state collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education; and Tau Beta Sigma, the national honorary band sorority. Jolly studies voice with Jean Sloop, professor of music; flute with Mary Lee Cochran, associate professor of music; and conducting with Frank Tracz, professor of music and director of bands at K-State.

Chris Johnson, senior in music education, Marquette. A student of Tod Kerstetter, associate professor of music, Johnson plays clarinet in the K-State Orchestra and Symphony Band. He also enjoys playing piano and learning new instruments in anticipation of his career as a music educator.

Anthony Francisco, senior in vocal performance, Parsons. Francisco is studying voice with Reginald Pittman, associate professor of music and director of K-State Opera Theater. Francisco is a four-year member of the K-State Concert Choir, vice president of the K-State Opera Guild and a member of Delta Lambda Phi. He played Guglielmo in the K-State Opera's spring 2007 production of "Cosi Fan Tutte." Francisco will serve an apprenticeship at Opera in the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Ark. During this program, he will be performing Bartolo in "Le Nozze di Figaro," Elder Ott in "Susanah" and Yamadori in "Madama Butterfly."

Benjamin Beggs, senior in bass performance, Salina. His principal instructor is David Littrell, university distinguished professor of music. Beggs has been the principal of the K-State Orchestra's double bass section for the last three years. His solo performances include four full-length recitals and playing the Paganini Variations for One String on Themes from Rossini's "Moses in Egypt" with the K-State Orchestra in 2006. Beggs also performed with Manhattan's Gold Orchestra at its February 2006 performance at Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium in New York City. The orchestra is under the direction of Littrell. Following his graduation in May, Beggs intends to pursue a master's degree at either the University of North Texas or at Indiana University.

Nicholas Pool, junior in music education major, Salina. He currently studies saxophone under the direction of Anna Marie Wytko, instructor of music. Pool is a member of the K-State Symphony Band, Concert Jazz Ensemble and the Saxophone Quartet. He also has participated in various jazz combos, including Swing Machine and the K-State Funk Combo. In addition, he was invited to be a featured soloist with the University Band this semester. Pool is the recipient of several scholarships, including the Lloyd W. Muir Memorial Music Scholarship and the Earl Bane Memorial Scholarship. He also a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Janie Anthony, senior in music education with a vocal emphasis and secondary education-mathematics, Sterling. She is a member of the K-State Choir, plays principle oboe in the K-State Orchestra and is the piano accompanist for the K-State Chorale. Her operatic roles have included Desiree in Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," Dorabella in Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte" and Octavian in the opera workshop scene of Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier." Anthony was named a Presser Scholar and Outstanding Junior Music Major in 2005. In fall 2007, she will be a student teacher in Wamego and St. George, teaching both mathematics and music.