What's New:

2008 Honor’s Recital Audition Results

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected, based
on their outstanding performances (2/26, 2/28), to represent the
department on the 2008 Honors Recital, Sunday, 4/6/08.

Allegra Fisher, Piano
Sarah McQuere, Violin
Theodore Musick, Marimba
Juan Rodriguez, Trumpet
Manuel Tábora, Violin

Thank you to all who auditioned.

April Flutes Day at Washburn UniversityWashburn University

Saturday, March 29, 2008
Garvey Center, Rooms 218 and 220
Washburn University, Topeka, KS.

The Washburn University Flute Association is pleased to announce their third annual youth flute event, "April Flutes Day" scheduled for Saturday, March 29th, 2008, on the Washburn University campus, Topeka, KS. The event includes musical games, Solo and Ensemble coaching, lunch, and guest flutist, Matthew Allison, who will be helping participants with posture. The event is open to all elementary through high school ages.  The registration fee is $12.00 and advanced t-shirt orders are available. Please contact Rebecca Meador at 785.670.1518 or rebecca.meador@washburn.edu for further information.

Click for the Event Information PDF

The Washburn University Department of Music is pleased to announce the 2008-2009 Honors Woodwind Quintet:

Samantha Kostelecky, Flute
José Salazar, Oboe
Amanda Mayo, Clarinet
Natalie Moreland, Bassoon
Raul Rodriguez, Horn

Members were selected by competitive audition on Tuesday, February 5,
2008.  The group will be coached by Cindy Thompson, Instructor of Oboe.
Congratulation and best wishes for a successful season.

Washburn University Wind Ensemble
The Washburn Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the Southwest Region College Band Directors National Association conference held on the campus of UMKC on Friday, February 29, 2:00pm.

The following two Washburn Music Ensembles have been accepted by competitve audition to perform at the annual Kansas Music Educator's Convention in Wichita, KS in March 2008.

Washburn University Symphony Orchestra
The Washburn University Symphony Orchestra will perform on Saturday, March 1, 2008, 11:30 a.m.

Washburn Faculty Brass Trio
The Washburn Faculty Brass Trio has been selected to perform at the annual KMEA convention on Saturday March 1, 2008, 9:00 - 9:35 a.m. The trio consists of Raquel Rodriquez, trumpet; Stephanie Bryan, trombone; and Curtis Vellenga, FrenchHorn .

April Flutes Day at Washburn University

Saturday, March 31, 2007
Garvey Center
Washburn University, Topeka, KS.

The Washburn University Flute Association is pleased to announce their second annual youth flute event, "April Flutes Day" scheduled for Saturday, March 31st, 2007, on the Washburn University campus, Topeka, KS. The event includes musical games, Solo and Ensemble coaching, lunch, and guest dance instructor, Erin Willard, who will be teaching participants various dances from the Baroque suite (minuet, allemande, etc.) in an effort to help students with dance movement phrasing and history. The event is open to all elementary through high school ages.
The registration fee is $12.00 and advanced t-shirt orders are available. Please contact Rebecca Meador at 785.670.1518 or rebecca.meador@washburn.edu for further information.

See attachment for more event information.

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Announcing the Third Annual
Northeast Kansas Total Percussion Camp
July 15th -19th
Washburn University Campus
Open to campers from 7th-12th grades

Featuring Jeff Moore
Former Director of Percussion - Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps
Directors
Dr. Thomas Morgan
-Director of Percussion - Washburn University
                        -Freelance Drumset/percussion - Kansas City Area
Keith Mallory
                         -Director of Marching Percussion - Washburn University
                         -Former Member of Argonne Rebals; Sky Riders Drum Corps
                         -Freelance Drumset/percussion - Kansas City Area
            Dr. Lisa Rogers
                        -Associate Professor of Percussion – Texas Tech University
                        -Vice President – Percussive Arts Society

            Additional Faculty will consist of area percussion directors and WU percussion students.

MARCHING PERCUSSION instruction will include basic technique, warm ups
and cadences.  Students will be put in individual drumlines for full line and sectional
rehearsals.  Their activities will culminate with a performance for parents and friends
on Wednesday afternoon.  The campers' drumline experience will provide them with
the tools and information necessary to enhance their school drumline/marching band performance. 
DRUMSET instruction will include jazz, rock, funk and ethnic styles.  Interspersed throughout the
camp will be hands on clinics on drumset techniques and performance.  Campers will receive
instruction and written materials they can apply to their school jazz ensemble performance.
ADDITIONAL CLINICS on timpani, keyboard percussion, and accessories will be presented daily.

Registration fee - $100. 00  (This fee guarantees reservation and is non-refundable)
Registration Deadline: May 1, 2007.
Total camp fee - $375.00 which includes both room and board.  This includes the $100.00 registration fee. 
(Campers stay in the new Living Learning Center)

For more information call Tom Morgan at (785) 670-1521 or email at tom.morgan@washburn .edu.

Download the Northeast Kansas Total Percussion Camp Registration Form

A minimum $100.00 non-refundable deposit is required with this application.  Registration Deadline: May 1, 2007.
All remaining fees are due by Sunday July 15th (camper's total cost - $375.00, minus $100.00 registration fee leaves
a balance of $275.00.  Register by sending check or money order along with completed registration form below to:
Dr. Tom Morgan, Department of Music, Washburn University, Topeka KS, 66621.  Please make check to W.U Percussion.

Flute Masterclass:
Saturday, March 24, 2007
1:00-2:30 pm
White Concert Hall
Washburn University
1700 SW College Ave
Topeka, KS 66621

In cooperation with the Kansas Arts Commission, the Topeka Symphony, and
the Washburn University Music Department we are pleased to present a mini
recital and masterclass by two members of the National Symphony Orchestra
flute section - Toshiko Kohno, Principal Flute and Aaron Goldman,Assistant
Principal Flute.  This event is free to all flutists, however a registration form
must be received by Monday, March 19, 2007 via mail or email in order to
reserve a seat at the Saturday afternoon event.  This event is suggested for all
levels of interest and development.  Please contact Ronda Benson Ford and
Rebecca Meador at 785.670.1518 or rebecca.meador@washburn.edu for further information.
See attachment for more event information.

Congratulations to Music Education major,
Aaron Thomas,
on his newly published percussion piece, "Fiero-A Groove for Timpani." The composition was originally written for a student to be played at regional & State Solo Festival. Upon request by Robert Scheitroma of Drop6 Media, the work was developed into a three movement suite that combines tonal function, and rhythmic adaptations that give the work a funk/groove feel while still employing advanced techniques required of aclassically timpanist/percussionist.  The work was revealed in the 2006 Drop6 catalogue during the 2006 Percussive Arts Society International Convention.  An audio
release of the 1st movement, performed by Music Education major, Jason Degenhardt, can be heard on the Drop6 soloist series CD available through Drop6 Media.

KMTA Collegiate State Competition
String students represented Washburn University wonderfully this
weekend at the Kansas Music Teachers Association (KMTA)Collegiate
State Competition.

In the Freshman/Sophomore category winners are:

Carlos Cabezas (violin) - Gold Medal
Samuel Cho (cello) - Silver Medal
Ivonne Gamboa (cello) - Bronze Medal

In the Junior/Senior category winners are:

Sarah McQuere (violin) - Gold Medal
Shannon Coffman (violin) - Silver Medal
Christina Craig (cello) - Bronze Medal
Nathan Mark (violin) - Certificate

In the Graduate Category:

Tomas Korcinski (cello) - Gold Medal

Congratulations to our award winning string students.  Dr. Larisa
Elisha and I are very proud of their great work and accomplishments!

The following three Washburn Music Ensembles have been accepted by competitve audition to perform at the annual Kansas Music Educator's Convention in Wichita, KS in Feb. 2007.

Washburn University Wind Ensemble
The Washburn Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the
prestigious Friday Evening Highlight Concert on Feb. 23, 2007. The band will present a 40 minute concert in the Century II Concert Hall at 8:45 p.m. Dr. Kirt Saville, conductor. Only one university band is selected to perform at this annual concert. The Wind Ensemble consists of 45 musicians who are selected by audition.

Washburn Percussion Ensemble
The Washburn Percussion Ensemble has been selected to perform at the annual KMEA convention on Saturday Feb. 24, 2007, 8:55 - 9:30 a.m. Dr. Thomas Morgan, Conductor.

Washburn Faculty Woodwind Trio
Congratulation to the Washburn University Faculty Woodwind Trio on being selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference on February 24th, 2007, 9:05 - 9:40 am. The trio includes Rebecca Meador – flute, Kirt Saville – clarinet, and Kim Krutz -bassoon. The group will be joined by guest performers Tabitha Reist Steiner -harp, and Tom Morgan - percussion. The ensemble will be performing works by Edvard Grieg that have been arranged for the chamber group by Kirt Saville.

The Washburn University Music Department is pleased to announce
Raquel Rodriquez
as the new instructor of trumpet and coordinator of brass studies.  Ms. Rodriquez is finishing her work on a DMA in Trumpet Performance at the University of North Texas with a secondary emphasis in Wind Conducting.  Ms. Rodriquez currently performs with theFort Bend Symphony Orchestra, Galveston Symphony Orchestra, and Houston Sinfonietta.  In 1999 she was a cast member of "Blast" (London, England).  She is an accomplished performer and educator and we are looking forward to having her on campus.   

The Washburn University Music Department is very proud of recent graduate, Jeff Kready who secured a position in the cast of the 2006 Broadway revival of Les Miserables. Jeff is cast as Babet, a featured role, and also is the understudy for the lead role of Jean Val Jean.

Jeff attended Washburn from 2001 to 2005 as a music education major and graduated summa cum laude with a 4.00 GPA. While maintaining a reputation as an excellent music student, Jeff held down at least two jobs and appeared in many local productions, often in a leading role. Jeff was also a member of the Topeka Festival Singers for three years, performing both as a choir member and a soloist.

Jeff has been recognized as an outstanding performer since his debut with the Topeka Civic Theater at the age of eight when he played the title role in Oliver. During the 2004 National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Competition in Hastings, Nebraska, Jeff won first place in the Musical Theater division and second place in the classical singing division, singing “Lonely House” from Street Scene by Bertold Brecht.

He is married to Courtney Self, another multi-talented performer. We look forward to their promising careers.

Congratulations to Jessica Halpin, junior flute performance major, and Joshua Pierson, junior trumpet performance major, for being accepted into the Las Vegas Music Festival, (July 24-August 13, 2006). Orchestral repertoire for summer 2006 includes works by Phillipe Bodin, Ivan Karabyts, Gustav Mahler, Wolfgang A. Mozart, Maurice Ravel, Huang Ruo, Arnold Schoenberg, William Schuman, Robert Schumann, Jean Sibelius, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern.

Congratulation to the following music students for being awarded a 2006 Washburn Undergraduate Creative and Scholarly Innovation (WU-CSI) Summer Fellowship Grant. The purpose of this grant is to support self-directed student research. Past music department grant activities have included music compositions, recording projects, and surveys. Project summaries will be presented on 8/18/06 in Carole Chapel on the Washburn University campus.

Congratulations to the Topeka SAI Alumnae Chapter for receiving the 2005-2006 National Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award.  The alumnae chapter was recognized at a recent convention in Orlando, Florida. Ginger Patterson, Past President, accepted the award on behalf of the group.  Their activities and accomplishments have made them leaders in the National Arts community and we are pleased and honored to be associated with them at Washburn University.