Keene State College Music Department

10/27/2024

We are so proud of our KSC scholarship singers who performed in the Viva Bach Peterborough Festival! Thanks to Executive Director Cathy Lanigan for working with the board to establish this partnership. We enjoyed and were inspired by conductor Colin Mann’s leadership and ability to shape the music and text so expressively!

Shown below: Emma Hunter, Iris Rojas, Dr. Sandra Howard, Colin Mann, Cathy Lanigan, James Slipp and Logan Phillips.

Not pictured here, but who we are equally proud of are two student interns Amber Farrell and Liz Borelli and KSC alumnus Kirk Bobkowski, who was a choral scholar on this project.

Until next year, Viva Bach!

10/26/2024

Make your way to Peterborough this Sunday at 3pm for this wonderful concert! Keene State singers have been collaborating on this great project.

10/22/2024

KSC Music has four scholarship student singers plus Dr. Howard participating in the upcoming Viva Bach Peterborough week. See below for ticket information!

Also joining the Festival Chorus this year are four students from the Keene State College Music Department who have received scholarships to sing with us! Big thanks to Dr. Sandra Howard for collaborating with us! The students are pictured below (left to right) are Emma Hunter, Dr. Howard, James Slipp, Logan Philips and Iris Rojas.

Tickets for this Sunday concert can be purchased here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/246d3778-c9e3-4d52-80a6-a6cceb67028b

10/21/2024

The 15th annual Cantate! High School Choral Festival was excellent!

We welcomed 200 high school students to campus from Keene HS, Goffstown HS, Brattleboro Union HS, Timberland Regional HS, and Milford HS brought pride and excellence into their performances. Our voice faculty clinicians elicited an amazing change of sound in the high school choirs performance quality. Our KSC Choirs brought their best professionalism and poise into their music-making. Kudos to our student ACDA chapter for hosting the festival. Congratulations to Keene State Concert Choir, Keene State College Chamber Singers, and Keene Vocal Consort for wonderful festival performances!

If you are interested in bringing your choir to next year's Cantate! High School Choral Festival, please email Dr. Sandra Howard: [email protected]

10/19/2024

Many thanks to KSC String Coordinator, Dr. Joe Darby in collaboration with KSC music faculty member Amanda Paul for hosting the 2024 ASTA Fall Festival on campus! It was such an exciting day for string students in the region!

10/17/2024

Come hear some choral music at noon on Friday, 10/18 in the Alumni Recital
Hall. Free and open to the public.

We're looking forward to the 15th Annual Cantate! High School Choral Festival hosted by the Keene State College Music Department here at the Redfern Arts Center. This event is free and open to the public; you won't want to miss out on all the music making, so we'll see you on the 18th!

10/17/2024

KSC’s Music Department had quite a showing at the NHMEA October Music Fest Conference. It was great to connect faculty-students-alumni for a rich day of professional development. A special congratulations to KSC Faculty Emeritus Dr. James Chesebrough for receiving the 2024 NHMEA Hall of Fame Award!

10/16/2024

Looking forward to presenting my lecture recital, “The Guitar in Latin America,” for the Jackson Public Library up in the beautiful White Mountains, on Nov. 19, Tuesday, at 7 pm. This event, free to the public, is sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. For more information, please text Linda Terry, (860) 930-9298 at the Library.

Welcome | Jackson Public Library (jacksonlibrary.org)

https://www.nhhumanities.org/programs/teacher/47/jose-lezcano

New Hampshire Humanities is celebrating 50 years! We provide wide-ranging and thought-provoking, humanities-based programs that connect people across New Hampshire

10/16/2024

Save the date!! NEBDI 2025 will take place at Keene State College July 7-9.

Our featured composer and clinician will be New Hampshire’s own Dr. Andrew Boysen from UNH Department of Music
We look forward to seeing you there!

10/09/2024

10/07/2024

We are so delighted that KSC scholarship singers and Dr. Sandra Howard are participating in this year's Viva Bach Festival!

10/04/2024

Cantate! season is here and we look forward to hosting choirs from Keene High School, Milford High School, Goffstown High School, Timberlane Regional High School and Brattleboro Union High School!

We're looking forward to the 15th Annual Cantate! High School Choral Festival hosted by the Keene State College Music Department here at the Redfern Arts Center. This event is free and open to the public; you won't want to miss out on all the music making, so we'll see you on the 18th!

09/29/2024

Many thanks to our NAfME and ACDA collegiate chapters for hosting a fall picnic on campus for our music students!

09/27/2024

We love hearing positive stories about the good work our KSC alumni do in their careers! Onward, Alice!

Welcome to Alice Browne! She says: "I'm so excited to be the new Music Teacher at Fuller School this year! I graduated from Keene State College as a member of the class of 2024, but I am originally from Boston. I'm so happy to be relocating to Keene full-time. This will be my first year teaching, and I look forward to sharing my passion with the students. My favorite part of teaching music is that it allows you to be silly, serious, and all things in between. When I'm not teaching, I enjoy playing video games, playing music, and walking up and down Main Street. Thank you all for welcoming me into the Keene community with open arms!"

Our best wishes for a great year, Alice!

09/18/2024

Apple Hill is hiring a full-time Director of Development to join our team!

This is a great opportunity to join an organization that is passionate about performing, teaching, and broadening the appreciation of chamber music. Accepting applications through Monday, October 7.

Learn more about the position and how to apply here: https://applehill.org/jobs/ 🌟

09/17/2024

We are so delighted that KSC choral faculty and selected student singers will perform in the upcoming Viva Bach Peterborough concert series!

We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Festival program! Come join us for three exciting concerts on October 25th-27th. For full details on the concerts and musicians, as well as our collaboration with the Greater Monadnock Youth Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs click on the link below. Tickets can be ordered direct on our website.https://static1.squarespace.com/static/63ced85cc5f2e9531f13d795/t/66e484bc9a6a0d11c7619e8d/1726252220888/Viva+Bach+2024+season+press+release.pdf

09/09/2024

Registration for the Keene State College High Brass Day will remain open until Friday, September 13th (the day before HBD), but it'd be best to get yourself registered before that! Visit our website: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/
Or just go ahead and register: https://tinyurl.com/mujua6kp

09/02/2024

We are so proud of our KSC Music adjunct faculty member Amanda Paul for all that she does to promote string music education in our region and for the mentorship she provides to our students!

Happy 15th Work Anniversary to Amanda Paul, Director of the KHS String Orchestra and the Keene Elementary String Program.

Amanda says: “the best part of my job is getting to share my love of music starting elementary string students and seeing them grow and become amazing people and musicians as their high school string orchestra director. Then after four years with them watch them graduate. Thank you to the Keene School District and to the community for their support of music in our schools.

When I am not teaching, you’ll find me either playing my instrument, running around town on the trails or hanging out with my husband and our basset hound Ernie and our cat Nelly.”

Here's to many more years! ❤️

08/30/2024

You haven't registered for Keene State College's High Brass Day, yet? Why not? But also, no problem! The registration deadline has been extended to September 13th. Get registered today!

High Brass Day 2024
September 14th, 2024

Pack your trumpets and horns and join us for a full-day celebration of all things High Brass. This event is an opportunity for trumpet and French horn players of all ages to come and learn from master clinicians. Through workshop sessions, master classes, and instrument-specific tracks, you will learn more about:
· playing technique · how to build good practice habits
· breath and body control · embouchure tips
· new repertoire for your instrument · what to look for when buying a new instrument
…and much more!

Introducing the 2024 Master Clinicians:
Phil Snedecor, trumpet – internationally renowned performer, Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School, and composer of popular étude books for trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba.
William Purvis – Grammy award winning performer, member of the New York Woodwind Quintet, and Professor of French Horn at Yale University.

In addition to their expert teaching and leadership, our Master Clinicians will perform some of their favorite repertoire, give one-on-one masterclasses (option to sign up for a masterclass on the Registration Page), and lead participants in instrument-specific rehearsals. It’s a privilege to welcome these two phenomenal performers and educators to Keene State College!

Industry Partner – The Music Wagon:
In the market for a new trumpet or horn? While you’re here, be sure to visit our lobby, where The Music Wagon, LLC will have a wide range of world-class trumpets and French horns (and more!) for you to try. Scott Abrahamson, owner and former music educator, will be there to help you select a new dream horn!

Evening Concert:
The day concludes with a performance and celebration of our wonderful high brass instruments in the Redfern Arts Center’s Recital Hall. This performance is open to the public, and participants will join the Master Clinicians and KSC Brass Faculty in an educational and entertaining concert!
Note: the concert is free, but tickets for audience members are required. Contact the Redfern Box Office at (603) 358-2168 to reserve tickets.

Event Registration:
Student (K-12 or collegiate): $40
General: $50
Registration includes snacks, lunch, and dinner!
Note: elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult (at no extra charge if not a participating instrumentalist).

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Masterclasses:
A masterclass is a great opportunity for intermediate and advanced players to receive one-on-one instruction on high brass repertoire from one of our Master Clinicians. College students and high school students—are you preparing for auditions for the next phase of your education? Yes? Then a masterclass is perfect for you! During Session 2, all trumpets and French horns will move to their own separate spaces. Masterclass students will receive approximately 20 minutes of one-on-one guidance and instruction from their clinician, with the other participants watching and learning. Taking notes while watching a masterclass is highly recommended—you can learn a lot from observing other peoples’ lessons. Masterclass sessions will also be video recorded and sent to masterclass students following the event.

If you would like to receive a masterclass:
• FIRST: email Dr. John Hart at [email protected] to request a masterclass, as space is limited! First come, first served. Please include the following information in your email request: title and composer of the repertoire you would like to play during your masterclass, plus a PDF of the repertoire. Pianists/pianos will not be used.
• IF ACCEPTED: register for the event and check the option for “Add Master Class with clinician” at checkout.

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Tentative Schedule:
8:30–9:30am Check-in, coffee, socializing, exhibits
9:30am Opening remarks
9:40am–12pm Session 1
12pm–2pm Lunch
Try out instruments in our lobby
Campus Tours (leaving from the Dining Commons)
2–4pm Session 2
4–4:15pm Snack Break / Teatime
4:15–6:30pm Session 3 (masterclasses, instrument-specific rehearsals)
6:15–7:15pm Dinner
7:15–7:30pm Warm up & staging
7:30–8:30pm Evening concert

Traveling to Keene State College:
All events will take place on the Keene State College campus and will start in the Redfern Arts Center. Set your GPS for:
Redfern Arts Center
90 Wyman Way
Keene, NH 03435

Details about parking, music to be played, hotel accommodations, dining, and all other information will be emailed to you following confirmation of your registration. Please ensure that emails from [email protected] are on your “safe” list.

We hope to see you on September 14th for the first biennial Keene State College High Brass Day!

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

08/14/2024

High Brass Day 2024
NEW DATE: September 14th, 2024

The Keene State College Music Department is pleased to invite you to our first-ever biennial High Brass Day!

Building on last year’s wildly successful Low Brass Day, this year is all about trumpet and French horn!

Pack your trumpets and horns and join us for a full-day celebration of all things High Brass. Led by KSC’s own brass faculty (Dr. John Hart, Seelan Manickam, Dr. Kris Danielsen, Paul Hadley) and two world-renowned high brass performers and teachers, this event is an opportunity for trumpet and French horn players of all ages to come and learn from master clinicians. Through workshop sessions, master classes, and instrument-specific tracks, you will learn more about:
· playing technique · how to build good practice habits
· breath and body control · embouchure tips
· new repertoire for your instrument · what to look for when buying a new instrument
…and much more!

Introducing the 2024 Master Clinicians:

Phil Snedecor, trumpet – internationally renowned performer, Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School, and composer of popular étude books for trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba.

William Purvis – Grammy award winning performer, member of the New York Woodwind Quintet, and Professor of French Horn at Yale University.

In addition to their expert teaching and leadership, our Master Clinicians will perform some of their favorite repertoire, give one-on-one masterclasses (option to sign up for a masterclass on the Registration Page), and lead participants in instrument-specific rehearsals. It’s a privilege to welcome these two phenomenal performers and educators to Keene State College!

Industry Partner – The Music Wagon:
In the market for a new trumpet or horn? While you’re here, be sure to visit our lobby, where The Music Wagon, LLC will have a wide range of world-class trumpets and French horns (and more!) for you to try. Scott Abrahamson, owner and former music educator, will be there to help you select a new dream horn!

Evening Concert:
The day concludes with a large-scale performance and celebration of our wonderful high brass instruments in the Redfern Arts Center’s Main Theater. This performance is open to the public, and participants will join the KSC Brass Ensembles and the Master Clinicians in a massive high-brass ensemble that’s sure to excite, educate, and entertain!
Note: the concert is free, but tickets for audience members are required. Contact the Redfern Box Office at (603) 358-2168 to reserve tickets.

Event Registration:
Student (K-12 or collegiate): $40
General: $50
Registration includes snacks, lunch, and dinner!
Note: elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult (at no extra charge if not a participating instrumentalist).

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Masterclasses:
A masterclass is a great opportunity for intermediate and advanced players to receive one-on-one instruction on high brass repertoire from one of our Master Clinicians. College students and high school students—are you preparing for auditions for the next phase of your education? Yes? Then a masterclass is perfect for you! During Session 2, all trumpets and French horns will move to their own separate spaces. Masterclass students will receive approximately 20 minutes of one-on-one guidance and instruction from their clinician, with the other participants watching and learning. Taking notes while watching a masterclass is highly recommended—you can learn a lot from observing other peoples’ lessons. Masterclass sessions will also be video recorded and sent to masterclass students following the event.

If you would like to receive a masterclass:
• FIRST: email Dr. John Hart at [email protected] to request a masterclass, as space is limited! First come, first served. Please include the following information in your email request: title and composer of the repertoire you would like to play during your masterclass, plus a PDF of the repertoire. Pianists/pianos will not be used.
• IF ACCEPTED: register for the event and check the option for “Add Master Class with clinician” at checkout.

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Tentative Schedule:
8–9am Check-in, coffee, socializing, exhibits
9am Opening remarks & performances
10am–12pm Session 1
12pm–2pm Lunch
Try out instruments in our lobby
Campus Tours (leaving from the Dining Commons)
2–4pm Session 2
4–4:15pm Snack Break / Teatime
4:15–6:30pm Massed ensemble rehearsal
6:30–7:15pm Dinner
7:15–7:30pm Warm up & staging
7:30–8:30pm Performance with KSC Brass, Master Clinicians, and High Brass Day Ensemble

Traveling to Keene State College:
All events will take place on the Keene State College campus and will start in the Redfern Arts Center. Set your GPS for:
Redfern Arts Center
90 Wyman Way
Keene, NH 03435

Details about parking, music to be played, hotel accommodations, dining, and all other information will be emailed to you following confirmation of your registration. Please ensure that emails from [email protected] are on your “safe” list.
We hope to see you on September 14th for the first biennial Keene State College High Brass Day!

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

07/25/2024

This summer, our illustrious Coordinator of Keyboard Studies, Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova, was honored with a Ewing Award. This video offers a nice window into the incredible connection that Dr. Wright makes between her professional work "in the field" and her deep commitment to our students. We see every day how she inspires our students, and it's wonderful to see her getting recognized for it in the greater community. Congratulations, Dr. Wright!

Christina Wright-Ivanova is the winner of a 2024 Ewing Arts Award in the category of performing arts. Video by Hannah Schroeder / Sentinel Staff

07/06/2024

Many of our music students are continuing studies and work in the music progression this summer! Elise Lowe (B.M. Music Education, '24) and Logan Phillips (B.M. Music Performance & B.M. Music Education , '25) participated and performed in the Sarteano (Italy) Choral Workshop. Tori Young (B.M. Music Performance, '25) and James Slipp (B.M. Music Performance, '25) are working at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. And, not pictured, because he's behind the scenes, is Kyle Martin (B.M. Music Technology, '25), who recently worked as a recording engineer apprentice for the Zenith Ensemble performance series. Kudos to these students bridging theory into professional practice!