Class Notes

Eastman School of Music

1941

D. Stanley Hasty (see ’59).

1957

In November, the Eastman School held two concerts to honor the 80th birthday of Sydney Hodkinson ’58 (MM). Sydney was present for the events, as well as the rehearsals, and held a composition symposium. The Eastman Wind Ensemble and Musica Nova performed a variety of Sydney’s works, including Some Assembly Required, Symphony No. 10, and Stolen Goods—as well as repertoire that complemented his compositions. He’s written more than 250 works and taught at Eastman from 1973 to 1999, after which he was named professor emeritus of conducting and ensembles. While at Eastman, he directed the Musica Nova Ensemble as well as the Kilbourn Orchestra. He holds the Almand Chair of Composition at Stetson University.

1959

Ned Corman has written a memoir, Now’s the Time: A Story of Music, Education, and Advocacy (Epigraph). The book includes forewords by the late D. Stanley Hasty ’41, Ron Carter, Chuck Mangione ’63, and Fred Wesley.

1963

Chuck Mangione (see ’59).

1969

Bob Becker ’71 (MM) has released a CD, Alabama Moon: A Salute to George Hamilton Green (Xylomusic). Marimbist Yurika Kimura accompanies Bob on the recording.

1970

Geary Larrick (MM) writes that he performed a concert for youth at the Gesell Institute at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where he’s a retired music professor. The concert featured the premiere of his composition In Five for solo drum. He adds he’s written a review of music for strings and percussion produced at the University of Florida by the McCormick Percussion Group. The review appeared in the summer 2014 edition of the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Journal. He also wrote an article, “Creativity and Discipline in Percussion Music,” in the fall 2014 edition of the same journal. . . . Art Michaels writes that his concert band piece Bluesy Chalumeau Cha-Cha will be published by Alry Publications. In addition, his wind ensemble piece Euphotrombotonia was one of five winners in the third annual Sul Ross State University Wind Ensemble Composition Contest. It was performed in the winner’s concert last October.

1971

Bob Becker (MM) (see ’69).

1974

Jazz pianist Phil Markowitz has released a CD, Perpetuity (Dot Time Records), with violinist Zach Brock. The recording consists of 10 original tracks. Joining them on the recording are bassists Jay Anderson and Lincoln Goines, drummer Obed Calvaire, and percussionist Edson (Café) Da Silva.

1975

Leigh Stevens writes that Keyboard Percussion Publications will publish a new edition of J. S. Bach’s Six Suites for Violoncello, which Leigh has transcribed for marimba. The edition includes an introduction and musical text edited by Swiss Bach scholar Dominik Sackman, as well as the “Marimbists’ Guide to Performing Bach,” 17 sections covering tempo, ornamentation, articulation, mallet choice, and the production of legato.

1980

Sidney Friedman, based in Chicago, is a self-described mentalist who provides corporate entertainment in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and abroad. Among his signature performances is “Music Mind Reading,” a feat of magic and music in which he guesses the melody in your mind, and plays it on the piano for the audience. He’s appeared on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s 20/20, and other shows, and has offered most recently “Eight Outstanding Tips for Hiring the Right Entertainment” on his website, www.sidneyfriedman.com.

1997

David Hamilton (MM), ’13W (EdD) has been named superintendent of the Baldwinsville Central School District in Onondaga County, New York.

2000

Kelley Tatro (see ’00 College).

2001

Cellist Mimi Furuya writes that October marked the beginning of the inaugural concert season of the Furuya Sisters, a trio consisting of her and her sisters, Sakiko, a pianist, and Harumi, a violinist. The trio is performing in the New York Tri-State Area.

2002

Nancia Stover D’Alimonte (DMA) is the music director and conductor of the NIH Philharmonia, an all-volunteer orchestra made up of scientists, federal workers, and other community members of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The group performs several free concerts per year, and will perform Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring this spring. The orchestra was featured last fall in the Maryland Gazette community newspaper, serving the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.

2006

Hoe Yeong Loke has published a book, Let the People Have Him—Chiam See Tong: The Early Years (Epigram Books). The book is a biography of Singapore’s longest-serving opposition member of parliament. Hoe Yeong pursued graduate study in political science at the London School of Economics after graduating from Eastman, and is the assistant secretary general of Chiam’s Singapore People’s Party and an associate fellow at Singapore’s European Union Centre.

2008

Emily Shewan Britton (MM) writes she welcomed a daughter, Tamsin, last April. Tamsin joins big brother Zavier. Emily continues as a regional Air Force musician, stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. . . . Shauli Einav (MM) writes that he’s recording a new album consisting of original tracks inspired by Sergei Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives. Meanwhile, he and his quartet are performing some of the pieces on their concert tour that includes Slovakia, Germany, and Shauli’s home base, Paris.

2009

Elise Hughey ’11 (MM) writes that she, pianist and singer Dave Chisholm ’13 (DMA), guitarist Alex Patrick ’14, and drummer and audio engineer Stephen Roessner ’14RC (MS), have recorded their first EP as the group Talking Under Water.

2013

Dave Chisholm (see ’09).

2014

Alex Patrick (see ’09).