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Class Notes

1968 Bill Cahn received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester last June. Bill is a member of the Nexus Percussion Quartet, a former principal percussionist for the Rochester Philharmonic, an honorary board member of the philharmonic, and an associate professor of percussion at the Eastman School.

1981 Compositions of Dan Locklair (DMA) appear on two CDs released this past winter: Poetry in Motion: Music for Flute, Viola, and Harp (MSR Classics), performed by the Fire Pink Trio; and Music for All Saints: Into the House and Gate of Heaven (Gothic), performed by the choir of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta.

1985 William Greene writes that he’s published his sixth collection of organ music, Christ Is Alive! Seven Easter Settings for Organ (Concordia Publishing House). William is the organist and choirmaster at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynchburg, Virginia.

1987 Jamal Rossi (DMA) (see ’83 College).

1988 Rei Hotoda has been named associate conductor of the Utah Symphony. She made her debut in the new role in July, conducting from the piano as the soloist for the symphony’s performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12. . . . Michel Nadeau writes that he has released Band Brilliance Complete Band Method: Intermediate Book 2 (Band Brilliance). Michel teaches band in the Commack School District in Commack, New York.

1997 Pat Donaher writes: “I recently took a position teaching jazz full time at Lexington High School in Massachusetts. This year the band capped a series of regional festivals by finishing third in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition, performing three Duke Ellington transcriptions. Lexington was the only public high school to finish in the top five.” Next year, Pat will take the Lexington Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo on tour in Germany and Austria.

1999 Pianist Junghwa Lee (DMA) has released her first solo CD, Blue 13: The Complete Piano Music of Frank Stemper (Albany Records).

2004 Jeffrey Meyer writes that he’s accepted the position of director of bands and brass studies at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. His wife, flutist Mary Elizabeth Thompson, premiered his composition Metro Chapultepec for flute/piccolo and electronics at the 2015 New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival. . . . Stan Pelkey (PhD), ’06RC (MA) writes that he has joined the faculty of the College of Music at Florida State University, among the largest academic music programs in the country, and serves as associate dean of engagement and entrepreneurship. “I direct public relations and media activity, coordinate guest artists and special events, and promote the extensive concert season. I also lead the college’s undergraduate music entrepreneurship program.” Stan adds that he has recently published his second book, Anxiety Muted: American Film Music in a Suburban Age (Oxford University Press).

2005 Alexandria Le is founder of the Las Vegas Wine and Music Festival, which debuted in June. A three-day gathering held at the Nevada State Museum and funded by sponsors and contributors, the festival paired musical performances with wine and conversation with the musicians. The festival featured 20 classical musicians from around the nation, including veteran performers and emerging artists.

2008 Saxophonist and composer Shauli Einav (MM) has signed with the German label Berthold Records. He recorded music for a new CD in June, and hopes to release the CD early next year.

2010 Sarah Frook (MM) has been named artistic director of the Virginia Choral Society, based in Newport News. In addition, Sarah conducts the men’s chorus at Christopher Newport University and the women’s chorus at the College of William and Mary; teaches at the University of Richmond; and is a professional chorister with the Virginia Chorale.

2014 Tom Mueller (DMA), assistant professor of church music and university organist at Concordia University Irvine, has been named one of 20 American musicians under the age of 30 noted for exceptional technical skills, creativity, and innovation by The Diapason: Journal of the Pipe Organ and Church Music.

2015 Steve Felix (MM) placed first in the solo graduate division of the National Trumpet Competition in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Steve remains at Eastman, pursuing a doctorate.