Points of Pride lists faculty, student and alumni achievements. It is accumulated and produced three times a year, generally in January, March, and October.


Grants and Awards

The University Singers and UNL Philharmonia were featured in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Jan. 20. The University Singers are conducted by Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities Peter Eklund. The UNL Philharmonia, the University's Opera and Chamber Orchestra, is conducted by Associate Professor and Director of Orchestral Activities Tyler White. More than 100 students and faculty made the trip. The program included soloist Kate Butler, assistant professor and mezzo-soprano.

Congratulations! Giacomo M. Oliva, Professor and Endowed Dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, has been selected to receive the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award of New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The award recognizes exceptional individuals whose achievements in his or her profession, vocation, social and/or cultural endeavors are of extraordinary merit. The award is the Steinhardt's highest alumni honor. It will be presented to him at the Steinhardt's Doctoral Convocation on May 12.

Congratulations! The following School of Music students placed at the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association Nebraska State Competitions last October:

  • Yevgeniy Reznik (M.M.), winner, MTNA Young Artist (Nebraska)-Woodwind and winner at the Division Level in January. He will compete at the National MTNA competition in Denver in March. He was also the winner of the Nebraska Music Teachers Association Collegiate Artist Competition.
  • Celeste Case-Ruchala (B.M.), alternate, MTNA Young Artist (Nebraska)-Woodwind and honorable mention in the Nebraska Music Teachers Association Collegiate Artist Competition.
  • Renee Ouellette (B.M.) won second place for the Collegiate Woodwind Competition for NMTA.
  • Nicholas Reynolds (B.M.), winner, MTNA Young Artist (Nebraska)-Piano Competition.
  • Mark Stevens (M.M.), alternate, MTNA Young Artist (Nebraska)-Piano Competition.
  • Liquid Velvet Quintet (featuring undergraduate students Michael Reichman, Chuck Serfass, Kelly Kappen, Ben Koch and David Woods), winner, MTA Chamber Music Competition.
  • Das Klavierlufttrio (featuring undergraduate students Nicholas Reynolds, Paul Hegstrom and Lindsey O'Conner), alternate, MTNA Chamber Music Competition.

Congratulations! The following School of Music students placed at the Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition in November:

  • First-Year Women: Cami Philgreen (2nd), Adria Caffaro (4th) and Shani Daws (semi-finalist).
  • First-Year Men: Andrew Miner (2nd)
  • Sophomore Women: Allison Frenzel (semi-finalist)
  • Sophomore Men: Adam Fieldson (2nd), Stuart Richey (3rd) and John Gieringer (5th)
  • Junior Women: Jessie Beran (1st)
  • Senior Women: Emily Chapman (2nd), Natalie Tavlin (4th) and Jamie Unger (semi-finalist)
  • Senior Men: Zack Bjornsen (1st), Drew Neneman (5th) and Andy King (semi-finalist)
  • Graduate Women: Beth Neuerberg (3rd), Stephanie Meyer (5th) and Lisa Loewen (semi-finalist)
  • Non-traditional students: Pam Miller (1st)
  • Freshmen and Sophomore Men and Women in Musical Theatre: Adam Fieldson (1st), Dani Cisna (2nd), Cami Philgreen (4th), Kellyn Wooten (honorable mention), Shani Daws (semi-finalist), Allison Frenzel (semi-finalist), Bryan McKnight (semi-finalist) and Stuart Richey (semi-finalist)
  • Junior and Senior Men and Women in Musical Theatre: John Gieringer (1st), Jessie Beran (2nd), Natalie Tavlin (semi-finalist), Jamie Unger (semi-finalist), Andy King (semi-finalist) and Drew Neneman (semi-finalist)

The following faculty received grants from the UNL Research Council in December:

  • Aaron Holz, Department of Art and Art History, $6,500, "Paintings: Physicality and Illusion."
  • Gail Kendall, Department of Art and Art History, $1,900, "Moroccan/American Potter's Exchange."

The following faculty received Hixson-Lied Faculty Development Grants in November:

  • Aaron Holz, Department of Art and Art History, $200, for a residency in Mexico.
  • Gail Kendall, Department of Art and Art History, $200, for research on Islamic Art in London.
  • Christin Mamiya, Department of Art and Art History, $600, to attend the annual meeting of the College Art Association.

The following students received Hixson-Lied Graduate Student Creative Research Grants in December:

  • Mary Gaetz, Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, $4,000, to shoot her thesis project on film.
  • Steven Soebbing, School of Music, $3,000, to support travel and lodging expenses related to research connected with his preparation of a performance guide on the songs of Hans Pfitzner, Opus 9.

The following students received Hixson-Lied Presentation of Scholarly and Creative Activity Grants in December:

  • Christopher Barrick, School of Music, up to $300 to assist with transportation related to his performance at the U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium.
  • Jennifer Donelson, School of Music, up to $850 to present recitals and lectures in Rimont and Paris, France.
  • Elizabeth Love and the Westbrook Saxophone Quartet, School of Music, up to $1,100 to assist the entire group with transportation related to the Saxophone Quartet's performance at the U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium.
  • Jamie Reimer, School of Music, up to $500 for her presentation at the College Music Society SuperRegional Conference.
  • Anne Ruehrmund, Department of Art and Art History, up to $700 for her presentation at the Southern Graphics Conference in Richmond, Va.
  • Kimberly Thomas and VAP (Visual Artists in Practice), Department of Art and Art History, up to $1,500 to assist with the presentation and materials for an exhibition at the Hayden Art Center.

The following students received Hixson-Lied Student Study Abroad Support Grants in December:

  • Kara Davidson, Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, up to $1,5000 for transportation related to her study at the Centre de Linguistique Applique-Universite de Franche Comte.
  • Katryn Hart Stratman, Department of Art and Art History, up to $2,000 for transportation related to her study at the American University of Rome, Italy.


Faculty

Diane Barger, Professor of Clarinet, was selected to join the artist/clinician roster of Buffet Crampon. She is also running unopposed for a third term as treasurer of the International Clarinet Association.

Anthony Bushard, Assistant Professor of Music History, made a presentation, "Waging the Peace: Bernard Herrmann and The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)," at the National Meeting of the College Music Society in Salt Lake City in November 2007. His publication, "He Could Have Been a Contender!: Thematic Integration in Leonard Bernstein's Score for On the Waterfront," was published in the Journal of Film Music, Vol. 2, No, 1 (Fall 2007).

Mark Clinton, Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Piano, appeared in recital at Western Illinois University on Sept. 23, 2008. The program included Beethoven's "Appassionata" Sonata, as well as the monumental Chausson Piano Trio. In November, Clinton gave a recital in Paris, France, sponsored by the American Cathedral. The enthusiastically received program featured works by American composers Samuel Barber, William Bolcom, and Aaron Copland. Also in November, Clinton gave a recital and masterclass sponsored by the Conservatoire Maurice Ravel in Clichy-sous-bois, France. 

Jeffrey McCray, Assistant Professor of Bassoon, performed Sofia Gubaidulina's Duo-Sonata for two bassoons with Samuel Banks, second bassoonist of the Indianapolis Symphony, at the 2007 Conference of the International Double-Reed Society in Ithaca, N.Y.

Giacomo M. Oliva, Professor and Endowed Dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, served as a program reviewer for the music department at Kean University in Union, N.J.

Francisco Souto, Assistant Professor of Art, was featured in a newspaper article in the Peoria (Ill.) Journal-Star on Nov. 18, 2007, for his print exhibition at Bradley University.

Darryl White, Associate Professor of Trumpet, made a presentation on the history of jazz at the 2008 International Association for Jazz Education Conference in Toronto, Canada.



Students

John Albrecht (B.F.A. Film and New Media) submitted his film "Temper Espresso" to the Omaha Film Festival, and it was chosen as a finalist in the Nebraska Short Film category. It will be screened twice during the festival in late February.

Christopher Barrick (D.M.A.) had his proposal "'Prez' versus 'Hawk:' A Cutting Contest for the Ages" accepted as a paper by the program committee for presentation at the 2008 College Music Society "Two Greats" SuperRegional Conference of the Great Lakes and Great Plains Chapters in Normal, Ill.

Sean Burton (D.M.A.) published his book review of Robert Summer's "Choral Masterworks from Bach to Britten: Reflections of a Conductor" (published by Scarecrow Press) in the October 2007 issue of The Choral Journal. He published his performing edition of Franz Schubert's "Grab und Mond for a cappella" men's chorus with Colla Voce Music, Inc. Burton was a featured clinician for the Iowa Talented and Gifted Association's "Young Scholars' Conference" on Nov. 1, 2007. He was also a featured clinician for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Men's Vocal Workshop on Oct. 25, 2007.

Jen-Kuang Chang (D.M.A.) has been awarded a two-week residency next summer at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City. His audiovisual composition "Drishti II" has also been accepted to the 17th annual Florida Electroacoustic Music Festival in April at the University of Florida. His multimedia work "Sahasrara" (a mixed ensemble for seven players plus electronic sound and animated visualization) has been accepted for the Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Arts at the University of Minnesota Feb. 26-March 2, 2008. His composition, "The Death March of Bataan" was performed at LaSalle University as part of their "War & Peace" Electroacoustic and Fixed Media Festival. His "Beethoven Fifth" was performed at Lewis University and Illinois Wesleyan University in November as part of the Vox Novus 60x60 Midwest Minutes Mix 2007.

Erika Navarette (M.F.A. Art) received honorable mention from the College Art Association for the Professional Development Fellowship. She was among four finalists out of the 83 national applicants.

Julie Neal (M.M.) was selected to the Rome Festival Orchestra for this coming summer.



Alumni

Caitlin Applegate (M.F.A. Art 2007) received a $12,500 grant from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation of Canada, which provides awards to candidates in the early stages of their careers working in painting, drawing, printmaking or sculpture. Applegate is currently an artist-in-residence at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha. Her exhibition, "Bored Meeting: A Sunday Dinner" opened Feb. 1 at the Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln.

J. Lynn Batten's (B.F.A. Art 2004) artwork has been selected by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons for display in "eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopedics in Art," The exhibition will run March 5-8 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco.

Jim Bockelman (M.F.A. Art 1997) is the recipient of an Individual Artist Fellowship award from the Nebraska Arts Council. His work was on view in December at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha in the "State of the Art Exhibition." His other recent exhibitions include a solo exhibition at the Fred Simon Gallery in Omaha and the Kunstoffice in Berlin, Germany. His 2008 exhibitions will include a solo exhibition at the Walker Gallery of Art at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the Farnham Galleries at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Bockelman is an associate professor of art at Concordia University in Seward, Neb.

Jessica Graff (B.A. Theatre 2007) appeared as a settler at a Thanksgiving dinner in the History Channel's "Andrew Jackson," which aired in November.

Firth MacMillan (M.F.A. Art 2006) had an exhibition at the Charles Cowles Gallery in New York City Jan. 8-Feb. 2, 2008. The large-scale sculptural installation reflected her concern with society's state of malaise and fear as we struggle to navigate urban life.

Michael Morgan (M.F.A. Art 1993) was featured in an article in Ceramics Monthly in November.

Scott Raymond (B.F.A. Theatre Design/Tech Production and Film and New Media 2003) graduated this past summer Cum Laude and with special appreciation from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with an M.F.A. in animation and visual effects. He is currently employed as a crowd animator for the upcoming production of "Madagascar 2" at Dreamworks Animation Studios.

 

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