Class Notes
Eastman School of Music
1961
Lester Lehr (MM), founding conductor and music director of the Sacramento Symphonic Winds, is music director and coproducer of the operetta Oh Mr. Sousa!, based on the life of John Philip Sousa.
1968
Bassist Tony Levin joined the North American tour of musician Peter Gabriel this fall. The 鈥淏ack to Front鈥� tour commemorates the 25th anniversary of the release of Gabriel鈥檚 album So. Levin first played with Gabriel in 1977 on Gabriel鈥檚 debut solo album.
1970
Geary Larrick (MM) writes that he performed a piano recital in July in Stevens Point, Wis., that consisted of 鈥�12 of my own compositions, as well as a tribute to African-American composers.鈥� He adds that he鈥檚 played snare drum in the Grenadier Band since 1991.
1976
Ron Wagner writes: 鈥淎fter living in Japan for three years playing percussion for the Cirque du Soleil show Zed, I have been living in Los Angeles and performing as a percussionist for the Hollywood Cirque production Iris: A Journey Through the World of Cinema. Film composer Danny Elfman wrote the music score.鈥�
1983
Stacia Lewandowski writes that she鈥檚 released two companion books: Light, Landscape, and the Creative Quest: Early Artists of Santa Fe and Walking in the Path of the Artists: A Guide to the Artists鈥� Homes. Both books are published by Salska Arts in Santa Fe, where Stacia, who studied flute performance at Eastman, is an arts writer. . . . Peter Whorf has joined WKAR, a public radio station affiliated with Michigan State University, as station manager. Peter was previously program director and vice president for content at WFMT in Chicago.
1984
Drummer Rich Thompson (MM), associate professor of jazz studies and contemporary media at Eastman, has released Generations (Origin Records), as leader of the Rich Thompson Trio, consisting of Rich, pianist Chris Ziemba 鈥�08E, 鈥�11E (MM), and bassist Miles Brown 鈥�00E, 鈥�12E (DMA).
1990
Flutist Linda Neuberger Chatterton writes that she gave a series of concerts and master classes in Iceland and performed the music of Roberto Sierra, Tania Leon, Edie Hill, and the premier of Ail铆s N铆 R铆ain鈥檚 Chainstitchembroidered, for flute and piano, in August at the British flute Society convention in Manchester. She鈥檚 the recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board and a Next Step grant funded by the McKnight Foundation She鈥檚 also touring with Ensemble 61, a contemporary music group based in St. Paul.
1993
Gary Versace (MM) (see 鈥�94 RC undergraduate).
1996
Helen Pridmore (DMA) has released a CD, Janet (Centrediscs), consisting of works for solo voice. She writes: 鈥淎ll the works were written for me via commissions and all the works are by Canadian composers.鈥� Helen is an associate professor of music at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.
2000
Miles Brown 鈥�12E (DMA) (see 鈥�84).
2004
Carlos Morales (MM) sends a photo and an update. 鈥淚鈥檓 married to Sarah Morales and we have three beautiful kids, Giovanna Marie, Carlos Javier, and a new addition, Gabriella Elise. After teaching in the Rochester City School District for a couple of years, I joined the U.S. Army. Currently, I鈥檓 a saxophone player with the United States Training and Doctrine Command Band at Fort Eustis, Va.鈥�
2005
Brothers Joseph and John Irrera 鈥�07, 鈥�09E (MM) have released a debut CD, Irrera Brothers, Beethoven & Prokofiev (Irrera Brothers). Pianist Joseph and violinist John perform Beethoven鈥檚 Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Major and Prokofiev鈥檚 Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major. Both are pursuing doctorates at Eastman.
2006
Ethan Borshansky writes: 鈥淚鈥檝e released my electronic music on several international techno labels over the past few years from London to Toronto to Buenos Aires. This summer I released my EP, Pattern Patterns, on the established underground label from Mexico City, Pantamuzik.鈥� . . . Austin Patty (PhD) has been promoted from assistant to associate professor of music at Lee University in Tennessee.
2007
John Irrera 鈥�09E (MM) (see 鈥�05).
2008
Chris Ziemba 鈥�11E (MM) (see 鈥�84).
2009
Matilda Hofman (MM), a lecturer in music at the University of California at Davis, has been named artistic director-conductor of the Diablo Symphony, which celebrates its 50th anniversary season this fall. She鈥檚 also a regular guest conductor of the Empyrean Ensemble at UC Davis and the Bay Area鈥檚 Left Coast Chamber Ensemble.
2011
Chris Ziemba (MM) (see 鈥�84).
2012
Miles Brown (DMA) (see 鈥�84).