Cedric L. Hampton, B.M. (’80) in music education and piano performance, died January 8, 2005, in Chicago. A member of the Spartan Marching Band, he received a M.M. from Northwestern University and was chair of the department of Arts and Humanities at Northside College Preparatory High School in Chicago. In 1988, he was appointed to the faculty at Chicago’s Merit School of Music, a non-profit Community Conservatory offering a full continuum of instruction in classical and jazz music. In 1999, he was appointed the first chair of Northside College Preparatory High School’s program in Arts and Humanities where he continued until his death. He was rehearsal conductor for the Chicago Youth Symphony and an advocate for the Ravinia Festival Concert Series as a pre-concert lecturer. He was also assistant professor for Afro-Caribbean studies at the University of Illinois and adjunct faculty at the Merit School of Music.

Takeshi Abo, D.M.A. (’06) and M.M. (’97) in violin performance, was concertmaster for the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra (Mich.).

Marco Albonetti, D.M.A. (’05) in saxophone performance, performed with the St. Micel String Orchestra (Finland), the Latvian Chamber Philharmonic (Latvia), and the Vidin Philharmonic (Bulgaria). He commissioned and premiered the major saxophone works of G. Schuller, B. Rands, D. Maslanka, J. Harbison, J. Bosso, C. Scinto, K. O’ Riordan, L. Bell, P. Dymiotis, and performed on such festivals as the Ravenna Festival in Italy, Notti Malatestiane, Toledo Contemporary Music Festival, Bowling Green New Music Festival, KUBE-Chicago and the Xi, an international music festival in China. As a member of the Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, he was first-place national winner at the MTNA Chamber Music Competition, and prize winner in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and has released Mountains Roads on Albany Records. He served as artistic director of the International Saxophone Festival in Faenza, Italy, and as professor of saxophone at Bari State Conservatory in Italy.

Jessica Allen, M.M. (’04), was appointed campaign assistant for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Noel Allende-Goitia, Ph.D. (’00) in music composition, accepted a teaching position at the Universidad Interamericano de Puerto Rico at San German.

Jason Altieri, D.M.A. (’04) and M.M. (’02) in orchestral conducting, was appointed assistant conductor of the Ohio Light Opera Company and is conductor of the Sigmund Romberg Musical Touring Company.

Virginia Anderson, B.M. (’05) in flute performance, performed with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra (Mich.).

Kathrine Aragon, M.M. (’05) in oboe performance, was invited by national taped audition to the final round with West Point Military. She was appointed instructor of oboe for Grand Ledge High School (Mich.).

Dmitri Atapine, M.M. (’03) and B.M. (’02) in cello performance, won first prize in the Carlos Prieto Cello Competition.

Brenda Rabbe Atzinger, M.M. (’01) in vocal performance, performed with the Baltimore Opera at Salisbury University (Md.), Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, and in a recital at Monticello College (Ill.).

Kristen Barnett, B.M. (’04), was appointed instrumental music director at Pewamo-Westphalia Schools (Mich.).

Daniel Belongia, D.M.A. (’06) in wind conducting, was appointed associate director of bands at Illinois State University.

Andrew Bergeron, M.M. (’03) in music composition, is a member of the duo Folias, which released the CD Marufo Vega on Blue Griffin Recordings.

Marta Bieganski, B.M. (’06) in choral music education, was appointed choral director in the Deer Park Junior High School in Houston.

Chantelle Brown, M.M. (’05) in clarinet performance, won a position in the San Antonio Air Force Band.

Jeff Buettner, D.M.A. (’05) in choral conducting, was appointed acting director of choral activities at Simpson College (Iowa).

Adam Busuttil, B.M. (’05) in music education, accepted a teaching position at Warren Public Schools.

Chris Butler, B.M. (’02) in double bass performance, accepted a position in the Chicago Symphony Civic Orchestra.

Nola Campbell, Ph.D. (’00) in music education, was appointed assistant professor of music education at Hartt School of Music.

Nelson Corchado, M.M. (’03) in tuba performance, was appointed instructor of tuba and euphonium at the Conservatory of Music in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Janice Cutting, B.M. (’04) in music education, accepted a position at Cadillac Schools (Mich.).

Tom Dennis, D.M.A. (’06) in composition, received a commission from the Lakeland High School band for a brass piece that will be premiered at the Huron Valley Festival of the Arts.

Eileen Downey, B.M. (’06) in piano performance, was named a junior opera coach at Opera North in New Hampshire.

Janice Dudley, D.M.A. (’05) in choral conducting, was appointed acting director of choral activities at Grand Valley State University.

Matthew Duprey, B.M. (’06) in music education, performed with Walt Disney Band in Pasadena (Calif.).

Heather Ellenwood, B.M. (’03) in instrumental music education, was appointed director of bands at Merrill Public Schools (Mich.).

Dawn Emrick, B.M. (’03) in music therapy, was elected treasurer of Michigan Music Therapists and recently opened Lakeshore Music Therapy Services in Holland (Mich.).

Rachael England, M.M. (’03) in music performance, accepted a teaching position at Flint Institute of Arts. She performed with the Lansing and Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestras.

Tiffany Engle, D.M.A. (’05) in wind conducting, was appointed assistant professor and director of bands at Calvin College (Mich.).

George Father, M.M. (’05) in trombone performance, was principal trombone with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Mich.) and accepted a position with the American Wind Symphony. He has performed with Great Lakes Brass, West Shore Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Canton. He also accepted a position in the U.S. Air Force “Band of Liberty” in Boston.

Pat Fitzgibbon, B.M. (’05) in percussion performance, received the College of Arts and Letters Outstanding Student Academic Achievement Award.

Sarah Graham, D.M.A. (’05) and M.M. (’03) in choral conducting, was appointed director of choral activities at Monmouth College (Ill.).

Murray Gross, D.M.A. (’05) in music composition, conducted instrumentalists from the Cincinnati Conservatory in a performance of a recent chamber composition. He taught at Alma College (Mich.) and was subsequently appointed director of Alma Symphony Orchestra.

Denise Guilbault, Ph.D. (’02), M.M. (’85), B.M. (’80) in music education, published the article “The Effect of Harmonic Accompaniment on the Tonal Achievement and Tonal Improvisations of Children in Kindergarten and First Grade” in the Journal of Research in Music Education.

Katie Hester, B.M. (’06) in music education, accepted a teaching position at St. Martha’s School (Mich.).

Lindsey Holmes, B.M. (’06) in music therapy, received a Michigan Music Therapists Memorial Scholarship.

Adam Hopkins, M.M. (’05) in double bass performance, performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (Mich.).

Christina Hornbach, Ph.D. (’05) in music education, published the article “Response to Masafumi Ogawa, ‘Music Teacher Education in Japan: Structure, Problems, and Perspectives’” in Philosophy of Music Education Review. She was appointed assistant professor of music education at Eastern Michigan University.

Erin Hufford, B.M. (’05) in conducting, was appointed instrumental music director of Algonac Schools.

Mary Beth Huttlin, B.M. (’06) in music education, presented the paper “A Look at Music Advocacy for the Twenty-first Century” at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum. The presentation was based on an article published in The Michigan Music Educator.

Sophia Hsieh, B.M. (’01) in music education, was appointed director of orchestras at Bush High School and Garcia Middle School (Texas). She is concertmaster and director of educational outreach for the Houston Civic Symphony, Texas Music Festival, faculty artist for the American Festival for the Arts, director of the Fort Bend Summer Orchestra Camp, adjudicator at Region 17, 23, 19, and Texas All State Orchestras, acting concertmaster for the Houston Sinfonietta, and clinician for the Houston Youth Symphony. She received superior ratings at the University Interscholastic League Competitions, as well as an Orchestra Invitation to Presidential Inauguration.

Mickey Ireland, M.M. (’04) in clarinet performance, joined the Coast Guard Band.

Ben Joella, M.M. (’06) in double bass performance, performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony.

Amanda Rice Johnston, B.M. (’05) in double bass performance, was a finalist for the orchestral competition at the International Society of Bassist Convention.

Yeon-Soo Joo, D.M.A. (’04), joined the faculty at Seoul National University (Korea).

Katie King, B.M. (’04) in music therapy, was appointed band director at Cass City Schools (Mich.).

Lisa Huisman Koops, Ph.D. (’06) and M.M. (’03) in music education, presented the papers: “The Musical Learning Process of Gambian Children: Developing an Ethno-Music Education Research Methodology” at the Pushing Boundaries: Extreme Folklore and Ethnomusicology Conference at Indiana University; “Pedagogical Principles of Cross-Cultural Congregational Song” at the Seminars in Christian Scholarship Gather Into One Conference at Calvin College; and “Gambian Children’s Musical Play as Socialization” at the African Studies Conference: Paradigms, Pedagogy and Partnerships at Grand Valley State University. She taught the workshops “Teaching Global Music to Your Congregation” and “A Child Shall Lead Them: Teaching Songs to Children and Youth” at the 2005 Calvin Symposium on Worship and the Arts at Calvin College; and “Developing Multi-musicality in American Children through Gambian Music Games” at the Holland Piano Teachers’ Forum. She co-wrote the article “The Use and Modification of Learning Sequence Activities among Elementary General Music Learning Theory Practitioners” in Audea. She presented the papers: “Denuy Jangal seen bopp (They Teach Themselves): Children Teaching and Learning Music in The Gambia” at the 2006 conference of the Great Lakes Chapter of the College Music Society; “Authenticity as a Strategy in Music Education” at the poster session of the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids; “Music and Community: Interdependence and Shared Learning in an Undergraduate interactiveMusic Methods Class” at the poster session at the CIC Conference in Bloomington (Ind.)

Jeff Krum, B.M. (’04), was appointed band director at Baldwin Community Schools (Mich.).

Sergei Kvitko, D.M.A. (’01) in piano performance, was featured in an article about his production company, Blue Griffin Recordings, in Fanfare Magazine. He also performed as a guest artist with the duo Folias on the CD Marufo Vega.

Jennifer Lau, D.M.A (’03) andM.M. (’00) in flute performance and music theory, was appointed to the music faculty at the University of New Mexico.

Jean Lee, B.M. (’04) in music education and piano performance, accepted a teaching position in the Jackson Public Schools (Mich.).

Bryan Mangiavellano, B.M. (’04), was appointed band director of Jackson Northwest Schools (Mich.).

Carmen Maret, M.M. (’03) in music performance and M.A. (’03) in musicology is a member of the duo Folias, which released the CD Marufo Vega on Blue Griffin Recordings.

Amanda McCandless, D.M.A. (’04) and M.M. (’01) in clarinet performance, was appointed assistant professor of music at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah (Okla.).

Dirk Meyer, D.M.A. (’06) and M.M. (’04) in orchestral conducting, was appointed assistant conductor of Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra, assistant conductor for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and music director and conductor for the Mason Symphony Orchestra. He was a finalist in the “Dirigentenforum of the Deutscher Musikrat” conducting the Gottingen Symphony Orchestra (Germany). He also guest-conducted the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Family Concert.

Danilo Mezzadri, D.M.A. (’03) and M.M. (’97) in flute performance, was appointed assistant professor of flute at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Ben Miles, D.M.A. (’05) in tuba and euphonium performance, won first prize in the artist tuba division of the Falcone Festival. He was the featured artist at the 2005 Midwest Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference. He performed with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Chamber Winds and Galliard Brass of Ann Arbor.

Michael Millett, D.M.A. (’04) in composition, was appointed lecturer of music theory and trombone at University of Texas at Tyler.

Bonnie Muszynski, B.M. (’04) in music education, accepted a teaching position with Willow Run Community Schools (Mich.).

Timothy Newman, B.M. (’04) in music education, was appointed director of bands for Alma Public Schools (Mich.).

B.J. Olian, B.M. (’04), was appointed band director at Reeths-Puffer Schools (Mich.).

Nami Okamoto, B.A. (’06) in trombone performance, joined the U.S. Army Band.

Ling-Yi Ou-Yang, D.M.A. (’02) in cello performance, was appointed professor of cello at National Normal University of Taiwan. She also received a Golden Melody Award for best performance (equivalent to an American Grammy Award) in Taiwan.

Cory Palmer, B.M. (’05) in double bass performance, performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Bu-Kyung Park, D.M.A. (’05) in piano performance, was an International Beethoven Sonata Competition semi-finalist and had her New York debut recital at Carnegie Hall as a winner of Artists International.

Aaron Pode, B.M. (’04) in music education, was appointed director of bands at DeLasalle High School (Mich.).

Paul Popiel, D.M.A. (’04), was appointed associate director of bands at Oklahoma State University.

Mary Procopio, D.M.A. (’05) and M.M. (’90) in flute performance and ethnomusicology, presented the lecture-recital “Haitian Classical Music, Vodou and Cultural Identity: An Examination of the Flute Compositions of Haitian Composer Werner Jaegerhuber” at the national meeting of the Society of Ethnomusicology in Tucson (Ariz.) and the lecture-recital “Expanding the Horizons of the Flute Repertoire: Haitian Classical Music by Werner Jaegerhuber and Julio Racine” at the meeting of the College Music Society in Quebec City. She was a guest artist and clinician for the Marshall University “Fluteworks” Festival.

Christopher Redfearn, M.M. (’04) in choral conducting, was appointed director of choirs at Flint Kearsley High School.

John Richardson, M.M. (’05) in choral conducting, was appointed assistant choral director at Angleton High School (Texas).

Sheri Richardson, D.M.A. (’05) and B.M. (’86) in piano performance, published the article “Music as Language: Sightplaying Through Access to a Complete Music Vocabulary” in American Music Teacher Magazine and “Using Music Learning Theory in Private Piano Lessons” in The Development and Practical Application of Music Learning Theory. She received the Graduate School Travel Award and accepted a teaching position at Grand Rapids Community College.

Jeff Robke, B.M. (’05) in conducting, was appointed band director at Forest Hills Northern High School.

Cory Ross, B.M. (’04), was appointed band director at Newaygo Schools (Mich.).

Susan Ruggiero, B.M. (’02) in flute and voice performance, received a fellowship at Tanglewood and toured with the Louisville Opera Company. She received first prize in the National Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year competition. In addition to a monetary award, she will sing a role with the Shreveport Opera Company.

Kelli Salisbury, B.M. (’05) in music education, has received the Sigma Alpha Iota Fraternity Outstanding Student Scholarship Award.

Christy Schillinger, M.M. (’03), was appointed assistant professor of music, bassoon and theory at University of Nevada.

Nico Schuler, Ph.D. (’00) in music theory, was appointed chair of music theory at Texas State University.

Abby Schwab, B.M. (’05) in music education, accepted a teaching position at Lansing public schools.

Sonia Sielaff, M.M. (’05) in clarinet performance, was second clarinet in the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and was accepted into Glen Gould School of Performing Arts in Toronto. She performed with the New World Symphony (Fla.).

Jason Smith, B.M. (’04) in trumpet performance, was appointed instrumental music director at Nashville Schools (Mich.).

Sean Spicer, B.M. (’05) in music education and conducting, was appointed instrumental music director at Farmington Warner Middle School (Mich.).

Jessica Stakoe, B.M. (’04), accepted a teaching position at Troy Public Schools (Mich.).

Joanna Steinhauser, M.M. (’04), performed with the Lansing and Kalamazoo symphony orchestras.

Maya Stone, M.M. (’03) in bassoon performance, was appointed bassoon instructor at the McLean School of Music, Middle Tennessee State University.

Brandon Straub, B.M. (’04) in music education, was Oaklawn-Tuttle chair of vocal music and organist at The Hill School, a private college preparatory boarding school in Pottstown (Pa.). He performed with violinist Christopher Collins Lee.

Chris Takis, B.M. (’05) in music education, accepted a teaching position at Van Dyke Public Schools (Mich.).

Aaron Tenney, B.M. (’03) in double bass performance, was appointed full-time bass teacher at Interlochen Fine Arts Camp for the Intermediate Division.

Wendy Johnson Tenney, B.M. (’03), accepted a teaching position at Lowell Public Schools (Mich.).

Heidi Tennis, B.M. (’04) in music therapy, joined the staff at Fort Wayne Developmental Center (Ind.).

Jason Thoms, D.M.A. (’05) and M.M. (’02) in music conducting, was appointed director of choral ensembles at Mississippi University for Women.

Richard Tirk, D.M.A. (’05) in trumpet performance, was appointed trumpet instructor and director of bands at Independence Community College (Kan.). He was principal trumpet in the Midland Symphony Orchestra.

Lara Troyer, D.M.A. (’03), performs with the Cleveland Opera on tour and is a faculty member at the University of Akron.

Rick Uren, D.M.A. (’04) in orchestral conducting, was appointed assistant conductor of the Battle Creek and West Shore symphony orchestras.

Victor Uzur, D.M.A. (’04) in cello performance, accepted a teaching position at Weber State University in Utah.

Julia Vaughn, B.M. (’04), taught music for the Peace Corps in Samoa.

William Vliek, B.M. (’05) in music education and conducting, was appointed band director at Springport Schools.

Sean Vogt, D.M.A. (’05) in choral conducting, was appointed director of choral activities at Briar Cliff University (Iowa).

Melissa Williams, B.M. (’06) in music education and saxophone performance, received the State of Michigan Music Teachers National Association Performance Competition Award.

MSU School of Music Alumnus Named Interim Provost for Southern Methodist University

Thomas Tunks, B.M. ’67, M.M. ’68 and Ph.D. ’73 in music, has been named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Methodist University.

As associate provost at Southern Methodist University for educational programs since 1998, Tunks has overseen curriculum policy and scholarship programs, including the prestigious President’s Scholars and Dean’s Scholars Programs. He also supervises SMU’s Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar and Bursar operations, as well as the SMU-in-Taos program at the university’s Northern New Mexico campus. As interim provost, he will serve as chief academic officer, overseeing seven degree-granting schools and the libraries.

In addition to his administrative duties, Tunks is a professor of music in SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, where he also served as associate dean for academic affairs from 1984-86 and from 1992-98, and as dean ad interim from 1993-94. His numerous awards include the Willis M. Tate Award for outstanding faculty member presented by the SMU Students’ Association and the Outstanding Faculty Volunteer Award from the university’s Office of Leadership and Community Involvement. In 2000 he received the “M” Award, SMU’s highest honor for service to the university.

A member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Council for Research in Music Education, Tunks also has served on the board of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. He has been an editorial board member of The Quarterly Journal of Music Teach ing and Learning and The Journal of Research in Music Education and was associate editor of Psychomusicology. In addition, he has held several offices with the Texas Council of the Arts in Education, including president in 2000.

“With his long-time service as associate provost, Tom Tunks has been instrumental in leading SMU’s progress in raising the academic quality of the student body and supervising the university’s highest merit scholarship programs. He has assisted the provost in overseeing all areas of academic affairs,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “As a member of the Council of Deans and as a former interim dean, he has a deep understanding of the university’s schools. We are indeed fortunate that he can step into this role to provide seamless leadership in the Office of the Provost.”