Event Calendar & News: Alumni News

'Contemporary Clarinet Festival' reunites alumni; features renowned guest artists

The School of Music's Contemporary Clarinet Festival reunited 15 MSU clarinet alumni, and featured renowned guests for two days of concerts, classes, and camaraderie.

Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, professor of clarinet at MSU, organized the event, held April 5 and 6 in the Music Auditorium. The alumni, all former students of hers, spanned the two generations she has served on the MSU faculty. The festival featured a wide variety of recent clarinet music presented by alumni, current students, and guest artists - whom also presented lectures and master classes. Everyone got acquainted, and reaquainted, at the parties held after each concert.

"The festival was a wonderful experience for all. The camaraderie of the returning alumni and guest artists was really special," said Verdehr. "Everyone enjoyed meeting those whose names they had seen in various clarinet journals but hadn't met in person. They also learned about many new pieces to use for teaching and performing, and enjoyed the high level of performances. I was particularly pleased with the performance of my present class of students. After hearing the preceding recitals, they really rose to the occasion playing at the top of their form and made me very proud."

MSU Clarinet Alumni:
Deborah Andrus, assistant professor of clarinet, Southeastern Louisiana University

Linda Bartley, member of the artist faculty, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Babette Belter, associate professor of clarinet, Oklahoma State University

Ani Berberian, assistant professor of clarinet and music theory, Southwest Missouri State University; clarinet instructor of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy

Andrea Cheeseman, assistant professor of woodwinds, Delta State University (MS)

Linda A. Cionitte, professor of clarinet and chair of the woodwind area at Georgia Southern University

Dr. Karen Dannessa, assistant professor of clarinet/saxophone, Clarion University (PA)

Richard Faria, assistant professor of clarinet, Ithaca College (NY)

Dr. Henry H. Grabb, associate professor of music and director of the community music program, West Chester University (PA)

Keith Lemmons, professor of clarinet, Distinguished Presidential Teaching Fellow, chair of the woodwind area, and music undergraduate advisor at The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Maurita Murphy Mead, artist performer, clarinet teacher, and associate director for graduate programs, University of Iowa

Lori Neprud-Ardovino, associate professor of music, University of Montevallo

Michael Norsworthy, premiered more than 30 new works in collaboration with composers Elliot Carter, Hans Werner Henze, Marc Anthony Turnage, Michael Finnissy and many others.

Maxine Ramey, associate professor of music, University of Montana

Connie Rhoades, associate professor of clarinet, Eastern Kentucky University

Guest Artists:
Arthur Campbell, Grand Valley State University and University of Michigan

Michael Norsworthy, graduate student at the New England Conservatory of Music; former MSU clarinet student

Kevin Schempf, Bowling Green University of Ohio

Peter Sculthorpe, renowned Australian composer

Nathan Williams, East Carolina University and Interlochen Arts Academy