MSU School of Music Appoints New Director of Bands
 Kevin Sedatole has been named director of bands at Michigan State University effective August 16, 2006. Taking over the reins from John Whitwell, longtime director of bands at MSU, Sedatole served as director of bands and associate professor of conducting at Baylor University since 2002. He conducted the Baylor Wind Ensemble and served as administrator to several other ensembles. Previous to his appointment at Baylor he served as associate director of bands at the University of Texas and director of the Longhorn Band.
"My family and I are very excited about becoming part of the Michigan State family," says Sedatole. "I am very honored to have been chosen as the next director of bands at MSU. It is especially gratifying to following one of my mentors and close friend John Whitwell."
Whitwell, who came to MSU in 1993, will retire at the end of this academic year after serving as an educator in universities and public schools for more than 41 years.
"I will always look back on my four years at Baylor as one of the most special and significant times in my career," says Sedatole. "The students and faculty are very special and I will treasure my time there forever."
Sedatole earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Baylor University in 1985. He holds both the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Master of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Sedatole served as the associate director at the University of Michigan and Stephen F. Austin State University. He began his teaching career in Texas holding positions in the Klein and Austin Independent School Districts, where his ensembles received top honors at regional and state festivals.
He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, of which he serves as Southwestern Division Vice President, the American Bandmasters Association, the Big 12 Band Directors' Association, the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the Texas Bandmasters Association. He holds honorary memberships in both the Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma National Band Fraternities, as well as the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Musicians Fraternity.
"There are great opportunities that lie ahead at MSU," he continues. "This is a world-class band program in a world class School of Music. My hope and challenge is to champion the tradition of the program while at the same time continue to thrust it forward as one of the premiere programs in the country."
Michigan State University Children’s Choir Nabs Two Grammys
MSU Children’s Choir, under the direction of Mary Alice Stollak, are joint winners of two Grammy Awards: Best Classical Album and Best Choral Performance for a compilation CD entitled “Songs of Innocence and of Experience,” by Pulitzer-Prize winning composer William Bolcom.
New Fall 2006 Faculty Appointments
The MSU School of Music is pleased to announce the appointments of the following new faculty members:
Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson, associate professor of jazz studies, is also a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and longtime saxophone player for legendary New Orleans jazz artist Wynton Marsalis’ band.
Michael Bowman, visiting assistant professor of trumpet, has been principal trumpet of the Grand Rapids Symphony since 1974. He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music performance from the University of Michigan.
Carol Hess, professor of musicology, is the author of Manuel de Falla and Modernism in Spain, 1898-1936, from University of Chicago Press, and Sacred Passions: The Life and Music of Manuel de Falla, from Oxford University Press. Before joining the faculty at MSU, she served as associate professor of music at Bowling Green State University.
Derek Polischuk, assistant professor of piano and piano pedagogy who taught at the University of Southern California and Long Beach City College before coming to MSU, is the recipient of prizes in the Carmel International Piano Competition and the California International Young Artists Competition.
Kevin Sedatole, director of bands, takes over the reins from John Whitwell, longtime director of bands at MSU. Before joining the MSU faculty, he served as director of bands and associate professor of conducting at Baylor University, associate director of bands at the University of Texas, and director of the Longhorn Band.
Student Saxophone Quartet Wins the Gold at 2007 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
The H2 Quartet, a student saxophone group in the Michigan State University College of Music, won first place and gold medals in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition Wind Division on May 13, 2007. This highly prestigious competition, which was held in South Bend, IN., featured select chamber music groups from colleges, universities, and conservatories throughout the country.
Members of this quartet, who are all graduate students in the saxophone performance program at Michigan State University, are Jeff Loeffert, soprano saxophone, Geoff Deibel, alto saxophone, Jonathan Nichol, tenor saxophone, and Kim Goddard, baritone saxophone. Their program included works by Bozza, Florio, Gotkovski, Penderecki, and Piazzolla. Second place (silver medal) was awarded to a woodwind quintet from Yale and third place (bronze medal) went to a brass quintet from Boston University.
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Madden Elected to Prestigious Bandmasters Association
John Madden, associate director of bands and director of MSU Marching Band, was elected to the American Bandmasters Association recently at their annual convention held in San Luis Obispo, CA. Madden was one of four people elected to membership this year. Gaining membership in this organization is a mark of excellence in the field of band conducting. Madden joins many other MSU band conductors in this outstanding organization including Kevin Sedatole, John Whitwell, Kenneth Bloomquist, Eugene Corporon, and Leonard Falcone.
Rodney Whitaker nominated for Juno Award
Rodney Whitaker, director of Jazz Studies at MSU's School of Music, was nominated for a Juno Award, Canada’s equivalent to the Grammy Award earlier this year.
“Let Me Tell You About My Day,” produced by Alma Records, was nominated for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year. Whitaker collaborated with musicians Phil Dwyer and Alan Jones on the album.
The awards were handed out in Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 1-2, 2006.
Ricardo Lorenz is recipient of Ravinia Festival commission
Ravinia Festival commissioned ten new works to commemorate Robert Schumann's 150th death anniversary. Ricardo Lorenz is the recipient of one of these commissions along with other composers as diverse as Ned Rorem, Aaron Jay Kernis, Augusta Reed Thomas, and Ramsey Lewis. The works are to be inspired by Schumann's Scenes from Childhood and their collective premiere will take place at Ravinia's Martin Theater on September 13, 2006.
Ricardo Lorenz is also the recipient of a National Flute Association commission. Lorenz will compose a trio for flute, cello and percussion to be premiered at the 2007 Annual NFA Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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