Donate to Friends of Music Online!

September 28, 2012

Dear Friend,

Our Friends of Music fund drive last year was tremendously successful, raising over $15,000 for student scholarships. We want to thank all of our patrons for their generous donations and we hope that we can count on you again this year.

New music majors and minors this year come from various cities in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Georgia.

Athletic Pep Band has been reformed as a separate ensemble, directed by Dr. James Adams with the assistance of Nicholaus Meyers, and stipends provided for ensemble members through student activity fees.

In May, a new Yamaha grand piano was purchased and this beautiful instrument now graces the piano instructor’s teaching studio.

VCSU’s Department of Music welcomes Dr. Christopher Redfearn to the faculty. Dr. Redfearn, D.A. University of Northern Colorado, brings significant public school experience to the position of Director of Choral Activities and Voice. He replaces Dr. Leesa Levy, who has joined her husband at his new position in Pennsylvania. Other new staff include Nicholaus Meyers (M.M. University of Tennessee, percussion and theory); Dr. Vincent Sidoti (Ph.D. Ohio State University, theory and composition); and Jessica Shuler (B.S. Valley City State University, Aural Skills Teaching Assistant).

VCSU’s music programs have expanded to include: BS in Music Education; BA/BS in Music (also offered to distant students); minor in Music; minor in Piano Pedagogy; minor in Music Business; certificate in Piano Pedagogy; certificate in Music Recording; and certificate in Composition. VCSU’s Master of Education degree students now have a 12 credit option in Music Technology in their menu.

Thank you for your help in the past and for your continued and increased support! We appreciate the names of talented students that many of you have forwarded to us. We hope you’ll continue to tell young people about the great things going on at VCSU. We look forward to having you in the audience for our many concerts and recitals throughout the year. Your presence is valued.

Please mail your contribution today and make a difference in a young musician’s life.

Thank you,

The VCSU Music Faculty & Staff (front row l-r: Shari Larson, Director of the VCSU Community School for the Arts; Dr. Sara Hagen, theory, technology, and music education; Dr. Diana Skroch, piano, music appreciation, and administration; Paula Larson, music assistant; Robin Allebach, voice, diction, and opera; middle row: Dr. Beth Klingenstein, music history and pedagogy; back row l-r: Jaime Namminga, solo and collaborative piano, aural skills; Jon Rudolph, guitar, fundamentals, history of rock; Dr. Jorge Variego, theory, composition, and woodwinds; Dr. James Adams, brass, conducting, concert and pep band, jazz ensemble; Margaret Hammerling, flute; Nicholaus Meyers, percussion and theory; and Dr. Christopher Redfearn, concert choir, university singers, voice and conducting.