News
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Artist-In-Residence
Kaoru Watanabe Named Spring 2023 Artist-In-Residence in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts Music Program at Loyola University Chicago
During his residence, New York-based musician and North America’s leading practitioner of the shinobue (Japanese transverse flute), Kaoru Watanabe will engage with music students and faculty through teaching, working with the Percussion and Wind Ensembles, and will present a public recital in the Skowronski Music Hall on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus.
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Faculty News
Christopher Madsen Joins the Loyola Music Faculty
Christopher Madsen, DMA joins the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago as Lecturer in Music, Jazz Studies. Madsen is a Jazz saxophonist, composer, and pedagogue who brings 14 years of experience teaching at the college level (Northwestern U. 2008-2014 and University of Illinois at Chicago, 2014-2022) and is excited to join the faculty at Loyola.
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Faculty News
Dr. Frederick Lowe Appointed Director of Music
Dr. Frederick Lowe, Senior Lecturer and Director of Ensembles, was appointed Director of Music effective July 1, 2022. Lowe succeeds Professor Anthony Molinaro, who has relocated to the West Coast to pursue new endeavors.
Dr. Lowe “brings all the skills and experience to the table that will make him an outstanding Director of Music—his work with ensembles and his long-standing position as director of the graduation band make him a familiar face to our community,” noted Fine and Performing Arts Chair, Mark E. Lococo.
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In the Media
Music alum Kabir Dalawari featured in the Chicago Tribune
Jazz Studies grad Kabir Dalawari's debut album Awareness is featured in an article that discusses his academic trajectory at Loyola and the important role that Professor Mat Ulery's mentorship played in Kabir's musical growth. Awareness features Kabir on drums, Ulery on Bass, and recent Loyola graduate Eric Arroyo on piano. READ -
Interdisciplinary Spotlight
Sacred and Secular: An Exploration of Art and Music in the 11th-17th Century Italy
Recently, students from the DFPA presented “Sacred and Secular: An Exploration of Art and Music in the 11th-17th Century Italy” at Loyola University’s Museum of Art (LUMA). The LUC Chamber Choir prepared works by Landini, Dufay, Josquin, Palestrina, Monteverdi, Strozzi, and Gabrieli, accompanied on theorbo and Baroque guitar by guest artist, Brandon Acker.
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STUDENT
Student featured in National Association of Pastoral Musicians Lunchtime Virtual Concert Series
Rising senior majoring in Music and Psychology, Laura Bottei recently performed an organ concert titled "Play Like A Girl" as part of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians Lunchtime Virtual Concert Series. A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Laura began studying piano at the age of 5. At Loyola, she studies organ with Steven Betancourt, voice with Sarah Ponder, and previously studied piano with Anthony Molinaro. During the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, she is serving as the organ scholar at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Following graduation, Laura plans to pursue an MM in organ performance. Program: Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 531- J.S. Bach (1685-1750); Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, BWV 650- J.S. Bach; Sonata No. 4 in B flat Major- Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): I. Allegro con brio, II. Andante religioso, III. Allegretto, IV. Allegro maestoso e vivace,; Carillon, from 24 Pieces in free style- Louis Vierne (1870-1937) WATCH VIDEO -
Video
Elements presented by music faculty Kirsten Hedegaard at the Climate Change Conference
ELEMENTS is a sound exploration of four states of matter in the form of earth, fire, air, and water. Ruminating on Thale’s philosophy that “all is water,” ELEMENTS is also a meditation on water’s singular importance and relationship to the other three elements. Most of the audio was recorded virtually with chorus members from Loyola University and the University of Illinois campuses. Several pieces were recorded live, masked and safely distanced, with a vocal octet from the New Earth Ensemble. WATCH VIDEO -
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Alumni
Bill Cernota receives the 2019 CYSO Alumni Award
Loyola Music alum Bill Cernota, cellist for the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, receives the 2019 CYSO Alumni Award. The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) Community Partnership Programs support music training and access for more than 8,500 young musicians ages 6-18 each year. Click to read the CYSC blog post. -
Arts Research
Music Students and Faculty Collaborate Remotely to Create Online Soundscapes
Celebrate Earth 1 is the first part in an ongoing YouTube virtual project designed by students and faculty from the DFPA. This online soundscape is based on variations of the medieval chant, "Adoro te devote," culminating in the hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth." The singers and instrumentalists recorded their parts individually, then were compiled into a cohesive work. This first installment features over one hundred choristers from the LUC Women's Chorus (conducted by Jennifer Budziak), University Chorale, and Chamber Choir (conducted by Kirsten Hedegaard), as well as guest musicians: Rich Leasure, organ, Jim Gailloreto, soprano saxophone, and Jill Kaeding, cello. Sound production was done by Sam Mason, and video production was completed by Alec Loftus, both students in the music program. Part 2 will feature music from Paul Winter's Missa Gaia, which was set to be performed by the choirs and dance division in late March. Future installments will be completed over the summer.WATCH VIDEO