This past summer, faculty from the Illinois State University School of Music brought their artistry and expertise to stages and classrooms across the country and around the world, participating in prestigious festivals, leading master classes, and mentoring the next generation of musicians.
International and national Festival Highlights
Dr. Anne McNamara (trumpet) was invited to teach and perform at the Corfu International Trumpet Festival in Greece, held June 17-23. The festival brought together professional and student trumpeters from the United State and Greece, including Illinois State University students and alumni: current Bachelor of Arts student Braden Lueking, current graduate student Kyterra Waters, and alum Katherine Shindledecker-Blade, M.M. ’22. McNamara also performed with the Athena Brass Band at the International Women’s Brass Conference in Hartford, Connecticut, premiering Spark! by Jen Fox Oliverio as a featured soloist.
Instructional Assistant Professor Galina Kiep (bassoon) had a vibrant summer of performance and teaching. She performed with the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, taught and performed at the Sequoia Chamber Workshop in California, and led a master class for Andrew Marlin’s Summer Bassoon Workshop. Her summer also included three world premieres at the Santa Monica Chamber Festival. “I had such a wonderful time discovering new places, repertoire, and meeting new people. All of the students were incredibly dedicated and hardworking, and I was fortunate enough to collaborate with so many wonderful new colleagues, composers, and friends,” Kiep said.
Dr. Katherine Lewis (viola) and Kiep ended the summer at the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin. Presented in August, this festival featured world-renowned conductor Rune Bergmann and a festival orchestra of 90 musicians representing leading symphonic and operatic orchestras worldwide. “It was a joy playing alongside world-class orchestral musicians from across the country,” Lewis said. “The level of musicianship and camaraderie within the orchestra was truly remarkable, and an experience that will inspire my teaching and playing throughout the upcoming school year.”
Dr. Benjamin de Kock (bass) served as a coach for the Young Artists Orchestra at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Located in Lenox, Massachusetts, the Tanglewood Music Festival is one of the most renowned summer music festivals in the United States, known for its connection to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its role in nurturing young talent through intensive training and performance opportunities.
Dr. Geoffrey Duce (piano) contributed to the Chicago Chamber Music Festival by teaching a masterclass and judging the festival’s concerto competition, offering valuable feedback and mentorship to emerging pianists.
Dr. Andrew Bruhn (choral conducting) conducted the Peoria Bach Festival and co-led the Collegiate/Young Director Conducting Masterclass at the IL-ACDA Summer Conference. Several current students and alumni participated, making it a meaningful experience for the Illinois State University choral community. “I had a wonderful time working with the Peoria Bach Festival choir and orchestra this summer,” Bruhn said. “Highlights included conducting Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 1, C. P. E. Bach’s Cello Concerto in B-flat—with Dr. Adriana Ransom as the soloist—and Bach’s Cantata 23. Teaching at the IL-ACDA Summer Conference was also deeply fulfilling, especially with so many of our current students and alumni participating. Their involvement made these experiences especially meaningful for me.”
Local engagement and student mentorship
Closer to home, multiple faculty members taught at Illinois State University’s Junior High School and High School Band Camps. Eight faculty members and four graduate students served as teachers in the camp. “High School Band Camp was a great opportunity to see 70+ high school students on the ISU campus making music!” said Associate Director of Bands Mack Wood. “This camp is always one of the best weeks of the year!” Dr. David Snyder added, “It was great working with young horn players from all over Central Illinois and to share some things about horn that they may not get in their home band programs.”
The Illinois State University String Project also hosted camps for junior high and high school string players, under the direction of faculty, students, and conductor Phil Rudd, M.M. ’09.
All in all, nearly 400 students participated in music camps right on the Illinois State University campus.
Visit the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts website to learn about upcoming events, festivals, summer camps and other programs for families offered throughout the year.
