What's New - The New School

More documents

Recommendations

Info

A Message from the Executive Director DEAr AluMni AnD FriEnDs, i ’ m o f t e N a S k e d a b o u t t h e m e a N i N g o f “ c o N t e m p o r a ry ” in our school’s name and mission, with the assumption that contemporary means popular genre or style. Indeed, our alumni and current students do cover the full musical spectrum, from JAZZ to Jay-Z, from Basie to Beyoncé. But “contemporaneity”—as a quality not of linear time, but of artistic creative expression—is a far more relative and variable term. Among the significant changes in human experience, few have been more drastic than our increasing sense of the contemporary. The world has become ever more connected—and smaller—as a result, with new opportunities and resources at our digital fingertips. At the same time, we face an overwhelming amount of stimuli and information. The flood of “contemporaneity” has become a dominant feature of life today. This is the world we must navigate as artists, working to resist the force of conformity brought about by mass Executive Director Martin Mueller 2 Photo: Michael DiVito continued from page 1 with them. The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music is also a founding member of the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), an organization comprising nearly 70 schools in more than 35 countries. In addition, New School Jazz will again take part in a summer jazz workshop in Basanno del Grappa in Northern Italy. The workshop, now in its ninth year, is a component of the internationally acclaimed Veneto Jazz Festival. During the workshop, New School faculty will offer two weeks of classes, ensembles, and performances. Attendees may also audition for New School Jazz and scholarship consideration. Jazz, born out of the African-American experience, is a shared global language among countless musicians. The New School is an important participant in and contributor to the cultural exchange of this uniquely American art form. To recognize Arnie Lawrence’s dream and honor his vision, The New School created an endowment in his name. Alumni and donors interested in contributing to the Arnie Lawrence Scholarship Fund should contact Mary Hastings, Jazz director of communication, and seeking to find a contemporary identity while perpetuating the aesthetics and traditions of jazz. To meet these challenges, it is essential that we remain aware of the forces shaping the world. While we can’t know what tomorrow will bring, we can be sure tomorrow’s musicians will need more inclusive training and diverse skills than ever before. This is the vital work of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, made possible through your support and through collaborations across our university. The essence of jazz is governed and protected by tradition. At The New School, our stellar artist faculty provide direct connections to that history and encourage our student artists to be the “new” New School. Tradition and innovation both require openness, the willingness to change, and that we honor where we’ve been. Alumni and friends, it’s an exciting time to be at The New School! Please help us forge these new pathways by continuing our friendships, attending our concerts, and furthering your commitment to our mission in music. Martin Mueller development, at hastingm@newschool.edu or 212.229.5662 x4579. The Michael D. Thomas saxophonist Grant duriNg the SpriNg of 2006, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music sadly lost alumnus and saxophonist Michael D. Thomas (1976–2006). Thomas graduated with a BFA in Jazz Performance and Composition in 1999. In addition to studying under legends such as George Garzone, Joe Lovano, and Charles Tolliver, Michael was significantly influenced by Philadelphia-based saxophonist Ben Schachter. Michael enjoyed playing at many of New York’s legendary jazz venues such as Birdland, The Blue Note, and The Village Vanguard. Michael also studied and played percussion, clarinet, and flute. But his passion for jazz ventured well beyond performance, and he was committed to both honing his skills and nurturing his creativity as a composer and arranger. His true love was, indeed, pushing the horizons of jazz, to create original, fresh, and inspiring music. He strove to incorporate many different genres into his work. During the last few years of his life, he was particularly influenced by the works of Duke Ellington and David Byrne and the blues of the South, especially the Mississippi Delta. As a musician, composer, and lover of music, Michael embodied the very attributes that all musicians aspire to possess: passion, tenacity, humility, and creativity. In addition, he was devoted to sharing his knowledge and love of music with future generations of musicians. From 2002–04, he was director of Music & Instrumental Performance at the Tito Puente Performing Arts Academy in Harlem. Michael was a talented musician and teacher as well as a sincere gentleman. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing him was a better person for it. Michael will be ineffably missed. To honor the memory of Michael, the Thomas family has established the Michael D. Thomas Educational Foundation. This private, independent nonprofit organization is dedicated to the betterment of the arts by providing financial support to full-time students who exhibit artistic excellence in jazz music. Through the funding it provides, the Foundation strives to assist individuals to do the following: develop musical knowledge, hone performance skills, cultivate educational
musicianship, and nurture creativity. This past fall, the foundation announced the winner of its first award, Austrian-born sophomore Lukas Gabric. The foundation officially celebrated this exciting news at its fall 2007 fundraising event at the Village landmark restaurant, Minetta Tavern. The event featured the music of The Brooks Hartell Quartet led by New School alumnus Brooks Hartell. Lukas Gabric was the special guest of the evening, and he played several sets with Hartell’s band. sound Education with new Yamaha Drum Kits with the acquiSitioN of 13 New Yamaha drum sets with hardware, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music has found a new recruiting tool. “Our students are incredibly excited to have access to such high quality instruments,” said Martin Mueller, executive director of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. “When a prospective student comes and sees a Yamaha kit on the stage or in a practice room, it’s a great asset in encouraging [that person] to study here.” “The program has done it right because these are real jazz kits,” said Barry Greenspon, owner of Drummer’s World in New York City, referring to the new drum sets. The new school for Jazz and Contemporary Music is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the board of governors. KurT WinKElMAnn, PhD is managing director and co-head of global investment strategies group at Goldman Sachs. He has been with Goldman Sachs since 1993. His previous responsibilities included managing GSAM’s Institutional Client Research and Strategy group. Prior to joining GSAM, Mr. Winkelmann spent five years in the Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Research Group as head of Global Fixed Income Portfolio Strategy, a London-based position. Mr. Winkelmann has written (or co-authored) several papers with portfolio management themes. A number of these papers have appeared in the Journal of Portfolio Management, Financial Analysts Journal, and the Handbook of Fixed Income Securities. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Mr. Winkelmann worked in the investment technology industry (BARRA and Vestek), and as an economist for First Bank “New School students who come into the shop say they enjoy playing them. And it’s not just the drummers who benefit—everyone sounds better with these kits.” The school currently enrolls approximately 40 drumming majors. Drum professors include Joe Chambers, Andrew Cyrille, Dr. Chico Hamilton, and Charli Persip. Student Assistants clean and maintain the new drums and hardware. “We’ve always taken our educational mission seriously,” said David Jewell, marketing manager for Yamaha Drums, Pro Audio & Combo Division. “It’s great to see that young people are still called to jazz.” Parents and Partnership the New School for Jazz aNd Contemporary Music held its first event for parents outside of the New York area on November 1, 2007. Board of Governors Member Dr. Bert Lubin hosted the reception in Berkeley, California in the historic library of the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Center. Dr. Lubin, whose son is a sophomore at Jazz, is president and director of medical research of the center. Executive Director Martin Mueller spoke about New School Jazz and its students. He highlighted the school’s efforts to teach students necessary networking Systems. He received a BA from Macalester College (St. Paul, MN) in 1978 and a PhD in Economics from the University of Minnesota in 1987. Mr. Winklemann, an accomplished jazz guitarist, has been passionate about music all his life. J. GrEGOrY MilMOE is a partner at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and is a co-head of its corporate restructuring group. In his 37 years at the firm, Mr. Milmoe’s work as counsel for corporate restructuring cases has enabled him to achieve professional prominence representing public companies in their financial restructurings and bankruptcies. He has been characterized in a Wall Street Journal profile as the “Mr. Rogers” of the bankruptcy bar. Mr. Milmoe graduated from Cornell University and Fordham Law School. At Cornell, he perfected the art of Spring 2008 and marketing skills to become working musicians in today’s marketplace. Teri Lucas, director of admissions, and Mary Hastings, director of development, also contributed remarks. Nearly 60 parents attended the event, many of whom had children who studied and performed at Berkeley High School before attending New School Jazz. One parent remarked that it was the best parents event she had ever attended. Additional parent events are planned for New York and Los Angeles. Music industry Fund scholarship recipients t h e N e w S c h o o l f o r J a z z a N d Contemporary Music awarded two graduating students with our new Music Industry Fund Scholarship. The award, which is based on merit and financial need, is for graduating seniors and is made possible by generous donations from industry professionals Bruce Lundvall and Ted Kurland. The donation from Lundvall, president of Blue Note Records, was awarded to Leo Coodin (drums). The donation from Mr. Kurland, president of Ted Kurland Associates, a jazz management firm, was given to Linas Benesevicius (saxophone). carrying on normal conversations while playing the piano at fraternity cocktail parties. This led him to try, for several years, to make a living as a musician. His interest in music remains an important part of his life. He plays tenor sax and piano. Board of Governors 2007–08 Kent A. Clark, Chair James C. Freund, Vice Chair Charles G. Leaness Jean Lignel Bertram H. Lubin J. Gregory Milmoe Eileen Naughton Hank O’Neal Tim Porter Mark A. Schulman George Wein Kurt Winkelmann 3
Page 1: Jack Vartoogian/FrontRowPhotos Spri
Page 5 and 6: Photo: Matthew Sussman Andy Milne a
Page 7 and 8: viCKiE nATAlE ’02 (voice) recentl
Page 9 and 10: Village Underground in a December 2
Page 11 and 12: nOMinEEs Bobby Sanabria BOBBY sAnAB

What's New - The New School

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?