AHJ, Vol. 7 No. 1, Summer 1979

ETT,EEN MALONE
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
BY Sally Maxwell
NOTE: This is the first of a series of articles which
will try to familiarize students and teachers with the major
schools of music in this country. In this article we
will discuss various aspects of the Eastman School of
Music of the University of Rochester in Rochester, New
York, including an interview with the harp professor,
Eileen Malone.
The following statement by Linda Warren seems to
reflect the feeling of many other harp students at the
Eastman School who find the atmosphere both
stimulating and friendiy: "I find it very enriching to be
surrounded by musicians. There are 600 students at
Eastman, including graduate students. It's a very intense
atmosphere, but not pressured or competitive. It is
a thriving musical environment."
Within this environment, there are many opportunities
for harp students to perform at Eastman. Outside
of the numerous solo recitals during the year, there
are two orchestras and many ensemble groups: the
Eastman Philharmonia, the Eastman School Symphony,
ensembles in chamber music, jazz, contemporary
music, the opera and the composers' forums.
Just this year the Eastman Woodwind Ensemble toured
Japan and the Far East, taking a harp student with
them. Harp students also have many opportunities in
the community itself, and with various orchestras in the
state of New York.
Most students have their own harps, although the
school does have several harps. The good news for harp
students is that Eastman has locked practice rooms just
for harps, and that the school physical plant will move
harps for rehearsals and recitals that take place during
the day.
Numerous scholarships are awarded each year to
talented students who show great promise. There also
are other sources of financial aid. The degrees offered in
the area of harp performance are: Bachelor of Music,
Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts.
Harp students thinking of going to Eastman should
be interested in the suggested audition repertoire for
prospective freshmen: an ~tude selected from Bochsa­
Martenot, Op. 62 or Op. 34, or a sonatina by Naderman.
Also suggested are: pieces of the grade of difficulty
of F;erie by Tournier, Introspection by Salzedo,
Children's Hour by Grandjany or Largo from Violin
Sonata No. 5 by Bach-Grandjany.
Within the recently remodeled buildings of the school
there are classrooms, practice rooms, rehearsal halls
and four concert halls with excellent acoustics, seating
from 65 to 3100 people. The school is a ten minute walk
from the residence halls, and is located near the University
of Rochester where Eastman students may take
classes or take advantage of the athletic and medical
Eileen Malone
SUMMER/ 1979
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