We are so very proud of our students and always happy when their hard work and dedication to their discipline is recognized by people outside of the department. So we were thrilled to hear that so many of our voice students were successful at the 2011 Michigan National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition at Eastern Michigan University, held on Saturday November 5. Universities from all across the state send more than 250 singers to compete in specific age divisions. MTD’s
Jacob Skipworth was awarded first place in the Senior Men division;
Constantine Novotny first place in the Junior Men division;
Ashley Ault first place and
Colleen Miner third place in the Musical Theatre Women division; and
Molly Bruner third place in the Sophomore Women division. Congratulations to all.
Back on campus, all the voice students attended a master class with baritone
Lucas Meachem, who also gave a recital on the evening of Saturday, November 12, which earned him three standing ovations. It was a truly joyous occasion, with the audience not only in awe of the opera singer’s talent but won over by his charm.
Theatre students were kept busy this semester and not only with their classes and performances. The cast and crew of
The Women of Lockerbie ran a clothing drive to benefit the Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac, calling the effort "Clothing from Lockerbie," to commemorate the 11,000 pieces of clothing the real Lockerbie women washed and returned to the families of the victims of the Pan Am 103 incident. Every day the laundry basket that was placed outside the Studio Theatre to receive donations was emptied and the donated clothes stored in Professor
Karen Sheridan’s office. By the end of the collection period, Karen was crossing her office through pathways among the bundles, but the donations were taken to the shelter in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The “Lockerbie” run was enhanced by the visit of playwright
Deborah Brevoort, who spoke to an audience at noon on Saturday, November 19 and attended the Friday, November 18 performance of her play, which was shadow-signed by TerpTheatre. The shadow-signing is in itself a wonderful performance experience and that evening’s performance was among the first to sell out.
The department’s collaboration with TerpTheatre will continue next year and in October 2012 the first theatre production of the year will be
Police:Deaf :: Near:Far, a powerful play which explores many aspects of the Deaf community, including education, language, cochlear implants, interpreters, empowerment, and the relationship between Deaf people and law enforcement. Deaf actors will perform and audition dates will be announced soon.
Also upcoming for the theatre department is the spring tour of
Captain Louie which is perfect for elementary school students. If you are interested in having
Captain Louie at your student’s school please, contact
mtd@oakland.edu for more information.
Although the performance semester is winding down, the dance program is still very busy rehearsing and performing, with the annual fall Oakland Dance Theatre and OU Repertory Company performances during the weekend of December 1 through December 3, and
From Floor to Ceiling: Water, an evening of movement, light and sound, on the weekend of December 8 through December 10.
Check the performance brochure for full details.
And as always we welcome your alumni news. We heard recently that
Walt Szymanski (B Mus 1986) was appointed director of Jazz Studies at the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador, making “an indelible impression on the entire school already,” according to our source, professor emeritus
David Daniels. If you are currently spreading OU’s influence overseas, please let us have the information!
Meanwhile, closer to home, the departmental office is once again staffed with two-full time secretaries.
Muriel Mader has been joined by
Jaime Finn, who has her crucial and complex duties well in hand. Jaime previously worked in the School of Education and Human Services, and before that at Northwestern in Chicago.
Crystal Bell is also often busy in room 207, as part of her new duties as a College of Arts and Sciences secretary. We are delighted to welcome both Jaime and Crystal.
Photos: Top: NATS honorees, left to right: Molly Bruner, Jacob Skipworth, Colleen Miner, Ashley Ault and Constantine Novotny.
Middle: Lucas Meachem coaches Patrick Peavy with Stan Zydek at the piano.
Bottom: Office staff Jaime Finn, Muriel Mader, and Crystal Bell. 