School of Music: A Resounding Year

Five full-time music faculty had publications this year: Dr. Gabriel Miller (book: The Edwin Mellen Press); Dr. Jeffrey George (two books: Luniver Press and Mel Bay); Dr. Robert Willey (two books: Mel Bay and Hal Leonard); Dr. Quincy Hilliard (book: FJH Music); Dr. Garth Alper (article accepted for: Jazz Perspectives, Routledge).

Dr. Chan Kiat Lim received the Louisiana Division of the Arts Career Advancement Award to support a new CD. Dr. Garth Alper and Dr. Robert Willey received a Board of Regents Support Grant for a Multimedia Recording Facility. Dr. Mary Reichling presented a paper at the International Symposium on the Philosophy of Music Education (Helsinki). Drs. Yuling Huang-Davie and Andrea Loewy performed and taught master classes in China.

The School of Music’s exceptional community engagement included hosting statewide conferences of the Louisiana Music Teachers Association, Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands, String Day, as well as LMEA State Choral and Band Festivals. The Louisiana Regional “Essentially Ellington” Jazz Festival (Jazz at Lincoln Center) was hosted here in April.

Dr. Mark F. DeWitt was named to the new Tommy Comeaux Endowed Chair in Traditional Music, effective July 1, 2010. This extraordinary town/gown partnership will continue to develop a new Center for Traditional Music, directed by Dr. DeWitt.