Congratulations to The University Percussion Group who placed first in the California PAS (Percussion Arts Society) College Percussion Ensemble Competition. They are pictured with a new Yamaha snare drum awarded to the first-place ensemble from Yamaha Percussion. Six ensembles competed from BCCM, CSU Sacramento, San Jose, Bob Allen Music, Fullerton, and Chapman.
Congratulations to Nick Gilroy as well, who placed second in the solo College Multi-Percussion Division. The University Percussion Group just completed their first tour, performing at the California Day of Percussion in Fresno on April 19.
Dr. Gerhart gave a presentation at the conference entitled “The 21st Century Percussionist: Today, Tomorrow, and the Future.”
Mark Uranker performed the Moszkowski Suite with alumni Kate Lisman and Carissa Gibson at Claremont Graduate School (where Kate and Carissa are studying).
Jonathan Talberg, Director of Choral, Vocal and Opera Studies, spent 4 days of Spring Break in Las Vegas adjudicating the Clark County High School Festivals alongside colleagues Jo-Michael Scheibe (President of the American Choral Directors Association and CSULB double alum with an BM and MM in choral music) and Iris Levine, Director of Vox Femina and Chair of Cal Poly Pomona. Together they worked with almost 50 high school choirs.
BCCM hosted the North American Sax Alliance conference last week. Among the highlights were the Alloy Wind Duo (James and Janelle Barrera) premiering Christopher Caliendo’s arrangement of Por Siempre Para Siempre for Flute, Saxophone, and Piano.
Steven Kronauer helped to host an event to in honor Mary Blodgett for her work on the Board of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus and famed DIsney composer Richard Sherman. Dr. Kronauer directs the Young Men’s Ensemble with the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. Dick Van Dyke attended the festivities and even sang a renditions of Chim Chiminey. The evening included performances conducted by Anne Tomlinson, Mandy Brigham, and Diana Landis.
In April Robin Cox will perform his works in collaboration with dance improvisers for the downtown Los Angeles Iridian Arts series at Art Share LA on 4/7, as well as perform pieces for amplified violin and video by Randy Wolff and Todd Reynolds for the same series on 4/21. April also sees his work “Everywhere” performed for the LA Composers Project 5 concert in Pasadena on 4/19, and his composition “Midnight” will be performed in both Seoul and Busan South Korea as part of the Seoul International Improvisational Dance Festival by Loretta Livingston and the ING Improv Group.
Rob Frear and James Barrera were selected to adjudicate the National Finals of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Solo and Ensemble Competitions last weekend at the Disneyland Resort. The BCCM Sax Quartet performed at the finals for the collegiate woodwind chamber competition. Though they did not place, the all-undergraduate quartet played well and were bested only by groups with doctoral and master’s students.
Dr. Dave Gerhart worked with the Pacific Symphony School Partnership Program at San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano. He gave a clinic to the wind ensemble percussionists and sat in on the evening rehearsal.
Alumnus and staff member Arnel Ignacio, Alumnus Chris McCarthy, and Alumna Christine Hayes were all featured in 
Professor Rob Frear and Adjunct Faculty Artists Michael Grego, Katia Popov and Josephine Liu Moerschel performed the Rite of Spring with the Long Beach Symphony as part of the world-wide tribute to the 100th anniversary of the groundbreaking work.