Boyer College mourns the loss of faculty member John Douglas

John Douglas, associate professor in the Department of Voice and Opera and music director and conductor of Temple University Opera Theater, lost his battle with cancer yesterday. He was 54.

Boyer College of Music and Dance associate professor John Douglas lost his battle with cancer this week. He was 54

Since joining Temple’s faculty in 1989, Douglas directed 50 productions and brought the opera program to national prominence, garnering four prestigious National Opera Awards and receiving rave reviews for cutting edge productions. He was honored with the Temple University Faculty Award for Creative Achievement in 2006.

Douglas ensured each of the twice-annual, fully-staged productions were meticulously produced so that students had performance opportunities that would groom them for major operatic roles. In an April 2010 interview with The Philadelphia Daily News he said, “We treat our productions in the same conceptual way that are done in a professional company, with no less time, interest or detail.”

Read the full obituary here.

Rhythm of life: music shows potential in stroke rehabilitation

New study shows that music therapy may assist in the recovery of stroke patients

Music therapy  may help to improve movement in stroke patients, according to a systematic review by Temple researchers published in the Cochrane Library.

The results suggest that rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) may be beneficial for improving gait parameters in stroke patients, including gait velocity, cadence, stride length and gait symmetry.

This is the third music therapy study developed by researchers in Temple’s Arts and Qualtiy of Life Center to be included in the Chocrane Library,  an international network of people helping healthcare providers, policy makers, patients,  make well-informed decisions about human health care by preparing, updating and promoting the accessibility of Cochrane Reviews.

To read the study visit The Cochrane Library online.

– Jazmyn Burton

Check out this awesome video of a flash dance choreographed by Rhonda Moore, a Master of Education student in the Boyer College of Music and Dance.

Random Acts of Dance joined with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program to promote the new Mural Mile, a digital tour featuring 17 diverse murals located in Center City Philadelphia.

The Mural Mile leads you from commercial districts to residential blocks while exploring the compelling stories behind the walls that bring each mural to life. For more information on how to experience the Mural Mile visit http://www.muralarts.org/getinvolved/muralmile.php

Former Temple music professor will share the stage with jazz legend Dave Brubeck

Former Temple music professor Bill Cunliffe will share the stage with jazz legend Dave Brubeck

Bill Cunliffe’s dream is coming true. The former professor at the Boyer College of Music and Dance is teaming up with Temple once again as the Temple University Symphony Orchestra becomes the first to perform his composition “fourth stream … La Banda.”

“I had a dream that this big artillery of musicians was playing this piece I wrote and I was sitting in the audience,” said Cunliffe, composer, arranger and jazz pianist.  “I’m very grateful to everyone at Temple. It’s been a great experience.”

“La Banda,” a 16-minute original piece, combines the elements of classical, jazz and world Latin percussion. While the work isn’t Cunliffe’s first composition, it is his first true collaboration with Temple.

Trumpeter Terrell Stafford, director of Jazz Studies at Boyer, approached Cunliffe about composing something for the Symphony to play. What Cunliffe came up with — “La Banda” — features music in the salsa vein that’s integrated firmly with classical music and the symphony orchestra. The premiere on Sunday, March 21st, at the Ninth Annual Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts concert will also feature the music of famed jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, and his son, Chris.

“If it wasn’t for Dave Brubeck, I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing because he was one of my first loves,” said Cunliffe. “He paved the way for all of us. He’s a very important musician.”

The Philadelphia premiere of “La Banda” will be followed by a performance next month at New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. For information about the concerts, visit the Boyer College of Music and Dance website.

–   Megan Chiplock

Boyer Jazz student named top saxophonist North America

Jim Mertz, Marketing Manager Vandoren, Paris Danny Janklow, 2010 #1 Jazz Saxophone Soloist Sylvain Carton, Vandoren Product & Artist Consultant

What would it be like to be the youngest artist to ever be recognized as the number one saxophone jazz soloist in North America? Just ask Daniel (Danny) Janklow, a 20- year old junior at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, who was awarded top honors and $1,500 prize money from the North American Saxophone Alliance Competition.

Danny was the youngest in his division, winning after performing “Alone Together” and “My Foolish Heart” on alto saxophone.

“Danny Janklow played beautifully at the North American Saxophone Alliance conference this past weekend,” said Will Campell, coordinator of this year’s event. “The five jazz competition finalists were all very impressive, so to be selected as the winner is quite an honor. Danny’s talent and professionalism are truly extraordinary and I look forward hearing how he continues to grow and impact the jazz scene. I feel certain that he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Danny, who began taking saxophone lessons at age 12, now studies with Dick Oatts, professor of saxophone and Terell Stafford, director of Jazz Studies at the Boyer College.

With his focus on jazz performance, Danny has enjoyed sharing the stage with jazz legendsWynton Marsalis, Benny Golson and Jimmy Heath. “The honor to play with great musicians has inspired me to present truthful and soulful musical sentiments,” he said.

This year’s international event which has been held every two years since 1987, took place on March 5 and 6 in Athens, Georgia. Hundreds of talented young musicians from schools throughout North America and other countries enter the Competition. For more information on the Jazz Studies program at the Boyer College of Music and Dance, visit our website.

Boyer College of Music and Dance Faculty Concert

Friday, February 26 at 7:30pm

Saturday, February 27 at 7:30pm

Featuring works by  Eva Gholson, Philip Grosser, Jillian Harris, Laura Katz-Rizzo, Merian Soto and guest artist Nichole Canuso

Tickets: $20 general admission

$15 students and senior citizens

$10 with Dance USA/Philadelphia Dance Pass

$5 for students with OWLcard

Conwell Dance Theater

Music as Medicine

Last night, the School of Medicine hosted a special lecture on the Humanities in Medicine, featuring a presentation by Cheryl Dileo, director of the Arts and Quality of Life Center at the Boyer College of Music and Dance. Dileo has done extensive research on the use of music therapy to help in the healing process as well as help doctors decompress after the stress of dealing with difficult cases.

Dileo said that music and medicine, while relying on two completely different skill sets, are not so different in the end.

“They both require intense concentration and practice. In fact, many people who go into medicine are often musicians, and I’ve heard many doctors say they had to make the difficult decision of whether to persue a career in music, or medicine.”

One adjunct professor in the department of cell anatomy and biology, Fawzi Habboushe, didn’t really have to make that decision; he’s the conductor of the Philadelphia Doctor’s Chamber Orchestra.

– Renee Cree

for templecuttingedge.wordpress.com

TONIGHT

Wednesday, January 27 at 7:30pm

Faculty Recital:

Lawrence Indik, baritone

Charles Abramovic, piano

Featuring new works by Maurice Wright, Kile Smith,

Heidi Jacob and David Carpenter.

Rock Hall Auditorium

Danse4Nia Meets Forces of Nature: The Move/Meant

7:30 p.m.

February 5-February 6, 2010

Conwell Dance Theater

Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Tickets: $25 general admission/$15 students and senior citizens/$10 with Dance USA Philadelphia Dance Pass/$5 for students with OWLcard

Philadelphia based Dance4Nia will take the stage with New York based dance company Forces of Nature for a night of compelling choreography.

– Jazmyn Burton

Temple Arts in the Media

Singing is believing for this opera singer

By William Kenny

Temple students John McCarthy, Lauren Pollock and Hilary Bucell star in A Month in the Country.

Times Staff Writer

Lauren Pollock must be losing her touch in her old age.

In 2003, when she was 15 and a student at George Washington High School, Pollock had the perfect gig. As a talented young rock ‘n’ roll singer, she made the Paul Green School of Music All-Stars and toured Europe, even performing at a Frank Zappa festival in Germany.

But now, the Temple University senior has really hit rock bottom. She’s the lead female vocalist in – of all things – her school’s forthcoming operatic production, A Month in the Country.

Bummer!

Seriously, though, Pollock’s seemingly unlikely transition from aspiring pop music idol to apprentice soprano has absolutely nothing to do with a case of degenerative hipness. Rather, it’s the realization that, provided she receives the right guidance and employs the required dedication, Pollock may have the pipes to sing herself all the way into the big time in classical music.

It’s to be a long and fiercely competitive journey to be sure, but at least the soon-to-graduate vocal performance major still has plenty of time on her side.

She will appear as Natalia in A Month in the Country at Temple’s Tomlinson Theater, 13th and Norris streets, on Friday. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. A second performance featuring Youna Jang in the role will be on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Read full story at here.