Faculty News
Baileyshea Named "Professor of the Year"
In a ceremony on Friday April 23, Matthew Baileyshea, Associate Professor of Music at the College, was given the 2010 "Professor of the Year" award by members of the UR Students' Association. Way to go, Matt!
David Harman/Felipe Hidalgo Interview in Christian Science Monitor
Chilean conductor Felipe Hidalgo's recent visit to 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ and collaboration with David Harman and the UR Symphony Orchestra was the subject of a
Honey Meconi Appointed Susan B. Anthony Professor
by Valerie Alhart
Shortly after learning she was to be named the Susan B. Anthony Professor of Gender and Women's Studies at the University, Honey Meconi visited the grave of the suffragist and civil rights leader in nearby Mt. Hope Cemetery to say "thank you." "I know it sounds corny, but it's true," say Meconi, who also serves as director of the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies. "Who she was and what she made possible for women really mean a lot to me." The institute is supported by more than 100 faculty associates and affiliates in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences across the University. After all, “women make up about half of the world’s population, and gender covers the entire world,” says Meconi. Despite the stereotype that gender studies are of interest only to women, classes in the institute include both male and female students. All classes are cross-listed in the College, making the courses available to all undergraduate and graduate students and gaining the attention of hundreds of students per semester who often take the courses out of personal interest rather than for academic credit. Meconi says students in the program often ask themselves how they can use what they’ve learned to give back to the community. She points to a program created as part of the internship or independent study required by all students majoring in gender and women’s studies. Four years ago, several students created a program inside the Sojourner House, an organization in 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ that provides shelter and structure to women and families in need. Over the course of four weeks, women at the Sojourner House are taught about their legal rights as women—often for the first time—and about how society views women, through the context of the history of feminism. Meconi says the course has been a success because “knowledge is power, and a woman needs to feel empowered in order to enact change.” In addition to her role as director of the Susan B. Anthony Institute, Meconi is a musicologist with a special interest in music before 1600, especially how it relates to women. “I was drawn to the University by how the faculty and administration embrace interdisciplinary research,” she says. Meconi joined the faculty in 2004 as a professor of music in the College’s music department and a professor of musicology at the Eastman School. She became director of the Anthony institute in 2007. She also serves as vice president for the American Musicological Society, where she previously served on the Committee on the Status of Women.
Professor Matthew Baileyshea now an Associate Professor with Tenure
Matthew Baileyshea, a music theory professor in the College Music Department, recently received a promotion to Associate Professor with tenure. A graduate of Yale University, Prof. Baileyshea teaches in the music theory sequence on the River Campus, advises undergraduate students, and teaches graduate seminars in music theory at the Eastman School of Music. His accomplishment now brings the total number of tenured College Music Department faculty to four. Congratulations, Associate Professor Baileyshea!
New Ensembles Available for Credit in Fall of 2009
Brass Choir - Although it already exists on a non-credit basis, the Brass Choir will be the newest instrumental ensemble to achieve credit-bearing status at the College. Brass Choir is a 20-30 member ensemble dedicated to performing quality brass music at a high level while fostering a spirit of community among brass players on the River Campus. Open to experienced trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba players. Repertoire includes fanfares, Renaissance pieces, contemporary literature written specifically for brass, and arrangements of light classics and popular music. For more information, contact Josef Hanson.
Rock Repertory Ensemble - New Fall 2009! Devoted to performing songs from the rock music repertory, with selections ranging from the early 1950s to the present day. The class is open to guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboard players, and singers, with consideration given to wind and brass players depending on repertory for a given semester. Students must audition for the RRE at the beginning of each term. For more information, contact Prof. John Covach.
Meconi Awarded Prestigious NEH Grant
Professor Honey Meconi will have the opportunity to research and write a book about the history of 16th Century illustrated musical manuscripts known as chansonniers. The recipient of a $50,400 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, Meconi will spend July 2008 through June 2009 studying manuscripts in Europe, namely Paris, and in the United States. Click to read the full story fromCurrents.
Harman Named "Musician of the Year"
Professor David Harman, director of orchestral activities in the College Music Department, has been named the 2007 "Musician of the Year" by the 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon. Harman will be honored at a special concert March 2nd in the Eastman School's Kilbourne Hall. The concert begins at 7:30pm, and is free and open to the public.
Covach Featured in 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Revue Article
Professor John Covach, chair of the College Music Department, was featured in the 2007 summer edition of 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Review. In author Ryan Whirty's article, Covach is described as "the University's reigning rock 'n' roll professor," and a profile of Covach's Analysis of Rock Music course (MUR 214B) is presented. Follow to the full article.
Meconi Receives 2006 Noah Greenberg Award
At a recent meeting of the American Musicological Society in Los Angeles, professor Honey Meconi was named a co-winner of the 2006 Noah Greenberg Award. The award is given "to stimulate active cooperation between scholars and performers by recognizing and fostering outstanding contributions to historical performing practices." Prof. Meconi's project is called "Extreme Singing," and it will result in a CD by Vox Early Music Ensemble, a professional group and the co-winner of the award. The CD features very low vocal works of the Renaissance (down to A below the staff), including La Rue's Requiem; the other component of the project is an article that Prof. Meconi is writing outlining the evidence for performance of such works at written pitch.
BaileyShea Wins Prestigious Award
Matthew BaileyShea, assistant professor of music, received the G. Graydon '58 and Jane W. Curtis Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Nontenured Member of the Faculty at the College commencement ceremony. BaileyShea joined the faculty in 2003. Besides teaching, he serves as a freshman advisor, supervises the undergraduate musicianship sequence, and holds a secondary appointment as assistant professor of music theory at the Eastman School. Kim Kowalke, chair of the College Music Department and the Richard L. Turner Professor of Humanities, describes BaileyShea as "simply a star." Many students agree, awarding him some of the highest possible overall instructor ratings and praising him for his openness, enthusiasm, and depth of knowledge.