CenterforthePerformingArtsatPennState
ClassicalMusicProject-FundedbytheAndrewW.MellonFoundation
2015-2016SeasonFinalReport
Duringitsfirstfivefundedyears,theClassicalMusicProject(CMP)hasprovidedclassicalmusicprogrammingto
PennStatestudents,faculty,staffandcommunitymembers.TheClassicalMusicProjectcontinuestobeafocal
pointfortheCenterforthePerformingArtsofferings,strengtheningstudentawarenessandparticipationinits
classicalmusicprograms.Theprogram’simpactonthePennStatecommunityhasbeenimmense.Sincethe
project’sinceptioninthe2011-12season,studentattendanceatclassicalmusicprogramsincreasedto51%of
theCenter’stotalaudienceforclassicalmusic.Thisisthemosttangiblemeasurementoftheprogram’ssuccess,
beyondtheincreasedrelationshipsofcampuspartnersandembeddingclassicalmusicwithinstandard
programmingsuchasthepopularClassicalCoffeehouseseries.
ThisreportsummarizestheactivitiesofthefifthseasonoftheCMPfromJuly2015toJune2016.Thefour
cornerstonecomponentsoftheprojectincludeamajorresidencyprogram,studentengagementactivities,
curriculumpartnerships,andthePennStateCampusProject-apartnershipwiththePennStateAltoona
campus.Thestudentengagementmanagerpositionwasfilledfromanationalsearchwhichincreasedstability
andscopeofresidencypartnerships.
The2015-16seasonincludedartistssuchasSybarite5andtheDebussyStringQuartetthatintroducedaudiences
toclassicalmusicvialesstraditionalavenues.Sybarite5,astringquintet,primarilyplaysoriginalcompositions
andarrangements,includingtranspositionsofRadioheadalbums.TheDebussyQuartetperformedthree
Shostakovichquartetsonstage(blindfoldedattimes)withtheAustralianacrobaticcompanyCircainOpus.
StudentEngagementActivities
ClassicalCoffeehouses:TheKnights,9/30/15,Apollo’sFire,11/16/15,Sybarite5,1/21/16
InpartnershipwiththePennStateAlumniAssociation,theClassicalCoffeehouseseriescontinuedwiththree
strikinglyuniqueprograms.Studentorganizations,theCouncilofLionHeartsandtheBlue&WhiteSociety
providedadditionalsupportfortheseevents.TheAlumniAssociationwelcomedanewexecutivedirectorin
2015,PaulClifford.HehasembracedtheClassicalCoffeehouseseriesasoneoftheAlumniAssociation’smany
keyprograms.Conversationstofundtheprogrambeyondthe2016-17yearbeganquicklyafterClifford
assumedhisrole,withthegoaltoestablishanendowmentforprogramsupport,toensuretheprogram’sfuture.
TheClassicalCoffeehouseprogramscontinuetobeacommunityandstudentfavoritefortheircasual
atmosphereandproximitytotheartists.Lightrefreshmentsareavailable,includingcoffeeservedincustomized
mugsthatpatronsmaytakeasasouvenir.StudentsthatsignedinreceiveavouchertoPennState’sCreamery.
Ofthestudentandcommunitypopulationthatprovidedcontactinformation,asurveywasdeployedtogain
greaterunderstandingofthepatronexperience.Inparticular,communitymemberswereaskedaboutanentry
fee/donation(presentlythereisnochargeforanyone),with65%respondingthattheywouldpaysomekindof
admissionfee,with$15beingthemaximumtheywouldpay.Basedonthissurveydatain2016-17Classical
CoffeehouseswillremainfreeforPennStatestudentswithcommunitymembersencouragedtocontributea
donationof$5.
ClassicalCoffeehouseprogramcontentwasassessedtomaintaindistinctionbetweenthecoffeehouseandthe
artist’sconcert.Duetoconcernsofduplicatingcontent,coffeehouseprogramsfocusontheprocessand
experienceoftheartist’sworkratherthanatraditionalperformance.
TheKnights’ClassicalCoffeehousehadareunionfeel,assomeofitsmembershadbeenpartofBrooklynRider’s
residencyinSpring2015.Severalofthe119attendeesexpressedcuriosityaboutmusiciansmaintainingrolesin
multiplecompaniesaswellasdifferentiatingbetweentheworkofBrooklynRiderandTheKnights.This
conversationallowedfoundingmemberEricJacobsentospeaktohisphilosophyonperformancepractices.
Companymembersappreciatedbuildinguponpreviousresidencyworkaswellasintroducingtheiradditional
colleaguestoPennStateandtheClassicalMusicProject.
JeannetteSorrellledahighlyinteractiveClassicalCoffeehousewithApollo’sFire,invitingthoseinattendanceto
bringaguitarorotherstringedinstrument.Thecompany
introducedtheintricaciesoftheirinstruments,playedsectionsof
theirrepertoire,andfinally,taughtmusiciansinattendancea
briefaccompanyingphrase.Thedirectengagementactivity
provedanexcitingandmemorableexperienceforall.Those
withoutmusicalinstrumentsweretaughtavocalrefrain.
Sybarite5’sresidencyactivitieswerequiterobust,whichallowed
direct,increasedpromotionoftheClassicalCoffeehouse.
Attendancehit260,withstudentssittingonthefloorandspilling
outintothehallway.Theeventitselfranlong,withmembersof
Sybarite5takingtimetoanswerquestionsandmeetwithasmanypatronsaspossible,post-performance.
SeveralprofessorsincludedtheClassicalCoffeehousesintheircoursematerialswhichincreasedstudent
attendanceoverall,especiallyforSybarite5.
PaternoFellowsLunchwithHonorsSeries
CMPartistparticipationincreasedwithTheKnights,DebussyQuartet,Voces8,andWindscapeattendinghourlonghonorslunches.ThePaternoFellowsprogrammakessubsidized$5ticketsavailabletostudentswishingto
attendtheartist’sconcert.
• 9/30:TheKnights,22studentsattended.
• 11/11:alloftheDebussyquartetattendedanddiscussedtheirglobalexperienceswith27students.A
StudentAmbassadorLeaderfacilitatedtheconversation.
• 2/10:MembersofVoces8participated,aClassicalMusicProjectAmbassadorfacilitatedthe
conversationwith12honorsstudents.
• 2/17:The20studentsattendingparticipatedinalivelydiscussionwithallthemusiciansofWindscape
aboutcareerchoicesandchangesinthemusicindustry.AClassicalMusicProjectAmbassador
facilitatedtheconversation.
Sybarite5MajorResidencyActivities
Sybarite5arrivedoncampusduringtheMartinLutherKingCelebrationWeekactivitiessoartasadvocacy
becameoneofthetworesidencythemes.Thesecondtheme,artistsasentrepreneurs,groundedtheresidency
focus.Thecompany’sstructure,asastringquintet,lentitselftoboththemes,especiallyentrepreneurshipsince
theycreateorcommissionnearlyalloftheirownworks.Sybarite5’sresidencybalancedbetweencommunity
(adultandyouth),Altoonacampuspartnership,andstudentengagement.Throughartasadvocacy,Sybarite5
visitedStateCollegeHighSchooltoworkwithstudentsindifferentspecialinterestgroups(specificallyLGBTQ
andsocialjusticeplatformsastheresidencytookplaceduringtheMartinLutherKingholidayweek)onhowart
canprovideagatewaytosupportthosecauses.TheAltoonapartnershipfocusedonreachingmillennialswitha
contemporaryappreciationforclassicalforms.Sybarite5engagedwithbusinessstudentsandarea
entrepreneurstodiscussstrategy,creativepractice,andbusinessdevelopment.
CurriculumPartnerships
SevenoftheeightCMPartistsparticipatedinvariousclassvisitsduringtheirresidencies.Duetotheworkofthe
project’stwofacultyliaisons,CarrieJackson,andMaricaTacconi,artistswereabletoengagewithstudentsina
classroomsetting.Academicareasforcoursevisitsincludedbusiness,entrepreneurship,language,English,art
history,history,andAsianstudies.Sixteenclassvisitswereconductedoverthefallandspringsemesters
reachingapproximately600students.
InpartnershipwithCMP,UndertheHood:HowClassicalMusicWorks,anonlinegeneraleducationcourse
developedinfall2013byStephenHopkins,assistantprofessorofmusic,addedathirdsection.Dr.Maria
Truglio,associateprofessorofItalianandWomen’sStudiesisdevelopinganewcourse,TheSpacesofArt:
CulturalSponsorshipandSocialNetworksbeforeFacebook,tobeofferedinspring2017.
PennStateCampusProject
TheCatalystQuartetwasinresidenceatPennStateAltoonaforanafternoonlectureattendedby35students,
faculty,andstaffonSeptember16th.Acollaborativeeffort,thelectureincludedprofessorsofmusicand
internationalstudies,discussingdiversityofexperiencesinmusicology.Catalystmusicianswereabletospeakto
theirpersonalandcollectiveexperiences.Theireveningconcertwasattendedby50students,faculty,andstaff
intheEdithDavisEveChapel.Additionally,membersofthequartetrestructuredtheireveningprogramto
accommodateonemember’sinabilitytoperformduetoillness.Theimprovisedprogramcreatedamore
intimateexperience,aseachoftheremainingartistsperformedsoloworkswiththeopportunitytodiscussthe
piece’srelevancetotheirexperience.
Sybarite5participatedinanafternoonlectureandeveningperformanceonWednesday,January20th.Altoona
facultylecturerinmusic,TimMelbinger,facilitated“OntheChallengeofPresentingClassicalMusictothe
Millenials”withSybarite5speakingaboutadaptingtoaudiencesandperformancepracticesaroundtheworld.
40studentsandfacultyattendedthelecture.
Sybarite5’seveningperformancetookplaceintheEdithDavisEveChapel.Theeventwasfreebutticketswere
required.TheirrepertoireincludedclassicsbycomposerssuchasMozartandcontemporaryworksbyBritish
rockbandRadiohead.83students,faculty,andcommunity
membersattended.
StudentAmbassadorProgram
The2015-16seasoncontinuedthesecondyearofaStudent
AmbassadorProgram.SchoolofMusicfacultyliaisonMarica
Tacconi,AmbassadoradvisorRobynCosta,andStudent
EngagementManagerMelissaCroushorninterviewedand
selectedthreeambassadorsfromtwenty-oneapplicants.It
wasanticipatedthattheprogramwouldgrowfromthree
ambassadorstosixinthe2015-2016season,withtheSchool
ofMusicfundingthreeambassadorsinadditiontothethree
fundedbytheCenterforthePerformingArtsthroughthe
CMPgrant.TheSchoolofMusicoptedtoinsteadincorporategraduatestudentparticipationthroughinsertion
ofambassadoractivitiesincoursesyllabi.Graduatestudentsparticipatedintheprogram,butparticipationwas
notuniversal.Forthe2016-17season,theSchoolofMusicwillintegrateambassadordutiesintograduate
assistantshipcontracts.
ClassicalMusicProjectAmbassadors
• Ambassadorsrotatedasfacilitatorsfor3PaternoFellowsLunchwithHonors.
• Tapestry,aneveningcoffeehouse-styleevent,tookplaceinJanuaryoff-campusandutilizedcommunity
relationshipsthroughchurchesandculturalgroups.
• InApril,Ambassadorsstagedaseriesofpop-upconcerts(9concertstotal)inresidencehalls,theSmeal
CollegeofBusiness,andLawSchoolwiththecollaborationofothermusicstudents.About65students
interactedineachpop-upseries.
• AlsoinApril,incollaborationwithgraduatestudentsintheCollegeofLiberalArtsandresidencelifein
theCollegeofArtsandArchitecture,Ambassadorshostedtwo“FancyParties”.Thesepartiesfocused
onprovidingasocialencounteraroundclassicalmusicandtheopportunitytoexpandpeercirclesin
academicareas.
ComposerResidencies Co-commissionedbytheCenterforthePerformingArtsthroughitsmembershipinMusicAccord,theEmerson
QuartetperformedLowellLieberman’sStringQuartetNo.5,Op.126duringitsconcertatSchwabAuditoriumon
October15th.Liebermanarrivedoncampuspriortothequartet’sresidencyandparticipatedinthreeactivities:
acomposermasterclass,publicpresentationofwork,andaconversationwithstudentmusiciansovercoffee
anddonuts.
Residencieswithcomposersbeganinthe2014-15season,withSebastianCurriervisitingPennStateinadvance
oftheChamberMusicSocietyofLincolnCenter.
ComposerJosephHallmanwillbeoncampusduringtheMcGill-Weilerstein-BarnatanTrioresidencyinJanuary
2017.
2015-2016SeasonRecap
The2015-2016ClassicalMusicProjectseasoncontinuedtogrowstudentattendanceatperformances,withan
increasefrom43%in2014-15to51%oftheCenter’stotalaudienceforclassicalmusic.Intotal,ofthenine
residencies,activitiesincluded:
• 16classvisits
o Totalstudentsvisitedincoursevisits:600
• 13masterclasses
• 13Forums/Panels/Discussiongroups
• 3Publicschoolvisits
• 3CoolBlueperformances,PennStateInnovationPark’semployeeengagementprogram
• 25eventsbyStudentAmbassadorLeaders
• 3Coffeehouses
o TotalattendanceatClassicalCoffeehouses:494
CatalystQuartet
• 9/14:inpartnershipwithPennState’sMulticulturalResourceCenter,5studentsfromtheBlackMale
EmpowermentGroup,LatinoMaleEmpowermentGroup,WomenofColorEmpowermentGroup,and
AsianAmericanStudentsinActionattendedadiscussionwithmembersofCatalystandSphinx
Organizationfounder,AaronDworkin.Topicsincludedthepowerofdiversity,removingbarriersthat
standinthewayofgoals,andworkingtogethertoachieveacommonpurpose.
• 9/15:Catalystperformedfor23studentsatBellefonteMiddleSchool.
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9/15:AaronDworkin,guest-lecturedto24studentsinthenewlydevelopedArtsEntrepreneurship
program.
9/15:AaronDworkinparticipatedasthespeakerinPennState’sForummodeledontheNationalPress
ClubSpeakerSeries.TheCatalystQuartetalsoperformedduringthe90minuteevent.100membersof
thePennStateCommunitywereinattendance.
9/15:AaronDworkinhadtheopportunitytobeinterviewedbyclassicalmusicradiostationWPSU;
interviewmaybeviewedhere.
9/15:PennState’sForumonBlackAffairshostedDworkinandtheCatalystinaneveningeventfornew
facultyandstaffofcolortoPennState.
9/16:TheAfricanaResearchCenterhostedatalkaspartofitslunchtimebrownbagseries,aboutthe
powerofdiversityandthrivinginclassicalmusic.
9/16:Catalystmusiciansparticipatedin“OntheUseandAbuseofFolkMusic”,anafternoonlectureat
Altoona’sMisciagnaFamilyCenterTitelmanStudywith35inattendance.
9/16:Catalyst’seveningperformancewasattendedby50attheEdithDavisEveChapel.
9/17:StudentAmbassadorLeadershostedapaneldiscussionondiversityintheartsintheSchoolof
Music,attendedby22studentsandfaculty.
9/17:Catalyst’sconcertfeaturingitsarrangementofJohannSebastianBach’sGoldbergVariations
pairedwithGlennGould’sStringQuartetwasattendedby188patrons.
TheCatalystQuartetoperatesthroughtheSphinxOrganization,foundedbyAaronDworkinandfollowinghis
appointmentasDeanofUniversityofMichigan’sSchoolofMusicisdirectedbyhiswifeAfaDworkin.A
competitionanddevelopmentorganizationgearedtowardsartistsofcolor,theSphinxVirtuosichamber
orchestra,(whichincludestheCatalystQuartet)willbeinresidenceatPennStateinSeptember2016.Their
residencywillincludeperformancesandoutreachactivitiesatboththeUniversityParkandAltoonacampuses.
TheKnights
• 9/25:StudentAmbassadorLeaderscoordinatedapop-upconcertinadvanceofTheKnights’residency
intheGraduateStudentCenter.
• 9/29:MembersofTheKnightsvisitedaseniorlevelRussianliteraturecourse,with10studentsin
attendance.
• 9/29:TheKnightsperformedatInnovationParkaspartofCoolBlue,anemployeeengagementprogram.
25employeesattended.
• 9/29:6studentsfromSchreyerHonorCollegehostedmembersofTheKnightsatadowntown
restaurantaspartoftheCollege’sDinnerwithHonorsprogram.
• 9/29:AgnesMarchionecoached18PennStateSchoolofMusicclarinetstudentsinamasterclass.
• 9/30:MembersofTheKnightsvisitedanadvancedtonalanalysismusiccourse,with25studentsin
attendance.
• 9/30:ThepublicwasinvitedtolistentoTheKnightsengageindiscussionwith60studentsinParis:
AnatomyofaCity,aPennStateFrench137course.
• 9/30:MembersofTheKnightsparticipatedinthePaternoFellowsLunchwithHonorsprogram.22
studentsattended.
• 9/30:TheKnightsparticipatedinadiscussionaboutmusicandWorldWarIwith40studentsinThe
WesternHeritageII,aPennStateHistory002course.
• 9/30:MichaelCaterisanotaughtapercussionmasterclassto10SchoolofMusicstudents.
• 9/30:119membersofthePennStateandStateCollegecommunitiesattendedTheKnights’Classical
Coffeehouse.
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10/1:membersofTheKnightsguest-lecturedinanArtsMarketingcourse,speakingontheir
developmentasacompany.
10/1:148patronsattendedTheKnights’concert.TheprogramincludedSergeiProkofiev’sOvertureon
HebrewThemes,MauriceRavel’sPianoTrioinAminor,AntonWebern’sThreeLittlePiecesforCelloand
Piano,ErnestBloch’sPrayerforcelloandpiano,CarolineShaw’sarrangementofKarlheinz
Stockhausen’sTierkreis:Leo,andIgorStravinsky’sSuitefromTheSoldier’sTale.
LowellLiebermanandtheEmersonStringQuartet
• 10/14:StudentAmbassadorLeadersstagedapop-upconcertintheGraduateStudentCenter,with70in
attendance.
• 10/15:ComposerLowellLiebermanarrivedinadvanceofthequartetandtaughtacomposermaster
classto15SchoolofMusicstudents.
• 10/15:Liebermanalsoparticipatedinapublicpresentationofwork,hostedbytheSchoolofMusic,
attendedby20studentsandfaculty.
• 10/15:PhilipSetzertaughtastringmasterclassfor30SchoolofMusicstudents.
• 10/15:Setzeralsotaughtaviolinmasterclassfor16SchoolofMusicstudents.
• 10/15:GeneDruckervisitedafirstyearEnglishcourseof20studentsinwhichheprovidedmusical
contextandframeworkontheirstudiesofliteratureinspiredfromWorldWarII.
• 10/15:148patronsattendedEmersonQuartet’sconcertprogramincludedHaydn’sStringQuartetinBflatMajor,Op.76,No.4,Sunrise;Schubert’sStringQuartetNo.13inAminor,Op.29,Rosamunde;and
Liebermann’sStringQuartetNo.5,Op.126.
• 10/16:StudentAmbassadorLeadersfacilitatedconversationwithLiebermanovercoffeeanddonutsfor
27SchoolofMusicstudents.
• 10/16:StudentAmbassadorLeaderssetupaninstrumentpettingzoointheStudentCenterwith50
studentsinattendance.
CircaOpus/DebussyStringQuartet
• 10/10:TheDebussyQuartetparticipatedinaclassdiscussionwith36studentsaboutwarpropagandain
RussianCourse143:TheCultureofStalinismandNazism.EnsemblemembersintroducedaDmitri
Shostakovichquartetanddiscussedhowtheworkisareflectionofitstimeperiod.
• 10/10:StudentAmbassadorLeadersandCenterforArtsandCraftsco-hostedaColorofMusicpop-up
activityinWarnockCommons.45studentsparticipatedinthevisualreflectionexperiencebylistening
toclassicalcompositionsandtransposingtheirthoughtsthroughcoloringpages.
• 11/11:ThequartetattendedthePaternoFellowsLunchwithHonorsanddiscussedtheirglobal
experienceswith27students.AStudentAmbassadorLeaderfacilitatedtheconversation.
• 11/11:Opus,Debussy’scollaborationwiththeacrobatsofCirca,wasattendedby954patrons.Fourteen
acrobatsandthequartetcelebratedthemusicofDmitriShostakovich.
Apollo’sFire
• 11/16:115students,faculty,staff,andcommunitymembersattendedtheClassicalCoffeehouse.
• 11/17:TheStudentAmbassadorLeadersstagedapop-upconcertintheGraduateStudentCenter,with
60inattendance.
• 11/17:JeannetteSorrellguest-lecturedonperiodmusicalinstrumentsandAntonioVivaldi’sLaFolia
with17studentsinItalianCourse325:IntroductiontoLiteratureandtheArtsinItaly.Sorrellalsotalked
aboutherBaroqueensembleanditsmusic.
• 11/17:OlivierBraulttaughtanupperstringsmasterclassfor12studentswhichincluded
demonstrationsofBaroquedancemovements.
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11/17:AmandaForsythetaughtavoicemasterclassto26students.
11/17:Apollo’sFireexploredthepassionsoftheBaroqueinThePowerofLove.Theconcertfeatured
lusciousGeorgeFridericHandelarias,fromthenewApollo’sFirealbumwithForsythe,plusfieryAntonio
Vivaldiconcertos.TheprogramclosedwithSorrell’sacclaimedarrangementofVivaldi’sLaFolia,which
theensembleperformsfrommemory.568patronsattended.
Sybarite5
• 1/19:SamiMerdinianandAngelaPickettspoketoover50studentsinanIntrotoMusiccourseatthe
SchoolofMusic.
• 1/19:LauraMetcalfandSarahWhitneywereinterviewedbyclassicalmusicradiostationWPSU.
• 1/19:Sybarite5playedanafternoonconcertforover50employeesatInnovationParkintheCoolBlue
employeeengagementprogram.
• 1/19:Sybarite5attendedandperformedattheCenterforthePerformingArtsmajordonoreventatthe
NittanyLionInnforabout40guests.
• 1/20:Sybarite5’sAltoonaresidencyconsistedofanafternoonlectureandeveningperformance,
attendedby42and83Altoonastudents,faculty,andstaffrespectively.
• 1/21:Thecompany’svisittoStateHighutilizedthelunchhourrotationstomeetwiththreegroupsof
students(37total)indifferingareasofinteresttoexploreartasadvocacyforcurrentLGBTQandsocial
justiceinitiatives.
• 1/21:LouisLevittandAngelaPickettvisitedanEntrepreneurialMindsetcoursewhichwasamore
diverseacademiccross-sectionofstudents.LevittandPickettprovidedpracticalthoughtson
independentlymanagingbusinessesandtooktimetobrainstormwithabout40studentsabouttheir
nextsteps.
• 1/21:Sybarite5’sClassicalCoffeehousemaxedoutthefacility,withguestsspillingoutintohallways.The
260attendeesstayedpasttheconcert’sconclusiontomeettheartistsanddiscussthenatureof
Sybarite5’swork.
• 1/22:LouisLevittofferedamasterclassfor10double-bassstudentsintheSchoolofMusic.
• 1/22:SarahWhitneyandSamiMerdinianmetwith10localentrepreneursandartistsattheNewLeaf
Initiative“SaladFridays”lunchtimeprogramindowntownStateCollege.
• 1/22:LauraMetcalfandSarahWhitneyparticipatedintheSchoolofMusic’sCommonHour/Freshman
Experienceseminarwithover100studentstodiscusscareerpathsinmusic,andusingtechnologyfor
performanceandcomposition.TwoClassicalMusicProjectAmbassadorsfacilitatedconversation.
• 1/22:Sybarite5’sperformanceatSchwabAuditoriumwasattendedby147patrons–despitea
snowstormdevelopingthatafternoon.Thecompanyannouncedits
programfromthestagewhichincludedclassicsbycomposerssuchas
MozartandcontemporaryworksbyBritishrockbandRadiohead.
Voces8
• 2/10:ThecollegialartistsofVoces8begantheirAmericantourwith
theirPennStateresidency.
• 2/10:ThecompanyvisitedmusicologistMaricaTacconi’s50students
inherMusic261course(opentonon-musicmajors)inmixedlecture
stylethatincludedsomeperformance,techniquedemonstration,and
commentaryonearlymusictraditions.
• 2/10:MembersofthecompanyparticipatedinthePaternoFellows
LunchwithHonors.AClassicalMusicProjectAmbassadorfacilitated
conversationwith12honorsstudents.
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2/10:Voces8taughtajointvocalcoachingsessionforPennState’sOrianasingersandGleeClub(130
students)attheSchoolofMusic.
2/11:ThecompanydeliveredasimilarcoachingsessionatStateHighforover100students.
2/11:Companyfounders(andbrothers)PaulandBarnabySmithspoketo60studentsinabusiness
managementcourseondevelopingabrand,buildinganinfrastructure,andnavigatingorganizational
growth.Thesessionwasalsolivestreamedtostudentsinonlinesectionsofthecourse.
2/11:Voces8’seveningconcertatPasquerillaSpiritualCenterwasattendedby240patrons.The
programfeaturedworksbyFelixMendelssohn,ThomasTallis,SergeiRachmaninoff,GiovanniGabrieli,
ClaudioMonteverdi,RobertLouisPearsall,andincludedjazzandpopselectionsannouncedfromthe
stage.
Windscape
• 2/17:Thecompanybegantheirresidencywith13graduatearthistorystudentsexaminingmixedmedia
inperformances.WindscapemusiciansdetailedhowtheybuilttheirprogrambasedonJaponisme
influencesandstudentsconsideredthenatureofsharingresourcesinthevisualartcommunity.
• 2/17:WindscapealsoperformedinaseniorlevelHistoryofAsiacoursefor20students.Course
professorRanZwigenbergfacilitatedconversationbetweenmusicselectionstodrawconnections
betweenvisualartutilizedbyWindscapeandcoursematerial.
• 2/17:The20studentsattendingthePaternoFellowsLunchwithHonorsparticipatedinalively
discussionaboutcareerchoicesandchangesinthemusicindustry.AClassicalMusicProject
Ambassadorfacilitatedtheconversation.
• 2/17:Windscapeplayedanafternoonconcertfor25employeesparticipatinginInnovationPark’s
CoolBlueemployeeengagementprogram.
• 2/18:Thecompanytaughtoboe,windensemble,clarinet,andFrenchhornmasterclassesattheSchool
ofMusicfor40studentsintotal.
• 2/18:Windscape’seveningconcertatSchwabAuditoriumwasattendedby216patrons.TitledEast
MeetsWest:AFloatingWorld—JapanandtheImpressionists,Windscape’sprogramfeaturedworksby
composersfamiliartoWesternears—ClaudeDebussy,MauriceRavel,andOlivierMessiaen—paired
withmusicbyJapanesecomposersMichioMiyagiandToruTakemitsu.Themusiciansperformedbefore
projectedimagesofpaintingsandprintsbyartistsfromEuropeandJapan.WorksbyClaudeMonet,Paul
Cézanne,GeorgesSeurat,Pierre-AugusteRenoir,MaryCassatt,EdgarDegas,VincentVanGogh,and
othersarejuxtaposed—oftenthematically—withpiecesbyKatsushikaHokusai,UtagawaKuniyoshi,
AndoHiroshige,KitaoShigemasa,SuzukiHarunobu,KitagawaUtamaro,MizunoToshikata,andothers.
RussianNationalOrchestra
• 3/3:FlautistMaximRubtsovcoachedstudentsinNaomiSeidman’sstudioof14.Anotherfaculty
memberprovidedtranslationduringtheclass.StudentswereveryexcitedtoworkwithRubtsov,
presentinghimwithaSchoolofMusicshirt,card,andtakingphotoswithhimaftertheclass.
• 3/3:Theorchestra’seveningperformancehad841patronsinattendance.Theprogramincluded
AlexanderGlazunov’sPreludetotheSuiteFromtheMiddleAgesandPletnev’sarrangementofSergei
Prokofiev’sSuitefromRomeoandJuliet.StefanJackiwjoinedtheorchestratoperformFelix
Mendelssohn’sViolinConcertoinEminor,Op.64.JackiwmadehisCarnegieHalldebutthedaybefore
thePennStateconcert.
2015-16EngagementPartners
• AlumniAssociation
• CouncilofLionHearts
• CollegeofArtsandArchitecturee-LearningInstitute
• CollegeoftheLiberalArts
• InstitutefortheArtsandHumanities
• MisciagnaFamilyCenterforPerformingArtsatPennStateAltoona
• PaternoLiberalArtsUndergraduateFellowsProgram
• SchoolofMusic
• SchreyerHonorsCollege
• StudentAffairs
• NewLeafInitiative
• CenterforArtsandCrafts
• KernGraduateCenter
• AfricanaResearchCenter
• PennStateParentsProgram
• ForumonBlackAffairs
• NorthHallsResidenceAssociation
• EastResidenceHallAssociation
• MulticulturalResourceCenter
• SmealCollegeofBusiness
• CoolBlueatInnovationPark
Administrative
InJuly2015MelissaCroushornjoinedtheCenterforthePerformingArtsteaminthenewpositionofStudent
EngagementManager.ThisisapositionformedoutofadeepeningpartnershipwithStudentAffairswhois
providingone-halfofthefundingfortheposition.Melissa’sresponsibilitiesincludeadministrationofthe
ClassicalMusicProject,developingandexecutingotherCPAstudentandcampusengagementactivities,and
workingacrossthestudentexperienceatPennStatethroughStudentAffairstoengagestudentswiththe
performingarts.Thestudentengagementmanageralsoadvisesastudent-ledPerformingArtsCouncil,which
representsallstudentsintheartsregardlessoftheirmajor.
Conclusion
InitsfifthyeartheClassicalMusicProjectorganizedandpresenteditsmostrobustseriesofprogramsand
engagementactivitiestodate.Studentengagementwithclassicalmusiccontinuedtogrowandnewideasand
directionsfortheprojectcontinuetobeexplored.TheCMPteamandpartnerscontinuetobenimble,adapting
tosuccessesandchallengestobringanevenmoreeffectiveselectionofprogramstoourcampusand
community.
TheCMPhaspartnershipwithmanyentitiesacrosscampuswhicharecriticalindevelopingtheCMP’sreachto
students.ThepartnershipwithStudentAffairsbecameincreasinglycentraltoCMPandservedasacatalystfor
theStudentEngagementManagerposition.TheCMPteamandallprojectpartnersareworkingtogetherto
developplanstosustaintheprojectfollowingtheconclusionofMellonFoundationfunding.
TheClassicalMusicProjecthasbeenanimportantpartoftheCenterforthePerformingArts’offeringsandhas
madeasignificantimpactatPennStatehelpingtheCPAadvanceitsstudentengagementprogram.TheCMPis
gratefulforthesupportfromtheAndrewW.MellonFoundationthathasmadepossibletheproject’ssuccessat
PennStateUniversity.