Date:
10/31/2011
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253
PORTALES – Eastern New Mexico University in Portales is hosting the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico State Conference on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 4-6.
The public is invited to a special concert by Irish pianist Peter Mack at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Buchanan Hall in the Music Building. Admission is free.
Mack has performed throughout the United States and Europe, as well as in Australia and the former Soviet Union. He is the winner of the New Orleans, Young Keyboard Artists and Pacific International Piano Competitions. His prize in the Sherman-Clay competition included a Steinway grand piano.
Mack is well known for his extensive repertoire, having performed 25 concertos with orchestras. A choral scholar at Trinity College Dublin, he went on to obtain a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Washington. His primary teachers were Frank Heneghan and Bela Siki.
Mack is equally in demand as a performer, conference clinician and master teacher. A professor of piano performance at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Mack is a Steinway Artist.
A review in the Los Angeles Times stated, "Mack is one of those lucky ones, born with a completely balanced set of talents. He has perfect piano hands, his technique is all but infallible, he has boundless temperament, style and taste, and above all, he communicates directly."
Conference activities will include exhibitors, junior/senior/young artist competitions, honors auditions, an ensemble recital, student winner's recital, conference banquet honoring Jane Snow from Albuquerque as Teacher of the Year, and a general membership farewell breakfast.
Portales-born B. J. Brooks will present a workshop on "Integrating Composition and Theory into the Private Studio." The discussion will include methods to include theory and composition into the private studio to augment performances and technique repertoire.
Danise Gallaway from the state of Oklahoma and Joann Marie Kirchner from Temple University will address "Side by Side," choosing duet repertoire that motivates and encourages piano students.
Albuquerque resident Samuel Jacobs will present "Programmatic Music of Liszt," music directly inspired by or connected to literature. Featured will be works from the Years of Pilgrimmage and the Sonata in B Minor.
John Olsen, professor of piano at ENMU, will discuss "Teaching the Technically Brilliant Chinese Pianist-The Joys and Challenges." Many of Olsen's students have won regional and national competitions.
Kayla Paulk, instructor of music at ENMU, will speak on "Plays Well with Others: Encouraging Young Pianists to Explore the Art of Accompanying." The workshop will focus on encouraging and developing accompanying skills in young pianists.
"Technology You Need" will be the topic of Neil Rutland, instructor of music and director of the Digital Filmmaking Program at ENMU. He will provide hands-on experience to help professionals decide what music technology they actually need.
Jason Vest, assistant professor of voice at ENMU, will present "Voice Master Class." He has sung with orchestras in the United States, Austria and Madagascar.
For more information on the conference, contact John Olsen at 575.562.2734 or Kathi Fraze at 575.562.2377.