Faculty News

2007-08

July, Willard Schultz, Piano Chair, was invited to give a presentation at the WSMTA Annual Conference at the Kitsap Conference Center, in June on " Sequencing Repertoire".
His student, Michael Lee, was a featured performer.
Willard has taught, performed, lectured and conducted master classes in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.

July, Nancy Zylstra, new Voice Program Chair, directs an Early Music program at Oberlin again this summer. She will also be teaching at PLU in the Fall.

June, Hiro Imamura David, Accompanist, Ensemble Coach, Studio Teacher, was awarded her Masters Degree (Music) from the University of WA. Hiro studied after 11PM in the evenings to work on her Masters Thesis, maintained a 4.0, and was invited to participate in the DMA program.

June 12, Charlotte Dike, piano, Children's Program faculty, was awarded her BM degree from the UW. She presented her Graduate Recital at Brechemin Hall in June. Her teacher was Craig Sheppard.  Earlier teachers were Regina Yeh and Mary Toy. Charlotte performed her Senior Recital June 9. Charlotte was an Academy graduate in music studies, solo & ensemble performance who entered the UW at age 14 as a double major in Languages and Piano Performance.

June 5, 2008 Sachi Hirakouji, Faculty, Piano, Ensemble Coach, received her DMA from the Univ. WA.

Apr. 26, 2008. Harumi Flesher, Faculty, Piano, Ensemble Coach, studio teacher performs with Seatttle Chamber Players, at Town Hall, Seattle.

Apr 10-12, 2008. Eric Flesher, Faculty, Composer, teacher of Theory, Ear Training, Composition, & Orchestration was invited to give a lecture on his recent compositions at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK.

Mar 31. MTNA National Conference in Denver.   
Kent Coleman, Honorary String Chair (in memoriam) was named a Foundation Fellow. Jan Coleman (Director, Coleman Violin Studio) accepted the award on his behalf at the Gala Awards Banquet. As another special gift for him, his former student, Marié Rossano, performed as a National MTNA Winner this year.

Mar 16, 2008.  Kirkland Performing Arts Center, 7PM.
Simon James (2nd Asst. Concert Master, Seattle Symphony, Coleman Violin Studio Faculty) & Michael Miropolsky (Assoc. Principal, 2nd Violin, Seattle Symphony) performed Vivildi's Concerto for Two Violins with the Seattle Chamber Orchestra. Michael Miropolsky, Music Director.

Nov. 2007. Brandon Derfler, Faculty, (Theory and Ear Training) earned his Ph.D. in Music Theory from the University of Washington.

Oct 6, 2007 Simon James (SSO & Faculty -Coleman Violin Studio) performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Bremerton Symphony.

Sept. 2007:
Daniela Landolfi, Faculty: named Director of the Children's Program.

Hiro Imamura David, Faculty, piano, accompanist, ensemble coach: named to teach Theory for Violinists.

Brianna Atwell, Faculty, (violin/viola), ensemble coach: named to teach Sight Reading Skills for for String performers.

Brad Hawkins, Faculty, cello, ensemble coach: named to teach Ear Training.

Harumi Flesher, Faculty: piano, ensemble coach:
Sept. 29 Piano Duo Concert "In Black and White", Annas Bay Music Festival, Union, WA.
Sept. 27 Piano Solo, Seattle Latin-American Music Festival at the Good Shephard Center, Seattle.
Sept. 25 Piano Duo Concert at the concert hall at Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Collaboration with Jerrod Wendland.
Sept. 22 Press Preview of the Annas Bay Music Festival at Sherman Clay, Seattle.

2006-07
Brandon Derfler, Theory faculty member since 1997, has accepted the position of Asst. Provost to Provost and Academy co-founder, Dorothy Klotzman.

Willard Schultz, Academy Piano Chair, received the letter (below) from a very successful performer, collaborator, and teacher, who was a former student of Willard's at Banff Summer Program, and the Univ. of Calgary in Canada.

"Daily I thank you for your inspired teaching and for giving me solid tools to go out there and do the job. If I hadn't had such superb teaching from you, I would not be able to practice the insane hours that are necessary to keep on top of so much repertoire.I am about to go to China for 5 weeks to accompany in the Morningside Music Bridge program. I don't know if you have heard about this program, but it is a month-long summer camp run at the Conservatory, for violin, viola, cello and piano. It targets gifted youth (about 80 kids, ages 12-18) of China, Canada, U.S. and Poland. This year is the 10th anniversary of the program and in recognition of that we have moved the whole program to Shanghai!! I will be accompanying the viola class and half of the cello class. It will be the opportunity of a lifetime, doing classes with the Shanghai String Quartet, Gary Graffman, and Lyn Harell. I know you enjoyed your teaching in China and I am looking forward to this experience." Julie

See Willard's full bio on the Department Chairs page.

Melissa Plagemann, mezzo-soprano,will teach Keyboard Skills to Singers who have no keyboard experience. Meliss was chosen as the June 2004 vocal winner in the Ladies' Musical Club competition from five other singers, all sopranos. There were four winners from 17 finalists.The prize was $2000. and a recital tour through Western Washington, ending with a recital at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle. Melissa teaches our Singers Program, Ear Training, and coaches vocal ensembles at the Academy. In addition to her rapidly advancing singing career, Melissa is an accomplished pianist, and accompanist. She has been an Ear Training teacher for us for many years. Her bio is on the Faculty page.

Brad Hawkins joined the Ensemble Coaching staff. Brad has also done a superb job of recording Academy Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra performances.

Brianna Atwell, an excellent chamber music coach at the Academy for many years, also does professional manuscript work for our composers.

Alan Futterman, Music Director / conductor of the Academy Chamber
Orchestra (ACO). Alan was appointed Music Director of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra. He has also been Music Director of the Bremerton Symphony since Spring 2005, in addition to his college teaching positions and private tutoring (bassoon, composition, conducting). Alan received a standing ovation for his composition Fiesta Mexicana that was premiered by the Yakima Symphony.
Alan writes a new piece each year for the Academy Chamber Orchestra.
See his full bio on the Department Chairs page.