New Courses and Instructors

I am pleased to announce that Patricia Creighton will be joining the faculty as our new flute instructor. Sandra Britten has decided not to return next year and will be missed. Patty brings years of experience as a soloist, chamber musician, and principal flute for Symphony Nova Scotia. 

Music 3693 - Accompanying will be offered this year for the first time. Jennifer King, the staff accompanist, will teach the course. I encourage piano majors in particular to register for this course.

Music 4183 - Advanced Musicianship will also be offered for the first time. This year's course will concentrate on rhythm, metre, and musical time. Ken Shorley will teach the course and I encourage senior performance majors to register for this soon. There are still a few spots left.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that Mark Adam, Eugene Cormier, Claire Mallin, Paula Rockwell, and Ron Tomarelli have all received contracts as full-time instructors effective July 1, 2008. We are very pleased to welcome these five to the full-time ranks!

Jazz Fest

The Atlantic Jazz Festival in Halifax kicked off on Friday. This year's festival features performances by several SOM faculty. SOM percussionist Mark Adam will be performing with his duo The Barriomatic Trust on Wednesday, July 16 at Cathedral Church of All Saints. They will join the renowned Sanctuary trio, featuring SOM professor and cellist Christoph Both. Sanctuary will also perform with electro-acoustic improvisors V16 tonight at All Saints, and with SOM percussionist Ken Shorley and flutist/composer Derek Charke on Tuesday, July 15th. 

Mark Adam will also be performing with his jazz trio ERA tonight at the Holiday Inn Select Commons Room. Ken Shorley's world-fusion group Talambra will open for the world-renowned Arabic musician Simon Shaheen on Wednesday, July 16 at the Festival Tent. This is sure to be  great concert - I'll post a review if I can get tickets.