fa c u lt y n e w s
Theatre program and also instructed the
musical theatre and voice faculty on how
to teach pop/rock styles while protecting
young voices.
Musical Theatre Program Director and
Associate Professor of Music Theatre
Jonathan Flom, M.F.A., released a
new book, “Act Like It’s Your Business:
Branding and Marketing Strategies for
Actors,” published by Scarecrow Press.
“I’m particularly proud of this book
because it represents exactly what our
collaborative and cutting-edge theatre
performance program degrees are offering
that most schools are not: legitimate
theatre business training,” said Flom. “The
book is an encapsulation of the course I
created here called ‘Preparation for the
Theatre Profession,’ and I’m hoping it will
be adopted as a textbook in universities
worldwide and also utilized by actors in
the profession.” Flom said he is grateful
for the collaboration with Dean and
Associate Professor Miles Davis, Ph.D.,
whom he cites multiple times in the
book for “... joining forces with me a few
years ago and partnering with the theatre
program in our endeavor to shape young
entrepreneurs in the arts.” The book
can be found online at the publisher or
Amazon.com. Flom also directed “She
Loves Me” at the Clinton Area Showboat
Theatre in Clinton, Iowa.
Associate Professor & Dance Division
Chair Erica Helm, M.F.A., was elected
to a three-year term as the Mid-Atlantic
Regional Representative for the American
College Dance Festival Association.
She will assist the organization with
coordinating regional conferences each
year and participate in other activities and
projects of the board of directors.
Associate Professor of Music/Voice
and Director of the Opera Workshop
Byron Jones, D.M.A., spent his second
summer teaching at Seagle Music Colony
in Schroon Lake, N.Y. Founded in 1915,
Seagle is one of the oldest and most
respected training programs in the United
States for young opera singers. Thirty-two
outstanding artists participated in the
colony’s summer program, which included
four productions in the main theatre and
two touring shows. In addition to being
in rehearsal daily, they received weekly
voice lessons, musical coachings and
masterclasses, and they attended seminars
in the business of singing. Alumni from
Seagle Music Colony are currently singing
at Santa Fe, Glimmerglass, Wolftrap,
Central City, Chautauqua, and Opera
Saratoga, to name just a few. Dr. Jones
served as one of three voice teachers at
Seagle Music Colony.
Associate Professor, Harrison
Endowed Chair in Piano and Chair of
Instrumental Division Robert Larson,
D.M.A., converted his arranging textbook
“Arranging for the Small Jazz Ensemble”
to an e-reader format that will be available
this fall.
Professor Emeritus of Music James Laster,
Ph.D., participated in the American Guild
of Organists (AGO) Region III Convention
held in Winchester, Va., this summer.
Dr. Laster conducted the AGO Choir for
the final service of the convention. His
composition, “Adam Lay y Bounden,” was
performed during this final event. He also
performed the role of Eugene Fodor in
the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre’s
production of “Crazy for You.”
Director of Instrumental Chamber
Music and Associate Professor of Viola
and Chamber Music Doris M. Lederer,
A.D., spent seven weeks as artist/faculty
member for the Kneisel Hall Chamber
Music Festival in Blue Hill, Maine,
working with faculty and students from
the Juilliard School, Yale, Curtis Institute,
Colburn, New England Conservatory,
Cleveland Institute, Oberlin, Rice
University and Shenandoah Conservatory.
Visiting Associate Professor of Music
Therapy Anne Lipe, Ph.D., MT-BC,
participated in a podcast, “Music Therapy
for Older People,” released by the American
Music Therapy Association this summer.
Dr. Lipe shared an overview of music
therapy with older adults, including the
impact of the 1991 hearing before the
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
on the growth of music therapy services
and research, as well as the broad range
of possibilities for music therapy services
across the spectrum for older people
living independently in the community;
individuals in assisted living and adult
day care; and people living in long-term
care facilities. The podcast also featured
the work of Dr. Betsey King and Laurie
Keogh in a privately funded music therapy
demonstration project for individuals
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The podcast
concluded with an informal discussion
of the exciting possibilities for growth in
music therapy services for older people in
the community and in long-term care.
Assistant Professor of Composition David
T. Little, Ph.D., oversaw the launch of
Shenandoah New Music, an initiative by
Shenandoah Conservatory to bring the best
artists from the world of contemporary art
music to Winchester, expanding the Capital
Region’s already-vibrant new music scene
throughout northern Virginia. Shenandoah
New Music features approximately 30
performances annually in five venues,
with guest artists ranging from new music
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