The Kulmusik Contemporary Ensemble uniquely comprises faculty and students who are dedicated to the study and performance of contemporary and new music. The ensemble performs two or three concerts per year in the Hockett Family Recital Hall.
The members of Kulmusik:
Sally Lamb artistic director
Jeffery Meyer and Richard Faria conductors
Jacqueline Christen '09 flute
Paige Morgan oboe
Richard Faria and Adam Butalewicz, M.M. '09 clarinet
Tyler Ogilvie, M.M. '10 horn
Alicia Aubin '10 trombone
Susan Waterbury and Kate Goldstein '09 violin
Lauren Buono '08 viola
Heidi Hoffman and TJ Borden '11 cello
Nicholas Walker bass
Diane Birr and Nathan Gulla '09 keyboards
College students often hear that they’ll never be anything more than a face in the crowd on campus and never transcend the separation between teacher and student. I was determined that this not be true for me when choosing a graduate school, and that’s why I chose Ithaca College.
During my time here, I’ve learned that IC excels at developing a hands-on learning environment for students and fostering strong unity between students and professors. I experienced both for myself this past November. Over Thanksgiving, I and my fellow students in IC’s Kulmusik Contemporary Ensemble had the chance to work on a peer level with some of our professors. Even better, the setting for our collaboration was in another country -- St. Petersburg, Russia!
Kulmusik, composed of eight students and six faculty members, was afforded the amazing opportunity to perform in the 20th International New Music Festival, "Sound Ways," in the beautiful and historic Glinka Hall. The concert program included works by Arnold Schoenberg, Stephen Mackey, György Ligeti, Anton Webern, Leonid Rezetdinov, and Elliot Carter, and a piece composed specifically for this trip by one of our own faculty composers, Sally Lamb, assistant professor of music theory, history, and composition.
Kulmusik rehearsing at Ithaca
Preparing for the festival was interesting to say the least. The first obstacle to overcome was coordinating a schedule for 14 extremely busy students and faculty. We rehearsed with the faculty three or four days a week and at least two more times during the week as part of the student ensemble. We also clocked countless hours of individual preparation and practice. It was tough, but it’s not every day that you get to work with such amazing professional musicians. That opportunity made our extra efforts worthwhile.
I may be a graduate student, but I still have lots to learn, and the faculty members in the ensemble were excellent resources. At first I was hesitant to ask questions, and I wasn’t sure whether I could contribute my musical creativity. But as the group worked together more and more, the student-faculty boundary dissipated. We shed our everyday roles as students and instructors to create amazing music together.
On stage at Glink Hall in St. Petersburg
Professor Lamb says it best when describing the rich experience we shared: “The trip provided Kulmusik with numerous opportunities: to grow as an ensemble, to contribute a substantial program to a prominent international festival, to connect with musicians from Russia and other countries represented at the festival, and to foster the cultural literacy that’s so critical to a harmonious global society.”
The travel experience itself wasn’t easy -- we endured flight delays and a blizzard -- but it was well worth it in the end. Walking on stage, I didn’t know what to expect: would I be nervous, excited, scared? To my surprise, the nerves never came. I felt only my own excitement and that of my fellow musicians. The audience was more enthusiastic than I could have asked for, welcoming us with open arms and ears, and rewarding us with waves of applause and a long standing ovation at the conclusion of the concert. I remember standing there in awe, chills running up and down my spine, not really knowing whether to laugh with excitement or cry with joy. I vaguely remember wanting to clap back to thank them!
But the trip didn’t end there. The students of the ensemble also performed with the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, an orchestra native to St. Petersburg and directed by Ithaca College’s own Jeff Meyer, assistant professor of music performance. Working with the orchestra wasn’t easy owing to the language barrier. Initially I wondered how I would communicate with my fellow musicians as we rehearsed and prepared for the performance. It turns out that my professors were right about that old adage -- music really is a universal language. Our conversations took place through the music we played rather than through words. The performance was a hit, and I had a life-changing experience working with many amazing and talented musicians.
As I reflect on the entire trip, I find that there are some highlights that I cherish the most. Performing with the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic was an experience I’ll never forget. Collaborating and performing with musicians outside of the United States -- communicating and sharing ideas without the aid of words -- taught me more than any book ever could. Working on such an intimate level with my professors was eye-opening. Discovering that they’ve had the same concerns and worries as students made me realize that they were in my shoes once upon a time. Playing side-by-side with these talented faculty gives me the confidence I need to pursue my own dreams and goals as a professional musician.
Are you a prospective student with college planning questions? Then myIthaca has got you covered.
Sign-Up Learn More
Fuse is a student produced publication about the Ithaca College experience. All content in the print and web versions of Fuse is developed by current Ithaca College students in a breadth of different areas of study.
0 Comments