The University of Texas at El Paso

Department of Music: Professional Activities Report Form

 

 

Dena Kay Jones, Associate Professor

2009 Evaluation

 

Name:   Dena Kay Jones 

Period covered by this report:    January 1, 2009-December 31, 2009

Rank:   Associate Professor as of September 1, 2008

 

Summary Statement

No doubt about it, this year’s activities centered on the International Joaquín Rodrigo Festival: 2009.  My husband and I both were diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and even despite those challenges, I feel that this year’s achieved work was extremely rewarding and productive, as well as beneficial to my career development and to the University.  I am in sincere gratitude for the support the University and Department of Music offered during the difficult days my husband, son and I faced together here in El Paso.  I am happy to report: we are all in good health at the moment.

 

In 2009, El Paso joined the cities of Madrid, Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona (Spain), as well as Vienna, London and Prague in paying homage to one of Spain’s most adored composers, Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999). 2009 marks the tenth anniversary of his death, where the maestro died in his home in Madrid, surrounded by his family.

 

The leading member of that family as well as the only child of the composer, Cecilia Rodrigo traveled from Madrid to El Paso with friend and colleague Katherine Zegarra in order to participate in the International Joaquín Rodrigo Festival: 2009.  The four day event was hosted by the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP), where concerts, lectures, recitals, video-viewings and round-table discussions ensued energetically and emotionally from February 22nd through the 25th.  In addition to the esteemed guests from Spain, the festival welcomed Chilean guitar virtuoso Carlos Perez, who has already made a name for himself by specializing in the works by Rodrigo.  Even at his young age, Mr. Perez is wracking up accolades in the competition and recording world, and his boundless energy through the most difficult passages of Rodrigo’s Concierto para una fiesta para guitarra y orquesta, as well as the amazingly tender and mature lyricism, shocked the large El Paso audience members who attended the performance.

 

Some of the highlights of the festival included a dramatization of Rodrigo’s life, where the Chairman of the Department of Music, Dr. Lowell E. Graham—as the maestro—joined El Paso media personality Felipa Solis in a narration called, El niño quien soñó la música (“The Boy Who Imagined Music”).  Live music clips and performances of Rodrigo’s music joined the story told of his life, including several hardships of his blindness.  Joaquín Rodrigo was struck by diphtheria at the age of three and as many have attested (including the composer himself), arguably became a musician as a result.  Nevertheless, his music is profoundly inspirational as was witnessed by the pre-collegiate students from the community who were the audience members that day.  Several visually impaired students also attended the outreach performance, and the look on their joyous faces after the concert was worth their weight in gold.

 

A large, collaborative university event, Tuesday afternoon brought a lively discussion entitled “Spanish Nationalism in Twentieth Century Spain,” and included UTEP Professors Rita Triana (dance), Roberto Gonzalez (the Spanish Monarchy from 1898 to 1931), Matthew Desing (the Spanish Civil War) and Hector Enriquez (Spanish culture and civilization).  One other round table discussion engulfed the controversial topic of recordings/arrangements based on Rodrigo’s most famous piece, The Concierto de Aranjuez and included thoughts of Dr. Keith Pannell (Chemistry), and Guitar Professors John Siqueiros (classical) and Curt Warren (jazz). Other UTEP Department of Music professors and guest El Paso musicians performed select works by Rodrigo and other Spanish composers on the first evening of the festival and included Vanessa Cedillos (violin), Elisa Wilson (mezzo-soprano), John Siqueiros (guitar), Sang-In Han (tenor), Oscar Macchioni (piano), Leslie Chen (violin), Ben Vickers (cello), Felipa Solis (dance) and myself (piano). 

 

The following evening’s concert was performed by UTEP’s large student ensembles conducted by Drs. Ron Hufstader and William McMillan and included Rodrigo’s Adagio para instrumentos de viento (“Adagio for Wind Instruments”), select works for acapella chamber choir, select scenes from the zarzuela El hijo fingido (“The Professed Son”), La sonata breve para violoncello y piano (“Small Sonata for Cello and Piano”) and the Concierto para una fiesta (“Concerto for a Festival”) with Carlos Perez as guitar soloist.  It was amazing to see the El Paso youth absorbed with this music and this experience.  Many of them could relate well to the soloist, enjoying his easy yet professional manner and imagining themselves some day in his position as concert artist.  All of the piano majors at UTEP were required to learn a Joaquín Rodrigo piece, as piano was the composer’s principal instrument.  They performed a special program for Cecilia Rodrigo and Katherine Zegarra of only piano solo and four-hand works, hoping to offer a special homage not only to the composer but also to his wife, Cecilia’s mother, Victoria.  It was known that Joaquín and “Vicky” would often play piano four-hand repertoire together. 

 

The collaborations went beyond the city of El Paso as Professor Gregory Fritze of the Berkley School of Music in Boston offered the opening lecture on the Wind Band tradition of Valencia, Spain (Rodrigo’s native province).  Professor of Piano at the University of Texas in Austin Gregory Allen performed select solo works and participated throughout the entire festival.  His historic recordings of all Rodrigo piano works (Bridge Records, 1997) were noted throughout as having major significance in the dissemination of Rodrigo’s music within the United States.  “It has been a long time coming, this meeting with Cecilia Rodrigo.  I was in communication with her parents just previous to the release of my CD, but I never had the chance to meet the maestro.  I can’t believe that I am meeting her in El Paso, Texas!”  Drs. Justin Badgerow (piano) and Erin Lippard (mezzo-soprano) traveled from Alpine, Texas and Sul Ross State University to share their beautiful interpretation and thoughts on the Cuatro madrigales amatorios (“Four Madrigal Love Songs”), and artists Pilar and Walter Rubin traveled from Houston, Texas, where he is retired faculty emeritus at the University of Houston. 

 

Both of the Rubin’s have a special connection to Joaquín Rodrigo:  Walter was once a student of the composer’s at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Pilar painted a work with the same name as a composition by Rodrigo, “In Search of the Beyond.” Both pieces were honored at the U.S.’ Bicentennial celebration that took place at NASA, Houston (1976).  In addition, Victoria and Joaquín Rodrigo were the godparents to the Rubin’s son.  As a way to signify the importance of this festival as well as their connection to the composer, Pilar and Walter have left a lithograph of “In Search of the Beyond,” whose original actually traveled into space with Rodrigo’s music, and can be viewed in the Department of Music at UTEP.  

 

In addition to the emotion felt upon hearing the various performances of Rodrigo’s music, equally as stirring was hearing his only child, Cecilia Rodrigo speak about her father.  She offered two lectures entitled, “Guitar Music in the Correspondence of Joaquín Rodrigo and His Contemporaries,” and “Joaquín Rodrigo and Fifty Years of Historical Links across the US from 1958 to the Present.”   She also offered numerous commentaries as we watched video and film footage of her father and entire family.  It was difficult to witness the endearing scenes of Cecilia as a small child with her father as they were replayed in front of our esteemed guest.  As the opening ceremonies began, and she wiped away tears filled with appreciation, remembrance, love and emotion, she whispered, “This is so difficult.”  It was obviously clear that she is dedicated to keeping the memory of her father alive and well in the world of music—even despite the emotional journeys forced upon her as a result.  In addition to the numerous stories of Rodrigo’s spirit, we also discovered how Cecilia’s mother had tried to diminish the fact that her husband was blind and yet how Cecilia feels that it is a necessary component that one must realize in order to fully appreciate and understand the music of her father.  The topics of his visual impairment, struggles, depression and the overcoming of numerous other challenges were at the forefront of many sessions.  Cecilia answered every question and met with each faculty, student and community member who wanted to meet her.  Several questions for future research became evident in this festival, such as: 1) what music did the composer annotate through this Braille system? and 2) why has Spain not offered an extensive festival in honor of Joaquín Rodrigo, much like the one that took place at UTEP? 

 

This festival was made possible by funding offered through the Program for Cultural Cooperation Between Spain’s Ministry of Culture and United States’ Universities and the University of Texas at El Paso.  (Click here for Photos of the Opening Ceremonies; Click here for photos of the first presentation with Cecilia Rodrigo and Carlos Pérez; Click here for photos of “The Boy Who Imagined Music” Outreach Concert; Click here for El Paso Times photography page and Click here for photos of Cecilia Rodrigo with Gregory Allen, Guillermo Gutierrez and at the after-concert-reception at the home of Wilma Salzman)

 

Other projects of note this year included the incorporation of an outreach segment required of my applied students.  Three groups presented lecture-recitals with a power point presentation for 1) a high school music class, 2) members living in a nursing home and 3) at the private home of a piano aficionado.  The students were required to organize all aspects of their programs, under the auspices of a team leader.  The students flourished, their performances sparkled and we learned that power point presentations and lecturing on music needs to be more than a mere laundry list of data facts. 

 

A refreshed connection with the local piano guild was established as new goals have been set with newly appointed president Betty Bassuk, student Guillermo Gutierrez was one of the named winners with the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 (one of the most difficult in the piano repertoire) and I performed (and am still studying) the Liszt Piano Sonata in B Minor.  I decided to work on this challenging piece when sitting on the airplane, traveling to MD Anderson for a follow-up doctor’s appointment. I looked out the airplane window, contemplating whether or not I could pull it off.  There, sitting on what seemed to look like a throne, I thought I saw Franz Liszt (in the shape of the big, puffy clouds), holding up his hand and giving me a “thumbs up.”  I traveled to Chico, California, where I performed and offered a master class (recruiting efforts), followed by a reunion with my former graduate piano teacher.  I also took a lesson with my former undergraduate piano teacher, followed by a recital in the Champaign/Urbana vicinity.

 

I. Teaching:

 

A. Courses taught each semester and number of students enrolled in each course.

Place under the following headings:

Number           Course Title                                               Enrollment             Semester

MUSA 1195    Applied Piano                                                   5                      Fall 2009

MUSA 3391    Applied Piano                                                   5                                 

MUSG 5391    Graduate Applied Piano                                    1                      (Applied Studio = 11)

MUSG 5389    Graduate Recital II                                            1

**MUSA 4395 Piano Repertory                                                5                      (new course!  Click Here to see syllabus)

 

MUSL 3329     Music in History & Culture (Intro. to Ethno)    15                    Summer 2009          

 

MUSA 1285    Applied Piano                                                   1                      Spring 2009

MUSA 1195    Applied Piano                                                   8

MUSA 3295    Applied Piano (Composition Major)                 1

MUSA 3391    Applied Piano                                                   3                     

MUSA 5391    Graduate Applied Piano                                    1                      (Applied Studio = 14)

MUSA 1165    Piano Chamber Music                                       14

 

 

B. Student Ensemble Performances:

November 19, 2009      Although not the typical ensemble performance, the UTEP Piano Division offered a combined studio recital at 6:00 p.m. in Room 340.  Due to a scheduling conflict with a rehearsal of the Brahm’s Requiem, we had to reschedule our starting time.  I contemplated cancelling the piano recital altogether, as I knew this would make for a long day for the piano students.  But our Piano Area recital had been scheduled since the beginning of the semester, and surprisingly, the students desperately wanted to keep the piano recital, making the decision to juggle all UTEP music activities for that day.  Fifteen piano majors or minors from all three studios performed solo pieces for family and friends. (Click here to see program)

 

May 4, 2009                 The UTEP Piano Ensemble performed La Gallina (“The Hen”) for piano-four hands by Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869).  However instead of four hands, the UTEP Piano Ensemble had twelve hands (six pianists at the same time). (Click here to see photos)

 

February 25, 2009        International Joaquín Rodrigo Festival: 2009.  Selections from twelve solo pieces and five, piano four-hand works by Joaquín Rodrigo were offered by fifteen UTEP Piano Majors.  We worked steadfastly, offering many extra hours in order to make our deadline performance which was early in the semester.  Encompassing most of the entire piano oeuvre by Joaquín Rodrigo, the recital was performed before the composer’s daughter Cecilia Rodrigo and Rodrigo piano expert Professor Gregory Allen of the University of Texas at Austin, in addition to a packed Choir Room full of guests.  The students played beautifully: this recital in particular was one of the highlights of my teaching career thus far.  (Click here to see photos)

                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

C. Thesis and Recital Committees

1. List graduate student thesis committees on which you served and/or directed (include name/s of student/s):

Does not apply to my work load this year

 

2. List recital committees on which you served and/or directed (include name/s of student/s):

Does not apply to my work load this year

 

 

D. Assigned advising duties during the year of review:

1.  Assigned Advising Duties for undergraduate students:

I currently advise all piano majors in registering for the appropriate classes in their chosen degree plan.  I meet with each student for approximately 30 minutes for an approximate total of 12.5 hours each semester.


2.  Assigned Advising Duties for graduate students:

I currently advise my own graduate students, informally.  Their main advisor is Dr. David Ross, but I work directly with him to see that my graduate students or potential graduate students are going about earning the Master of Music degree in the appropriate manner.  This past year has been dedicated to Graduate Thesis I and II study with Elena Castañeda, who is investigating the piano music of Mexican composer Ricardo Castro, as well as focusing on the historic significance of Don Porfirio.

 

E. Student accomplishments during the year of review. 

1. List degree or other major recitals given by students:

 

May 6, 2009                 David Moreno Saldaña, Junior Performance Recital.  Recital included:

¨  Prelude and Fugue X in E Minor, from Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV855 by J. S. Bach

¨  Adagio in B Minor, K. 540 by W. A. Mozart

¨  Danzas Afro-Cubanas (Leconga de Media Noche, Danza Negra, …Y la Negra Bailaba, Danza de los Ñañigos, Danza Lucumi and La comparsa)

(Click here to read program notes)

 

April 26, 2009             Blake Duncan, Senior Composition Recital (Note:  Although Blake did finish his degree in composition, he was an outstanding student within my piano studio who was considered a piano major up until his Senior year.  We worked diligently on the piano works composed and performed for this program).  Recital included:

¨  Prelude in G minor

¨  Theme and Variations in F-sharp major

¨  Wholetone Prelude

¨  Octatonic Prelude

¨  Three poems from “Nature” (text by Emily Dickinson) with Suvanna Bernal, soprano; Rebeca Rosales, clarinet and Blake Duncan, piano

 

 

2. List student accomplishments in competitions, in publishing articles or significant events:

 

December 12th, 2009    Blake Duncan graduates with 3.96 GPA, receiving a Bachelor of Music in Composition

November 24th, 2009    Guillermo Gutierrez performs organ with the University Orchestra and Choirs, Brahm’s Requiem

November 20th, 2009    Guillermo Gutierrez, Departmental Recital, Andante-Allegro, 1st movement from Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major

October 12th, 2009       Natalia Garcia Ferreiro and Guillermo Gutierrez are invited participants in The MacDowell Club’s Recital to honor Mary Baquera. The students performed the Andante from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastorale,” and the Andante-Allegro, 1st movement from Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major (Click here to see photos)

October 9th, 2009         Natalia Garcia Ferreiro, Departmental Recital, Andante from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastorale”

September 26th, 2009   Participants in the UTEP Concerto and Aria Competition:

¨  Guillermo Gutierrez, Concerto No. 3 in C Major, 1st movement, Prokofiev (one of the selected winners and scheduled to perform entire work in the Spring 2010 semester)

¨  Marisol Luna, Concerto in D Minor, 2nd movement, Mozart

¨  Evelyn Rios, Noches en los jardines de España, 1st movement, Falla

September 25th, 2009   Natalia Garcia Ferreiro, Master Class with visiting artist, Natalya Shkoda, Andante from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 28 “Pastorale”  (Click here to see photo after the Master Class and Concert)

Fall 2009                      Guillermo Gutierrez works with the University Wind Symphony on the Julie Giroux recording project

May 4th, 2009               Select studio members perform for the 2009 April Music Gala Reception: Candice Sierra, David Moreno, Jorge Peña, Marisol Luna, Robert McCreary, Fatima Valles, Shammir Ibarra and Abigail O’Leary  (Click here to see photos)

April 24th, 2009          Natalia Garcia Ferreiro and Alan Hurtado perform Joaquín Rodrigo’s Atardecer for piano four-hands at the UTEP Music Department Honors Recital

April 13th, 2009          Guillermo Gutierrez, Evelyn Rios, Shammir Ibarra and Abigail O’Leary, invited guests to perform on The MacDowell Club’s Stars in the Horizon recital.  They performed select piano works by Joaquín Rodrigo. 

March 6th, 2009            David Moreno, Departmental Recital, Adagio in B Minor by Wolfgang A. Mozart

February 25th, 2009      David Moreno, Joaquín Rodrigo International Festival: 2009, Sonata a la breve by Joaquín Rodrigo, performing with Michael Way, cello

January 23rd, 2009        David Moreno, Master Class with Pro-Música artist, Awadagin Pratt, Adagio in B Minor by Mozart (Click here to see photo)

Piano Scholarship Recipients (during 2009):

     1)  Blake Duncan

     2)  David Moreno

     3)  Evelyn Rios

     4)  Natalia Garcia Ferreiro

     5)  Marisol Luna

     6)  Guillermo Gutierrez

 

F. Recruiting Activities (document each recruiting activity):

November 19, 2009                  Anthony High School, select piano majors offered an outreach performance of works from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary Eras, followed by an explanation of what it is to be a music and piano major at UTEP.  I attended this session and we passed out recruiting materials. (Click here to see a photo)

 

October 17, 2009                     Master Class given to three piano majors at the University of California at Chico (Click here to see a photo)

 

July 2, 2009                             Recital and informal lecture as a recruiting endeavor to the students of the El Paso Conservatory with Prentice Loftin.  Recruiting materials were passed out to the students.

 

June 9, 2009                            Attended the El Paso Music Teachers Association student recital just prior to their trip to the Texas Music Teachers Association State Convention.  This recital highlights high school students selected for further competition at the state level.

 

May 27, 2009                           Welcomed invited high school students to the DKL and introduced Dr. Oscar Macchioni

 

May 19, 2009                           Collaborative piano recital with students from the studio of Miah Lee, who teaches applied piano at El Paso Community College.  There were five students from Professor Lee’s studio, as well as five students from the Jones studio.  I also played on that recital.  It was held at the Main Branch Library in Downtown El Paso.  (Click here to see program)

 

May 2009                                 Discussion with Piano Area Faculty in regard to a more unified effort concerning recruiting

 

February 2009                          Free tickets sent to EPMTA students (H.S. Juniors and Seniors) and their teachers for the Faculty Recital portion of the Joaquín Rodrigo International Festival.  Both Dr. Macchioni and I were highlighted in that concert (Click here to see a letter of appreciation).

 

January and February, 2009       Recruiting letters and phone calls to local piano and public school class piano teachers, as well as to university colleagues throughout the country, regarding upcoming Scholarships Auditions

 

G. Attendance at Conferences:

Does not apply to my work load this year

 

II. Research or Creative Activities: Scholarly activity, composition, UTEP faculty performances, invited non-UTEP performances, or other Creative Activity during the year of review.

A. Publications, recordings and completed works. Include title, publisher (or stage of publication), company, journal citation, commissioned work, known performances of compositions or arrangements:

 

Canciones y Danzas for Cello and Piano by composer Roberto Sierra, completed in November 2008 and debuted on January 8th, 2010—with the composer and commissioners attending the concert through Pro-Musica.  Zuill Bailey and I own the exclusive performance rights through June 30, 2011.  Once the piece is released for publication, it will be offered through Subito Music Publishing.

 

B. Recitals, major clinics, concerts, major lectures/lecture recitals, scholarly presentations. Include nature of presentation, place, date and special circumstances, such as a professional meeting, competition, professional engagement, etc:

 

November 25, 2009   Solo Pianist, Passionate Piano: Liszt and Albéniz, United Methodist Church, Villa Grove, Illinois.  Program included:

¨  Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/50 by Franz Joseph Haydn

¨  Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 by Frédéric Chopin

¨  From Cantos de España, “Córdoba” and “Leyenda” by Isaac Albéniz

¨  Klaviersonate h-Moll, S. 178 by Franz Liszt

(Click here for program.  Click here for program notes.)

 

October  17, 2009     Invited Master Clinician (professional appearance and recruiting effort), Piano Majors, University of California Chico, Chico, California

 

October 16th, 2009    Invited Soloist (professional appearance and recruiting effort), Passionate Piano: Liszt and Albéniz, University of California Chico, Chico, California.  Program included:

¨  Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/50 by Franz Joseph Haydn

¨  Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 by Frédéric Chopin

¨  From Cantos de España, “Córdoba” and “Leyenda” by Isaac Albéniz

¨  Klaviersonate h-Moll, S. 178 by Franz Liszt

(Click here for program cover)

 

May 2009                  Attempted Competition Participation through a recording CD project with Steve Haddad, Sound Engineer.  Attempt failed – I did not receive an invitation to participate.  2009 Seattle Piano Competition.  The recording included:

¨  Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/50 by Franz Joseph Haydn (first movement)

¨  Jeux d’eaux by Maurice Ravel

 

 

C. Faculty Performances at UTEP:

Recordings available upon request.

 

October 30th, 2009    Faculty Recital, Passionate Piano: Liszt and Albéniz, included a verbal introduction regarding the rebuild of both concert instruments in the UTEP Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall.  Program included:

¨  Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/50 by Franz Joseph Haydn

¨  Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 by Frédéric Chopin

¨  From Cantos de España, “Córdoba” and “Leyenda” by Isaac Albéniz

¨  Klaviersonate h-Moll, S. 178 by Franz Liszt

(Click here for program.  Chick here for program notes.  Click here for pre-concert speech.)

 

September 4th, 2009 Faculty Recital for UTEP Music Majors.  Performances included Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 by Frédéric Chopin and Flight of the Bumble Bee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff with Steve Wilson, trombone. 

 

February 23rd, 2009   International Joaquín Rodrigo Festival: 2009, Faculty and Guest Artist Concert.  Works performed included:

¨                    Dos Esbozos, Op. 1 (Rodrigo) with Vanessa Cedillos, violin

¨                    Siete Canciones populares Españolas (Falla) with Elisa Wilson, mezzo-soprano

¨                    Siciliana para violoncello y piano (Rodrigo) with Benjamin Vickers, cello

¨                    Córdoba (Albéniz)

¨                    Intermezzo (Granados) with Felipa Solis, dance and

¨                    Aranjuez, ma pensée (Rodrigo)

(Click here to see program)

 

D. List adjudication assignments, including date and place:

December 2009         Was invited to judge the upcoming EPYSO Concerto Competition, but due to the entry of two of my own students, had to decline.  I recommended they contact my colleague, Dr. Oscar Macchioni.  (Click here to see letter of invitation)

 

November 2009         Was invited to judge the University of Arizona’s Concerto Competition, but due to my performance in Illinois, was unable to attend.  I recommended they contact my colleague, Dr. Oscar Macchioni. 

 

Jan.-Mar. 2009           External Examiner for the doctoral dissertation of Carolina Plata Ballesteros, Joaquín Rodrigo’s ‘Con Antonio Machado:’ A Performers Guide to the Work, Focusing on the Analysis of Song-Cyclic Features.”  D.M.A. Thesis.  University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.  My recommendation was that the student not be allowed to present her final defense before major revision and inclusion of several important historical and relevant data points.  I was quite frustrated by the author’s lack of uniting the symbolism found within the piece Con Antonio Machado (who was one of Spain’s most outstanding literary figures of the 20th Century and killed violently during the Spanish Civil War) to Joaquín Rodrigo’s unique harmonic language and compositional style.  In addition, one simply can not dismiss the fact that Rodrigo was blind.  She never made the connection, nor even mentioned his plight (except for one sentence) yet repetitively alluded to light, shadow, children’s games and many other trademarks of Rodrigo.  (Click here to see letter of confirmation)

 

 

 

E. Work(s) in progress:

January 8th, 2010       Debut of Canciones y Danzas for Cello and Piano by Roberto Sierra.  Professional performance with Zuill Bailey, cellist. 

 

January 10th, 2010     Professional performance of the Schubert “Trout” Quintet in A Major for Piano and Strings, Op. Post. 114, D. 667 with Philippe Quint, violin; Stephanie Meyers, viola; Nathaniel Rosen, cello and Mat Fields, bass

 

March 3rd, 2010         Faculty Recital with Mark Schuppener, violin.  His faculty recital debut.  Works scheduled to be performed include the Fauré Violin Sonata, the Debussy Sonata and the Set Cançons Valencianas by Joaquín Rodrigo

 

June 12th, 2010         Invited Lecture-Recital Presenter.  Passionate Piano: Liszt and Albéniz.  The presentation will compare the writing styles of both composers, concluding with a performance of Fete dieu a Sevilla by Albéniz and the Piano Sonata in B Minor by Franz Liszt.  Texas Music Teachers State Convention.  Arlington Convention Center, Arlington, Texas. 

June 12th, 2010         Mentoring graduate student Elena Castañeda, who was also invited to present a lecture-recital on the piano works of Mexican composer, Ricardo Castro.  Texas Music Teachers State Convention.  Arlington Convention Center, Arlington, Texas. 

Spring 2010              Mentoring student Guillermo Gutierrez, who won both the UTEP Concerto and Aria competition, as well as the EPSYOS concerto competition on January 16th, 2010.  He will perform this work with orchestra for the first time this Spring semester.

 

TBD                          Purchasing the complete piano works by Enrique Granados for UTEP, and inviting Granados scholar, Mr. Douglas Riva (former El Paso resident) to present the edition and perform select pieces (Click here to see email).

 

F. List attached (supportive) materials:

¨                    All publicity for the UTEP Piano Area (Click here for the Fall 2009 season brochure)

¨                    Non-solicited emails, letters and cards (Click here for non-solicit #1, non-solicit #2, non-solicit #3, non-solicit #4, non-solicit #5, non-solicit #6)

¨                    Example of continued Ivories on the Border newsletter, it’s sixth year (available upon request)

¨                    Annual Newsletter from Ediciones Joaquín Rodrigo from Cecilia Rodrigo

¨                    California publicity:

¨              2009-2010 CSU, Chico Arts Events Catalogue

¨              Article in The Buzz: a publication of the Enterprise-Record, Chico, California, “Dena Kay Jones brings passion for piano to Chico”

¨              School of the Arts at Chico State Event Newsletter (October 2009), “Dena Kay Jones: Lizt & Albeniz” (and this is not my typo…they actually misspelled it as Lizt)

¨              School of the Arts Electronic Press Release, “Dena Kay Jones to Perform ‘Passionate’ Piano Repertoire by Liszt and Albéniz at Chico State in mid-October”

¨              Publicity flyers and posters

¨   Newspaper and email articles regarding the International Joaquín Rodrigo Festival: 2009, from the following places (available upon request): 

¨  El Paso, Texas

·                                                                El Paso Times

·                                                                KFOX 14

·                                                                KTSM

·                                                                “Things to Do” El Paso City Guide

·                                                                KTEP

·                                                                Newspaper Tree

¨  Galicia, Spain (Xornal de Galicia)

¨  Valencia, Spain

·                                                                Entravisión Comunication Corporation

·                                                                Unidad Editorial Internet

·                                                                S.L, Las Provincias

·                                                                AND.ES

¨  AOL noticias (AOL News in Spain)

¨  Yahoo Música España noticias (Yahoo Spanish Music news)

¨  Madrid, Spain

·                                                                Forum Clásico

·                                                                Diario Público

·                                                                Hoy Mujer

¨  Ibiza, Spain (Diario de Ibiza)

¨  Alicante, Spain (Informacion.ES)

¨  Mexico City, Mexico (El Universal)

¨  Bogotá, Colombia (HJCK: El Mundo en Bogotá);

¨  Carácas, Venezuela (Latin American Herald Tribune)

 

III. Service:

A. List committee work and/or administrative responsibilities for Department, College, University, professional societies or others:

¨                    Final stages of the $70,000.00 awarded through a grant proposal submitted, co-authored with Dr. Lowell E. Graham, for 38 replacement digital keyboards for use throughout the Department.  Old instruments were withdrawn and the installation of new ones took place in January 2009.

¨                    Final stages of the concert pianos returning from NYC’s Klavierhaus to El Paso -- a continuation of the $140,000.00 awarded through a grant proposal submitted, co-authored with Dr. Lowell E. Graham, for the rebuilding of both Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall concert instruments (Steinway and Bosendorfer)

¨                    Publicity Brochure of Events for the Department of Music, Spring 2009

¨                    Music Gala Committee in abstention (Reception for Donors and Alums)

¨                    Faculty Evaluation Committee

¨                    College Music Society, Faculty Representative

¨                    Hostess and principal organizer of the International Joaquín Rodrigo Festival: 2009 (MANY projects with MANY translations.  Example One.  Example Two.  Example Three.  Example Four.)

¨                    “Beatles; Abby Road” cover of the Communications’ UTEP Magazine, highlighting our Fine Arts programs

¨                    Administrative responsibilities for the Piano Area including piano loaner program, all piano scholarships (including one newly established, anonymous sponsorship), Ivories on the Border guest master classes and performances (Click here for example of guest program), preparation of students for the Spring Gala, piano inventory for the entire building, key administration, budget for Piano Division and publicity  

 

B. List workshops, educational clinics, guest speaking engagements and/or other outreach presentations given:

 

November 20th, 2009    Outreach project by select studio piano students.  Private lecture-recital at the home of Jack Stewart.  Composer’s lives and select works represented (with power point presentation) featured Francois Couperin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frédéric Chopin and Sergei Prokofiev.

 

November 20th, 2009    Outreach project by select studio piano students.  Good Samaritan White Acres Nursing Home.  Composer’s lives and select piano works represented (with power point presentation) featured Friedrich Kuhlau, Ludwig van Beethoven, Ricardo Castro and Joaquín Rodrigo.

 

October 26th, 2009       Private recital, Passionate Piano: Liszt and Albéniz, at the home of piano donor, Dr. Bonnie Brooks

 

October 8th, 2009         Hostess and organizer for the monthly El Paso Music Teachers Association meeting (October).  All piano majors and faculty from the three studios were required to attend, witnessing the local piano teachers “in action.”  After the teachers held their monthly meeting in the UTEP Department’s Conference Room, invited guest and former U of A classmate Luca Ciarla (violinist and pianist, who plays both classical and jazz music) offered the featured program, demonstrating his latest compositions employing a loop-machine.  Both aspects of the morning (the business meeting and the performance presentation) were extremely motivational to all who attended, challenging us to think “outside the box.”  This was also a recruitment effort, in order to show the local piano teachers what fantastic offerings we give to our piano majors.

 

August 19th, 2009         UTEP/EPISD/YISD Job Alike, Keeping Your Students (and Yourself!) Motivated, DKL, 2 sessions

 

August 30th, 2009         Piano lesson, pro bono with Nathanial Grunewald, potential UTEP piano student and his teacher, Alice Larson

 

July 27th, 2009             Piano lesson, pro bono with Briana Isaac, who currently is a sophomore at Hardin-Simmons (the only piano major) but who is from El Paso.  Although I was unsuccessful in recruiting her to UTEP, she returns home frequently and asks for guidance with her repertoire or attends concerts.  I keep trying to lure her back.

 

May 26th, 2009             Private recital with colleagues Dr. Dominic Dousa, Dr. Sangin Han and interested investor.  Afternoon tea with the aforementioned as well as with Benita Neuman and Audry Price of the UTEP Development Office.

 

January – March 2009   Numerous meetings, outreaches, round-table discussions, performances and sponsors/guest dinners as a part of the International Joaquín Rodrigo Festival: 2009.  Highlighted events include:

¨  Opening soiree, Alumni House with guest speaker, Professor Gregory Fritze

¨  Opening Ceremony with opening remarks

¨  “The Little Boy Who Imagined Music,” (El niño que  soñó la música), Outreach to public school students, as well as visually impaired and handicapped students

¨  DVD presentation to Music Appreciation class, “Shadows and Light,” a film by Larry Weinstein

¨  Panel Discussion, “Spanish Nationalism in Twentieth Century Spain”

¨  Accompanying performance and coaching sessions with Music Theater students

¨  Reception at the home of piano area sponsor, Mrs. Wilma Salzman

¨  Round-table discussion on various recordings of the Concierto de Aranjuez

¨  Movie, “100 Years of Joaquín Rodrigo: A Documentary”

¨  Meetings and organizational work with the following on-campus faculty and staff:

·  Mr. Beto Lopez, Assistant VP for Institutional Advancement

·  Mr. Ignacio Cubillos, Coordinator of the University Relations Office

·  Mrs. Liliana B. Chavez, Manager of the University Relations Office

·  Ms. Sylvia Hernández, Director of Institutional Advancement (Liberal Arts College)

·  Ms. Yvonne Carranza, Coordinator of the Liberal Arts College

·  Ms. Irene Casa, Executive Secretary to the Office of the President

·  Ms. Patti D. Martinez, Administrative Assistant II of the President’s Office

·  Ms. Catherine Dunn, Coordinator of University Communications

·  Ms. Laura Trejo, Photograph Coordinator of University Communications

·  Ms. Rose Cooper, Production Coordinator of University Communications

·  Mr. Jose Clemente, Graphic Artist of University Communications

·  Ms. Carleen Ning Russell, Assistant to Assistant VP for the Alumni Relations Office

·  Ms. Victoria Alicia García, Director of the Translation Service Office, Languages and Linguistics

·  Mr. Alex Muñoz, Manager of Sodexho Catering Services, UTEP Union

·  Ms. Felicia Brown, Building Coordinator Scheduling, UTEP Union

·  Ms. Herminia Hemmitt, Building Services Coordinator, Instructional Support Services

·  Ms. Annette Aguilar Hinojos, Assistant Manager of Accounts Payable

·  Ms. Olaya Hernandez, Payroll/Tax Manager

·  Ms. Leslie Ramirez, Catering Sales Coordinator of the Hilton Garden Inn

·  Mr. Hector E. Flores, Coordinator of the Disabled Student Services Office

·  Ms. Lucretia Boucher, Assistant Director of the Don Haskins Center

·  Mr. John Sales, Manager of Warehouse Operations, Facility Services

·  Ms. Carmen Gonzalez, Assistant to the Provost

·  Ms. Stella Burns, Administrative Assistant and Accountant, Department of Music

·  Dr. Keith Pannell, Professor of Chemistry

·  Professor Rita Triana, Professor of Spanish Dance, Department of Kinesiology

·  Dr. Roberto Cortéz Gonzalez, Professor of Social Services, Department of Education

·  Dr. Matthew Desing, Professor of Spanish, Department of Languages and Linguistics

·  Professor Hector Enriquez, Professor of Spanish, Department of Languages and Linguistics

·  Dr. Lowell E. Graham, UTEP Department of Music Chariman

·  Dr. Ron Hufstader, Conductor of UTEP Orchestra and Wind Symphony

·  Dr. William McMillan, Conductor of the UTEP Chorale

·  Dr. Elisa Wilson, Musical Theater Coordinator

·  Professor Steve Haddad, Commercial Music and Music Recording Coordinator

·  Professor John Siqueiros, Guitar Area Coordinator

·  Dr. Sangin Han, Professor of Voice

·  Dr. Oscar Macchioni, Professor of Piano

·  Dr. Dominic Dousa, Professor of Theory and Composition

·  Professor Lawrence Gibson, Professor of Music Appreciation

 

¨  Meetings and organizational work with the following off-campus people:

·  Ms. Cecilia Rodrigo, daughter of the composer and owner of Ediciones Joaquín Rodrigo (Madrid, Spain)

·  Ms. Katherine Zegarra, Staff member of Ediciones Joaquín Rodrigo

·  Ms. Carmen Santás, Staff member of Ediciones Joaquín Rodrigo

·  Mr. Carlos Pérez, Guitarist, Professor of Guitar, University of Chile Arts Faculty

·  Ms. Susy Tejayadi, Manager of Mr. Carlos Pérez

·  Ms. Holly Zimmerman Levoir, Program for Cultural Cooperation

·  Dr. Gregory Allen, Professor of Piano, University of Texas in Austin

·  Professor Gregory Fritze, Chair of Composition, Berklee College of Music

·  Dr. Justin Badgerow, Professor of Piano, Sul Ross State University

·  Dr. Erin Lippard, Professor of Voice, Sul Ross State University

·  Ms. Vanessa Cedillos, Violinist, El Paso, Texas

·  Mr. Ben Vickers, Cellist, El Paso, Texas

·  Ms. Felipa Solis, Expert of Spanish Dance and Media Arts

·  Ms. Olivia Chavez, Project Manager of the Visually Impaired Program, Education Service Center, Region 19, El Paso, Texas

·  Ms. Lorrie Francis, Music Teacher, New Mexico School for the Blind, Alamogordo, NM

·  Ms. Amy Dickenson, Head of Music Rentals, Schott Music Publishing Company

·  Walter and Pilar Rubin, Artists and Family Friends of the Rodrigo Family, Houston, TX

 

 

 

C. List other service activities, including course and curriculum development:

 

Fall 2009                      New course developed and offered:  Piano Repertory (Click here to see video about one of the homework assignments: a timeline). 

 

December 11th, 2009    Survey (which I completed) discussing previous participation in the College Music Society Community Engagement Event (2006)

 

October 13th, 2009       Participation request (which I completed) through a survey entitled, The Intermediate Piano Student Teacher and Student Views on Learning.  Ms. Julia Bowden, Graduate Student at James Cook University in Australia.

 

August 6, 2009             Lunch with sponsor, Sylvia Hernández and Audrey Price (UTEP Development Office) in order to discuss the re-organization of the sponsor’s will, whereas she will leave the University her harpsichord, her piano and a $50,000.00 gift.

 

July 14th, 2009             Brainstorming session with newly appointed president of the El Paso Music Teachers Association, Mrs. Betty Bassuk.  Future projects include a collegiate chapter of the national piano association (MTNA), the October business meeting on the UTEP campus, a EPMTA scholarship to a student who will attend the UTEP Department of Music (Dr. Macchioni is currently sitting on that committee) and a summer piano camp.

 

May 5th, 2009               Accompanied Violin Candidate, Dr. Mark Schuppener.  1st two movements of the Debussy Sonata.

 

 

IV. Membership in Professional Societies:

November 2004-present College Music Society Campus Representative

January 2004-August 2008 El Paso Music Teacher Association, Advisory Board and UTEP Liaison

August 2002-present El Paso Music Teacher Association, El Paso, Texas

April 2001-present Music Teachers National Association

1999-present College Music Society

 

V. Honors and Awards:

Does not apply

 

This is a true and accurate statement of my activities and accomplishments.

 

Dena Kay Jones

                                                                     January 22, 2010