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Darlington launches Artist-in-Residence Program for instrumental students
Nov 29, 2005 1:23 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington band students now have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a variety of resident musicians through the School’s Artist-in-Residence Program.
Through this program, students participate in a minimum of four clinics and master classes throughout the year in their particular instrument. The idea is that Instrumental Director William Camp and these resident artists work together to ensure that students develop proper technique and have a credible foundation of which they can be proud.
“A single hour of instruction with a master musician provides enough information to keep a student busy for weeks, if not months,” said Camp. “That is where the artists and I work in conjunction. The artist makes a list of areas of concentration for each student, and I monitor the progress between clinics/master classes.”
According to Camp, the Artist-in-Residence Program proves invaluable to those aiming to pursue music as a career as well as those who simply wish to perform to the best of their ability.
“Many music educators believe a method class during college or ‘shop talk’ with other musicians is equivalent to ‘mastering’ an instrument, but it is my experience that the best instruction comes from a musician who has dedicated his or her life to performing on a particular instrument,” said Camp, who added that the new program is already having a noticeably positive effect on student performance.
“They are beginning to develop a characteristic tone quality on their instruments, perform with proper breath support and gain confidence that, in some cases, was not there before,” he continued. “Many Darlington students have never had a private lesson with a master musician, and this astonishes me … I have attempted to assist the situation by bringing the lessons to students who may not have time to set up private lessons themselves. At this point in their music careers, the advantage of studying with a master musician is priceless.”
This year’s artists in residence include Melanie Fuller (flute), Luan Mueller (clarinet), John Bleuel (saxophone and double reeds), Dr. Tom Smith (trumpet), Ellie Jenkins (French horn), Dr. Sam Baltzer (trombone and low brass), Dr. Douglas Overmier (percussion), Angele Sherwood-Lawless (violin), Adam Crane (viola) and Annie Camp (cello).
“I found these educators by seeking the best of the best,” said Camp. “I conducted a careful search of this region’s most reputable musicians, and narrowed the field to those with the strongest credentials. I selected artists whose students have been accepted to major universities and conservatories around the world.”
Fuller, a co-founding member of the Atlanta Chamber Players and former artistic director of the group, has been featured on National Public Radio numerous times. A former faculty member of Kennesaw State University, she currently freelances in the Atlanta area; teaches at the State University of West Georgia, the Georgia Academy of Music, and Casa Montessori School; and performs with the Macon Symphony Orchestra.
Mueller, the North American liaison of the International Clarinet Association and founding president of the Atlanta Clarinet Association, is a freelance performer in the Atlanta area. Currently, she serves as coordinator for the Karl Leister Atlanta Tour for his 2005 American tour and teaches at the State University of West Georgia. Mueller has been featured on National Public Radio, performed with orchestras throughout the United States, and her private studio has produced 1st chair All-State clarinetists in Georgia, Florida and Maryland.
Bleuel a Yamaha Performing Artist and teacher at the State University of West Georgia, is a member of the Bleuel Duo with pianist Linda Li-Bleuel Currently. The duo has performed throughout the eastern United States, Europe and Japan. He has also performed as a saxophone soloist with numerous bands and orchestras in the Midwest and Southeast.
Smith teaches at Berry College. He is a highly accomplished performer, having shared the stage with many prominent artists and groups in both classical music and jazz.
Jenkins, an active freelance horn player and teacher, has performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the United States. Currently, she performs with the Chamber Players of the South, the Rome Symphony, the Roman Festival Brass and as a frequent substitute with the Chattanooga Symphony. Jenkins is also a member of the Superior Festival Orchestra in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Baltzer is founder and artistic director of Rome’s Own Music Ensembles Inc., which hosts a concert series featuring the Northwest Georgia Winds, the Clock Tower Jazz Ensemble and the Chamber Players of the South. He is also founder and conductor for these groups. In addition to teaching at Shorter College, Baltzer is an active composer and arranger; performing musician; and has published articles in various music journals, music appreciation software applications, and music for concert band.
Overmier has appeared in nearly every venue possible for a performing percussionist alongside many nationally renowned artists, in drum corps, recording studios, and with national touring productions of musicals and operas. His current project, Jazz Concho, is booked well into 2010. Overmier is a published composer of band, jazz and percussion works, and has authored numerous articles in music journals and magazines.
Sherwood-Lawless teaches and freelances in the Atlanta area, currently playing with The Atlanta Opera, and serving as concertmaster for The Atlanta Lyric and The Atlanta Pops. She also plays lead with many touring shows at the Fox Theater, and has performed with various orchestras in the Southeast. Her students have participated in the Georgia All-State Orchestra program, and held positions in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Crane, artistic director of CraneClassical Music Society, has performed with various ensembles and orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. He has been featured on National Public Radio, PBS, has recorded with Musical Heritage Society, and has been a finalist in the internationally acclaimed William Primrose Viola Competition. Additionally, Crane was integral to the development of a PBS documentary featuring music written by Thomas Jefferson, and he collaborated with Maya Angelou in “Artemis,” an innovative concert combining poetry with chamber music. Currently, he is a member of the Sullivan-Crane duo (viola and classical guitar), serves as a clinician at Lassiter High School, and is director of instruction at Ronald Sachs Fine Violins Teaching Studios.
Camp teaches at Darlington School and Lee University, and serves as director of the Community School for the Arts. She has performed with various quartets, orchestras and symphonies throughout the United States.
Darlington’s resident artists are also available for private lessons that are taught at the Upper School campus. For more information, please contact Camp at 706-236-0457.
Through this program, students participate in a minimum of four clinics and master classes throughout the year in their particular instrument. The idea is that Instrumental Director William Camp and these resident artists work together to ensure that students develop proper technique and have a credible foundation of which they can be proud.
“A single hour of instruction with a master musician provides enough information to keep a student busy for weeks, if not months,” said Camp. “That is where the artists and I work in conjunction. The artist makes a list of areas of concentration for each student, and I monitor the progress between clinics/master classes.”
According to Camp, the Artist-in-Residence Program proves invaluable to those aiming to pursue music as a career as well as those who simply wish to perform to the best of their ability.
“Many music educators believe a method class during college or ‘shop talk’ with other musicians is equivalent to ‘mastering’ an instrument, but it is my experience that the best instruction comes from a musician who has dedicated his or her life to performing on a particular instrument,” said Camp, who added that the new program is already having a noticeably positive effect on student performance.
“They are beginning to develop a characteristic tone quality on their instruments, perform with proper breath support and gain confidence that, in some cases, was not there before,” he continued. “Many Darlington students have never had a private lesson with a master musician, and this astonishes me … I have attempted to assist the situation by bringing the lessons to students who may not have time to set up private lessons themselves. At this point in their music careers, the advantage of studying with a master musician is priceless.”
This year’s artists in residence include Melanie Fuller (flute), Luan Mueller (clarinet), John Bleuel (saxophone and double reeds), Dr. Tom Smith (trumpet), Ellie Jenkins (French horn), Dr. Sam Baltzer (trombone and low brass), Dr. Douglas Overmier (percussion), Angele Sherwood-Lawless (violin), Adam Crane (viola) and Annie Camp (cello).
“I found these educators by seeking the best of the best,” said Camp. “I conducted a careful search of this region’s most reputable musicians, and narrowed the field to those with the strongest credentials. I selected artists whose students have been accepted to major universities and conservatories around the world.”
Fuller, a co-founding member of the Atlanta Chamber Players and former artistic director of the group, has been featured on National Public Radio numerous times. A former faculty member of Kennesaw State University, she currently freelances in the Atlanta area; teaches at the State University of West Georgia, the Georgia Academy of Music, and Casa Montessori School; and performs with the Macon Symphony Orchestra.
Mueller, the North American liaison of the International Clarinet Association and founding president of the Atlanta Clarinet Association, is a freelance performer in the Atlanta area. Currently, she serves as coordinator for the Karl Leister Atlanta Tour for his 2005 American tour and teaches at the State University of West Georgia. Mueller has been featured on National Public Radio, performed with orchestras throughout the United States, and her private studio has produced 1st chair All-State clarinetists in Georgia, Florida and Maryland.
Bleuel a Yamaha Performing Artist and teacher at the State University of West Georgia, is a member of the Bleuel Duo with pianist Linda Li-Bleuel Currently. The duo has performed throughout the eastern United States, Europe and Japan. He has also performed as a saxophone soloist with numerous bands and orchestras in the Midwest and Southeast.
Smith teaches at Berry College. He is a highly accomplished performer, having shared the stage with many prominent artists and groups in both classical music and jazz.
Jenkins, an active freelance horn player and teacher, has performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the United States. Currently, she performs with the Chamber Players of the South, the Rome Symphony, the Roman Festival Brass and as a frequent substitute with the Chattanooga Symphony. Jenkins is also a member of the Superior Festival Orchestra in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Baltzer is founder and artistic director of Rome’s Own Music Ensembles Inc., which hosts a concert series featuring the Northwest Georgia Winds, the Clock Tower Jazz Ensemble and the Chamber Players of the South. He is also founder and conductor for these groups. In addition to teaching at Shorter College, Baltzer is an active composer and arranger; performing musician; and has published articles in various music journals, music appreciation software applications, and music for concert band.
Overmier has appeared in nearly every venue possible for a performing percussionist alongside many nationally renowned artists, in drum corps, recording studios, and with national touring productions of musicals and operas. His current project, Jazz Concho, is booked well into 2010. Overmier is a published composer of band, jazz and percussion works, and has authored numerous articles in music journals and magazines.
Sherwood-Lawless teaches and freelances in the Atlanta area, currently playing with The Atlanta Opera, and serving as concertmaster for The Atlanta Lyric and The Atlanta Pops. She also plays lead with many touring shows at the Fox Theater, and has performed with various orchestras in the Southeast. Her students have participated in the Georgia All-State Orchestra program, and held positions in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Crane, artistic director of CraneClassical Music Society, has performed with various ensembles and orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. He has been featured on National Public Radio, PBS, has recorded with Musical Heritage Society, and has been a finalist in the internationally acclaimed William Primrose Viola Competition. Additionally, Crane was integral to the development of a PBS documentary featuring music written by Thomas Jefferson, and he collaborated with Maya Angelou in “Artemis,” an innovative concert combining poetry with chamber music. Currently, he is a member of the Sullivan-Crane duo (viola and classical guitar), serves as a clinician at Lassiter High School, and is director of instruction at Ronald Sachs Fine Violins Teaching Studios.
Camp teaches at Darlington School and Lee University, and serves as director of the Community School for the Arts. She has performed with various quartets, orchestras and symphonies throughout the United States.
Darlington’s resident artists are also available for private lessons that are taught at the Upper School campus. For more information, please contact Camp at 706-236-0457.
