Freshman Composition Major Arielle O'Keefe was selected as the winner of the Ingrid Michaelson Video Contest with her video cover entry of Michaelson's newest single "Everybody". As the grand prize winner selected by Michaelson herself, Arielle will get to perform live in concert with Michaelson! Congrats!

Freshman Joseph Cruise Berry was recently selected as one of 11 American Indian composers to be featured in a new album by acclaimed string quartet "Ethel".  The recording of the album was hosted from January 22-24 at Oklahoma City University's Wanda L. Bass School of Music.  This album, to be distributed worldwide by Naxos in 2010, will feature Berry's "Fantasia", as well as other contemporary classical works.  The album will be available for purchase through Thunderbird Records, iTunes, Amazon, and others.  

Ethel Official Website:

http://www.ethelcentral.com/

Composition senior Jamie Whitmarsh will have a piece on the 2010 SCI Region VI Conference. His multi-percussion duet, 'Incontro Deux' will be performed during the conference. The 2010 SCI Region VI Conference will be hosted by Kansas University, from March 24th to March 27th. More information on the conference can be found here.

Tim Holt, composition senior, recently won the 'Paderewski Prize for Music Composition'. As part of Oklahoma City University's partnership with the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poland, the I. J. Paderewski Academy held a competition for OCU's composition department. OCU's composition department held a similar competition for the Academy's composers. Tim Holt's 'Percussion Sextet' will have its international premiere in March 2010. Travel expenses will be underwritten by Oklahoma City University; the I. J. Padeerewski Academy will provide food and lodging.

Knock Knock will be at the Short Film Corner of the Cannes Film Festival.  The music for the film was written by Tim Holt.  There will be a screening May 21st.  Throughout the entire festival the film will be available for selection on personal video monitors.

Senior Rick McKee has accepted a full time position with The Imagination House production company in Orlando, FL as Associate Music Producer!  He will be moving to Orlando in May and will begin working full-time at The Imagination House upon graduation (some major clients include the world-wide Disney Theme Parks & Resorts, Disney Cruise Line, ABC Television, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Jennifer Hudson, The Muppets, Hard Rock, Macy's...).  To hear more about Rick's recent projects, check out his bio page.

Katarzyna Brochocka won Grand Prize in the Chamber Division to the 2008 ISB/David Walter Composition Competition. The winning composition will be given its world premiere at the 2009 ISB Convention at Penn State University, June 8-13. Congratulations Kasia!

David Janssen was accepted into Boston University's DMA program in composition. David received his MM in composition from Manhattan School of Music (2007) and his BM in composition from OCU (2005).

Leah Sproul has been accepted to the University of Louisville's composition department and has been awarded the Moritz von Bomhard Fellowship, designed by Moritz von Bomhard (founder of the Kentucky Opera) for students with a special interest in composing vocal music (both art song and opera). The fellowship requires that she writes every other piece for voice and that she teaches up to three non-major composition students in her second year. It includes full tuition and stipend. The University of Louisville is home to the prestigious Grawmeyer Award in composition with past winners including John Corigliano, Joan Tower, and Tan Dun.

Maya Raviv's Echad was performed on April 27th as the final piece of the 3rd Festival of Universal Sacred Music. The concert was held at "Landmark on the Park" (4th Universalist Society on 160 Central Park West). On May 2nd Maya had a solo performance at a special Shabbat Service held by The New Seminary in NY (a seminary for Interfaith studies), honoring the founder of the Interfaith 'movement' on his 97th birthday at Central Presbyterian Church on 64th and Park Avenue. Another performance on May 9th at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan was part of their service.

Twelfth Night is another comic masterpiece by Shakespeare and was performed by OCU in April. The music was written by composition majors Tim Holt, Ben Harrell, and Leah Sproul.

Congrats to Jay Wadley for completing Yale University's artist diploma program in composition.

Jay Wadley ('05) wins Charles Ives Award!

Jerome Kurtenbach served as an intern on the ABC hit TV show, LOST. Through the internship he was able to serve as score preparation and orchestration on a few cues, and conduct the live recording at Capitol Records of several other cues. The episode title is Par Avion, #312, and aired on Wednesday March 14th at its regular time slot.

Aaron Fryklund has been accepted into the University of North Texas MMC program

Sophomore composition major Rick McKee was commissioned to compose the official theme song for the 2006 Disney Music Convention. His piece is entitled "Celebrate The Magic". The work was recorded by acclaimed Disney studio vocalists Michelle Amato and David Wise. Read More...

From okcu.edu:
Graduate composer Maya Raviv has been awarded a $2500 commission in a worldwide competition sponsored by the Foundation for Universal Sacred Music. "The proposal I made combines Hebrew and Arabic together in a song about God's love for all people," Raviv said.
Her piece will be premiered November 4th, 2006 at Lincoln Center in New York City by SANGITA, the Foundation's choir, soloists and instrumental ensemble under the direction of Susanne Peck.

The school year is officially under way and Project 21 has hit the ground running. We welcome three new members this semester as plans are already in progress for the first in this year's series of composers' concerts.

Congratulations to recent graduates David Janssen and Jay Wadley! David is attending the Manhattan School of Music and Jay is attending Yale. Both are pursuing their master's degree in composition.