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Alumni ReunionFebruary 23, 2019

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From the ChairHello UTM Music Alumni,It is really wonderful watching you reconnect with one another! For those of you who haven’t been back to campus in awhile, I hope you have noticed that both Martin and 16 Mount Pelia Rd. have changed a great deal for the better. We are excited to show off our newly renovated Fine Arts Building, share upcoming projects like the Phase 2 Concert Hall, and experience the new restaurants and increased things to do around the area, as well as see the development of the department, programs, and campus as a whole. We have a vibrant faculty, healthy and growing student body, and are constantly examining our curriculum to make sure our courses, ensembles, internships, and overall experience at UTM Music is the best it possibly can be. In essence, we just want to make you all even more proud of your degree!

In my fourth year as chair, it has been a priority to reach out and connect with as many alumni as possible. As the professor of percussion for 10 years prior to this position, I had been able to keep up with most of our “drummer family” through the decades, but opening that responsibility up to connecting with all instrumentalists, vocalists, and campus musicians who were ever a part of any of our ensembles since the early 1960’s has been a daunting task to say the least. We have done our best to do exactly that, but we need your help in encouraging others to stay connected.

I have now met many Music Alumni who attended UTM through each decade of our department’s existence. We have begun a legacy video series which spotlights graduates from the late 60’s/early 70’s who knew Harriet Fulton, first chair of the Department of Music, first-hand, to our more recent outstanding alumni. It’s been an honor to know Harriet and other influential professors from the past through their memories.

Reunions are such a special time and we want to host this event a bit more frequently than every 40 years moving forward! Two years ago, we tested the waters with an inaugural reunion on a smaller scale and it was wildly successful. We hope you have enjoyed the schedule of events prepared for you this weekend including the Friday cocktail party, and this morning’s panel discussion, student showcase concert, alumni recital, and memorabilia lounge.

Whether you reside in West TN or West Japan (we have at least two alumni who I know reside in the latter), we hope that this reunion has allowed you to reconnect with old friends, revisit cherished memories, and show our current students and faculty what it means to be a UTM Music Alumnus! I for one, am extremely proud of my alma mater and hope you are as well. From a former Pacer (Class of 1994), it gives tremendous joy to shout it out for all of us tonight–GO SKYHAWKS!

Best wishes,Julie

Julie Hill, DMAChair and ProfessorDepartment of MusicThe University of Tennessee at MartinUT President’s Educate Award Winner

Experiencethe Music within

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Schedule of EventsFebruary 23, 2019

*All DayVisit the Media and Memorabilia Lounge, Room 233, Fine Arts Building

10:00 a.m.Question and Answer Panel Discussion, Blankenship Recital Hall

Dr. Julie Hill, Chair, Department of Music, current music faculty, and UTM administrators host a panel discussion answering questions from alumni regarding the state of the music department,

ongoing initiatives, and future goals.

11:30 a.m.Student Showcase Recital, Blankenship Recital Hall

Enjoy performances by current UTM Music students.

12:00 p.m.Lunch

Alumni are welcome to dine at the University Commons or off campus. SAI and PMAwill be hosting a joint luncheon at La Cabaña, 305 S. Lindell St. in Martin.

1:30 p.m.Campus Tours

Meet at the Media and Memorabilia Lounge, Room 233, Fine Arts Building

3:00 p.m.Alumni Recital, Blankenship Recital Hall

Alumni and faculty join to perform in the EJ Eaton Tribute Band and more.

5:30 p.m.Alumni Banquet and Awards

Alumni and guests may explore Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee. Evening events will be held in Dinosoar Hall and include a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres and music by the LCD Faculty

Woodwind Trio, dinner, awards ceremony, and an after party with desserts and live music by 27bstroke6, a global fusion jam band comprised of UTM music graduates.

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2019 Alumni ReunionAward Recipients

Young Alumni AwardJJ Norman, Class of 2015

UTM Music’s Young Alumni Award recipient goes to an alumnus who has achieved great success in the field of music within their first ten years after graduation. The honoree offers inspiration and encouragement to others, serving as models for principled leadership and a commitment to helping others through music.

Arts Advocacy Award Mike Holden, Class of 1976

UTM Music’s Arts Advocacy Award honors an individual whose tireless efforts have dramatically impacted their community, creating transformative change through the arts.

Lifetime Achievement in Music Education Harley Patterson, Class of 1975

Our highest honor, the recipient of UTM Music’s Lifetime Achievement in Education award, is one of the most highly regarded professionals in the field of music education.

Lifetime Legacy Award Rita Winter, Class of 1998

The Recipient of UTM Music’s Lifetime Legacy Award has demonstrated long-term exemplary service, support, and commitment to the UTM Department of Music and the artform of music as a whole.

Professional Service Award James Henning, Class of 1987, & Karen Henning, Class of 1983Recipients of UTM Music’s Professional Service Award are individuals who serve the needs of their own communities, but also those of others. Each has demonstrated selflessness, perseverance, and passion in order to make the world a better place through music.

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Award Recipients’ Bios

JJ Norman, Class of 2015JJ Norman has served as Professional Development and Collegiate Program Manager for the National Association for Music Education since 2015. Through his work he has offered sessions at various state and national music education conferences across the country as well as returning to his Alma Mater to speak as a contributor to the #MusicEdLove Lecture Series and Podcast. Prior to joining the association, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he majored in K–12, Vocal-General Music Education and was awarded the 2015 Carl Seale Student Teaching Award for outstanding performance and promise as a leader in the teaching profession. Norman is scheduled to graduate from The George Washington University with a master’s degree in human development and education in May of 2019. A middle Tennessee native, JJ now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, where he sits on the board of the Alexandria Choral Society.

Harley Patterson, Class of 1975Harley Patterson was born into a musical family and at an early age, sang gospel music with his family every Sunday morning on Camden, TN WFWL Radio. Patterson attended Bethel College, the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, VA, and UT Martin, as a student of John Mathesen. During his time in the military, he was stationed in Korea and was a member and conductor of the Eighth Army Chorus.

Mr. Patterson has held band and choral teaching positions at Dyersburg High School, Brighton High School, and Ripley Middle and High Schools. The Ripley High School Band was awarded many honors including finalists in Marching Bands of America National, Mid-South Marching Band Grand Champion, Contest of Champions, and Tennessee 4A State H.S. Marching Band Champions. Under his direction, His choirs consistently received superior ratings as well as awards such as Best in Class and Best Overall at Mid America Choir Festival in St. Louis, MO.

Mr. Patterson has also served as the Tennessee All-State Men’s Charimen, a guest conductor and adjudicator thorughout the area, and has been selected three times as Teacher of the Year in Lauderdale County. After 36 years of service, Mr. Patterson recently retired as Music Director from First United Methodist Church in Ripley, TN.

Rita Winter, Class of 1998Rita Winter received a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance at UT Martin and was a student of Marilyn Jewett and Christina Powers. In 1993, she received Level 3 Orff Schulwerk Certification at the University of Memphis and taught Orff in her home studio for 16 years. Mrs. Warner has also served as a church choir director and Music Director for the Masquerade Children’s Summer Theatre in Union City.

She was a charter member of both the UTM Opera Theatre group and has performed with both the UTM Vanguard Theatre and as a soloist with the UTM Choral Society. Mrs. Warner has appeared as a guest artist at UTM, University of Memphis, Rhodes College of Memphis, and Christian Brothers of Memphis. She is currently the owner of The Music Place, a private music studio where she teaches voice and piano lesson.

Mike Holden, Class of 1976Robert Michael “Mike” Holden is a native of Paris, TN and a graduate of Henry County HIgh School and a John Philip Sousa Band Award Winner. During his time at UT Martin, Mr. Holden majored in music education and participated in University Ensembles and Phi Mu Alpha. He has held teaching positions in Paris County, Hollow Rock-Bruceton High School, and Henry County, where he served as head director for nine years.

Despite his career change to insurance sales in 1988, Mr. Holden has been a prominent arts advocate in his community. He teaches private trumpet lessons, has served as a middle school band clinician, and continues to coordinate and arrange music for many community groups and local events including his church chorus and handbell choir, the World’s Biggest Fish Fry Parade, and the Paris Henry County Arts Council.

In 2017, Mr. Holden founded the Paris Henry County Chamber Music Society, a non-profit organization created to promote the love of music in the Henry County area and gives opportunities for musicians to play their instrument, give concerts, and enhance the arts in the local community. Mr. Holden serves as the director of PHCCMS, which includes the Paris Henry County Community Band, the Paris Brass Quintet, and the Paris Flutes.

James Henning, Class of 1987James D. Henning is a 31 year veteran in the field of music education. He is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at North Side High School in Jackson, Tennessee where he teaches 9th Grade Band, General Music, and the Jazz Ensemble. He is also an adjunct professor at Lane College teaching applied music. Prior to this, Henning held positions at Halls Junior/Senior High School, North Parkway Middle School, and Jackson Central Merry High School. His bands have received numerous awards in both marching and concert all over the country. Many of his students have continue careers in music and he has mentored numerous young directors.

Mr. Henning has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the region, rehearsal chair of the WTSBOA Honor Band Clinic, audition adjudicator for the Tennessee Governor’s School, committee member for Tennessee All-State, General Music consultant for Ed Line Education in the Jackson-Madison County Schools, and has hosted both Solo & Ensemble and WTSBOA All-West auditions at his school.

Mr. Henning is a trombonist with the Jackson Swing Orchestra and plays professionally around the West Tennessee area, He is a member of WTSBOA, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the National Association for Music Education, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from UT Martin and a Master of Education from Union University.

Karen Henning, Class of 1983Karen Henning is currently an Associate Professor of Music at Lane College where she teaches Woodwind Ensemble, Music Appreciation, applied music, and instrumental music education classes. Formerly, Mrs. Henning served as a public school instrumental music teacher for 30 years. She has been a clinician and adjudicator throughout the mid-south, as well as held band director positions in Haywood County, Jackson Central Merry High School, and Liberty Technology Magnet High School. Mrs. Henning’s bands consistently earned superior ratings and numerous awards at festivals and competitions around the country. They also performed in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC. and the National Association of Music Educators Conference in Nashville, TN.

Karen is a recipient of the WTSBOA Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals for their lifetime of dedication to students and promotion of music education throughout West Tennessee. She is also the recipient of Amro’s “Music Educators Walk of Fame”, which recognizes music educators who have had a powerful and exemplary impact on Mid-South music students.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Lambuth College and a Master of Music in Music Education from Austin Peay State University. Karen is a member of American School Band Director Association, Phi Beta Mu Music Fraternity, NfAME, TMEA, and WTSBOA were she served as president for two terms.

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UT Martin Music Data

Donation Highlights: $352,417.83 Total

Events per Year (2017-2018): 117 Total

Students Recitals

Faculty Recitals

Guest Artists

Large Ensemble Concerts

(Band, Choir, Jazz, Orchestra)

Chamber Music Concerts & Studio Recitals

Outreach, Community, and Recruiting

Degree Data (Fall 2018): 103

2018 Recruiting for Music

Bachelor of Music - Performance

Bachelor of Music - Music Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music

Bachelor of Music - Pedagogy

Music Minors

On-Campus Event Attendance:

9,314

Off-Campus Event Attendance: 8,885

School Visits: 56

Social Media Followers: 10,586

UTM Sessions Views: 37,700

UTM Music Website Views: 107,600

18%

4%

12%

27%

22%15%

Phase II - $315,417.83 out of $6,000,000

Donor Funded Scholarships - $18,000/year

Allison Nelson Guest Artist Series - $19,000

90%

5.1%4.9%

63%

9%5%2%

11%

Did you know?During the Fall 2018 semester, the Department of Music had

66 campus musicians participating in large and small ensembles.

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Banquet ProgramWelcome

Dr. Julie Hill, Professor of Music, Chair

Recognition of Faculty Emeriti & Distinguished Guests

Phase II Concert HallVideo Presentation

Alumni AddressDr. Keith Carver, Chancellor

Faculty PerformanceCharles Lewis, Class of 1987, Lecturer of Music, Flute

Awards Ceremony Young Alumni Award - JJ Norman, Class of 2015

Professional Service Award - James Henning, Class of 1987, & Karen Henning, Class of 1983Arts Advocacy Award - Mike Holden, Class of 1976Lifetime Legacy Award - Rita Winter, Class of 1998

Lifetime Achievement in Music Education - Harley Patterson, Class of 1975

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Department of Music

1981 2001 2004 2005 2008 2011

Sherry AdamsAdministrative Assistant

Dr. Elaine HarrissProfessor of Music

Piano

Dr. Julie HillProfessor of Music

Chair

Dr. Roberto MancusiAssoicate Professor of Music

Voice

Dr. Douglas OwensAssociate Professor of Music

Double Reeds/Saxophone

Dr. Jessica ThomanAssociate Professor of Music

Horn

Dr. Kurt GormanProfessor of Music

Trumpet/Jazz

Dr. Amy YeungProfessor of Music

Voice

Dr. Mark SimmonsProfessor of MusicDirector of Choirs

Dr. Joseph FryeAssociate Professor of Music

Trombone

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Current Full-Time Faculty & Staff

2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018

Dr. John OelrichAssociate Professor of Music

Director of Bands

Charles LewisLecturer of Music

Flute

Dr. Elizabeth AleksanderAssociate Professor of Music

Clarinet

Dr. Angela AmmermanAssistant Professor of Music

Music EducationDirector of Orchestra

Dr. Shane JonesAssistant Professor of Music

Percussion

Chelsea JonesLecturer of Music

Events & Programs Coordinator

Dr. Bill WatermanAssociate Professor of Music

Tuba/EuphoniumDirector of Athletic Bands

Tammy OwensbyFinancial Assistant

Dr. Chan Mi JeanLecturer of Music

Collaborative Piano

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Advocating for Music Education:The UT Martin Impact

“Music is a class that allows students to experience communication without speaking; it allows students to take risks without fear of being mocked; and it forces students of countless diverse backgrounds to come together and work as a family,” said Dr. Angela Ammerman, assistant professor and coordinator of music education. This mindset, along with the support of local parents, teachers and community members, sparked the creation of the Weakley Arts Can Foundation – an organization seeking to return yearlong arts and music education to area schools. Local elementary school students currently take music classes for half the year and art for the other half. While Westview High School and Martin Middle School are equipped to support music and art classes, many secondary schools in the area do not offer band, art, choir or drama. “As a parent, I desire for my children to have diverse life experiences so they can best explore who they are becoming, value differences and prepare to successfully navigate their adult lives,” added Katie Mantooth, a local parent involved in the Weakley Arts Can Foundation. “There are other parents who desire for their children to have a well-rounded education and access to diverse co- and extra-curricular activities. Through Weakley Arts Can, we will give those parents, and their children, a voice, and we will raise funds to support the efforts of educators who face limited financial resources.” The foundation also involves the local community in music and music education in a variety of ways, including the After School Arts Program (run by Dr. John Oelrich and Doug Cook, chair of the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts) and the Community Music Academy (coordinated by Chelsea Jones). The After School Arts Program provides access to jazz band, choir and art classes at Martin Middle School during the academic year. Students who enroll in the extracurricular course meet after dismissal for rehearsals and studio time. Participation fees range from $20-25 for a single class and $40 for both a music class and an art class, and some scholarship opportunities are available to help students from all socioeconomic backgrounds take advantage of the program. The Community Music Academy provides affordable music lessons for residents in western Tennessee and Kentucky and seeks to inspire musicians of all ages through study with qualified teachers from the Department of Music.

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Advocating for Music Education:The UT Martin Impact

Lessons are available in nearly all instruments – including band and orchestral instruments, piano, guitar and drum set – as well as voice. This program has increased local interest in quality music training and provided a performance opportunity for musicians from all backgrounds. “Not only does the CMA provide the opportunity for our (university) students to teach private lessons, it may be the only music instruction many of our CMA students receive. This service is vital to our community and, with monetary support, we plan to offer group lessons and ensembles in the future,” said Jones. Programs within the foundation help students build confidence and interpersonal skills as well as musical ones. “Creating a balanced variety of opportunities for our youth to explore their own creativity and find their voice is a critical part of developing self-confidence at a young age. Down the road, these experiences will further boost a student’s self-esteem as they face all the normal challenges that life presents each one of us in adulthood and beyond,” said Dr. Julie Hill, professor and chair of the Department of Music. “I, for one, was a young person who needed the opportunity to express myself and gain confidence through music. Positive feedback from my fourth-grade general music teacher presented an outlet for me to set myself apart from my peers and gain self-worth, which aided me in so many other social situations as a young person. This greatly impacted my life, and I wouldn’t be doing what I am today without having had the opportunity for Mrs. Sandra Robbins to tell me I had an uncanny gift of rhythm back when I was 9 years old.” Outside the foundation, the UTM Orchestra and #MusicEdLove podcast series (both directed by Ammerman) also connect UT Martin students and musically-minded community members. The UTM Orchestra is a multi-generational ensemble and includes musicians ranging from 14 years to 79 years of age. All are welcome to participate, and rehearsals are held on Monday nights. The #MusicEdLove podcast series brings leaders in the field of music education to UT Martin from all over the country to share their knowledge with UT Martin students and community members alike. The series has reached far beyond Weakley County, however, with listeners in 43 countries and an average of 400 subscribers per month in its first year! The podcast can be found on all popular podcast platforms, and there is no charge to subscribe.

“Outreach programs in our community are a key part of what we do and provide extremely impactful experiences for our faculty and students, not to mention the audiences with which we engage,” said Hill. “A few key interactive programs within the Department of Music are the Roots of Rhythm world music presentations, which expose regional schoolchildren to global music styles; ‘petting zoos,’ which allow young people a hands-on opportunity to test musical instruments; choral performances of ‘The Magic Flute,’ which primarily occur in hospitals as a means of music therapy; and recreational drum circles for leadership programs and the general public.” UT Martin alumni play a key role in outreach activities by providing voices in the conversation about arts education in our school systems. Our faculty can only do so much; we need your help to continue bringing music and the arts to the next generation of students. If you live in the Weakley County area, you can give of your time and talent to teach a class in the Community Music Academy or assist with the After School Arts Program. You can help spread the word on social media and in your personal circles to help us gain and keep momentum, and you can contribute financially to help us purchase instruments, music, group transportation and more. UT Martin’s new strategic plan seeks to make UT Martin a cultural hub for Northwest Tennessee and the region, and we are working toward that goal. Your alma mater is on a mission to “educate and engage responsible citizens to lead and serve in a diverse world,” and you can help us get there! Contact Dr. Julie Hill, chair of the Department of Music, today to get involved.

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Past

Ground breaking of original Fine Arts Building, October 1968; Harriet Fulton, far left

Students in front of the Fine Arts Buildingin the 1970’s

Ribbon cutting of newly renovated Fine Arts Building, October 2013

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Present

Future

Current view of the Fine Arts Building Current Harriet Fulton Theatre renovations

Fine Arts Building Phase II Rendering

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From the Archives

Jewett Awarded Big Music Grant

UTM BAND MEMBERS-- Mark Kinsey (left) and Randy Whitchurch are two Union City residents enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Martin who are serving as members of the UTM marching band. Kinsey is a sophomore, majoring in liberal arts and Whitchurch is an senior, majoring in music education.

Marilyn Jewett, an assistant professor of music at UTM, has received a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study women in 18th century music. Miss Jewett will be studying at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville with professor Milos Velmirovic, who heads seminars on the history of 18th centery opera. The NEH sponsors 16 such seminars on selected topics each year. Only six persons nationally were selected as fellows for the program under Velmirovic. Miss Jewett, who has collected and performed music by women composers for a number of years, will research the sociological and historical significance of the women’s role as musical composer, performer and patron in the 18th century. Last summer, she won a research award to study 18th century opera at the same institution.

Harriet Fulton, present UTM music department chairman will retire, effective in June. “I never really planned on becoming chairman. It’s just that I was the only teacher on campus so when they were ready to hire another teacher, I was the one in charge of hiring,” Fulton said. About the time the Fine Arts building was being done, she decided to step down and Dr. Harriss took the position. He later stepped down and his replacement didn’t come so she was drafted into the position again. “Teaching students is much more fun,” Fulton related. “The job of any administrator is like a shock absorber, you are listening to complaints you usually can’t do anything about.” She explained that she first came to this campus thirty years ago, when it was still a junior college. She was here through the years that the school and music department expanded from two to four year programs. “I was hired to teach English,” Fulton said. This was done because there was no music department on this campus at the time, and they didn’t know how to ask for a music teacher with no department.” “For one year, I taught freshman English courses and organized a chorus that was non-credit and a curriculum. Then the next year, we had music courses in piano, voice, music appreciation. I was busy.” “There were only about 300 students when I first came here, and everyone knew everybody else. We chaperoned dances, because no one could have a dance without being chaperoned. We went to their parties and we were very well acquainted.” The music department grew from a faculty of one to the present size and expanded from a two year program to an accredited four year program. Fulton elaborated on the number of buildings the music classes practiced in before the present Fine Arts building was constructed.

Some of the buildings characteristics were compiled in a picture book by herself and Dr. Meek, including caustic remarks and sent to a vice chancellor in Knoxville. “We took pictures of the burned out attic, the horrible men’s room, cracked floors and places where bricks were falling out. We had a magnificent piece of propoganda with pictures of the worst possible parts of the building with remarks such as ‘too bad we couldn’t have a picture of these cracked windows in the winter when they had snow on the inside.” After this, and recommendations by the music accreditation association, appropriations were set aside for a $1 million building. It was originally scheduled to be finished in the fall of 1968, but it was not actually completed until the fall of 1970, Fulton added. Some background material, written “tongue-in-cheek” by Fulton was read at the dedication of the building on May 28, 1971. One of the highlights of the festival following the dedication was an opera by Ned Rorem, “probably the best know composer in the United States,” commissioned by the University of Tennessee at Martin, she emphasized. Inside the score of the opera is a note which explains that the opera “Four Fables from La Fontaine” was commissioned by UTM for the dedication of the Fine Arts Building at UTM, with the first performance on May 21, 1971, under the direction of Marilyn Jewett. “There are copies of it in the library which Ned Rorem inscribed to us,” she commented. Other advances in the department include accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music, which occured under Dr. Harriss’ chairmanship. “It’s been a very rewarding experience. The people who teach and the staff are well qualified and do an excellent job,” Fulton summarized.

Head of music department to retire effective June 1

Pacer, June 1, 1978

Weakley County PressApril 20, 1978

The Daily Messenger, Nov. 5, 1977

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Give Back!Public universities must rely on the generosity of their alumni and community members more every year. We

need your support in order to provide outstanding facilities, instruments, guest artists, scholarships, awards, and programs for our current students and future Skyhawk graduates of tomorrow. No amount is too small.

To give to Phase II or our gifts funds that support the Community Music Academy, Allison Nelson Guest Artist Series, student scholarships, Steinway maintenance, and more, please visit utmforever.com/music and give

today!

Become a concert sponsor! Named in recognition of UT Martin Professor Emeritus and acclaimed

touring concert pianist, Allison Nelson, this brand-new concert series is bringing diverse and exciting guest artists to our campus.

Create a named scholarship! Contact Dr. Julie Hill, the Department of Music Chair, to learn how to create a

named scholarship to support a music major.

April 11, 2019 – TNMEA UTM Music Reunion

Upcoming Allison Nelson Guest Artist Series Concerts: March 18 - Gaudete Brass

April 16 - Dan Miller with the UTM Big BandSeptember 23 - Break of Reality

November 2, 2019 – HomecomingVisit our tent at Quad Cities and see the Aviator Athletic Band parade

and perform at the Skyhawk football game.

_____________________________________________

Follow us on social media!

b@UTM Music a@UTMDeptofMusic x @utmmusic

Mark Your Calendars

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