Music Student News

KAMDEN DENNIS '21

B.M. Music Education (Voice)

Kamden Dennis participated in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Collegiate Advocacy Summit in June 2019. This event is the single largest gathering of music education advocates on Capitol Hill. Music education leaders from all over the nation gathered to hold meetings with their state senators and representatives. While there, Kamden had the opportunity to advocate for the states of Massachusetts and Vermont by sharing personal stories of how music education has impacted his life and the lives of students he has taught. The meetings were positively received, and many were in support of the Guaranteed Access to Art and Music Education (GAAME) Act.

RACHEL O'CONNOR '20

B.M. Music Performance (Violin)

Rachel O’Connor will be participating in the Kinhaven Young Artists’ Seminar, an intensive one-week chamber music workshop in Weston, Vermont. Rachel was also accepted to the Aria International Summer Academy for Advanced Music Studies which takes place at Mt. Holyoke College. This program includes private lessons with different renowned faculty members, masterclasses, and workshops on technique, intelligent and efficient practicing, musicianship, performance, auditions, and career.

MATTHEW RHEE '23

B.M. Music Education and Music Performance (Cello)

Matthew Rhee will serve as an intern for Chelsea Music Festival which is a music festival that brings experienced and uprising musicians to the stage to produce a variety of music in addition to combining performing, culinary and visual arts to the stage.

NATALIE BAKER '19

B.M. Music Performance (Voice)

Natalie Baker was selected to study Italian language and opera through "Si parla, si canta" in Arona, Italy for the month of June, 2019. The program, directed by Benton Hess of Eastman School of Music, is in its thirteenth year. She will have opportunities to perform in concerts and masterclasses as well as singing a role in Puccini's Suor Angelica.

Ms. Baker was also chosen as one of two recipients of the Gilbert and Sullivan Austin Scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year.

ALEC SENNOTT '18

B.M. Music Education (Piano)

Alec Sennott's original composition, Dance of the Oni, was selected for performance at the Young Composer Center at the NAfME (National Association for Music Education) Eastern Division Conference on Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Only thirteen compositions were selected for this concert, and the distinctive honor includes the opportunity to attend a "Young Composer Forum", in which student composers whose music is performed will have an informal discussion facilitated by a panel of composers and composition teachers.

"I am very grateful to my composition faculty, Dr. Mary Montgomery Koppel for all of the guidance, advising, and workshopping we are offered in composition class." - Alec Sennott

SHAWNA BEALL '18

B.M. in Music Education (Saxophone)

Shawna Beall of Manchester, NH, was selected as one of three winners of the New England Band Director's Association's Annual Solo Competition in January, 2017. Shawna will play Tableau de Provence for alto saxophone and piano, by Paul Maurice at the annual New England Intercollegiate Band concert, held at Rhode Island College on April 1, 2017. In addition to the honor of performing, Shawna will receive a $250 cash award. She completed with dozens of undergraduate musicians from over 15 colleges throughout New England. She is the second Gordon College student to be selected for this honor.