Faculty

Dance faculty member Dawn Lille attended a conference and fair in Dusseldorf, Germany, entitled Aesthetics of Diversity: World Dance 2002. As a delegate representing the World Dance Alliance-Americas, of which she is a board member, she had the pleasure of seeing the company Battleworks (Robert Battle [BFA '94, dance], choreographer), in which Elisa Clark (BFA '01, dance) and Erika Pujic (BFA '95, dance) performed.

Danail Rachev, conductor of the Pre-College Symphony, has been chosen as the recipient of the first Conducting Fellowship of the New World Symphony. During the 2002-03 season, he will have the opportunity to work with Michael Tilson Thomas, the artistic director of the symphony, and many guest conductors.

Students

Pianist Eric Fung, fourth-year D.M.A. student of Oxana Yablonskaya, won second prize and the title of Bach Prize Winner at the 13th International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany, in July. The competition (piano division), held every four years, is under the patronage of the prime minister of the State of Saxony and organized by the Bach-Archiv, Leipzig. The jury included Joäo-Carlos Martins, Robert Levin, Angela Hewitt, and Gerald Fauth.

Composition students Matthew Kajcienski, Martin Kennedy, and Cynthia Lee Wong were 2002 ASCAP award winners in the Morton Gould category. Kati Agocs received an honorable mention.

Marie-Elise McNeeley, a violin student of Shirley Givens, was one of four finalists of the first New York State American String Teachers Association With National School Orchestra Association State Solo Competition.

Piano student Vassily Primakov made his New York debut at the 92nd Street Y on the Young Concert Artists series in October.