February 15: Guest Pianist Richard Fountain Masterclass and Recital

On February 15^th guest pianist Dr. Richard Fountain came to College of the Ozarks to host a piano masterclass. Dr. Fountain worked with College of the Ozarks students Min Hyeok Kang, Spencer Fleury, and Erin Hall, and helped senior Kaylen Draschil prepare for her piano recital on April 13th. Dr. Fountain also gave a piano recital that night, where he performed pieces by Beethoven and Liszt. We appreciate him coming to help our students grow in their skills!

Praised for his “clear, expressive playing,” “mature display of pyrotechnics,” and “seasoned artistry,” pianist Richard Fountain has steadily garnered recognition for his versatile abilities as soloist, collaborator, and teacher. Dr. Fountain’s accolades include the Early Achiever Award from the Nebraska Alumni Association, the “Teacher of the Year” award from the Lubbock Music Teachers Association, and joint Third Prize in The American Prize for Solo Piano for his solo recording “American Ivory.” Dr. Fountain is also a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and serves on the Board of Directors of the Texas Music Teachers Association. Dr. Fountain is currently a full-time Professor of Piano at Wayland Baptist University, where he has received WBU’s highest recognition for professional activity, the “Contribution to the Profession” award.

February 5: Mary Vanhoozer and Josh Rodriguez Guest Recital

On February 5th, College of the Ozarks had the honor of welcoming Dr. Mary Vanhoozer, a professional concert pianist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. Dr. Vanhoozer, who received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, performed works by Scarlatti, Chopin, Debussy, and her husband, Dr. Josh Rodriguez. She also took time to discuss the pieces, helping the audience to understand the story of each composer and their music. We are thankful that she shared her musical talents with us!

Mary Vanhoozer is a sought after chamber musician and soloist, with a passion for live music making in her local communities. An active performer, she has played solo recitals at numerous institutions, including Oakland University, Biola University, and Wheaton College. She released her debut solo piano album this past fall, which features the complete keyboard partitas of J. S. Bach, and a newly commissioned work by composer Josh Rodriguez. Dr. Vanhoozer received her BM from Wheaton College Conservatory, her MM from the Eastman School of Music, and her DMA from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her music mentors are Daniel Shapiro, Daniel Paul Horn, Douglas Humpherys, Paul O’Dette, and Peter Slowik. Currently, Mary serves as adjunct professor of piano at the Collinsworth School of Music at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA. 

On February 6, 2019, guest composer Dr. Josh Rodriguez gave a presentation to College of the Ozarks students on the topic of graduate school. Dr. Rodriguez is a professor at California Baptist University along with his wife, Dr. Mary Vanhoozer, who performed a piano recital at College of the Ozarks the night before.   

Dr. Rodriguez gave wisdom to students considering applying to graduate school and spoke of his personal journey through grad school.  At the end of the presentation, Dr. Rodriguez opened the floor to questions from the students in attendance, which both he and Dr. Vanhoozer answered. 

As a scholar, his research at UCLA culminated with his dissertation ("Tiemble y estalle la fiesta:" Toward Understanding Alberto Ginastera’s Musical Language in the Final Decade of his Neo-expressionist Phase Through Analysis of the Cello Concerto No. 2 with a Focus on Symmetrical Structures and Symbolism). Rodriguez’s further research post-graduation continues to explore Ginastera’s late works, and his relationship with North American orchestras and universities. 

February 4: Aether Eos Guest Recital

On Monday, February 4^th, College of the Ozarks welcomed guest performers Leah Asher and Chris Goddard of Aether Eos as they performed new and experimental music of the twenty-first century. Composers Rebecca Saunders and Pang Chun-ting wrote the first two pieces Asher and Goddard performed. College of the Ozarks assistant professor of music theory and composition, Dr. Luke Carlson, wrote the third piece, Last Light. Asher also composed a solo violin piece that she performed at the recital, and Eric Wubbels composed the last piece that Aether Eos performed.

Leah Asher has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe with artists and ensembles such as Jennifer Torrence, Sanae Yoshida, Mary Auner, AJO ensemble, NOSO Sinfoniettaen, The Arctic Philharmonic, The Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, eighth blackbird, and The Rhythm Method. She served as solo violist of the NOSO Sinfoniettaen and co-principal viola of the Arctic Philharmonic 2013-2016 and joined as violinist of The Rhythm Method in 2016. Asher completed her undergraduate degree at Oberlin College and Conservatory, studying violin with Gregory Fulkerson. She also earned a Master’s in Contemporary Performance at Manhattan School of Music, studying with Curtis Macomber.

As a performer and advocate of contemporary music, Christopher Goddard has presented dozens of premieres by his colleagues, appearing with new music groups such as Ensemble Moto Perpetuo, Columbia Composers, Penn Composers Guild, the Wet Ink Ensemble and others. Goddard performed with TACTUS, the contemporary music ensemble at the Manhattan School of Music, while studying with pianists Christopher Oldfather and Anthony de Mare. Goddard was recently commissioned to compose music for Esprit Orchestra (Toronto), No Exit New Music Ensemble (Cleveland) the Royal Conservatory/Koerner Hall for the 21C Festival and by the City of Reutlingen. Goddard currently serves as Artistic Director of Ottawa New Music Creators.