April 23 & 24, 2010
Missoula, Montana

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MSU College of Music in Todi, Italy
Master Classes for Clarinet, Voice, and Piano at the Centro Studi Carlo della Giacoma in Todi, Italy

Summer 2010

May 29-June 19, 2010

Sponsored by the College of Music

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This program entails three weeks of intensive master classes for clarinetists, vocalists, and pianists. Students will study and perform master works for clarinet, voice, and piano including such works at Brahms Sonatas (see “What can I study?” for complete repertoire list). In addition to listed repertoire for clarinet, voice, and piano, students will also study solo and chamber music including some works of Carlo Della Giacomo.

Italian language classes are also part of the program as well as excursions to such places as Rome, Orvieto, Cortona, Gubbio, and Perugia.    

Where does it take place?

The master classes are organized by  Centro di Studi Carlo Della Giacoma, a cultural institute located in Todi, in the region of Umbria, said to be one of the  most exciting and historical regions of Italy.  The co-founders of the institute are the community of Todi, the province of Perugia, important artists, professors, researchers and family members of the late Carlo Della Giacoma. Carlo Della Giacoma (1858-1929) was a leading performer of his generation and was principal clarinet at La Scala opera in Milan.  He was also a noted composer, musicologist, and conductor.  He wrote a clarinet method, chamber music, and sonata repertoire for clarinet and piano, clarinet and voice and orchestral works as well as solo works for piano and other woodwind instruments. Todi is self-contained in location and very easy to navigate on foot.

All of the master classes, concerts, language classes and practice facilities will be housed in the historical Palazzo Vignola. The architecture is world-renowned and a historical site often studied in Art History classes.

What can I study?

Students will study and perform standard clarinet/piano sonata repertoire, piano four hands and vocal/piano/clarinet chamber works, as well as solo repertoire and chamber music for clarinet, voice, and piano.  Students will also study and perform selected solo and chamber works of composer Carlo Della Giacomo.  Clarinetists will study contemporary techniques, such as circular breathing, multiple articulation, orchestral excerpts, practice techniques, and the concertos of Mozart, Nielsen, and Copland

In addition to the clarinet/piano repertoire listed below, pianists will study solo piano repertoire as well as piano four hands.

The clarinet/piano repertoire may include, but is not limited to:

• Johannes Brahms, Sonata, Opus 120 No. 1, f minor
• Johannes Brahms, Sonata opus 120 No. 2, Eb major
• Carlo Della Giacoma, Cavalleria Rusticana Fantasia, Op.83
• Carlo Della Giacoma, Tosca, Op. 171
• Claude Debussy, Premiere Rhapsodie
• Felix Mendelssohn, Concertstuck in d minor
• Felix Mendelssohn, Concertstuck in f minor
• Francis Poulenc, Sonata
• C.Saint Saens, Sonate, Op. 167
• Rota
• Setaccioli
• Castelnuovo-Tedesco

Clarinet/Vocal Repertoire may include but is not limited to:

• Schubert-Shepherd on the Rock
• Spohr-Sechs Lieder
• Schubert-Die Verschwornenen
• Mozart-La Clemenzo di Tito mezzo aria 
• Rorem-Ariel

Vocal repertoire will be selected to suit voice type in conjunction with voice faculty

Students will have a daily language class devoted to Italian musical language study as well as daily Italian conversational study.  The local language institute in Todi, La Lingua La Vita, will provide instruction and cooperates with the Centro Studi.

All students will be required to enroll for a minimum of three (3) credits from the following MSU courses:

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

The program is open to outstanding undergraduates and graduate students in the Doctor of Music (DMA) and Master of Music (MM) programs who have extensive music education and experience in their given instrument.

All students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission. 

Participants will be selected by professors in the appropriate major and/or instrument.

While the program is intended for students from the MSU College of Music, students from other universities may also apply.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will live in Todi – a charming, authentic Italian town.  They will be housed in apartments within walking distance to the Palazzo Vignola (see history below). There will be no need for transportation in the town as everything is accessible by foot.  The Centro Studi will make arrangements for bus and car transportation for the excursions.

History of Palazzo Vignola

The existing name of the palace, originally called Landi Corradi, derives from the architect of the portal and the courtyard, Jacopo Barozzi from Vignola, who made them in the 16th century.  In 1712, Bishop Filippo A. Gualtieri bought the Palace and started to renovate it in order to move the ecclesiastic seminary there.

In 1720 the renovation was completed. The Church of "Nunziatina" became part of the definitive structure. Palazzo Vignola has today become a splendid congress centre equipped to host business conventions, exhibitions, gala evening, celebrations and weddings. 3500 sq m divided into 3 floors (each measuring about 1000 sq m), panoramic roof terrace, 22 rooms in total, out of which 7 are large reception salons, 8 medium-size rooms, offices, a grand reception hall and a bar that opens into the splendid internal open-air courtyard. The Palazzo lies 100 m away from the main square in Todi and 5 m from the Romanesque cathedral

Who can tell me more about this program?

Voice:

Professor Richard Fracker
College of Music
107 Music Practice Building
Phone: (517) 353-4489
Web: http://www.music.msu.edu/faculty/faculty.php?id=84

Richard Fracker is associate professor of voice (tenor) and Area Chair of Vocal Arts at the Michigan State University College of Music. Prior to joining the MSU faculty in September 2003, Fracker performed regularly in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world, including ten seasons at New York's Metropolitan Opera (MET) and more than 160 performances. Known for his versatility both vocally and dramatically, he enthusiastically explores both traditional and contemporary repertoires ranging from Britten and Beethoven, to Verdi and Philip Glass. Some of Fracker's MET performances include Madama Butterfly, The Gambler, Turandot, Moses und Aron, and Die Frau ohne Schatten, as well as the leading tenor role in Philip Glass' The Voyage. He has appeared several times in Texaco’s “Live from the MET” national radio broadcasts. Recent international credits include Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca in Norway as well as gala concerts in Norway and China.  Fracker most recently appeared in concert singing Mahler’s challenging Das Lied von der Erde with the Pueblo Symphony (Colorado.)  Career highlights include world debuts of Philip Glass’s Hydrogen Jukebox and Orphee, as well as Fracker’s Carnegie Hall debut as the tenor lead in Glass’s demanding Civil Wars. He has performed leading tenor roles in Spain, Italy, Norway, and Iceland, and with companies throughout the United States. Fracker has participated in the prestigious Spoleto Festival (Italy) and the Saito Kinen Festival (Japan) and has worked with such illustrious conductors as James Levine, Seiji Ozawa, Carlos Kleiber, Nello Santi, Valery Gergiev, and Marco Armeliato.

Clarinet:

Professor Caroline Hartig
College of Music
218 Music Practice Building
Phone: (517) 355-7645
Web: http://www.music.msu.edu/faculty/faculty.php?id=99

Caroline Hartig is an acclaimed clarinet soloist and recording artist and has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia and has appeared with orchestras and contemporary-music ensembles in major concert halls including Carnegie Hall (where she also made her solo debut), Merkin Concert Hall, and the Fritz Reiner Center for Contemporary Music and Symphony Hall (Boston). She has performed as a guest artist for the International Clarinet Association and has been heard on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. She may be heard on the compact disc Clarinet Brilliante (Centaur Records 2572) honored as a “Critics’ Choice” by the American Record Guide declaring; “Hartig dazzles with numbing, blazing fluidity and rich, luxuriant fervor…coiled virtuosity.” In an Overview of Woodwind Recordings, ARG cited Clarinet Brilliante as one of the “best of the best” for the performance of clarinet recital literature: “For some sweet-sounding barnburners, Caroline Hartig weaves a spellbinding recital.” Her compact disc Clarinet Brilliante II (Centaur 2808) was praised by American Record Guide noting, “The playing is mastery itself…Widely recognized and sought after for numerous new-music collaborations, Hartig has premiered and performed solo clarinet works by leading contemporary composers including Pulitzer-Prize winners William Bolcom and Donald Martino. She can be heard on the compact disc Dancing Solo (Innova 512) featuring the solo and chamber clarinet works of composer Libby Larsen. “It is in Dancing Solo that Ms. Hartig really demonstrates her musicality and prodigious technique…simply virtuosic” (The Clarinet). Recent residencies include a recording residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts, in Banff, Alberta, Canada where Hartig recorded her latest compact disc, Chalumeau (Centaur 2965). Released in 2009, Chalumeau is comprised of benchmark contemporary unaccompanied solo clarinet works including Bolcom’s “Chalumeau” commissioned and premiered by Hartig in Tokyo, Japan. In demand as a master teacher and clinician Hartig has served as a juror for performance competitions including the International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition and is on the clarinet faculty of the Vianden International Music Festival and School. Hartig is currently Associate Professor of Clarinet at Michigan State University. She is a Buffet Crampon artist and performs on the Buffet Festival clarinet. For more information visit www.CarolineHartig.com.

Piano:

Professor Deborah Moriarty
College of Music
108 Music Practice Building
Phone: (517) 353-9121
Web: http://www.music.msu.edu/faculty/faculty.php?id=39

Deborah Moriarty is professor of piano and chair of the keyboard area at the Michigan State University School of Music, where she is a recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award. A Massachusetts native, she made her debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at age 11. She has also served on the piano faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Lowell. Moriarty attended the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, and the New England Conservatory of Music, where she received her Master of Music degree with honors. She has studied with Russell Sherman, Theodore Lettvin, and Beveridge Webster. An active recitalist and soloist with orchestras throughout the eastern United States, she has also performed in Belgium, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, and the Soviet Union. Moriarty is a founding member of the Fontana Ensemble of Michigan, and as an advocate of new music, has participated in numerous premiere performances including Milton Babbitt’s “Whirled Series” at Merkin Hall in New York City. She has recordings on the Crystal and CRI labels.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.  It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Study Abroad Student Guide.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $2,920 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• some meals
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• additional meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $3,640.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.   

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Guide that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.