Fine Arts News-April, 2008

---

2008 Blinn College Music Meet Another Huge Success!

Forty Bands from throughout the region attended the 2008 Blinn College Music Meet. Congratulations to the winners in each division.

Class A: Summit Christian Academy
Class 2A: Lexington
Class 3A: Bellville
Class 4A: Brenham
Class 4A 2nd Band: Brenham
Middle School 1st Band: Brenham
Middle School 1st Band, 2nd place: College Station
Middle School 2nd Band: A & M
Middle School 2nd Band, 2nd place: Brenham
Sixth Grade Band: Brenham

---

6th Annual Blinn College Piano Competition Held January 26

25 talented pianists from grades 5 through 12 gathered at the Blinn College O'Donnell Performing Arts Center for the 6th Annual Blinn College Piano Competition. The 2008 Overall Winner with a cash prize of $200.00 was Emily Campbell of Richmond, student of Heather Rathnau, and the runner-up with a cash prize of $100.00 was Zachary Wu of College Station, TX, student of Christina Chen.

Cash prizes were made available through the generosity of Dr. Henry Boehm, member of Blinn College Board of Trustees. The judges for the contest were John Dujka, Instructor of Piano/Music Theory at Blinn College, and Dr. Sarah Burke, Director of Percussion Studies, Assistant Director of Bands, Blinn College.

The winners for the various grade categories is as follows:

Grade 5-6: Winner: Thomas Jum, student of Hyun-Jung Kim, College Station

Grade 7-8: Winner: Emily Campbell, student of Heather Rathnau, Richmond

Grade 9-10: Winner: Zachary Wu, student of Christina Chen, College Station

Grade 11-12: Winner: Jane Barchie, student of Diane Dawson Delk, Conroe

---

Blinn College places 34 students in Texas Community College All-State music groups

Blinn College once again outpaced all other 2-year schools in Texas with the placement of 36 students in the Texas Community College All-State Band and Jazz Band Clinics to be held during the 2007 TMEA Convention in San Antonio, TX.

Congratulations to our students and faculty for an outstanding record of participation at the annual All-State event.

---

Announcing new music faculty!
Sarah M. Burke, DMA

Blinn College Music Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sarah M. Burke as Assistant Band Director/Director of Percussion Studies at Blinn College/Brenham Campus. Dr. Burke received her DMA and MM in Percussion Performance at Rutgers University, and her BM in Percussion Performance from Texas Tech University. Her teachers included Alan Abel, Bob Becker, She-e Wu, Alan Shinn, and Dr. Lisa Rogers.

Elizabeth Byrd

Elizabeth Byrd holds a B.A. in Music and Music Theatre with a minor in Piano and Dance from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, VA and a M.A. in Dramatic Communications from Regent University in VA. Beach, VA. In addition, she interned under the direction of Executive Director, Carolyn Rossi-Copeland at the Lamb’s Theatre in New York City, NY.

As a performer, she toured extensively with the National Broadway touring company of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and was a company member with the AD Players in Houston, TX. She has been seen on the stages of; The Palace Theatre in NH, The Wortham Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, Stages Repertory Theatre, Unity Theatre, TheatreLab Houston and Main Street Theatre.

She has choreographed for the Houston Children’s Chorus, Unity Theatre, Interactive Theatre, Applause Theatre, AD Players, Regent University, Fort Bend Baptist Schools, St. Anne’s Catholic School, and many others.

Elizabeth also has extensive training in On-Camera and Voiceover performance and has numerous TV/Film, Commercials, Industrials and Voiceovers to her credit.

 

---

Blinn College Approves Associates of Arts-Music Field of Study
Larry Campbell, division chair announces that a 66 hour/4 semester curriculum has been approved for the Associates of Arts Degree-Music Field of Study.  This includes 31 hours of core courses as well as 35 hours of music courses.  This field of study will enable students to transfer to senior instutions easily, as well as focus their study toward earning an Associates Degree at Blinn College.  To download the ASSOCIATES OF ARTS-MUSIC FIELD OF STUDY CURRICULUM, CLICK HERE.