The Student Teaches the Teacher Reply

Susan Weiss and Yin Zhu

On a steamy afternoon in late June, deep in the basement of Leakin Hall, Peabody associate professor of musicology Susan Weiss is working with a student who recently completed the veteran teacher’s course on the history of musical instruments.

Weiss’ co-teacher, Nathan Scott, has given her the summer to make her own instrument, a practical component to the class that the students experience but that Weiss is unable to undertake during the months she is teaching. On this day, Weiss and Yin Zhu (MM ’19, Vocal Accompanying) are chiseling away at wood that is supporting the shape of the cello they are crafting by hand.

Christine Pulliam Melamed Continues Prelude Opera with New Season Announcement Reply

Christine Pulliam Melamed (MM ’10, Vocal Accompanying) who founded Prelude Opera in 2017 with successful production of “The Three Little Pigs,” has announced that the company will continue it’s programming of children’s opera with  “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” in 2019. In February, Melamed performed in a recital titled “Love is in the Air” incorporating works by Schumann, Brahms, Debussy, Kreisler, Gershwin and Rodgers and Hammerstein with mezzo-soprano Brittany Fowler and violinist Caroline Drexler at St. Cabrini Shrine in NYC. Melamed continues her work as a faculty member at King’s College in New York City, which she joined in 2010. As an opera coach and director, she has worked for the Atlantic Music Festival, Masterworks Festival and the Opera Company of Brooklyn. As music director of the opera company Dramma per Musica, she directed Don Giovanni, Xerxes, Giulio Cesare and Ariodante.

Peyson Moss and Laura Whittenberger Present Recital Reply

Peyson Moss (MM ’16, Ensemble Arts: Vocal Accompanying) and Laura Whittenberger (GPD ’14, Voice) presented a recital “Welcoming Spring” in Brevard, N.C., where Moss is director of music and organist at Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church. Presented in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the program consisted of arrangements of Irish folk songs and hymns, as well as operetta and classical music.

Nathan Cicero Appointed Music Director Reply

Nathan Cicero (MM ’18, Vocal Accompanying) has been appointed Music Director of Skylark Opera Theatre’s production of Così fan Tutte, which opens at the Historic Mounds Theatre in St. Paul, Minn. in late March. The production also features Laurent Kuehnl (MM ’13, Voice) as Ferrando. Since graduating from Peabody, Cicero has been appointed Assistant Director and Pianist for South Metro Chorale and Director of Music and Organist for the Church of St. Mark in St. Paul.

Ka Nyoung Yoo Presents Recitals Reply

Ka Nyoung Yoo (MM ’10, Vocal Accompanying) with Jason Widney (MM ’05, Voice) presented “Deep in the Quiet Woods” by Joshua Fishbein, who studied piano at the Preparatory with Carol Prochazka, at Towson University’s Faculty Chamber Music Concert on Sunday, March 10. Ka Nyoung Yoo has served as a vocal coach and master class pianist for Towson University’s Voice Division and Towson Choir since 2010 and can be heard frequently as a performer with Baltimore Musicales.