Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence
Golan, Conductor
More than merely an ensemble, the Lamont Symphony Orchestra provides a
comprehensive and intensive learning experience that prepares students for
careers as orchestral musicians. To that end we 1) expose students to orchestral
repertoire from all periods and styles of music and instruct them on appropriate
performance practices associated with each style and period, 2) expose students
to the repertoire and procedures associated with professional orchestra
auditions, and 3) instruct students on the etiquette and expectations of
professional orchestra players. The orchestra performs six symphonic concerts
and one opera each year.
Lamont Wind Ensemble, Joseph
Martin, Conductor
Wind Ensemble Programs at the Lamont School of Music have a strong
history of excellence. Performing the finest compositions in wind literature,
the Wind Ensemble performs works representing outstanding traditional and
contemporary composers as well as wind chamber music. Each Lamont Wind
Ensemble member is also assigned to a small chamber ensemble, coached by
Lamont faculty.
Lamont Opera Theatre, Kenneth
Cox,
Director
Performing musicals and operas gives a student first- hand experience
in all aspects of a professional theatre career. The Lamont School of Music
presents fully staged operas and musical productions each year, so students
receive a broad-based education in vocal and theatre performance. Not only
do students perform, they are also involved in stage production, including
set design, costuming, make-up, and set construction. Recent Lamont productions
include Carmen, Marriage of Figaro, Madame Butterfly, Cabaret, Don Giovanni,
Sweeny Todd, Into the Woods and Candide. The opera program is directed
by Kenneth Cox, who is also the Chair of the Voice
Department.
Lamont Chorale, Catherine
Sailer, Conductor
The Lamont Chorale is a select mixed choir of 40 members committed to
performing choral music at their highest artistic level.
Students perform a wide variety of repertoire ranging from the
Renaissance to the avant-garde. As
representatives of the choral department and the school of music, the Lamont
Chorale performs in the community and has a thirty-year tradition of a weekend
retreat and performance in beautiful Cuchara, Colorado.
In addition to three full concerts a year, the Chorale performs large
works with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and the Lamont Wind Ensemble.
Lamont Women's Chorus, Catherine Sailer, Conductor.
In the Lamont Women’s Chorus, students explore the disciplines and
procedures of choral music through a variety of repertoire.
Music by women composers makes up part of each year’s repertoire and
the chorus has had the honor of premiering a number of works written especially
for them. The Women’s Chorus has
three full concerts a year and performs in the Women in the Arts celebration on
the University of Denver campus.
Catherine Sailer, Director of Choral Studies.
As Director of Choral Studies at the University of Denver, Catherine
Sailer conducts the Lamont Chorale and the Lamont Women’s Chorus and teaches
courses in conducting and choral music. She
received her Doctor of Music with honors in choral conducting from Northwestern
University, where she also studied instrumental conducting with Mallory
Thompson. Her B.M. and M.M degrees
are in piano performance and choral conducting from the University of Denver.
Dr. Sailer was the first place winner of the American Choral Director’s
Association conducting competition in 1999 and has conducted internationally
with the Beijing Symphony and the National Opera of China.
She has been a conducting fellow with professional ensembles such as the
Dale Warland Singers, the Kansas City Chorale, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the
Carnegie Hall Choral Workshop Chorus and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
In 2003, she conducted performances of Bach cantatas at the Oregon Bach
Festival under the tutelage of Helmuth Rilling. In addition to her duties at the
University of Denver, she holds the position of Assistant Conductor of the
Denver Young Artist’s Orchestra and is an active adjudicator, clinician, and
pianist.
Lamont
Men’s Choir. Rex Nelson, Conductor.
The Lamont Men’s Choir features spirited singing of all styles and periods and
is made up of singers from the Lamont School of Music as well as the greater DU
community. In addition to three
full concerts a year, the choir will have various opportunities to perform in
the greater Denver metro area.
Rex Nelson, conductor. Mr. Nelson received the Distinguished Teacher Award as a teacher in the Jefferson County Public School and was chosen as “Favorite Teacher” in the 2002 Pride of Arvada Magazine. After receiving his B.M.Ed from Stamford University and his M.M. degree from the University of Colorado, he directed choirs and orchestras for thirty years in public schools in Colorado and the south. He is the founder and Conductor Emeritus of the Arvada Center Chorale.
Jazz and Commercial Music Ensembles, Malcolm
Lynn Baker, Director
Well-known in college music and jazz circles, students in this program
can participate in the Lamont Jazz Orchestra, Super Sax Ensemble, Trad
Jazz, Stanards, Bebop, Hard Bop, Latin, Modal, Contemporary, Funk/Fusion,
Vocal, and Commercial Music Combos, which serve as laboratories for jazz
and commercial music composition students. Lamont jazz faculty coach all
jazz and commercial music groups. Many graduates of this program have become
professional musicians, performing with major touring groups and developing
solo careers. Recent guest artists who have performed or presented master
classes include Benny Golson, Cyrus Chestnut, Joshua Redman, Christian
McBride, Jamey Aebersold, Clark Terry, David Pietro, Mel Martin, Art Lande,
Myra Melford, Joseph Jarman, Michael Formanek, Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond,
Richard Boukas, Jovino Santos Neto, Eric Barber, and Frank Mantooth.
Other Lamont Ensembles
The Lamont School of Music also has smaller ensemble groups that perform
throughout the year. Each ensemble is personally coached by a member of
the Lamont School of Music faculty. The following is a list of the smaller
ensemble groups and their directors:
Guitar Ensemble, Ricardo Iznaola
Wind Chamber Ensembles, Joseph
Martin
Percussion Ensemble, John Kinzie
String Ensembles, Richard
Slavich