Faculty collaborate, innovate for upcoming educational workshops in Puerto Rico

College of Musical Arts faculty members John Sampen, Susan Nelson, Nermis Mieses, Kevin Schempf, Conor Nelson and Marilyn Shrude, along with School of Art faculty member Lynn Whitney have been awarded a Glanz Family Research Award for Interdisciplinary Faculty Innovation and Collaboration.

Their proposal, Tierkreis, is a multidisciplinary project leading to educational workshops and concert presentations in Puerto Rico and northwest Ohio. This artistic collaboration involves the College of Musical Arts and School of Art faculty in the preparation and presentation of “Tierkreis.” Composed by the late German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, this major work is comprised of flexible movements based on the signs of the zodiac. The composer has referred to these as “twelve human characters.” The elastic framework of the composition is ideal for interdisciplinary exploration. Additionally, the zodiac “characters” offer a symbolic relationship with the cycle of life, providing a vehicle for discussion and communication with both students and general audiences.

Composition professor, Marilyn Shrude, will prepare a version of “Tierkreis” for woodwind faculty members, and Lynn Whitney will develop an accompanying photo display. Next fall, the faculty will travel to Puerto Rico to present performances and workshops of the collaboration at the Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico. In-school residencies and a performance at the Wolfe Center for the Performing Arts are also being scheduled.