Fine Arts Department · Music Program
 |
|||
|
|||
|
The 4th Annual Piano Concerto Competition 2003 Juror Bios |
|||
|
|
Brian Preston, Chair of Jury, has performed solo concerts throughout the U.S. and Canada, in the Virgin Islands, and in many of Europe's a leading music centers. In 1981 he made his New York City debut at Lincoln Center with glowing reviews. He has five commercial recordings to date. A most dedicated teacher, he is currently a piano faculty member of Nazareth College near his private studio in Rochester, N.Y. Mr. Preston's pre-college private students have won first prizes in numerous New York State and regional competitions. They have been invited to perform with orchestras including the Rochester Philharmonic and the Niagra Falls Symphony. A native of Aberdeen, Maryland, Mr. Preston's u formative years were spent studying piano with Baltimore's premier teachers, Dr. Otto Ortmann and his daughter Dorothea Ortmann. He made he concerto debut with the Baltimore Symphony at age 17 Fine Mozart's Concerto in A Major, K 488. In 1981, Mr. Preston became the only pianist since 1968 to be awarded the Artist Diploma from the Eastman School of Music where he received his Bachelor's and Master's of Music degrees under he tutelage of Cecile Genhart. While still a student, he performed both Brahms Concerti with the Eastman Philharmonic in the Eastman Theatre. Mr. Preston was a triple prizewinner in the Young Artist Competition of the National Federation at Music Clubs, a double prizewinner in the Washington International, and the first prizewinner of the Baltimore Music Club's Professional Division Competition. He is co-founder of the Houghton Piano Camp, a one week summertime musical experience for high school and middle school students at Houghton College in scenic central New York. |
||
|
Dr. Thomas Ferguson, Juror, received the degree of Bachelor at Music Education from Murray State University in Kentucky, and a Masters degree in Theory from the Eastman School of Music. In 1971 he completed the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Theory, also from the Eastman School of Music. Dr Ferguson became professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University in the fall of 1978, remaining there until May 1981. In June of 1981, he left full time teaching to pursue a career as a professional musician based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since that time, he has been the pianist at several 'Strip' hotels (Caesars Palace, Bally Grand, Sands Hotel, etc.) playing for the major stars. He has toured Europe, Saudi Arabia, the Phillipines and other countries. In 1988, Dr Ferguson returned to teaching and accepted the position at Coordinator of Music at the Community College of Southern Nevada and was later promoted to Chair of the Fine Arts Department. At the Community College he has initiated the Joe Williams Music Scholarship Program featuring name artists in concert for fund raising. He also began the CSN Jr. and Sr. High School Jazz Band festival (1988), and the Jazz Combo Summer Camp. Under Dr. Ferguson's guidance, an Associate of Arts degree in music was established (1992). Dr. Ferguson is a past president of the International Association of Jazz Educators (1976-1978), and was appointed to the Jazz Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts for a four year term. He has published articles in the Instrumentalist, IAJE Journal, Journal of Band Research and the School Musician. Several band compositions and a book on big band teaching methods, The Jazz Rock Ensemble, have been published by Alfred Publications, as well as a number of compositions and arrangements for big band and jazz piano pieces. Dr. Ferguson is a member of ASCAP. Educationally, he is in demand as an adjudicator-performer-clinician. He has conducted the All-State High School Jazz Bands of California, New York, Wisconsin, Kansas, Georgia, and others. He maintains an active role with the International Association of Jazz Educators, appearing as pianist and clinician at their annual national conventions from 1989 to the present, and as a member of the Past Presidents' Council.
Please visit Dr. Ferguson's web page
|
||
|
For more information and entry forms contact: Dr. Victor Hugo Alvarez, piano coordinator, CSN Music Program Phone: (702) 651-4659 Email: victor.alvarez@csn.edu For a Printable Entry Form please visit: Printable 2008 Entry Form |
|||
back to the Piano Competition Home Page |
|||
|
top | csn home | fine arts home | music program home | Dr. Alvarez's Page |
|||
|
All images Copyright © 2000-2008 All rights reserved |
|||