FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Contact:
Susan Tams, Director of
Editorial Services, (304)
746-2038
Marshall Music Student Nominated
for National Symphony’s Summer
Music Institute
Huntington, W.Va. - Austin Seybert, a freshman trombone major at Marshall University from Bridgeport, has been named one of four finalists from West Virginia to attend the Summer Music Institute conducted by the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
Seybert and the other three were selected through a process led by the Appalachian Education Initiative. The group solicited auditions and applications on behalf of the Kennedy Center and National Symphony Orchestra and organized the selection process in West Virginia.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for Austin to experience music making at a high level,” said Dr. Michael Stroeher, professor of trombone at Marshall and Seybert’s teacher. “He’s an excellent musician and a very motivated student. The Appalachian Education Initiative is an extremely worthwhile program, and we are thankful for their support. I wish more students could have similar opportunities.”
The National Symphony Orchestra usually selects one student musician from most states to attend the Summer Music Institute. Accepted students will attend on full scholarship, which includes transportation to and from Washington, D.C., housing, food, and local transportation while attending the program.
The program was open to students ages 15-20, by recorded audition and application. Three music professionals from West Virginia listened to all of the auditions anonymously and selected four students for nomination. The panelists were Betty King, education manager for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Pappas, chair of the Department of Music at Marshall University; and Maggie Snyder, assistant professor – viola at West Virginia University. The three panelists selected the finalists based on their overall musicality, as well as inclusion of specific musical elements in their pieces.
"There were many very talented musicians who applied," said panelist Betty King. "However, these four students really stood out. The National Symphony Orchestra has a good pool of candidates from West Virginia." Students will be notified of the final selection by the end of this month.
The mission of the Appalachian Education Initiative is to promote students' personal development, academic performance and 21st century workforce preparation by ensuring the availability of quality arts education in West Virginia public schools.
For more information, or to inquire about the program for future years, persons may contact Melanie Skeen Gregory at the Appalachian Education Initiative by e-mail at :mmskeen@aeiarts.org or by phone at (304) 225-0101.
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