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Dr. Kevin Bartram - Conductor
Kevin Patrick Bartram is beginning his seventh year as orchestra director at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, after having served as assistant professor and orchestra director at Gettysburg College, in Pennsylvania. Dr. Bartram received his doctor of musical arts in music education from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia, and he has degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia in orchestral conducting and Northwestern University in music education.
With more than 20 years of experience at the college and public school levels, Dr. Bartram has a track record of producing extraordinary orchestras. Under his direction, his high school ensembles won several national competitions performing professional level (Grade VI) literature. He has received two superintendents' awards for outstanding teaching, and he was awarded Exemplary Music Program in Maryland by the Maryland Music Educators Association. In 2000, the Grammy Foundation named Dr. Bartram’s music program to be among the top 100 in the nation.
Bartram is in demand as a guest conductor and adjudicator. Recently, he has conducted the All-County Orchestras of Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Prince William. He has also conducted All-County orchestras in Harford County (MD), Howard County, Anne Arundel County (twice), Carroll County, the Tri-County (Southern MD) orchestras, and others. He judges annually for Music in the Parks, Inc. and Spectrum (Fiesta-Val) competitions. He founded and directed the Maryland Wind Symphony, and has been assistant conductor of the Missouri Symphony.
As conductor of the University of Mary Washington-Community Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Bartram has enjoyed rapid success and resounding accolades. The UMW-CSO, whose 85 members come from the university and the community, is one of the most successful organizations on campus. The orchestra is highly respected for its musicianship and its mission to support students and the region.
The orchestra performs at least six concerts annually, including the December holiday POPS concert- a Fredericksburg “must do,” the October Masterworks, the March Musical Mix of contemporary works, and the April Celebrity Series. Recent performances have included the President's Inaugural Concert, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Respighi’s The Pines of Rome.
The UMW-CSO enjoys remarkable community support. The “Friends of the Orchestra” subscribers have provided nearly 1 million dollars to finance student scholarships and sponsor symphony events. Last year, more than $36,000 in scholarships was given to UMW orchestra students. The ensemble’s outreach organization, "Fiddlestix," sponsors several children’s programs each year including a Young Peoples Concert, an “Instrument Petting Zoo,” and other children's concerts.
Dr. Bartram’s vision for the UMW orchestra includes the “Composer’s Project” that commissions artists to write music for the group. The premiere work in this series, written by internationally-renowned composer Dr. James Grant, was performed at the University’s 2008 Centennial Concert.
The April Celebrity Series, also established by Dr. Bartram, is an annual event that features world-class artists performing with the UMW-CSO. Celebrity Series artists have included Broadway maestro Marvin Hamlisch, the Canadian Brass, singer Judy Collins, the Ramsey Lewis Trio, and the Kingston Trio. In May 2009, the UMW-CSO will host the conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, Keith Lockhart. He has also performed with Wynton Marsalis, and has met or worked with Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others.
In May 2006, the UMW-CSO recently kicked off its new touring program with a trip to Europe. The group traveled to the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany on a “Mozart Tour,” which mirrored the travels of the young Mozart as a child prodigy. In May 2008, the orchestra toured England and France, and featured performances of Faure's Requiem with a French choir in Paris.
At UMW, Dr. Bartram also teaches courses in music education and conducting. He is the author of the textbook Introduction to Music Technology, and has authored several articles that have appeared in publications such as the Music Educators Journal and the The Instrumentalist Magazine.
Dr. Bartram is the secretary/treasurer of the College Orchestra Directors Association, and the Vice-Chair for the Fredericksburg Arts Commission. Bartram also serves on the Strategic Planning Commission for the Spotsylvania County Public Schools, and has served for many years as the Research Chair for the Virginia Music Educators Association. He is a member of the College Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, MENC, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. His primary conducting teachers have included John P. Paynter, Edward Dolbashian, Dale J. Lonis, and Daniel Hege. He has two sons, Nicholas, age three, and William, age two.
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Michael W. Morley - Orchestra Manager
Michael Morley was born in January 1975 in Fredericksburg, Virginia .
Under the guidance of Ken Lipscomb and Mrs. Ruth Kochenauer, Mr. Morley began studying oboe in high school and also composed music for several plays. Michael made his way through district, regional, and state auditions culminating in his acceptance into the Governor’s School for the Performing Arts. The program solidified his desire to remain in music for life. He began studying at the University of Mary Washington while still in high school. He was accepted into the University of Mary Washington-Community Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Baker in 1992.
Upon the arrival of Dr. Kevin Bartram, Mr. Morley became the orchestra’s librarian. In 2004 he was appointed Orchestra Manager. Working closely with Dr. Bartram and Friends of the Orchestra, Mr. Morley has been involved with many of the orchestra’s outreach programs, Fiddlestix events and instrument petting zoos. He performs various compositions with Mr. Bill McCoy, organist, at the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church and has provided service to the Fredericksburg Singers. He has performed the “Messiah” and Brahms’ “Ein Duectsch Requiem” under the direction of Jeanine Richardson at St. Paul Episcopal Church in King George. In 2005 Mr. Morley was invited to perform W.A. Mozart's "Oboe Concerto in C major K. 314" with the UMW-CSO at the Inaugural Concert in October 2005 as well as in Europe during the orchestr'a first European tour.
Mr. Morley currently serves as principal oboe for the University of Mary Washington-Community Symphony Orchestra and in April 2004, was appointed Office Manager of the Department of Music. |
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Johanna Beaver - Violin/Viola Instructor
Dr. Johanna Beaver teaches upper strings and String Ensemble at the University of Mary Washington. She is principal violist for New York City’s Alpha Omega Ensemble, is a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Charlottesville, and since 2005 has served as principal violist of the Ash Lawn Opera Festival Orchestra. In the summer she performs at the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival in Harrisonburg and is faculty at the University of Virginia’s Summer Chamber Music Festival “Beyond the Notes.” Johanna Beaver has worked closely with many of today's acclaimed composers, including Elliot Carter, David Lang, Tristan Murait, Sheila Silver, and Richard Wernick. Former faculty positions have included the University of Virginia, Suffolk Community College, Stony Brook Pre-College, Interlochen Arts Camp, Ann Arbor Summer Arts Institute, and the Opus 118 Harlem Center for Strings, as well as assistantships at SUNY Stony Brook, University of Arizona, and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Johanna Beaver holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Jason Mccomb - cello instructor
Jason McComb, UMW Cello Instructor, has been the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Richmond Symphony since 2002. Having received his early musical training in his native Portland, Oregon, Mr. McComb earned a Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School where he studied with Joel Krosnick and Zara Nelsova. He then went on to study with Bonnie Hampton at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he received a Master of Music in both cello and chamber music. Mr. McComb has participated in many festivals including Aspen, Musicorda, Kent/Blossom, Banff and Tanglewood, where he was awarded two prizes for outstanding cellist. Among numerous chamber music performances are ones with Joel Krosnick, Donald Weilerstein, Mischa Amory, Ian Swensen, William Preucil and the Miami String Quartet. He has been a member of Orchestra London Canada, and has served on the faculty of Brandon University in Canada. A very active teacher, Mr. McComb has a private studio and is on the faculties of University of Richmond and University of Mary Washington. He lives in Richmond with his wife, cellist Dana McComb, and his three sons.
Paul Henry-Contrabass instructor
Paul Henry is the bassist with the Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force. Henry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College in 1978. He has studied with the principal bassist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Eugene Levinson. Henry's professional accomplishments include his membership in the San Antonio Symphony, two years of attendance at the Aspen Music Festival and performances and recordings with the Minnesota Orchestra. Dozens of recordings with the Airmen of Note and other local DC artists. Performances with many important jazz artists including, Eddie Daniels, Doc Severnson, Clark Terry, Bob Berg, James Moody, Nicolas Paton, Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, Louis Bellson, Pat Martino and many others.
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