Percussion at Lee University goes beyond the classroom and offers students the ability to find themselves learning from the best in the business, such as the one and only Andy Harnsberger.
Praised by Percussive Notes Journal as “A Master of Musical Nuance”, Dr. Harnsberger enjoys a versatile career as a performer, composer, and educator here on campus where he most recently worked on a series with a School of Music (SOM) masters alum, Dr. Caitlin Jones.
A brand new recording of one of Dr. Harnsberger’s most recent compositions, is recorded and performed by our own SOM professor, Dr Caitlin Jones titled “The Long Road.”
Watch the video above to hear “The Long Road” written by Andy Harnsberger, performed by Caitlin Jones.
“The Long Road” came about during the beginning of the quarantine period in 2020… The work stems from journeying down a long road – times when life gets tough, when it seems you will never be able to conquer any given situation, when the journey seems to stall and there is no end goal or finality in sight. It’s these times where endurance, perseverance, faith, and an unwavering support system come together to get you through. No matter what, there is always an end to a long road.
Fellow students, Alex Loftin, Jacob Schwartz, and Tyler Whitehead worked with both professors in this recording effort with GreenHaus Productions. Learn more about the production company here > https://www.greenhausproductions.com/
Featured above are current SOM students, Alex Loftin, Jacob Schwartz, and Tyler Whitehead
Studying music at Lee University’s School of Music is much more than meets the eye, and with opportunities such as this and more the possibilities to further your music profession and hone your skills extends beyond your imagination.
In addition to this new release, Dr. Harnsberger recently published a new CD titled “Unbreakable” which can be located in the link below or on any major music platform.
Here is more of what is in store during this event!
Learn from Lee University professor Dr. Mark Bailey as he discusses his collaboration experience through his many years in the music industry.
Dr. Andrea Dismukes will be hosting a workshop on diction:
One thing that sets singers apart from other musicians is that we get to use words! It is wonderful that we have song texts and poetry settings to help us communicate emotions, character, and even tone color. But with this comes responsibility. Great musicians are expressive musicians. With words we have an added gift and we have an added challenge. This session will introduce you to the basics of good diction, including the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to further enhance your singing in English as well as other languages, and the common challenges found in singing with authenticity and integrity in languages other than your own. We will also look at how vocal problems can be corrected and vocal quality can be enhanced through simple adjustments to pronunciation and articulation.
Dr. Mark Bailey
Mark Bailey, conductor of the Lee University Symphonic Band, is Professor of Music at Lee University and holds the doctorate in Music Education from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Bailey is presently in his 21st year as conductor of Symphonic Band. Bailey combines his advanced training with the nation’s best wind conductors (Eugene Corporon, North Texas University, Myron Welch, University of Iowa, and Terrance Milligan, The University of Cincinnati) with his knowledge of how to utilize music for worship and praise to develop a unique combination of outstanding wind literature with arrangements that truly point the listener to Christ. Bailey’s expertise in this area is evidenced by his election as president of the Christian Instrumentalists and Directors Association in 2002. He served as the director of the Lee University Campus Choir during the 2007-2008 school year, while still conducting the Symphonic Band, after the untimely death of Dr. David Horton, who had successfully directed that ensemble for 25 years. Bailey teaches graduate courses, instrumental music education methods classes, applied conducting, church music, and music theory. He is also the former part time worship arts pastor at Mt. Olive Ministries in Cleveland, Tenn., where he supervised a 50-voice choir, 20-piece church orchestra, and worship leaders and musicians. Bailey is presently in this 23rd year of teaching at Lee University.
Dr. Andrea Dismukes
Andrea Dismukes has made numerous appearances in opera, oratorio, chamber music and traditional solo recital venues. With the Opera Theatre of the University of Alabama, Dismukes performed the roles of Madame Flora (Baba) in Menotti’s The Medium, Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen, the second dame in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Charlotte in Massenet’s Werther. As winner of the Concerto/Aria Competition, she performed with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra of the University of Alabama. She has performed in master classes for mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson and Metropolitan Opera soprano Wendy White.
Actively involved in music in the area, Dismukes performs regularly with the Choral Arts of Chattanooga, recently having performed the role of Mary in Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity. She sings with the Jeff Rouéche Chorale of Chattanooga, performing solos in the Christmas Eve Mass held at First Cumberland Presbyterian of Chattanooga each Christmas.
Her choral and solo experience includes performances of Durufle’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah, as well as numerous Bach cantatas and Mozart masses. Highlights include a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Bulgarian Radio Symphony in Sofia, Bulgaria and spending part of a summer with the Berkshire Choral Festival, rehearsing daily and performing at the Canterbury and Rochester Cathedrals. In the fall of 2005, Dismukes and colleague Tony Deaton premiered David Holsinger’s Songs of This War, a chamber piece for mezzo-soprano and baritone, conducted by the composer.
Dismukes has worked with such reputable conductors as John Rutter, Dr. Sandra Willetts, Dr. Gerald Welker, Dr. George Mabry, Dr. Lonnie McCalister, Dr. David Holsinger and Dr. William R. Green.
Dismukes received her Bachelor of Music Education from Lee, having studied privately with Virginia Horton, soprano. At Austin Peay State University, she studied with Dr. Sharon Mabry, mezzo-soprano, a featured writer for the NATS Journal. While attending the University of Alabama, Dismukes studied voice with Dr. Susan Fleming, mezzo-soprano.
Equally comfortable performing repertoire from the musical theater, jazz, and gospel traditions, she was one of six finalists in the American Traditions Competition for Singers at the Savannah Onstage International Arts Festival and was featured on Georgia Public Television. The Dismukes-Deaton duo performed a concert entitled “Best of Broadway” and raised over $3000 to benefit the local Habitat for Humanity.
Dismukes has served in Lee University’s School of Music since 1992. From 1993-1999, she conducted the women’s chorus Ladies of Lee, which toured Israel, five Abaco Islands of the Bahamas and 27 states of the U.S., as well as produced four recordings. The Ladies of Lee performed annually for the Biltmore Estate Candlelight Christmas Evenings in Asheville, N.C.
Serving as chair of the Department of Vocal Music from 2001-2005, Dismukes was responsible for building a highly qualified and experienced voice faculty. She assisted in the development of two new performance degree programs—the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and the Master of Music in Vocal Performance. She also assisted in the preparation of the NASM review and site visit (2003-2004) that resulted in the full accreditation of the School of Music. She served as the chair of the Department of Music Performance for the 2013-2014 school year.
Dismukes currently teaches diction for voice majors (English, Italian, German, French), maintains a sizable private voice studio, and continues to pursue performance and ministry opportunities.
Another year, another great opportunity to learn from the best. Don’t miss this semester’s Collab Music event! On Saturday, January 30th you will have the chance to learn valuable musical skills in the realm of musical collaboration.
Here is a sneak peak of what is to come this year:
Dr. Ana María Otamendi will provide a lecture on Music Learning and the Brain.
Effective learning strategies for musicians. A discussion on neurology, habits, willpower, approach to learning and practicing. This lecture is the product of an innovative class that Dr. Otamendi teaches at Louisiana State University every fall, and it aims to increase the student’s efficiency when learning music or any other material.
Dr. Aram Arakelyan will present a masterclass on instrumental and piano collaboration.
Dr. Aram Arakelyan (Indiana University) will present an instrumental-piano masterclass with the performing participants and demonstrate effective instrumental collaboration and sonata/concerto interpretation.
A new semester means a new opportunity to audition for an ensemble! Below are registration links for each ensemble that is having auditions this semester.
Ensemble auditions will take place Monday, January 11th – Thursday, January 14th and will follow all safe COVID guidelines and regulations.
Click on the link
Find your desired audition day and time
Fill out the required questions
Audition!
Feel free to reach out to the contact person next to the ensemble name if you have any questions about the process.
Ladies of Lee Debbie Sheeks – dsheeks@leeuniversity.edu
Instrumental Ensembles (Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Chamber Strings, Pep Band, Brass Choir) Dr. Mark Bailey – mbailey@leeuniversity.edu
What better way to start the new year than with the joyful music of Ladies of Lee? Take a look at what they’ve accomplished during 2020, and stay tuned for what they will release this year!
Here’s One (spring 2020)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (September 2020)
The Lord’s Prayer (November 2020)
Goodness of God (November 2020)
You can also find their latest album, Ladies of Lee, on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, and several other streaming platforms.
Music Connect 