Professional Activities
Jose Lezcano (Professor of Music) performed some recent premieres as guitarist and composer: with cellist Rebecca Hartka at the Arts Block in Greenfield, Massachusetts, in a program entitled “Bach to Brazil,” offering the New England premiere of Lezcano’s Sonata for Cello and Guitar; and repeated the Sonata in the evening concert of the Boston Guitar Society Ensembles Festival. Dr. Lezcano’s guitar student, Christopher Wardlaw (BM Performance ’16) performed a solo work on the “Conservatories Recital” at the same festival, featuring the best students selected from New England college and conservatory guitar programs. Lisa Hansen and Max Lifchitz of North-South Consonance performed the New York premiere of Dr. Lezcano’s “Postcards” for flute and piano at the Spectrum NYC Composers Now Festival; and the Alturas Duo performed the world premiere of his composition for viola and guitar, “A Bird without Flight Plan: Homage to Violeta Parra,” at Keene State College in a “First Fridays” presentation.
Patricia Pedroza González, associate professor of Women and Gender Studies and American Studies, was selected by The Vermont Humanities Council to lead conversations, discussions and readings for the fall 2015 on the theme “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History,” with emphasis on the Chicano movement and the life and leadership of Cesar Chavez. During spring 2106, Dr. Pedroza facilitated the discussion readings of Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya in January, Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Maria Viramontes in February, The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle during March, and Days of Obligation by Richard Rodriguez in April. The series of activities were hosted by Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, Vermont, and sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. This series of events will culminate with a gathering of all scholars across Vermont who participated during this academic year in Burlington in May.
PeggyRae Johnson, Theatre and Dance Faculty, presented the keynote address, “State of the Art,” at the New England Theatre Educators Conference, April 7 and 8, 2016. The Conference was hosted by the NH Educational Theatre Guild, The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, and the NH Thespians. Also, the previous weekend, April 1-2, PeggyRae was one of three state adjudicators for NHETG, evaluating twelve productions from Regional performances which were then considered for continuation on to the All New England Theatre Competition. Two of the twelve productions were selected to move forward.
Kirsti Sandy, Professor and Chair of English, recently published three creative nonfiction essays. “Jill, Driving” appeared in the fall 2015 issue of Foliate Oak Magazine, “Nellie and Nadia” in the spring 2016 issue of Dirty Chai Magazine, and “Man on the Floor” in the spring 2016 issue of Natural Bridge: A Journal of Contemporary Literature.
Liz Pacilio, Women’s and Gender Studies and Philosophy, has launched an online advice column: Questions My Students Ask Me, at dearliz.net. Pacilio has also started a life coaching service, dearliz Life Coaching.
