Charles Bruffy (MM Vocal Performance 1988)

Charles and The Kansas City Chorale have been nominated for five Grammy Awards including best classical album and best choral performance. He is artistic director of both the Chorale and the Phoenix Bach Choir, which joins the Chorale on the two discs on the British-based Chandos label, ?Eternal Rest? and ?Grechaninov: Passion Week.? The award winners will be announced on February 10, 2008.

Kimberly Glover (Nolen) (BME 1998)

After leaving UMKC I completed my Masters degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Texas-Austin. I taught band for 2 years in Texas and then moved to Pennsylvania. I am currently in my 3rd year as the Percussion Specialist for the Norwin School District in North Huntingdon, PA. I teach percussion to grades 5-12 and am the director for the High School Percussion Ensemble. My husband, David, is the Percussion Professor at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA. We have been married for 6 years and live with our dog, Keiko, and our cat, Phelix...yes, he is still kickin'!

Michael McClintock (BM-Performance 2006)

Michael McClintock graduated from the Conservatory of Music and Dance in May of 2006. Mike's degree was in classical guitar performance, he was under the tutelage of Doug Niedt. Mike has joined with a present Conservatory student, Jarrod Stevenson, to form a group called Alma Flamenca. The third member of the group, Aimee Hughes, graduated from Tulane. The groups? website is www.almaflamencomusic.com

Jason Rinehart (DMA 2005)

Jason is the current Director of Orchestras and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. In addition to conducting the orchestra and opera programs, he is in charge of the Sound of Today marching band, the Technical Fowls basketball band, and conducts the Symphonic Band. Dr. Rinehart is the Music Director and Conductor for the Monroe Youth Symphony Orchestra. Over the summer he spends his time teaching drum and bugle corps, and is currently on staff with the Boston Crusaders. He continues to play his horn as a sub with the Shreveport and Monroe Symphonies.

Amy Rosine (MM 1993)

Ms. Rosine joined the faculty of Kansas State University where she teaches applied voice and oversees the vocal techniques and voice class programs. She is the vocal director for the Kansas State Musical Theatre productions. She will be singing the role of Micaela with Kansas Concert Opera in May 2008.

Jason Bahr (BM 1995)

Jason was recently awarded a commission from the Fromm Foundation (the same year one of his UMKC teachers and current Interim Dean, Dr. James Mobberley received the same honor). He was also one of 12 given the 2007 Reasons to Believe Alumni Award from the Kansas City, KS USD 500 schools. In November 2007, he gave a presentation at the College Music Society National Conference on the composition of his work, Song of Moses for solo snare drum. This month also saw the world premiere of his work, Tipping Point, for saxophone and piano, a commission from the Mississippi Music Teachers Association.

Federico J. Garcia-Castells (MM-Composition 1997)

Currently a doctoral student at the Conservatory of Music and Dance, Mr. Garcia-Castells has taught during the summer at Brevard Summer Institute. His work "Dunas" for mixed ensemble was performed by newEar ensemble in September 2007. He was interviewed on radio with the broadcast of "Mid-West Diary" and "Universos Paralelos" for orchestra; Opus 94 (94.5 FM Mexico City) October 7th, 2006, "Wintry-mix", "Muddy's," for electronic media and "Pervigilium Veneris" for choir. Opus 94, June 2007. Mr. Garcia-Castells also recorded "Maquinas en Combate" (Machines at Combat). "Mexican Composers XX-XXI Century" performed by Silvestre Revueltas brass quintet. The CD was released in January 2006, by Quindecim records.

George Emblom (MM 1987)

George was invited to give the Opening Lecture of the Inauguration of the Archbishop Peter Kwong Lectureship in Hong Kong in July. In July, he led his parish choir, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Berkeley, in their second tour to England, singing services in Lincoln and Durham. In addition to serving at St. Mark's, he is also the Organist-Choir Director of Temple Sinai, Oakland, and Director of Chapel Music and Lecturer in Church Music at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley.

Laura Lee (Ward) Crandall (BM-Performance 2006) and Matt Crandall (BME 2005)

The Crandalls are doing missionary work through their church in Germany. They started in October 2007. They are also doing volunteer work at Landstuhl Army Hospital.

Laura Lee and Matt have been keeping busy in the church. Matt has been heavily involved leading the music. Most recently he put together a schedule for the worship band for the next month and a half, and tried to incorporate more people in this aspect of ministry. We are finding a good opportunity to improve our music skills; I have been playing guitar more than ever, and Laura Lee borrowed a friend's drum set to practice. A typical week consists of leading praise on Tuesday night, Friday night worship practice, Sunday noon playing for the youth worship and Sunday afternoon playing for the main service.

They have been performing so much because of the church run coffee house appropriately named, "His Grounds." The military bases are basically closed to advertising, so it is a challenge to let new soldiers know about the availability of the ministry.

Jennifer Grapes (BFA Dance 2006)

Milwaukee Ballet hires new performers to the 2007 performance of the ?Nutcracker."

Artist Jennifer Grapes ?I love Milwaukee. It's great, an exciting adventure for me."

Grapes, a Kansas City native, trained at the Kansas City Ballet School and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she worked with former MBC soloist Paula Weber. She has toured the United States and Europe with several companies, including Dayton Ballet, Berkshire Ballet and Kansas City Ballet. Grapes will dance the Spanish number and in the corps for "Flowers" and "Snow." "I enjoy the 'Nutcracker' season very much," she said. "All the children are a lot of fun, and the ballet is familiar to everyone, so it's not so stressful."

Information supplied by Tom Strini, Journal Sentinel dance critic, Posted: Dec. 11, 2007

BRIELLE FROST (MM Flute Performance 2007)

BRIELLE FROST recently won second place with a terrific performance in the Divisional Round of the MTNA Young Artist Woodwind Competition, held Saturday at the MTNA West Central Divisional Conference hosted by Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (wind chill: 20 below!). As Alternate, she would go on to the National Final Round in March if for any reason the Division Winner were unable to compete.

Brielle is continuing her education as a first-year student in the Conservatory's Artist Certificate program.

BETH DAVIS (MM Piano Performance 2007)

Conservatory alumna and former student of Prof. Karen Kushner, deserves hearty congratulations as well, on the excellent job she did as collaborative pianist for Brielle's Divisional Round program.

Monica Lynn (future alumna)

Currently a UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Masters Degree, she has been invited to attend the 2008 Beijing International Congress on Women in Music, April 18-22, 2008 at The China Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China.

She will perform her musical composition, Han-ji, for Korean Gayageum. This composition was also previously performed at the Festival for Korean Gayageum and Western Instruments in Seoul, South Korea, June 16-23, 2007.

Recent performances of works by Monica Lynn include premieres by the New York Miniaturist Ensemble at the Brooklyn Center for Contemporary Music in New York, the Monterey County Composers Forum in Salinas, California and the Composers Performance Ensemble of the National Association of Composers USA at the Palo Alto Arts Center in Palo Alto, California.

Sara LaVigne (BME 2007)

Sara has been hired as the first full-time Creative Arts Therapist at Ozanam, Kansas City, MO, a center for children and their families in in crises. Sara gained much clinical experience while in our program, doing fieldwork at Hope House, Rainbow Mental Health, Marillac, Operation Breakthrough, Olathe Public Schools, and the Lee Ann Britain Child Development Center.

Nicholas S. Omiccioli (Future Alum)

The Society for New Music's 2007 Brian Israel Prize winner is Nicholas S. Omiccioli, a native of Penfield, NY. He received $500 and a performance on the 2007-2008 season. Mr. Omiccioli, age 24, is a graduate of Heidelberg College, and is now pursuing his graduate degree in composition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he studies with Chen Yi, Zhou Long, and others.

James Jordan (BFA Dance 2000)

Mr. Jordan is currently in his 17th season as Ballet Master for the Kansas City Ballet, having danced under Todd Bolender's direction in the 1980s. The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary since it's founding in 1957 under Ms. Tatiana Dokoudovska at University of Missouri Conservatory. James and the company will be at The Joyce Theatre in New York City March 11 - 16. They will also bring a full length production of Romeo & Juliet to The Music Hall in Kansas City and in late April and will appear at The Kennedy Center June 12 - 14. James will be staging Mr. Bolender's ballet "The Still Point."

Brian D. Runnells (DMA Orchestra Conducting 1992)

Dr. Runnells has recently been appointed Music Director of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston. http://gilbertandsullivan.net/ His first production with the Society will be The Yeomen of the Guard, to be produced continues to work as Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities in July 2008. He at Houston Baptist University and Music Director of the Houston Civic Symphony.

Contact Information

Barb Lutman
UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations
4949 Cherry Street, PAC 328 Kansas City, MO 64110
E-Mail: lutmanb@umkc.edu
Phone: (816) 235-6173

To submit updates about you and your concerts, recitals, performances and masterclasses, presentations, awards and recognitions please email to Barb Lutman, lutmanb@umkc.edu or call 816-235-6173 for more information.