The Fullerton Jazz Singers, an auditioned vocal ensemble open to all Cal State Fullerton students, won second place in the 4-Year College Choir category at this year’s Reno Jazz Festival at the University of Nevada. Soloists Ayanna Lewis and Steven Annie received recognition for outstanding musicianship. The ensemble is led by faculty member Andreas Preponis.
In other news from the School of Music, saxophonist John Hallberg, professor of music, has been named a Yamaha Performing Artist. Marc Dickey has been selected to present at the Midwest Clinic, an annual four-day music and orchestra conference that brings in more than 18,000 attendees from the 50 states and more than 30 countries. The professor of music will present “Classroom Management Solutions: Who Is in Charge of Your Rehearsal, You or Your Students?” this winter in Chicago.
Cliff Cramp was one of the selected illustrators on hand for the 2019 Star Wars Celebration, an official Lucasfilm event that celebrates all things Star Wars. The professor of art, who has a licensing deal for fine art based on Star Wars and other films, also designed the cover artwork for the Blu-ray box set of the saga.
John Spiak, director of the Grand Central Art Center, was one of two U.S. experts to take part in the May 16-17 CEC ArtsLink Russian Art Residencies Seminar in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Kit Seaton, assistant professor of art, was nominated for a 2019 Will Eisner Comic Industry award Norroway, Book 1: The Black Bull of Norroway. Her nomination falls under the Best Publications for Teens, Ages 13-17 category. Seaton collaborated on this project with her sister, Cat.