March 14, 2003

L. Dean Angeles and College of Music big winners at Big Easy Awards

by Nicole C. Fitz Rawlins, A'05, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications

Loyola played no small part in the Big Easy Awards held February 5 at the Hotel Monteleone. The university's multi-talented faculty and students were honored at the 10^th annual Tribute to the Classical Arts awards ceremony.

L. Dean Angeles, professor of music, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to string education at Loyola and at the various school systems where he has taught and shared his talent with numerous aspiring musicians. Angeles has conducted Loyola's Chamber and Symphony orchestras and coordinated a comprehensive string education program for the College of Music since 1980.

"The award does not reflect on me as much as it reflects on the support that Loyola has had from the president and the faculty through the years," Angeles says. His highly acclaimed public school and university orchestras have appeared at national music conferences and have completed several successful concert tours in Costa Rica, Europe, and the United

States. He has also served as conductor or clinician in 31 states, including 14 all-state orchestra festivals.

"The award is more of a life goal in progress than a lifetime achievement," Angeles says.

David Morelock, last year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and director of Loyola Opera Theatre, and Norman Robinson, WDSU-TV anchorman and Big Easy master of ceremonies, presented the award to Angeles. Morelock also won an award this year. He received the Best Opera Production Award for his New Orleans Opera Association production of Puccini's Turandot.

The late Moses Hogan, Loyola's former artist-in-residence, was saluted with the Outstanding Contributions to the Classical Arts Award. Hogan, who died February 11, was represented by his parents. Roger Dickerson, Hogan's former colleague, gave a warm tribute to his friend and the Dillard University Choral Ensemble performed two worksone written by Hogan and another that inspired his work. Hogan received international recognition for his achievements as a concert pianist and as composer, arranger, and director of many spiritual choral works and ensembles.

Stephen Dankner, Ph.D., instructor of music composition, won the award for Best New Classical Music Performance for the world premiere of his Symphony No. 4, which was performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Outstanding individual performances were also honored with Big Easy Awards. The Loyola Piano trio, which includes violinist Valerie Poulette, cellist Allen Nisbet, and pianist H. Jac McCracken, won an award for Best Chamber Music Performance for its fall 2002 program of Beethoven, Baker, and Schumann. The Loyola Ballet won for Best Ballet Production for its 2002 fall concert. Loyola ballet student Megan Zuchowski received the Best Choreography Award for Gold, which was performed in the fall concert.

"The reason that the College of Music is so successful is because of the continuity of the faculty," Angeles explains. "Faculty members have formed a bond through years of experience and working together."

Others honored with nominations in the College of Music included the 2002 production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville in the Best Opera Production category, the Brahms Requiem performance by the Loyola University Chorus, Chamber Orchestra, and Northlake Performing Arts Society with soloists Ellen and Phillip Frohnmayer, conducted by Meg Hulley, Ph.D.

The Annual Tribute to the Classical Arts Awards is presented by Gambit Weekly and is an extension of Gambit Big Easy Entertainment Awards. Proceeds from the Tribute to the Classical Arts benefit the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education.