LOS ANGELES RESIDENT AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GRADUATE MONICA COVITT SELECTED AS FALL 2009 INTERN AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The John. F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts selected Monica Covitt of Los Angeles, CA for its prestigious internship program this fall as part of the Kennedy Center Institute for Arts Management.

Monica, daughter of Gary and Laurie Covitt, graduated from the Cleveland High School Humanities Magnet as valedictorian of her class. In June 2009, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from The University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis on Education and a K-12 Teaching Credential in Music. Monica was on the Dean’s Honor List from 2005-2009 and a recipient of the Jacqueline and Ben Klein Memorial Scholarship. A classically trained musician in voice and piano, Monica taught voice and music at a middle school during all four years of college, has taught early childhood music to children ages 2-5, and has music directed four children’s musical productions.

While at the Kennedy Center, Monica is an intern in the education department’s National Partnerships program. The National Partnerships program creates liaisons between arts education outreach programs and public school districts across the country. Monica assists with the planning and implementation of major national meetings: a membership annual conference, advisory committee meetings, grant and awards programs, and artist training seminars. She is also responsible for a national newsletter.

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GRADUATE PENELOPE TURGEON SELECTED AS FALL 2009 INTERN AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The John. F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts selected Penelope Turgeon, of Union City, CA, for its prestigious internship program this fall as part of the Kennedy Center Institute for Arts Management.

Penelope, a native of Quebec, Canada, immigrated to the United States and graduated from James Logan High in Union City, CA. Penelope received a Bachelor of Arts in music performance and a Music Masters from UCLA in June 2009. While at UCLA, Penelope was an Orchestra Manager for two years, and was awarded a Teaching Assistantship and a Gluck Fellowship.

While at the Kennedy Center, Penelope is an intern in the National Symphony Orchestra Operations department. Penelope works in symphony orchestra production and administration with the NSO Operations and Productions staff; this includes administrative and technical preparation for rehearsals and concerts, various festivals, and tours among other programs. Penelope is involved in projects and assignments (as determined by the NSO’s season programming) while experiencing how symphonic, education, pops, and televised concerts are produced.

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THE KENNEDY CENTER INSTITUTE FOR ARTS MANAGEMENT

The Institute is an experiential training initiative that is rooted in the practical application of management skills within the context of administering programs and initiatives in an international arts organization. Through internships, fellowships, and management and board symposia, participants examine the many roles and responsibilities of successful managers in today’s complex world of performing arts.

Internships: The Kennedy Center selected 22 interns for a fall internship from September 8 through December 11, 2009. Assignments are full time and responsibilities include assisting with the administrative and/or technical aspects of the Center. In addition, interns attend weekly seminars led by executives of the Center and other major arts institutions in Washington, D.C., that cover major issues in arts management. The Kennedy Center Internship Program is recognized by the Princeton Review as one of the “Top 100 Internships” in the United States.

Fellowships: The Kennedy Center Institute for Arts Management also offers fellowships for highly qualified and motivated individuals who aspire to manage performing arts institutions and arts service organizations in both the public and private sector. The 10-month long arts management fellowship program, which opened with its first class of Fellows in September 2001, includes extensive coursework in contemporary business practices and practical management experience through the lens of planning, presenting and producing performing arts programming at an internationally recognized performing arts institution. Fellows are assigned a Kennedy Center mentor and have departmental assignments in addition to ongoing course work. Participants also attend performances and additional educational events and complete significant projects within the context of the Kennedy Center.

For more information about internships and/or fellowships contact:
The Kennedy Center Education Department (202) 416-8800
http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/artsmanagement

“With the UCLA Summer Chamber Music Institute well on its way, this year’s participants have been on a whirlwind musical adventure thus far. The students have come from near and far (even from Alaska!), and the SCMI faculty, led by Dr. Jennifer Snow, has helped make the most out of their first few days as true Bruins! After an intense audition process before the summer session, the students came prepared to delve into the intricacies of chamber music. However, they soon found that chamber music entails quite a bit more than what they had originally expected…from breaking the molds of common performance practice in Dr. Snow’s chamber class, to exploring personal and interpersonal movement with Dr. Mark Carlson and Professor Wookey, and much, much more.

Brass students in the Summer Chamber Music Institute

In daily practice, the students are working incredibly hard to perfect pieces for their final concert on Sunday, July 13th (at 11:00 am in Schoenberg Auditorium). Works that would normally require weeks have taken these students simply a matter of days…which is certainly a testament to their unrelenting work ethic. And all the while, the fantastic SCMI staff has been helping them along the way – with Ikumi Hiraiwa as the director’s assistant and piano faculty, Dr. Chelsea Howell leading the woodwinds, Dr. Meghan Turner coaching the Brass, Dr. Carter Dewberry assisting the strings, and UCLA students Sumner Arano, Lorry Black, Paula Karolak, and myself as coaching assistants.

Professor Jens Lindemann, coaching. Really.

Additionally, the SCMI students have been fortunate enough to work with many esteemed UCLA faculty members (Professors Sheridon Stokes, Neil Stulberg, Gary Gray, Jens Lindemann, Mark Carlson and Brian O’Connor) in small master classes geared toward refining individual and collaborative performance. As aspiring musicians, the students certainly took full advantage of picking these masters’ brains!

Professor Gray with class

Luckily, it hasn’t been all work and no play. The students have enjoyed some down time exploring UCLA’s campus and Westwod, eating from Diddy Reese, and living the college dorm life. Not to mention, tomorrow night, we’re all headed out to see a performance of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl!

With about half the week still to go, we all have much in store. But, the resulting concert will surely not be one to miss!

When? Sunday, July 13th. Schoenberg Hall. 11am.

Why come? Because you love chamber music!”

We have heard from Music Department professor Gary Gray that he was guest artist and faculty at Margaret Thornhill’s Claremont Clarinet Festival, which was held from June 9th – 15th at Pomona College. MM Student Tanitra Flenaugh from UCLA also participated.

Gary Gray, left, with Margaret Thornhill, Director of the festival, and Michele Zukovsky, 1st clarinetist with the L.A. Philharmonic after master classes.

UCLA MM student Tanitra Flenaugh with “the guys”–other clarinetists from the festival.

Gary also tells us that he will be giving a master class and concert at the Music Teachers Association of California convention this upcoming weekend (June 28th and 29th).