A New Era at Sunderman Conservatory
By Alicia Method, Staff Writer
Schmucker Hall (Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)
This fall, the Sunderman Conservatory introduced several new faculty to its community. These new faces include Dr. Kyle Weary, Dr. Larissa Irizarry, Professor Nana Vaughn, and Professor Krista Kriel.
The introduction of new staff comes on the heels of several departures the Conservatory experienced last fall. Dr. Marta Robertson and Dr. Paul Austerlitz retired from collegiate education last spring while Drs. Talbot and Cordle have moved on to other positions in Illinois.
Robertson and Austerlitz will be remembered for their exceptional work in the musicology and ethnomusicology fields. Robertson’s classes were known to foster an energetic and creative feel, filled with student-led discussion. Her specific focus on music and dance resulted in “an integrated rhythmic analysis of music and choreography” in Aaron Copland’s ballet Appalachian Spring. She conducted further work on movement and music in Okinawan diasporic communities and World War II Japanese American incarceration camps.
Like Robertson, Austerlitz was a well-known and revered figure on campus. His background in Afro-Caribbean music informed his jazz musicianship, which he used to lead the Jazz Dispatch group on campus. He is the author of two books, Jazz Consciousness: Music, Race, and Humanity and Merengue: Dominican Music and Dominican Identity, and performs on the soprano clarinet and tenor saxophone.
Austerlitz had an especially strong relationship with the Africana studies department, an element of the position which the Conservatory was eager to continue as they searched to fill the open spot.
The job description for Visiting Assistant Professor of Music explicitly discussed this element in the position summary: “We seek applicants with expertise in African American Music and/or Music of the Black Diaspora.” The position summary also pointed out that at least two courses would be cross-listed with the Africana Studies program.
This job description was posted publicly, and its genesis involved a great deal of care and meticulous effort. Dr. James Day, the director of Sunderman Conservatory, noted that clarity of requirements is especially important in a job search, as published qualifications place a barrier against any biases which might infiltrate the process.
Scott Hancock, associate professor of History and Africana Studies, was on the search committee for this position, alongside Conservatory staff. Day highlighted Hancock’s importance in this role, as it ensured the candidate and position would fulfill the goals of both programs.
The search committee landed on Dr. Larissa Irizarry, who earned her PH.D. in musicology from the University of Pittsburgh. Irizarry specializes in queer theory and the musical film, Black feminist theory, and is currently looking at alter egos through the lens of Black women in the music industry. This semester, Irizarry is teaching courses entitled “Music of the African Diaspora” and “World Music.”
Along with Robertson and Austerlitz, the Conservatory gave a melancholic farewell to Dr. Brent Talbot and Dr. Adam Cordle. Talbot left to pursue a leadership position as Head and Professor of the Department of Music in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Cordle, his spouse, additionally pursued opportunities in this area as well.
Talbot, who became the Coordinator of Music Education in 2010, created an internationally recognized program and founded the gamelan program. In an email to the Conservatory in March 2022, Day described the music education program as being centered on “social justice, creativity, music making in diverse contexts, and working to address issues of equity.”
Cordle, whose area of focus was viola, impacted students through one-on-lessons, chamber coachings, and workshops.
Both Talbot and Cordle were integral parts of the larger Gettysburg community, which they interacted with through performance programs, tutoring, radio shows on WBZT, and even instrument petting zoo projects. The Gettysburg Music Education program has also become known for its students’ 100% placement rate in jobs or graduate school within the first year of graduating.
When looking for Music Education replacements, the Conservatory was especially interested in candidates who had recent education experience, not just on the collegiate level, but pre-college as well. Day highlighted that this type of experience “brings an immediacy” to the position and the courses it requires.
Joining the Music Education department are Dr. Kyle Weary and Professor Krista Kriel. In accordance with Conservatory goals, Weary has extensive experience teaching at both the college and pre-college levels, which he has been engaged with up until this fall. He was the founder of the Vocal Music program at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and the Director of Choirs and Theatre at Boiling Springs High School and Yellow Breeches Middle School.
“Gettysburg College students have brought joy to my day. Their enthusiasm is contagious” -Professor Krista Kriel
When speaking of his Gettysburg experience thus far, Weary said, “I am thoroughly enjoying my time here at Gettysburg! Everyone at Sunderman Conservatory (from the students to the faculty) has been nothing but welcoming and excited to help me in any way possible in my new adventure here. When I saw the opportunity arise here at Gettysburg, I knew that I had to apply for it! Being a Central PA resident, I am quite familiar with the top-notch music program that Gettysburg has to offer and was excited to be afforded the chance to be on faculty.”
Lilly Newton ’23, a Music Education student of Weary stated, “he is very down to earth. He just came out of teaching so he has very relevant ideas that we haven’t heard a lot of.”
Kriel, who has joined as an adjunct assistant professor of Teaching and Learning Strings, has been teaching music for over 25 years, which most recently included the Gettysburg School District. An active member of the community, Kriel plays violin for the Carlisle String Quartet, the Shippensburg University Orchestra, and the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra.
Kriel said, “Gettysburg College students have brought joy to my day. Their enthusiasm is contagious. In each class, students are picking up a stringed instrument, and make music on a new (to them) instrument. I am impressed with the music-making that is already taking place in class.”
The Conservatory has also welcomed Professor Nana Vaughn as an adjunct assistant professor of viola. Before her time at Gettysburg, Vaughn founded Violin2Viola, a series of workshops sponsored by Shar music that assists violinists in learning viola. Vaughn plays with the Baltimore Symphony, Washington National Opera, and National Symphony.
Micah Smith ’25, a student of Professor Vaughn’s, noted her compassionate teaching style. “She seems really understanding,” said Smith, “she has three kids in college, so she knows what we’re going through.”
Elizabeth Li ’25, another viola student, talked about Professor Vaughn’s clear goals. “Each lesson is very structured,” said Li.
While the Conservatory was sad to see beloved faculty members move on, the community is excited to welcome these new, exceptional professors.
This article originally appeared on pages 16–17 of the September 2022 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
