229-333-5800 August 28, 2012
12-222
Communications Specialist
VSU's Two Springfields: Recital Appeals to Jazz and Classical Fans
VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University’s Department of Music will
host joint faculty recitals at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30. The
performances are free of charge and open to the public.
During his portion of the recital, pianist David Springfield will
play “Solace” by Scott Joplin and “Not To Be,” an original
composition. He will be joined by saxophonist Dr. Joren Cain,
associate professor of saxophone and director of the New Jazz
Ensemble at VSU, and students Trent Harper on bass and Mason Davis
on drums on “Magnolia Triangle” by James Black and “Jazz Crimes” by
Joshua Redman.
“In addition to teaching, all of the Music faculty are active
performers,” he shared. “The faculty recitals are our chance to
share our music with the audience and hopefully demonstrate good
performing for our students.”
David Springfield serves as director of the Jazz Studies program,
directs the student Jazz Ensemble, and teaches jazz piano and
courses in improvisation, jazz arranging, and jazz history. A
member of the Music faculty for 10 years, he enjoys helping his
students become better musicians by sharing his knowledge and
experience with them. He also plays trombone.
“I’ve played piano for 30 years,” he said. “My mother played the
piano, and we had one in the house, so I was always playing it
while growing up, even before I started formal lessons.”
During her portion of the recital, pianist Maila Springfield will
be joined by Tugce Bryant on cello on “Le Grand Tango” by Astor
Piazzolla. Performing Andre Jolivet’s “Concertino for Trumpet,
Piano, and String Orchestra,” she will be joined by student Teal
Ewer on trumpet and a string orchestra comprised of university
string faculty and their students. Dr. Kenneth Kirk, professor of
music and VSU Opera conductor, will conduct the string
orchestra.
“I look forward to the mystery of what is going to happen onstage,”
she said. “Each concert, whether it’s a rehearsal or a live
performance, is never the same.”
Maila Springfield teaches accompanying piano to majors and works
primarily with instrumentalists and singers, accompanying them for
recitals and performances. She enjoys helping her students gain
patience and self-motivation and encourages them to always strive,
with each practice session, to bring a piece “to a higher level
than before.” She has played piano for “at least 40 years.”
Thursday’s faculty recital will be held in Whitehead Auditorium, on
the first floor of the university’s Fine Arts Building, located at
the intersection of Brookwood Drive and Oak Street.
Contact David Springfield at daspring@valdosta.edu or Maila
Springfield at mlspring@valdosta.edu to learn
more.
Visit www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/springfield
and www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/maila
and www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/cain
and www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/kirk
to read more about the musicians.
Upcoming Concerts:
• At 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, VSU’s Department of Music will
host a faculty recital featuring Joren Cain on saxophone.
• At 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra
will conduct a youth concert.
• At 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra
will officially kick off its 2012-2013 season.
