September 2003

IPAM and the William Kapell International Piano Festival and Competition

The William Kapell International Piano Festival and Competition, under the aegis of The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at Maryland, took place from July 16 through 25, 2003. The event marked the 25th anniversary of the competition at the University of Maryland. The International Piano Archives at Maryland (IPAM), also celebrating its 25th year as part of the University’s Performing Arts Library, sponsored two presentations during the Festival: a preview by invitation of its multi-media production Remembering Kapell on July 20, and a public showing on July 24.

Remembering Kapell features audio and video material on the life and career of that great American pianist, drawn from the Kapell Collection in IPAM. The July 24 event, “An IPAM Anniversary Retrospective,” included an illustrated talk on Kapell’s recorded legacy by IPAM Curator Donald Manildi as well as spoken remarks by Bruce Wilson (Head, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Library), Charles Lowry (Dean, University of Maryland Libraries), and William Kapell’s son David, of Greenport, New York.

Charles Fowler Colloquium, Fall 2003

SCPA is happy to announce plans for the 2003 Charles Fowler Colloquium on Innovation in Arts Education entitled Cultures in Counterpoint: The Arts as Intercultural Dialogue to be held on the University of Maryland Campus October 19-21, 2003.

New Reference Service at the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library

This past Spring the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library began providing reference service from a new reference desk on the ground floor of the library. The service was intended to increase the visibility of PAL’s existing reference service at peak times of the academic year—before midterms and finals. The desk was in operation Monday through Friday, 10 am – 5 pm, from May 5 through May 14, and staffed by PAL reference librarians Yale Fineman and Judy Markowitz, music cataloger Alice LaSota, brittle books librarian (and former U.S. Marine Corp music librarian) Sue Koutsky, and former PAL graduate assistant Jeanne Su.

During 56 hours of operation, 58 reference questions were fielded, most of which were quite substantive. The service will be continued in Fall 2003, when evening and weekend hours may be added.

New Acquisitions for July/August!