Cottonwood Festival to feature guest performers on Friday

BY JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF

Fort Hays State University’s Department of Music and Theatre will be presenting two guest artists alongside FHSU faculty at the Cottonwood Chamber Music Festival on Friday. Margaret Miller, a violist from Colorado, and Agustin Muriago, a pianist from Maryland, will join Ben Cline and Brian Buckstead on the stage. 

According to Music and Theatre’s Senior Administrative Assistant, Haley Piland-Jackson, both Miller and Muriago will present works for piano quartet by Felix Mendelssohn and Danny Elfman – who has scored over 100 major motion pictures including Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and Edward Scissorhands. 

Buckstead, who is also the organizer of Cottonwood this year, speaks on how the event came together for this year’s performance. 

“Margaret initially contacted me about holding a masterclass at FHSU. Shortly thereafter, I agreed to host 2023 Cottonwood and thought that this would be an excellent opportunity to incorporate both events,” he said. “Agustin originally planned to play at Cottonwood 2020; however, it was canceled, so I asked him to join this year for the piano quartet.”

The first guest performer, Margaret Miller received her Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and a Master of Music degree with a Certificate from the Institute for Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Miller enjoys a varied and successful career as a teacher and performer. She is currently on the faculty of the School of Music at Colorado State University, a position she has held since 2004.

Prior to joining the faculty at Colorado State University, Miller was a violist of the Colorado-based Da Vinci Quartet for 18 years. During that time, the Quartet toured throughout the United States and was in residence at Colorado College and the University of Denver.

As a performer and master class clinician, Miller has appeared at Kansas State University, the University of New Mexico, Montana State University, the University of Missouri, Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Nevada Reno. She has also presented at the Colorado Music Educators conference, the Colorado Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and the Wyoming Music Educators Association.

Between the multitude of outlets that Miller has shared her talents through, she has learned one overall, cohesive lesson.

“The best and most memorable piece of experiences like this opportunity is the chance to play with and to collaborate with other musicians,” Miller said. “It is always special to connect with others within the musical community.” 

Miller wants those interested in music to know that classical music is for everyone, and can be enjoyed by music enthusiasts of all interests. 

“Classical music is sometimes seen or classified as ‘stuffy’ or music catered to the ‘higher-classes,’” she said. “Everyone can enjoy our art and although we are not on stage singing a song through words or phrases, we can communicate through notes, tempos, and most of all, emotion.”

The second guest performer, Agustin Muriago, earned degrees in piano performance, piano pedagogy, and composition. As a prizewinner of the 2008 “Teachers del Norte-Pianists del Sur” auditions under the direction of Mirian Conti, he continued his studies in the United States, earning degrees in piano performance from The Hartt School (DMA), New York University (MM), and Rowan University (BM summa cum laude).

Muriago has since performed throughout the United States, Spain, China, Brazil, and in his native country, Argentina, in venues such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, the Chicago Cultural Center, and the Yamaha Salon in New York City. He has recorded for Acte Préalable, Radium Recordings, and for NPR affiliates.

Muriago has offered recitals, lectures, and master classes at NYU Shanghai, the Catholic University of America, the University of Chile, Emporia State University, the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School in Beijing, for the International Music Festival at Kansas Wesleyan University, and at the Encontro Internacional Sobre Pedagogia do Piano in Brazil.

Muriago is now an Assistant Professor of Keyboard Skills at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Prior to his appointment at Peabody, he served on the piano faculty at Kansas State University, coordinating the Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy degree and teaching group and private lessons.

Muriago is beyond excited to collaborate with his fellow musicians on the Beach/Schmidt stage on Friday evening and has enjoyed the multiple rehearsals with his temporary colleagues.

“Music is nothing without human connections,” Muriago said. “Connecting with these artists and being able to perform our art in front of a crowd is what makes classical music dearly special to me.”

The third featured artist – an FHSU faculty member – is cellist Benjamin Cline.

Cline has performed in dozens of venues throughout the United States, Europe, Middle East, and the Far East.

Cline is a highly versatile musician, performing as recitalist, soloist, orchestral principal, and chamber musician. Cline currently teaches at Fort Hays State University as a professor of music (Cello and Bass), serves as the Director of Orchestras, and holds an executive position as the Department of Music and Theatre Chair.

As a professor, Cline makes it a point to spotlight how incredibly important it is for universities to bring events like the Cottonwood Chamber Music Festival to campus for its students and how it is a pivotal part of their societal development.

“Part of university is being exposed to new ideas, new experiences, and new people,” Cline said. “When you collaborate with new people, you get new insights, new ideas, and you get better at what you do. Music, art, and theatre are all huge pieces of the ‘college experience’. We, as a university, and as people, don’t want to become insular.”

The fourth featured artist of Friday night’s performance is violist, Brian Buckstead, also a member of the FHSU faculty.

Buckstead is an assistant professor of violin and viola at Fort Hays State University and serves as the Music Director of the Hays Symphony.

Buckstead received his Bachelor of Music degree from St. Olaf College, and his Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In 2019, Buckstead released his first solo album, Forgotten Bériot: Virtuoso Opera Fantasies,

featuring little-known works by Charles Auguste de Bériot. His follow-up album, to be released on the MSR Classics label, will feature music by Ignaz Brüll, a forgotten 19th century Viennese Jewish composer.

Buckstead enjoys a thriving career as a violinist, violist, conductor, and educator. He has studied, performed, and conducted extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Thailand, and China.

Buckstead wants to emphasize events like the Cottonwood Chamber Music Festival are crucial for FHSU to host as it is important to get fresh perspectives from outside faculty within the industry. 

“With being somewhat isolated here in Kansas, it is especially important for students to get these interactions, collaboration, and new experiences as well as extend these opportunities to the Hays community,” he said. 

The concert is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the Beach/ Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

A full calendar of future Concerts and Events hosted by the Fort Hays State University Department of Music and Theatre,can be found here https://www.fhsu.edu/music-and-theatre/arts-calendar.