[Rochester, NY] The Eastman School of Music, of the University of Rochester, officially began its Centennial Celebration on July 1, 2021. Eastman’s 100 years of history and 18-month-long celebration included more than fifty new compositions, world premieres, and centennial fanfares written specifically for Eastman’s ensembles, Eastman’s illustrious faculty, and more.
As part of Eastman’s centennial celebrations, the Eastman School of Music announced the creation of the “Eastman Centennial Award.” Throughout the 18-month celebration, Eastman is presenting Centennial Awards to 100 select individuals who exemplify the school’s mission and legacy through their commitment to artistry, scholarship, leadership, community engagement, and philanthropy.
Peggy Dettwiler, Director of Choral Activities at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania for thirty-two years, has received the Elaine Brown Award from the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) of Pennsylvania, the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Choral Excellence, and is Honored Artist of the American Prize. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Degree in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music and served as president of the ACDA Eastern Region. She also served on the jury for the World Choir Games in Sochi, Russia.
Other honorees include Grammy award-winning and globally acclaimed singer Renée Fleming, Grammy and Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie), Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor Joel McNeely (American Dad, The Orville, Tiny Toon Adventures), Mary Jo Heath (“Voice of the Met”, Metropolitan Opera), and most notably (and belovedly) musicologist and scholar Dr. Jürgen Thym who was co-recipient with Dr. Dettwiler.
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About the Eastman School of Music | The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.