Latest News   Morningside's Music Department

July 19, 2004

Leo Kucinski Academy of Music to be based at Morningside

Morningside College will be the site for the newly created Leo Kucinski Academy of Music, a center of musical excellence organized by a group of Siouxland residents with the support of Morningside College. 

The academy is named in honor of the late Leo Kucinski, a former music instructor at Morningside and longtime director of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra.

“The academy will provide a unique opportunity for this area’s young musicians to study with the finest professional musicians in the area,” said Dr. Gerry Bouma, professor and chair of Morningside’s music department.

Michele Grossman, piano instructor and accompanist for Morningside’s music department, will direct the academy.

“The focus of the program will be to provide quality music education for young people and to develop an exciting music community in the Kucinski model within the Siouxland area,” Grossman said.

The academy is designed for students from beginner to high school and will include a series of private lessons along with monthly workshops and performance classes. Adult students are also welcome to enroll.

Academy faculty includes members of the Euclid String Quartet; Joseph Shufro, prinicipal cellist for the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) and conductor of the Siouxland Youth Symphony; Kathy Angeroth, prinicipal second violinist for the SCSO; Martha Councell, flutist and adjunct instructor at Morningside College; Dr. Jay O’Leary, professor of music, Wayne State College and principle oboist, SCSO; Roxie Nothdurft, private music instructor; Clifford Towner, director of bands at Morningside College; and Dr. Gail Dooley, associate professor of music at Morningside College.

Registrations are now being accepted for the first session, which will run from September to December 2004. A second session is planned for January through April 2005. Registrations are available at the Morningside College music department located in the MacCollin Classroom Building, 3625 Garretson Avenue, or by calling Michelle Grossman at (712) 274-5357.

Member’s of the academy’s board of advisors include: Ken Ackerman, Bouma, Juliana Mayne, Martha Moreland, Nothdurft, Kate Saulsbury, Shufro, Jolene Stevens, Lee Van Voorhis, Dave West, and Rachelle Wiersma.