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New Mexico State University
Department of Music
College of Arts and Sciences

 

Joseph Sylvan--violin

jsylvan@nmsu.edu
Dr. Joseph Sylvan is Professor of Music History and Literature at New Mexico State University. Since coming to NMSU in 1985, Dr. Sylvan has performed in no fewer than 1200 concerts locally, regionally, and internationally as concertmaster, section member, soloist, conductor, chamber musician, and recitalist. Most of his students have gone on to successful careers as school orchestra directors, integral members of their local symphony orchestras, and/or doctoral studies.
In addition to Dr. Sylvan’s extensive musical activities, his interests include portrait and landscape oil painting, as well as collecting antique art; astronomy and astrophotography (he owns an observatory and several fine telescopes and cameras); and collecting fine (mostly antique) violins including a 1732 Stradivarius and a circa 1620 Maggini, and bows including examples by LaFleur, Tubbs, Lamy, and Richaume.  He is conversant in eastern and western philosophy and comparative religion, and historical aesthetics.

Classes Taught

  • Advanced to professional level violin and viola
  • String Techniques
  • Music Appreciation
  • Music from 1750 to present
  • Baroque Period
  • Classical Period
  • Romantic Period
  • Honors: From Bach to the Beatles
  • Honors: The History of the Relationship of Words and Music
  • Special: The German Romantic Period

International Experience

2004:   Performed a five week recital tour in Germany with ex-wife Dr. Anna Sylvan (DMA Vocal Performance, University of Arizona 1986, since 1998 Leiterin der Kinderchors der Deutschestaatsoper Berlin) who asked my help in securing a track record also as a pianist for chamber music and accompaniment.  We performed nine varied programs, five in Berlin (3 public with remuneration, 2 private), two in Finsterwalde (1 public with remuneration, 1 throughout a church service) and private recitals in Mainz and Dornberg.

2000:  Two week tour of the western Aegean and northern Mediterranean regions of Turkey with the newly formed Borusan (Istanbul) Philharmonic Orchestra, under Maestro Gurer Aykal, former conductor of the Presidential Symphony in Ankara, and then conductor of the El Paso (Texas) Symphony Orchestra.  Performed in Istanbul, Izmir, Bodrum, Ephesus, and Antalya, among others.

1998:  Two week tour throughout Germany with the El Paso Symphony, conducted by Gurer Aykal.

1988-90:  Three seven-week summer residencies at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, including performances each year at the International Gustav Mahler Festival in Dobiacco-Toblach, once for me as assistant concertmaster, and tours to Salzburg, Munich (where I served as concertmaster), Benediktbeuren, Regensburg, and others.  I also performed the Stravinsky L’histoire du Soldat and the Beethoven “Kreutzer” Sonata for special AIMS programs.

1997:  Accompanied the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) choir on a tour of England, Belgium, France, and Germany.  Performed Mozart Adagio in E, K.281 in the Notre Dame Cathedral with Dr. Anna Sylvan on organ, and also a full recital at a church in Bonn.

1978-83:  Professor of Violin at the Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.  Played as assistant principal second violin in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa for one year, then joined by audition the newly formed Quinteto de Xalapa, consisting of string quartet plus piano. The founder of this ensemble was Ernesto Tarrago, one of Mexico’s foremost violinists, who studied with Igor Oistrakh in Moscow and Henryk Szerying in Mexico. With this combination of instruments, we could therefore explore extensively the repertoire for string trio, piano trio, etc.  We performed many varied concerts throughout Mexico, including national television, in Guatemala City, and also in Snowmass for the Aspen festival.  I led our string trio, under the sponsorship of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, on a fifteen concert tour of three states in Mexico, which led to my appointment as Director Artistico de Asuntos Culturales for the mayor’s office in the resort city at the geographical center of Mexico, Tequisquiapan, Queretero.

EDUCATION


8/84 - 6/86, University of Arizona: Doctor of Musical Arts: 1986, Cumulative GPA 3.75
Major Area: Violin Performance (Dr. John Ferrell)
Dissertation and Lecture Recital:  Bartok Sonata for Unaccompanied Violin
Minor Areas: Musicology (Dr. James Anthony)
Special Education (Emphasis on Hearing Impaired) (Dr. William Healey)
9/83 - 6/84, University of Massachusetts
Master of Music: 1984, Cumulative GPA 3.625
GTA in Graduate String Quartet Program (Prof. Julian Olevsky)
1971 - 1974, University of Southern California Graduate School, Cumulative GPA 3.475
Violin (Prof. Eudice Shapiro)
Musicology (Dr. Pierre Tagmann)
1968 - 1971, University of Miami Bachelor of Music: 1971, Cumulative GPA 3.01
(Prof. George Zazofsky, Prof. Louis Gabowitz)
1968, Summer Dartmouth College (Salvatore Accardo)
1967 - 1968, Juilliard School of Music
(Prof. Paul Makanowitzsky)
1967, Summer Meadowmount School of Music
(Prof. Michael Avsharian)
1966 - 1967, University of Michigan
(Prof. Angel Reyes)
1961-65  Lane Techncal High School, Chicago  Concertmaster 1964-65
Studies with Raymond Niwa, and Joseph Olivadoti

PREVIOUS TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

  • 9/83 - 6/84, University of Massachusetts Performing Arts Division: Instructor of Violin
  • 6/78 - 12/82, University of Veracruz, Mexico Professor of Violin
  • 1/77 - 6/78 Barry College (Miami, Fla.) Instructor of Violin, Viola, and Chamber Music

ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE:

  • 8/85 - 1998--Las Cruces Symphony: Concertmaster and Soloist 8/88 - present--Chamber Players de Las Cruces: Concertmaster and Soloist
  • 1988 - 1990--Summers American Institute of Musical Studiesin Graz Austria: Section member, assistant Concertmaster, Concertmaster
  • 1988 --Dona Ana Lyric Opera Orchestra: Concertmaster and Conductor for productions of Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, Fiddler on the Roof, La Traviata, and Magic Flute
  • 1992 - present--El Paso Symphony Orchestra: Member: First Violin Section
  • 1995 - present--El Paso Opera Company: First Violin Section, and Assistant Concertmaster
  • 1995 - present--El Paso Sun City Chorale: First Violin Section and Concertmaster
  • 1996 - present--El Paso Pro Musica: First violin section
  • 1997 - 98--Summers Santa Fe Opera Orchestra: First violin section
  • 1984 - 85--Arizona Opera Orchestra: Assistant Concertmaster
  • 6/84 - 8/85--University of Arizona Symphony Orchestra: Concertmaster
  • 9/83 - 6/84--Five College Orchestra (Composed of Students from University of Massachusetts, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire Colleges): Principal violist and Concertmaster
  • 9/83 - 6/84--Springfield, MA Symphony Orchestra
  • Spring 1983--Fort Collins, CO Symphony Orchestra
  • 6/78 - 6/79--Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, Veracruz, Mexico: Assistant principal second violin and Assistant concertmaster
  • 1977 - 78--Florida Philharmonic Librarian
  • 1974 - 1978 Florida Philharmonic, Ft. Lauderdale Symphony, Miami Beach Symphony, Palm Beach Symphony, Miami Opera Guild, Palm Beach Opera, and others
  • 1971 - 1974--University of Southern California Symphony and Chamber Orchestras
  • 1971 - 1974 Los Angeles Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra
  • 1968 - 1971 University of Miami Symphony and Chamber Orchestras: Concertmaster

Chamber Music Experience

In spring 2006, I co-founded the Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music.  We have performed numerous very successful recitals and concerts, have other programs in planning, and have attained non-profit organization status.  In June 2007, the Dona Ana Arts Council awarded the “Friends” the 2007 Community Arts Award.  A comprehensive overview of our activities and achievements is detailed in our website LasCrucesFriendsofChamberMusic.org.

1992-2003:  Occasional recital programs of violin and piano sonatas.

1985-1992:  Violinist of NMSU’s Delphian  (Piano)Trio

1986:  Organized Summer String Quartet concert series at NMSU

1984-85: Phoenix String Quartet, 2nd violin

1984-85 University of Arizona String Quartet, 1st violin

1983-84 University of Massachusetts Graduate String Quartet; 1st violin and viola

1979-83 Universidad Veracruzana, El Quinteto de Xalapa:  (refer to int’l. exp.)

1975-78 (the original) Miami String Quartet, 2nd violin

 

Service Activities at NMSU:

  • Library Liaison: Ordering of monographs, periodicals, recordings, and scores. Supervision of library personnel, policies, equipment, and operations.
  • Chair, Library Committee
  • Chair, String Area
  • Graduate Faculty
  • Music History Committee
  • Chair, Orchestra Director Search Committee
  • 1992 - 1998--Faculty Senate
  • University Affairs Committee
  • Chair, Senior Senator Review Committee: charged with conducting mediation in tenure related dispute between Board of Regents and former University President.
  • Promotion and Tenure Committee