Thomas Duffy, director of University bands and professor (adjunct) of music, has been named to the newly created position of associate dean of the School of Music, according to an announcement by Dean Robert Blocker.
In addition, Dean Blocker announced the appointment of renowned percussionist Robert Van Sice to the School of Music faculty. Both appointments are effective immediately.
Thomas Duffy. As associate dean, Mr. Duffy will be responsible for administrative activities and special projects, such as the preparation of the 10-year self-study report for the National Association of Schools of Music now underway. He will continue to serve as director of University bands.
In addition wielding his baton as director of Yale's bands since 1982, Dean Duffy has conducted bands and orchestras throughout the United States and in Japan, England and Italy. He is also a well- known composer, whose works have been recorded and performed by the Rochester Philharmonic, the San Jose Symphony, the New Haven Symphony and many college bands, orchestras and wind ensembles throughout the world. As an instructor, he has taught music courses at the Hartford Conservatory, the University of Connecticut (UConn), Cornell University and Yale, as well as the Auburn Maximum Security Correctional Facility. He also represents music education in Yale's Teacher Preparation Program. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from UConn, and a doctorate from Cornell University.
Dean Duffy is a member of numerous professional organizations, serving as president of the New England College Band Association, the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division and Connecticut Composers Inc. He is also chair of the Hamden Arts Commission.
Robert Van Sice. As a lecturer at the School of Music, Mr. Van Sice will teach percussion and the percussion seminar,and will conduct the percussion ensemble.
As a performer, Mr. Van Sice has premiered over 100 works, including concertos, chamber music and solos. He has made solo appearances with symphony orchestras and given recitals in Europe, North America, Africa and the Far East. In 1989, he gave the first full-length marimba recitals at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He has since played in most of Europe's major concert halls and frequently has been invited to perform as a soloist with Europe's leading contemporary music ensembles and festivals.
From 1988 to 1997, Mr. Van Sice headed Europe's first diploma program for solo marimbists at the Rotterdam Conservatorium. He has also given master classes in over 20 countries and frequently visits the major conservatories in Europe as a lecturer. He pursued his own music education at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Toho Gakuen and the South African College of Music.