Percussion alumna presented with prestigious achievement award
The
Baldwin
Wallace
Conservatory
of
Music
may
be
brimming
with
illustrious
alumni,
but
percussion
grad
Dr.
Kay
Stonefelt
'60
is
in
a
class
all
her
own.
Last
week,
BW
recognized
the
SUNY
Fredonia
professor
with
the
Conservatory
Alumni
Achievement
Award.
In
addition
to
receiving
her
accolade,
Stonefelt
passed
on
her
musical
expertise
by
teaching
a
master
class
for
current
percussion
students.
Stonefelt completed her Bachelor of Music Education degree at BW and went on to earn her doctorate in music at Indiana University, studying ethnomusicology with concentrations in Middle Eastern and African music. She then joined the faculty of the Fredonia School of Music in 1993, while concurrently receiving a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Grant that allowed her to travel to Ghana, West Africa, and observe indigenous drumming patterns.
In addition to teaching, Stonefelt performs with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra as well as Fioretto, a Finland-based ensemble dedicated to the art of medieval and renaissance music. This percussive triple-threat (she also plays timpani and the hammered dulcimer, among others) has also played for over twenty Broadway shows and was a key advocate at the First National Congress on Women and Music at New York University.
The festivities kicked off with an afternoon convocation in Gamble Auditorium, followed by the award dinner and presentation in Fynette Kulas Music Hall. The globe-trotting percussionist left BW students and faculty alike inspired with her experience and knowledge.