CalStateLA Music Welcomes New Faculty for the 2008-09 Academic Year!
Dr. George DeGraffenreid is the new Chair of the Music Department. In addition to his duties as chair, he will teach courses in music education and graduate research methods. George previously held faculty and administrative positions at San Francisco State University and California State University, Fresno. His career in music education includes eight years as a music teacher in Los Angeles Unified School District.
Dr. DeGraffenreid is a member of the National Executive Board of MENC: The National Association for Music Education, and has previously served as Western Division President of MENC and President of CMEA: The California Association for Music Education. He is an active music education researcher, author, presenter and advocate. George is an alumnus of CalStateLA.
Dr. Darlene Kretchmer is a new full-time faculty member teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. Darlene is an active researcher who focuses on issues in teacher education, both music specialists and elementary classroom teachers. Her publication credits include contributions to music texts, and research published in proceedings and professional journals in the United States, Asia, Europe and Australia. She has presented research papers and workshops internationally, nationally and at state conferences.
Dr. Kretchmer currently serves as the Early Childhood Curriculum Representative for The California Association for Music Education and is the organization’s liaison to the California Arts Project. Darlene holds a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has Orff-Schulwerk Level III certification. In addition to her university teaching, Darlene is a professional flutist having many years of experience as a studio teacher and performer with regional orchestras in California’s Central Valley. Other interests include study in world music, with a particular focus on ethnic flutes, Celtic, Mariachi, and North Asian music traditions.
Dr. Tony Thornton is a new full-time faculty member in choral music studies. He teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting, conducts the Chamber Singers and University Chorus, and serves as the chorus master for opera productions. Dr. Thornton is the Founding Artistic Director of Los Angeles Choral Artists. He has taught at The University of Arizona, UCLA, Pomona College, Los Angeles City College, Cal Poly Pomona, and has held high school, church, and community chorus positions in Los Angeles, New Jersey, Arizona and Texas.
Dr. Thornton received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Voice from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting and Historical Musicology from The University of Arizona. He has studied conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt, Kenneth Fulton, Frauke Haasemann, Margaret Hillis, Bruce Chamberlain, Donald Neuen and Constantina Tsolainou. Dr. Thornton was a member of the Grammy Award-winning Robert Shaw Festival Singers.
David Betancourt is a new part-time faculty member serving as the Interim Director of the Wind Ensemble at CalStateLA for the 2008-09 academic year. He is currently department chair and in his 10th year as the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California. Previously, Mr. Betancourt served as Assistant Director of Bands at Northern Arizona University as well as Director of Bands in the Hopedale Public School System in Massachusetts.
Mr. Betancourt received his bachelor of music degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with a dual major in music education and trumpet performance. He received his Master of Music degree, majoring in instrumental conducting, from Northern Arizona University. David is completing his dissertation as a music education doctoral candidate in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. Mr. Betancourt is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He has performed with such notables as Roy Hargrove, Tony Hart, Geoff Keezer, and Ingrid Jensen. Mr. Betancourt is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, MENC, CBDNA, MACCC, CMEA, and ITG.