Russell Hartenberger appointed Dean of Faculty of Music

Professor Russell Hartenberger appointed Dean of the Faculty of Music

TORONTO - The Office of the Vice-President and Provost, University of Toronto, has announced the appointment of Professor Russell Hartenberger as Dean of the Faculty of Music, effective December 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2010.

RUSSELL HARTENBERGER is a professor of percussion. He received his PhD in World Music from Wesleyan University and has been a member of the Faculty of Music since 1974. His current research focuses on aspects of time and rhythm in music, especially in the music of minimalist composer, Steve Reich.

He is a world-class performer. He has been a member of Nexus and of the Steve Reich ensemble since 1971. He has performed with the Paul Winter Consort, Ensemble Modern of Germany, John Wyre's World Drums, Woodstock Beat, and New Music Concerts of Toronto. He has worked and/or recorded with such diverse musicians as Gil Evans, Jimmy Garrison, John Cage, John Adams, Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Glen Velez, Iannis Xenakis, Pablo Casals, Canadian Brass, Kronos String Quartet, Peter Serkin, Trichy Sankaran, Richard Stoltzman and Yo-Yo Ma.

Professor Hartenberger has appeared on over 70 recordings for various labels. His awards include the Toronto Arts Award in 1989, Banff Centre for the Arts National Award in 1997 and, along with the other members of Nexus, was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2005, he received two Juno Nominations in the category of Best Classical Music Recording: Solo or Chamber Ensemble. In 2006 he was Artist in Residence for the Education Program at Carnegie Hall. His composition, Sky Ghost, was recently used for the sound track of the award winning documentary, Inside Time, by the National Film Board of Canada.

He has served in administrative roles within the Faculty as the Associate Dean, Graduate Education and as Associate Dean, Academic. As Associate Dean, Graduate Education he coordinated the Faculty's graduate enrolment expansion. He has served as Interim Dean of the Faculty since October 15, 2007.

With its illustrious past, stimulating present, and exciting future, the FACULTY OF MUSIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO offers an outstanding education in music. With superb educators in every area of music study, and dozens of areas of specialization in our degree and diploma programs, the Faculty of Music offers an education that is both broad and deep. Our alumni occupy leading positions in the music world, both nationally and internationally. Some of our most famous recent graduates include soprano Measha Bruggergosman, conductor Julian Kuerti, jazz pianist/composer David Braid, and composer Mychael Danna, among others.