Dr. Jonathan Santore names 2010 Individual Artist Fellow

Jonathan Santore, a professor and composer here at Plymouth State, has been named the 2010 Individual Artist Fellow by the New Hampshire Council of the Arts. The prestigious Individual Artist Fellowship is granted to six artists annually, and is very highly sought, with over 90 artists vying for the honor. The award is granted to those who display artistic excellence in visual arts, crafts, music, theatre, literature, film or media arts, and professional commitment as determined by their peers. The judgement is based on the recipient’s entire professional body of work. The fellows are chosen through a series of reviews by both in-state and out-of state panelists with various forms of artistic expertise, who then forward their choices to the NH Arts Councilors and the Commissioner of Cultural Resources. The final decision is made by the Governor of New Hampshire and his Executive Council. “I’m thrilled to receive this award – this recognition from my peers and the State Council on the Arts is deeply meaningful to me. I’m also grateful to my colleagues and students at Plymouth State, who have encouraged my compositional work throughout my career here,” said Santore in a press release. Dr. Santore, the Chair for the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance here at PSU, acts not only as a professor of composition, but is the Composer in Residence for the New Hampshire Master Chorale, working closely with the Choral Director Dr. Dan Perkins. “It’s been a wonderful collaboration, it’s a wonderful group, and they can sing pretty much anything you put in front of them” Santore said fondly. Dr Santore has composed the majority of his pieces for chorale while at PSU, showcasing pieces not only with the Master Chorale, but also with the All New England High School Chorale. He also has several pieces available by publications like Alliance Music Publications and Gold Branch Music. When asked why he chooses to compose, Santore said, “I have to. I feel that I have things that I want to communicate to others, and music seems to be the way that they want to come out…Musically I am communicating things that I don’t think that words can communicate at all.” “Dr. Santore is an incredibly talented composer,” PSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Julie Bernier said in a press release. “We are so pleased to see him named as an Artist Fellow. This is a great honor and one that is much deserved.” As the Individual Artist Fellow, Dr. Santore has been granted $5,000 and the honor of calling himself the 2010 Fellow. The only responsibility he has is to present a report to the New Hampshire Community. For Santore, it will be a public performance of his work with the New Hampshire Master Chorale. Santore said, “I don’t know when it will be yet, but hopefully in the Spring.”