Lisa Lantz

Professor of Music/Strings
Performing Arts
Music
Performing Arts Division


"Don't always practice with your fingers. You must THINK how to do it. You must think HOW to achieve Quality."

- Maestro Nathan Milstein

Education

  • Doctor of Musical Arts: Violin Performance, The Ohio State University, 1994
  • Specialist in Violin Performance University of Michigan with Ruggiero Ricci, 1987
  • Master of Music: Violin Performance University of Michigan, 1984
  • Bachelor of Music: Violin Performance The University of Toledo, 1980
  • Lisa Lantz studied many years with the late great virtuoso violinist, Ruggiero Ricci and former concertmaster, Jacob Krachmalnick. For over a decade, she participated in European master classes with internationally renowned violinists Christian Ferras, Aaron Rosand and Nathan Milstein.

Specialties / Areas of Interest

  • Professional Violinist
  • Orchestra Conductor
  • Italian Language & Culture

Biography

Dr. Lisa Lantz is the Artistic Director and Founder of the MostArts Festival, a summer Music and Art Festival at Alfred University consisting of an International Festival Orchestra, Chamber Music, renowned International artists and Steinway artists, and the national Young Pianist Competition for high school musicians. The MostArts Festival is held each summer in early July. Dr. Lantz is the recipient of three prestigious "Fiat Lux Awards" presented by President Mark Zupan, in recognition of her creative vision with the MostArts Festival at Alfred University.

In addition to teaching full time, Dr. Lantz continues to be an active violinist, and conductor with concerts that have taken place both in the United States, as well as in Europe, including Dvorak Hall in Prague, Franz Liszt Hall Budapest, and San Benedetto Cathedral in Rome, Italy. Dr. Lantz is an experienced orchestral conductor with performances in both symphonic works as well as choral including Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Handel's Messiah, Bach's Magnificat and Mozart's Requiem.

An experienced orchestral and chamber musician, Lantz has performed with many regional orchestras in Western New York including The Orchestra of the Finger Lakes, Western NY Chamber Players, and served as Concertmaster of the Southern Tier Symphony. She has served as a chamber music clinician and conductor for the various summer youth camps.

Since 1979, Dr. Lantz has spent extensive time traveling and studying throughout Europe and has lived in Rome, Italy. During this period, she studied Italian through the Vatican and at the San Tomasso d’Aquino [Dominican College] in Rome. Prior to coming to Alfred University, Dr. Lantz was a visiting Professor of Italian at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and taught Italian for 3 years at The Ohio State University. She is greatly interested in Italian culture, music and opera, art and architecture, 19th and 20th century literature.

Within the community, Dr. Lantz is the Music Director and Founder of the Alfred University Junior String Program teaching strings to area children from 5 to 16 years old. Since its debut in 1998, the Junior String Program has served nine school districts in Allegany and Steuben Counties with over 40 children in four different ensembles. She continually demonstrates her love of teaching young musicians through her various string clinics, workshops and conducting engagements from elementary to high schools in Western NY as well as around the country.

Courses Taught

  • MUSC 105 Private Lessons Violin/Viola
  • MUSC 110 Music Appreciation
  • MUSC 120 Fundamentals of Music
  • MUSC 214 Reel Music in America: The story of Music & Film
  • MUSC 225 Music History I
  • MUSC 226 Music History II
  • MUSC 275 AU Symphony Orchestra
  • MUSC 279 Chamber Music
  • MUSC 305 Advanced Lessons Violin/Viola
  • ITAL 101 Italian I
  • ITAL 102 Italian II
  • Honors "Viva Italia"
  • Honors "Imagery and Music"

Awards/Honors

  • Fiat Lux Award, Three-Time Winner Alfred University
  • New York State Support of the Arts & Culture Award

Activities

  • First Violinist, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes
  • Founder and Artistic Director of the MostArts Festival, a summer festival of music and art
  • Sharing my therapy dog, Cole Porter, with the campus community
  • Founder and Director of the Alfred University Junior String Program, for children ages 5-15
  • As an Adjunct in Italian for the Department of Modern Languages, I love to share the rich language and culture of Italy with our students. And, we even have a few cooking lessons along our journey.

Professional Experience

In addition to teaching full time, Dr. Lantz continues to be an active violinist, and conductor with concerts that have taken place both in the United States, as well as in Europe, including Dvorak Hall in Prague, Franz Liszt Hall Budapest, and San Benedetto Cathedral in Rome, Italy. Dr. Lantz is an experienced orchestral conductor with performances in both symphonic works as well as choral including Mozart's Requiem, Handel'sMessiah, Bach's Magnificat, and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.

An experienced orchestral and chamber musician, Lisa Lantz has performed with many regional orchestras in Western New York including The Orchestra of the Finger Lakes, Western NY Chamber Players, and served as Concertmaster of the Southern Tier Symphony. She has served as a chamber music clinician for the Delaware Music Festival at Ohio Wesleyan University and as conductor and chamber music coach for the "Vivace String Camp" at Houghton College, NY.

Since 1979, Dr. Lantz has spent extensive time traveling and studying throughout Europe and has lived in Rome, Italy. During this period, she studied Italian through the Vatican and at the San Tomasso d’Aquino [Dominican College] in Rome. Prior to coming to Alfred University, Dr. Lantz was a visiting Professor of Italian at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and taught Italian for 3 years at The Ohio State University. She is greatly interested in Italian culture, music and opera, art and architecture, 19th and 20th century literature.

Within the community, Dr. Lantz is the Music Director and Founder of the Alfred University Junior String Program teaching strings to area children from 5-16 years old. Since its debut, the Junior String Program has served nine school districts in Allegany and Steuben Counties with over 40 children in four different ensembles. She continually demonstrates her love of teaching young musicians through her various string clinics, workshops and conducting engagements from elementary to high schools in Western NY as well as around the country.

Faculty/Staff Directory

What makes a place great? The consistent hard work of its caring & friendly faculty/staff. Every person here is a valued member of a living-learning community, and it really shows.

View More Profiles