The UAB Department of Music has named a choral director and welcomed two new faculty members and a staff member for the new season.
Assistant Professor Brian Kittredge, D.M.A., is now director of choral activities at UAB after serving as interim director. He conducts the University Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Women’s Chorale and Men’s Chorale and assists with courses in music education. Kittredge earned his doctoral degree in choral conducting at Louisiana State University. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference.
Won Cho, D.M.A., is assistant professor of voice at UAB. Cho studied at the Manhattan School of Music, Boston University and University of Memphis. In addition to his work at UAB, he is on the voice faculty at Nei Stëmmen International Vocal Institute in Luxembourg.
James Zingara, D.M.A., is assistant professor of trumpet and assistant director of bands at UAB. He teaches applied trumpet and brass ensembles, conducts the Symphony Band and assists with the UAB Marching Blazers, Wind Symphony and Blazer Basketball Band. Zingara holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and East Carolina University. He earned a doctor of musical arts degree in trumpet performance with a minor in wind conducting from the University of Illinois. From 1989-1996 he was principal cornet/trumpet soloist with the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band.
Kseniia Polstiankina is collaborative pianist in the UAB Department of Music, after graduating with a bachelor of music degree from UAB in May 2011. Originally from the Ukraine, she graduated with honors from the Special Music School in Kiev, was awarded several prizes in international competitions and was awarded a scholarship from “New Names” in Moscow, a world-famous fund that supports young, gifted pre-college musicians.