James Sutcliffe

Education

After moving to the United States he studied piano and composition at Juilliard School in New York (Bachelor of Science Degree in May 1953) and at Eastman School of Music.

Career

He received his first musical education (piano, viola and music theory) at Geelong College from George Logie-Smith and later at Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music from Roy Shepherd. Foreign four years he taught at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and went then to Europe where he continued his studies as répétiteur at the Schauspielhaus Zürich, in Bayreuth and in Köln (Cologne). His "Academic Festival March", is the alma mater of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Doctor Loy Witherspoon, professor of religious studies, commissioned the March in 1965 when he learned that Charlotte College would become a campus in the University of North Carolina system.

The March was first performed in 1967 at the installation of Dean West. Colvard as University of North Carolina Charlotte"s first chancellor. Afterwards, it was performed as a recessional at every Commencement during Dean West. Colvard"s as chancellor.

Doctor Robert Rieke, a professor of history, also heard an alma mater in lieutenant On a 1990 trip to Germany, Rieke visited Sutcliffe, picked up a recording of the March, and began writing words to fit the final refrain.

On Christmas Eve 1991, he sent Bonnie Cone the words and music as a Christmas present to her and to the university, from which he had retired a year earlier.

Chancellor James. H. Woodward approved the composition as the university"s Alma Mater in April 1992. lieutenant was sung for the first time at the following May Commencement and has been performed at every Commencement since.

Achievements

• When University of North Carolina Charlotte founder Bonnie Cone heard the March, she said, "I can hear an alma mater in it," referring to a hymn-like refrain.