Rhiannon Mim

Music Professor Kathy Lamkin gave a lecture titled “Esterházy Court Musicians” in the Presidents Dining Room on Tuesday. On her sabbatical, Lamkin visited the Esterházy castle in Forchtenstein, Austria, where she researched 300-year-old documents concerning musicians employed by the Esterházy family, most notably the famous composer Joseph Hayden.

Jillian Peña
Staff Writer

With emotion and personal connection, Kathleen Lamkin, professor of music, presented her lecture, “Esterházy Court Musicians During the Last Years of Hayden’s Life: New Evidence Uncovered in the Forchtenstein Castle Archives” on Tuesday in the University of La Verne’s President’s Dining Room.

Lamkin was the first presenter in the series of lectures hosted by the Faculty Research Committee. The lecture had a mixed turnout of about 25 students and professors.

Lamkin conducted the research for this lecture in the winter of 2005 while in Austria.

“When I was there in the winter of 2005,” Lamkin said, “there was no electricity and no heat. We had to put on our winter coats and get out the extension cords for our lights. It was wonderful.”

She studied thousands of documents that contained information relating to the famous composer Joseph Hayden. The documents were stored in 21 rooms in the lower levels of Forchtenstein Castle in Austria.

Hayden’s work became Lamkin’s passion in 1984, when she first traveled to Austria to perform in the Classical Music Festival where Hayden’s work was heavily emphasized. She continues to travel to Austria every year for the festival.

“It was emotional for me. I have to say when I was holding those documents in my hands I knew I was a part of something special,” Lamkin said.

Students that attended the lecture commented that Lamkin was very passionate about her work. “It was nice to see what our professors do in their down time,” said Nicole Pond, sophomore music major from Upland.

Pond also thought it was impressive that the other professors came to show their support for Lamkin’s research.

Amanda Stapleton, junior business administration major, was able to travel to Austria this past summer and sing at the 32nd annual Classical Music Festival along with other students from ULV.

Because of Lamkin’s connection to the project at Forchtenstein, Stapleton and other students were permitted to tour the research site.

“It was almost overwhelming to be around so much history,” Stapleton said, “but it was neat to be in a place where people respect music so much. It is their lifeblood. It was amazing.”

Lamkin seemed encouraged by her audience’s equal excitement to her trip and lecture.

“I think it is critical for students to see that the professors are passionate about their work because then it makes them excited,” she said.

For the fifth year in a row, ULV’s professors will be providing an opportunity for students as well as other faculty to see what they do when they are not grading papers, assigning homework, preparing lectures or eating at Davenport. Every second Tuesday of each month, the Committee will be hosting a lecture from 12 to 1 p.m.

The next lecture will be held on Sept. 26 in the West Dining Room with a presentation by Ken Marcus, associate professor of history.

Jillian Peña can be reached at jpena2@ulv.edu.