All-around musicianship is professors' legacy

Composer and performer David Bilowus recalls two UB professors who strongly conveyed their own lively musicianship.

"The late Carlo Pinto guided me to become a well-rounded musician and educator," says Bilowus, who earned his M.F.A. in 1985 and B.F.A. degrees in voice and piano in 1984 and 1982, respectively. "He dedicated his life to his students, and I feel proud and blessed to have been one of them.

"The late Heinz Rehfuss, with his reputation as a world-class recording and concert artist, taught me to sing in seven languages and helped me acquire the skills to become an effective vocal coach."

Now on the music faculty at Ambassador University in Big Sandy, Tex., Bilowus draws on his diversified musical education as a piano instructor, choir director and vocal coach. Recently, he was named to two competitive performing arts touring programs. The Texas Commission on the Arts named him to the state's Touring Program Roster. And the Mid-America Arts Alliance-which supports artists and presenters in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska-also selected him for its touring arts program.