EZOE, MAGDALENA (b. 1931)

Composer Magdalena Ezoe, OP (pron. EH-zoh-eh), a native of Tokyo, Japan, born March 27, 1931, is an Associate Professor Emerita of Music at Siena Heights University, Adrian, Michigan. A graduate of Siena, she holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan.

 

Dominican Sister Magdalena has performed as a piano soloist with the Rockford Symphony and Aurora Symphony in Illinois, as well as with the Michigan State Chamber Orchestra and Adrian Symphony in Michigan. A CD of Magdalena performing Chopin piano works has been produced by the Adrian Dominicans. As a member of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Magdalena has been composing many musical settings for the liturgy since 1970. She has also composed choral music for Siena Heights’ vocal ensembles.

 

She taught Piano, Music Theory, Music History and Literature, and coached the Instrumental Chamber Ensemble throughout her tenure (1968-2007) at Siena Heights University. She has contributed many arrangements from operatic literature as well as transcriptions of popular selections to this group. Many of her piano students have received music scholarships and high ratings at competitions and festivals.

 

A number of prestigious awards have honored Magdalena Ezoe’s lifetime commitment through the music profession at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. Barry University, Miami, Florida, where Magdalena spent a year as a student coming straight from Tokyo in 1952, awarded her The Adrian Dominican Educational Leadership Award in recognition of outstanding commitment and leadership in Catholic Education in 2001.

 

The Sister Eileen K. Rice Award for "Outstanding Teaching" was presented to Magdalena in 2005 from Siena Heights University. The following year 2006, The Fred Smith Champion Award was was bestowed upon her from the Siena Heights University faculty and staff. This award is given to one who exemplifies loyalty of service to the university, fortitude, a friendly and caring attitude, the capacity to shoulder responsibility without complaint, and the strength to overcome adversity and achieve success.

 

In 2012, the Dominican Institute for the Arts awarded its prestigious Fra Angelico Award to Sister Magdalena Ezoe, OP for a life-time of exemplary artistic achievement as a musician through her gift of teaching, concertizing, and composition.

 

One of Magdalena’s favorite musical activitities has been giving lecture-recitals on music perfor- mance, aesthetics and appreciation. It is through these events that the public can truly enjoy with delight both the artistry and insight, musicianship and humor of this uniquely gifted pianist and composer. She has also produced two CDs of piano music—a Chopin CD and another titled 12 . 7 . 5 featuring 12 non-Chopin piano solos, 7 Gregorian chants, and 5 second movements from concerti by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann and Schostakovich.

 

After retiring as Professor Emerita in music, Magdalena Ezoe, OP continues to reside in Adrian with her Dominican Sisters' community for whom she gives her "Monthly Lecture-Recital" on the piano. These Chopin Medleys are frequently performed to an appreciative audience.

 

Magdalena Ezoe, OP's music is published and available from Alliance Publications, Inc.