7, the following awards were announced. Pictured
from left: the Adolph L. Dial Award for Research
and Creativity winners
Dr. Mario Paparozzi (Sociology & Criminal Justice)
with Dr. Martin Slann (Arts & Sciences), accepting
the award; and Janette Hopper (Art);
UNCP Teaching Awards Dr. Jeffrey Lucas (History);
Dr. Scott Hicks (English); Dr. Ryan Anderson
(History); and Dr. Kevin Freeman (Political
Science); and Dr. Eric Dent (Business), finalist in
the UNC Board of Governors Service Award.
"My philosophy is basically about the importance of
foundations in musical education," she continued. "The most
important classes I teach are always a student's first classes."
When the steps are not taken in sequence, she said "I take the
time to fix it."
Dr. Maisonpierre's enthusiasm for music started early, as she
explained with a story of a little girl, age four.
"My father was a college president, and we lived next door
to the music building," she said. "My mother could watch our
music lessons from the kitchen window. My older siblings were
taking lessons, and I desperately wanted to be like them.
"My mother sent a snack with my sister who had a lesson
before mine, so my teacher and I always sat down to cookies and
milk first. It was such a good experience. I just couldn't wait to go
each week," she said. "Taking piano lessons was such a privilege
and so much fun," Dr. Maisonpierre said. "I want my students to
feel the same way."
In this year's recipient of the Award for Teaching Excellence,
that kind of enthusiasm is infectious.
Dr. Maisonpierre's enthusiasm for performing also continues.
She performs often as an accompanist, but more often with her
husband, Dr. Jonathan Maisonpierre, also a member of the music
faculty. They have performed hundreds of piano concerts for four
hands.
"My scholarship is researching, practicing and playing," she
said. "That is how I grow as a performer and teacher.
"We study, read, listen and practice like crazy," Dr.
Maisonpierre continued. "You grow with each piece, and it takes
a long time to do that because you have to know each piece on
so many levels."
Dr. Maisonpierre earned a Master of Music degree from the
University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Music degree from
Ohio Wesleyan. She also studied at the Eastman School of Music.
Drs. Elizabeth and Jonathan Maisonpierre earned their Doctor of
dissertation was titled "Twenty-three Sonatas or Sonata-Related
Works Written in the Twentieth Century for Piano, Four Hands."
A stint with the N.C. Artist in Residence program led to
positions at UNCP. In the years since, Dr. Maisonpierre has not
lost her enthusiasm for the faculty evaluation model of teaching,
service and scholarship.
"When I perform, I am doing all three at once," she said. "I
teach through performance, and some of my best teaching comes
through well-performed pieces."
When the Drs. Maisonpierre perform, they are ambassadors,
role models and recruiters for their University. Their enthusiasm
has enriched their students' experience and their University.