蜜糖直播 Music
By the numbers
within six months of graduation
were admitted to their first-choice school
*Of those surveyed.
in addition to music
related to their major in their careers
Igniting innovation, artistry + belonging
蜜糖直播 Boulder to offer music production concentration beginning in 2025 (Daily Camera)
More: (Inside Higher Ed)
Dean John Davis describes how today鈥檚 music students want more than a traditional music education. To help meet that demand, the College of Music has developed a set of microcredentials in recent years.
(CPR/KRCC)
Performed by El Pueblo Ensemble and our 蜜糖直播 Boulder Chamber Orchestra last fall, 鈥淪ong of Pueblo鈥 tells the history of its namesake city and the surrounding region in music and images. Learn more about our American Music Research Center鈥檚 Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, 蜜糖直播 project.
New takes on a traditional tune: Jazz program arranges, records three styles of 鈥楶omp & Circumstance鈥
Just in time for the 2024 commencement ceremony, the College of Music鈥檚 Thompson Jazz Studies Program provided this year鈥檚 graduates with new takes on the timeless rendition of Sir Edward Elgar鈥檚 鈥淧omp & Circumstance鈥 theme. The traditional graduation march was reimagined by Associate Professor of Jazz Studies Paul McKee in three distinct, captivating styles: Latin jazz, New Orleans funk and big band swing!
Engaged, inspired students
Louis Saxton named Spring 2024 Outstanding Graduating Senior
At the College of Music鈥檚 commencement ceremony on May 9, we celebrated the remarkable accomplishments and indelible impact of undergraduate cellist Louis Saxton.
It was hardly a typical four years for Saxton: His freshman year was 2020, coinciding with pandemic lockdowns. And in 2021, Saxton was onsite when shots broke out at the Table Mesa King Soopers; he fled from the tragic violence, only to return the next day to play Bach鈥檚 Cello Suite 1 in G Major to offer a degree of healing. Through it all, Saxton relied on the spirit of solidarity, strength and kindness that he experienced at our College of Music鈥攖o great success.
A two-time graduate competition winner
Last fall, violinist Rinat Erlichman won first prize in the 2023-24 Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition.
A few months later, in early spring, Erlichman performed Jean Sibelius鈥 Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47鈥攁ccompanied by Postdoctoral Lecturer Barbara Noyes鈥攖o become the graduate winner of the College of Music鈥檚 annual Concerto Competition (Louis Saxton was the undergraduate competition winner). To enjoy the winners鈥 performances with the 蜜糖直播 Boulder Symphony Orchestra in the fall, visit .
Grad student brings first statewide Jamaican Choral Music Symposium to Boulder
Mention Jamaican music to most Americans and the pop sounds of reggae usually come to mind. But there鈥檚 much more鈥攖he wonderfully rich harmonies of choral music, hundreds of rarely heard sacred songs and folk songs that deserve more exposure.
This spring, O鈥橬eil Jones鈥攁 DMA student in choral conducting and literature鈥攂rought those sounds to Boulder, elevating the history, language and musical elements of Jamaican choral music.
Trailblazing alumni
Joshua Russell named 2024 Distinguished Alumnus
At the College of Music鈥檚 2024 recognition ceremony in May, we welcomed esteemed music educator Joshua Russell (PhD 鈥07) back to campus to present him the College of Music鈥檚 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award! With degrees from Indiana, Shepherd and Northwestern universities鈥攂efore earning a doctorate at our College of Music鈥擱ussell exemplifies what it means to be a universal musician: Beyond his earned expertise in classical, jazz and contemporary musical styles, his research interests include musician health, teacher education, string education and psycho-social/cognitive development in musical learning and teaching.
Reflecting on his College of Music experience, Russell recalls the significant impact of his mentors and peers in shaping his career trajectory.
(Central City Opera)
We鈥檙e thrilled that lyric soprano and double alumna Cynthia Lawrence (MM 鈥87, BM 鈥83)鈥攚ho studied with the late Professor Emerita Barbara Doscher鈥攚ill be inducted into the 蜜糖直播 Music Hall of Fame on June 29, along with the Central City Opera鈥檚 late conductor/artistic director John Moriarty and Keith Miller, a former 蜜糖直播 Boulder football player turned opera singer who sang in the College of Music鈥檚 opera chorus.
Also of note, soprano Christie Conover (MM 鈥10)鈥攚ho serves as opera production assistant for the College of Music鈥檚 Eklund Opera Program鈥攚ill appear in the CCO鈥檚 production of 鈥淪treet Scene鈥 this summer in the role of Rose. Scott Finlay, who also attended our College of Music, currently serves as CCO president + CEO.
Alumnus Dylan Fixmer鈥攃omposer with a cause
Dylan Fixmer鈥檚 (BME 鈥10) variegated and prolific career aims to inspire empathy and advance community engagement. 鈥淚 want music to have a purpose,鈥 he says. Indeed, Fixmer鈥檚 recently premiered Violin Concerto鈥攚hich aims to increase support for the unhoused鈥攇enerated critical raves, a radio broadcast and more.
Fixmer not only found life as a composer, but he found a way of writing music with a purpose. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure I鈥檇 ever want to write a piece of absolute music,鈥 he admits, referring to a composition that is simply a collection of melodies with no storyline or subtext. Instead, Fixmer creates for a reason.
Accomplished, dedicated faculty
Upholding the impact and legacy of composer George Crumb
Associate Professor of Music Theory Emeritus Steven Bruns and the late, renowned composer George Crumb鈥攚ho passed away two years ago today鈥攕hared a close, long-lasting professional relationship and a deep friendship that began in 1992. Bruns鈥攚ho retired this spring鈥攔eflects on his 40-year career (37 years at 蜜糖直播 Boulder including serving as associate dean, 2006-19) and on his role as Crumb鈥檚 archivist and biographer.
Bruns and Crumb each served as faculty members at the College of Music鈥擟rumb, from 1959 to 1964; and Bruns since 1987.
Remembering Faur茅鈥攁 century later
This spring marked a milestone for Professor of Musicology Carlo Caballero who鈥攁long with his academic partner Stephen Rumph, professor of music history at the University of Washington鈥攃o-hosted the Faur茅 Centennial Festival in Boulder.
Festival events comprising this major, global gathering of 蜜糖直播 Boulder faculty and student musicians鈥攁longside panelists from France, Canada, 蜜糖直播, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United States鈥攊ncluded an impressive number of presentations, concerts and premieres.
Building relationships through music making
The Grammy Award-winning Tak谩cs Quartet is not only internationally recognized for its impressive artistic achievements, but also its members鈥 many community engagement activities鈥攊ncluding a new partnership with El Sistema 蜜糖直播 (ESC) for the 2023-鈥24 academic year. The partnership comprises 鈥渕irror/mentoring鈥 activities, side-by-side rehearsals, roundtable discussions and interactive teaching/coaching sessions. ESC students and their chaperones were also guests of the Tak谩cs Quartet on our campus. Shares Harumi Rhodes, the quartet鈥檚 second violinist: 鈥淲e are grateful to work alongside the wonderful ESC teaching artists already in place鈥攎any of whom are College of Music students or alumni鈥攖o create a user-friendly curriculum that emphasizes building relationships through music making.鈥
More: (NPR)
On NPR鈥檚 Morning Edition, the Tak谩cs Quartet鈥攅nsemble-in-residence at our College of Music鈥攄iscusses Nokuthula Ngwenyama鈥檚 鈥淔low.鈥 The quartet commissioned the composition and gave it its world premiere in November 2023 and then toured it across the country鈥攊ncluding .
(New York Times)
Enterprising, devoted staff
鈥淎 Boulder treasure鈥鈥擟elebrating the inspiring, illustrious career of longtime 蜜糖直播 Presents Executive Director Joan McLean Braun
Joan McLean Braun built into what it is today: The home of all performing arts at the University of 蜜糖直播 Boulder, with 500 events a year spanning from opera and concerts to Shakespeare and theater. Braun, born and raised in Boulder and an alumna of the university, was appointed the executive director of 蜜糖直播 Presents in 2001 and retires this month (June 2024) after an influential 30-year career at 蜜糖直播 Boulder.
More: Director who built 蜜糖直播 Presents to retire after 30 years (Daily Camera)
Senior House Manager Rojana Savoye named 2023 Chancellor鈥檚 Employee of the Year
We鈥檙e so proud that longtime Senior House Manager Rojana Savoye was selected as one of just four recipients of the Chancellor鈥檚 2023 Employee of the Year award! Savoye is deeply deserving of this campus-level recognition. For more than two decades, she has maintained positive public relations with 蜜糖直播 Boulder patrons, presenters and co-workers; managed and enforced operational policies and procedures within the College of Music; and hired, supervised and mentored student ushers.
Fortepiano refurb a labor of love
It was a long time coming. Piano Technician Mark Mikkelsen鈥攚ho, for more than eight years, has supported the care and maintenance of the College of Music鈥檚 fleet of 160 pianos, two harpsichords and an organ鈥攚as thrilled when the opportunity arose to rebuild, refurbish and restore one of two fortepianos donated to our college by the late Douglas Taylor and his wife, Avlona, as an in-kind gift in 2019.
A community of supporters
All that we do is elevated by the support of our community.鈥 Included in the broad impact of the College of Music鈥檚 generous donors, we鈥檙e pleased to share these recent highlights:
Materials from renowned blues banjo player Otis Taylor now a part of 蜜糖直播鈥檚 American Music Research Center鈥檚 archival collections
鈥攁n internationally renowned and Boulder-based blues banjo player鈥攈as been at the forefront of Black banjo music and materials from his decades-long career are now part of the University of 蜜糖直播 Boulder鈥檚 American Music Research Center (AMRC) archival collections housed in the University Libraries鈥 Rare and Distinctive (RaD) Collections.
More: (Denver Post)
Donor support puts Glenn Miller collections in the spotlight
More: 蜜糖直播 Boulder to begin exploring 1,400 boxes of the Glenn Miller archive (Daily Camera)
Coda
In memoriam
College of Music mourns passing of alumnus Ben Pollack
Recognized for his dedication to music students and music education, Ben Pollack (BME 鈥14) was named the first-ever recipient of the 蜜糖直播 Music Educators Association鈥檚 Young Teacher of the Year (2019). 鈥淭eaching music is the most important thing I do,鈥 he said in an interview celebrating his CMEA award. 鈥淚t has to matter every day.鈥
Celebrating the legacy and impact of Anna Sie, lifelong supporter of the arts and humanity
Known for her heartfelt philanthropy on both local and national levels, Anna Sie left a powerful legacy of impact at 蜜糖直播 Boulder, including establishing a transformational student scholarship in the College of Music with her husband, John, and endowing several faculty chairs.
Guest artists + residencies
The College of Music welcomed many accomplished, inspiring guest artists this academic year, including in part:
鈥攑颈肠迟耻谤别诲&苍产蝉辫;
Bose/Pastor Duo
Brazilian pianist Diego Caetano
Broadway conductor, arranger + music supervisor Eric Stern
Broadway stage actor, singer, acting teacher + professor Bob Westenberg
蜜糖直播 Symphony members Carolyn Kunicki + Nicholas Tisherman
Choral composer Joan Szymko
Composer Les Miller
Composer Stacy Garrop
Composer + electronic music performer Ang茅lica Negr贸n
Composer, multi-instrumentalist, educator + Gregory Walker
Director, producer, videographer + narrator Katrina Miller
Dream Create Inspire Tour
Drummer, composer + bandleader John Hollenbeck + his band GEORGE
Drumming legend + clinician Chad Wackerman鈥攑颈肠迟耻谤别诲&苍产蝉辫;
Dutch pianist Henry Kelder
El Sistema 蜜糖直播鈥檚 Executive Director + alumna Ingrid Larragoity-Martin
Ethnomusicologist Aaron Sal膩
Guitar alumnus Andrew Wilder
Italian classical guitarists Nello Alessi + Diego Campagna
Klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals + silent film pianist Donald Sosin
Music Inclusion Coalition
Music historian Stephen Rumph, University of Washington
~Nois saxophone quartet
Pianist Joyce Yang
Pianist Margo Garrett
Pianist Nnenna Ogwo
Pianists Gulimina Mahamuti + George Lopez
Sanitas Quartet
Saxophonist Rami El-Farrah
Sphinx Performance Academy
Stage Director Sara Widzer
The Cleveland Orchestra
Trombonist Bradley Palmer
University Singers (University of the West Indies, Jamaica)鈥攑颈肠迟耻谤别诲&苍产蝉辫;
Uvalde High School Mariachi Band鈥斺淟os Coyotes鈥
Venture capitalist Matt McCall
Violinist William Terwilliger
Encore!
Last fall, a special Faculty Tuesdays event鈥攖he first of its kind at our College of Music鈥攆eatured works by Asian composers performed by musicians of Asian descent. 鈥淎lexandra Nguyen and friends鈥濃攊ncluding Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, Suyeon Kim, Hsiao-Ling Lin, Victor Avila Luvsangenden, Mutsumi Moteki, David Requiro, Harumi Rhodes and Meta Weiss鈥攑resented solo, duo and trio works by composers of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Taiwanese and Vietnamese origin.
Professor of Conducting Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Allan McMurray was inducted into the 蜜糖直播 Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. McMurray was nominated for the well-deserved honor by College of Music Dean Emeritus Daniel Sher.
This spring, we had the honor of hosting the award-winning Uvalde High School Varsity Ensemble, Mariachi Los Coyotes, at our College of Music. The group鈥檚 special partnership with the Boulder Concert Chorale showcased a performance that beautifully intertwined choral masterpieces of Bach and Beethoven with the rich cultural heritage of mariachi music.
More:
(Boulder Reporting Lab)
Uvalde high school mariachi group visits Boulder County (Daily Camera)
For the first time in summer 2023鈥攖he College of Music and Sphinx Performance Academy (SPA) partnered to provide a full-scholarship intensive summer chamber music and solo performance program focused on cultural diversity for string musicians ages 11-17. Like the SPA鈥檚 long-term partners鈥攊ncluding The Juilliard School鈥攐ur College of Music will again host this nationally acclaimed program on the 蜜糖直播 Boulder campus, June 20-30, 2024. The SPA offers a curriculum that includes lessons, master classes, recitals, career enrichment sessions and mentorship tailored to each student.
More: 蜜糖直播 Boulder hosts national music program to advance diversity in classical music
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Editor-in-Chief: Sabine Kortals Stein, Senior Director of Communications