Dean鈥檚 Downbeat
May 11, 2023
A message from Dean John Davis
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Friends,听
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As the 2022-鈥�23 academic year culminates in commencement today and I reflect on the last couple years since I became dean of the College of Music in January 2021, it鈥檚 fair to say that we鈥檝e witnessed and experienced a sea change鈥攐r, in musical terms, a key change.听
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We鈥檝e come out of the COVID-19 pandemic only to be thrust into an increasingly complex global environment that鈥檚 characterized in part by deepening societal divisions, accelerating climate change and the as-yet unknown consequences of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.听
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What I do know is that matters more than ever. Because what we do as musicians requires not only skill, but humanity鈥攖hat is, the simultaneous conveyance of emotion, connection and understanding. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 thrilled to share with you our newly revamped annual digital magazine. Colorado Music takes stock of how far we鈥檝e come.听MORE
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At the 精品SM在线影片 College of Music, our students earn more than a music degree in the foothills of the Rockies: In this video, Dean John Davis describes his vision to develop multiskilled, multifaceted universal musicians who are well equipped to participate in the 21st century as artists; as broadly-based professionals with flexible career options; and as passionate, compassionate world citizens. Also featured are Professor of Conducting + Director of Bands Donald McKinney, and guest composers Stacy Garrop and Christopher Theofanidis.
On this page:
By the numbers
99%听
BME job placement
70%听
of our undergrads advance to
full-time jobs or grad school
25%听
of our undergrads pursue majors
in addition to music
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Igniting innovation, artistry + belonging
The work of Assistant Professor of Music Technology Grace Leslie鈥攆lutist, electronic musician and scientist鈥攎elds art, engineering and neuroscience to probe the millennia-spanning relationship between humans and a good tune ... and whether the right kind of music can help to heal the body and brain.听 听
Assistant Professor of Composition Annika Socolofsky blends the realms of art and science through the Instrument Design Lab (IDL). The course offers a science-based context to instrumentation, sound and musical creation.听 听
In addition to Carl Orff鈥檚 鈥淐armina Burana鈥� and our collaboration with El Sistema Colorado, the College of Music鈥檚 CU at Boettcher event returned with听the world premiere of Professor of Composition听Carter Pann鈥檚 new work: His five-movement, 17-minute Symphony No. 3鈥撯�淥n The Importance of Our Democracy.鈥澨� More college high notes
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Engaged, inspired students
Congratulations to Izzy Fincher who graduates with a BM in classical guitar performance, a BA in journalism, a business minor with a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate and a Music Theory Certificate, exemplifying the College of Music鈥檚 universal musician mission.听
More:听Transcribing the George Lynn Collection for classical guitar听 听
More:听Transcribing the George Lynn Collection for classical guitar听 听
Kloehn also exemplifies the college鈥檚 universal musician mission by having graduated with a BM in flute performance, plus a business minor with a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate and a Certificate in Western American Studies.听 听
Erika Gossett graduates this month with a BM in flute performance, as well as a BA in media studies, a minor in business and a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate. Additionally, her climate change-focused venture, Pi帽a Designs, won $5,000 in the 16th annual New Venture Challenge finals on April 12, 2023.听 听
Orchestrating social consciousness (The Coloradan)Kedrick Armstrong is gaining national recognition as a conductor. An advocate for classical music performance and publication, plus the preservation of the voices of musicians of color, Armstrong is passionate about bringing recognition to Black female composers鈥攚ith the Center for Black Music research in Chicago, Illinois, and the Helen Walker-Hill collection at 精品SM在线影片 among his crucial research tools.听
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(CPR Classical)
Two #MusicBuffs among 鈥榗omposers and performers to watch鈥� (Washington Post)听 More student high notes
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(CPR Classical)
Two #MusicBuffs among 鈥榗omposers and performers to watch鈥� (Washington Post)听 More student high notes
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Trailblazing alumni
Alumni, do you have news to share? View our class notes听and submit your updates here:
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鈥淲hen I think about the College of Music, I think about a vibrant learning environment and a vibrant space to grow,鈥� says alumna Sarah Stoneback. 鈥淭he College of Music provided me the skills and tools that I keep developing in pursuing my own teaching career.鈥澨� 听
Double alumna Annie Booth shares how the College of Music continues to impact her career as an award-winning jazz pianist, band leader, composer/arranger and educator鈥攁nd offers valuable career advice. Most recently, Booth co-founded, a new outlet that supports and champions women jazz composers and arrangers by providing a platform for their music to be widely accessed.听 听
(CPR Classical)College of Music alumna and Colorado native Katie Mahan has been collaborating with Colorado Public Radio on a series called 鈥淢ozart Snapshots,鈥� taking listeners on a journey through Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart鈥檚 life in Salzburg, Austria. She also devotes her time and talents to supporting humanitarian, medical and educational causes, and she founded the Katie Mahan Foundation to promote classical music 鈥� and to inspire giving through music.听 More alumni high notes
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Accomplished, dedicated faculty
Faculty, do you have news to share? View our faculty high notes听and submit your updates here:
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Professor of Musicology Rebecca Maloy was named Distinguished Professor for her research, dedication to teaching and mentoring, and service to her profession and the university. Maloy joins Allan McMurray and David Korevaar, the only other faculty from the College of Music ever to have been selected for this highest honor the university bestows.听 听
For Professor of Musicology Robert Shay, the many mysteries of Purcell鈥檚 鈥淒ido and Aeneas鈥� are too important to ignore. His critical edition of the English composer鈥檚 score provides fresh answers to a number of questions.听 听
鈥淗aving a 鈥榟ome鈥� audience of loyal Tak谩cs fans is a huge honor 鈥� and makes the concert experience more than just about the music itself. It鈥檚 about the relationships formed through the shared love of music.
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Congratulations to our Tak谩cs Quartet for the release of their new album鈥攁nd their glowing review in BBC Magazine鈥攆eaturing .听
(Sharps + Flatirons).
Tak谩cs Quartet first violinist and College of Music Artist in Residence Edward Dusinberre鈥檚 new book鈥斺�攆ocuses on four composers, discussing their lives and what 鈥渉ome鈥� might mean to them ... and to Dusinberre himself, having lived in England and the United States.听 More faculty high notes
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Congratulations to our Tak谩cs Quartet for the release of their new album鈥攁nd their glowing review in BBC Magazine鈥攆eaturing .听
(Sharps + Flatirons).
Tak谩cs Quartet first violinist and College of Music Artist in Residence Edward Dusinberre鈥檚 new book鈥斺�攆ocuses on four composers, discussing their lives and what 鈥渉ome鈥� might mean to them ... and to Dusinberre himself, having lived in England and the United States.听 More faculty high notes
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A community of supporters
The Genevieve McVey Wisner Memorial Scholarship Fund鈥攏amed in honor of the lifelong activist and pioneering music educator鈥攑rovides undergraduate and graduate scholarship awards for underrepresented music students. Wisner, whose parents were among the first Black families to settle in Boulder in 1897, became the first Black graduate of the College of Music in 1940 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music education, followed by a master鈥檚 degree in 1944.
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Meet Avedis Escandon: first Genevieve McVey Wisner Memorial Scholarship recipient听 听
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Meet Avedis Escandon: first Genevieve McVey Wisner Memorial Scholarship recipient听 听
For undergraduate and graduate students, a new biannual award celebrates the works and legacy of late composer Alex Craig.听 Your giving
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In memoriam
Chas Wetherbee (1966-2023)The 精品SM在线影片 College of Music lost a cherished colleague and treasured friend. Associate Professor of Violin Charles 鈥淐has鈥� Wetherbee, 56, passed away on Jan. 9, 2023, after a courageous fight against cancer. On March 21, the College of Music presented .
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(CPR Classical)
(Denver Gazette)
(Daily Camera)
(Violin Channel)听 听More passings + tributes
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(CPR Classical)
(Denver Gazette)
(Daily Camera)
(Violin Channel)听 听More passings + tributes
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Guest artists + residencies
Artists from the听听joined us at the College of Music,听offering an open rehearsal and master classes to our students. 鈥淭he visit from the fantastic musicians of the Sphinx Organization goes to show that excellence knows no bounds,鈥� shared Assistant Professor of Violin Alex Gonzalez. 鈥淲hile they represent a vast array of backgrounds and experiences, most of all they represent what it looks like to be an artist of the highest caliber.鈥澨�听
In October 2022,听Gonzalez and the Sphinx Virtuosi听made their international debut at Sala S茫o Paulo in Brazil, just after performing at Carnegie Hall. Gonzalez serves as the concertmaster of the chamber orchestra and represents what it means to be a universal musician鈥攁 multiskilled, multifaceted professional prepared to innovate, influence and impact a diversity of disciplines, within and beyond music.
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For the first time in 2023鈥攖he College of Music and (SPA) are partnering 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鈥擳he Juilliard School and Cleveland Institute of Music鈥攐ur College of Music will host this nationally acclaimed program on the 精品SM在线影片 campus, June 22-July 2, 2023. The SPA听offers a curriculum that includes lessons, master classes, recitals, career enrichment sessions and mentorship tailored to each student.
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Complementing our听ongoing summer courses and programs, the SPA represents a major step forward for the college in demonstrating our intentionality toward ever greater diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do.听Photo: Cellists Nicole Chung (College of Music Artist听Diploma candidate) and Cuban-American cellist Thomas Mesa (Sphinx).
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Throughout the academic year, we had the privilege of welcoming听a number of other听esteemed guests, as well鈥攆rom composer, conductor and pianist Kevin Day (pictured) to Canadian composer Alexina Louie, composer and bassist Dave Holland, double bassist Xavier Foley, Austrian pianist Constanze Hochwartner, Italian trombonist Peter Steiner,听alumnus and trumpet studio supporter Ritchie Clendeni,听Principal Trumpet of the Montreal Symphony Paul Merkelo, retired trumpeter (Dallas Symphony) and guest clinician Tom Booth, decorated trumpet performer and educator Marie Speziale, violinist听Stefan Jackiw, the Akropolis Reed Quintet and the听2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 ... among many others.
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Additional guests included听Distinguished Lecturer Andr茅 de Quadros, as well as hosting the 2023 National Trumpet Competition and the 51st International Double Reed Society. The college鈥檚 American Music Research Center, Entrepreneurship Center for Music and Diverse Musicians鈥� Alliance also organized听a robust roster of inspiring guests.听听听
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Encore!
Meet Ashraf Sewailam: 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient
At the College of Music鈥檚 commencement ceremony on May 11, 2023, we鈥檙e thrilled to welcome alumnus Ashraf Sewailam back to campus 鈥� and to present him the College of Music鈥檚 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Meet Margot + Christopher Brauchli: 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipients
At the College of Music鈥檚 commencement ceremony on May 11, 2023, Margot + Christopher Brauchli will be presented the College of Music鈥檚 2023 Distinguished Service Award for their decades-long loyal support.
Meet Allan McMurray: University Medal recipient
In 2013, Allan McMurray retired after 35 years as professor at the College of Music, directing our bands, developing the master鈥檚 and doctoral programs in instrumental conducting, and more. He was the college鈥檚 first to receive a lifetime appointment as a Distinguished Professor and he鈥檚 recently been awarded the University Medal by the CU Board of Regents.
Meet alumnus + former professor Willie L. Hill: George Norlin Award recipient
Willie Hill鈥擟ollege of Music alumnus, as well as former College of Music professor and director of the CU Jazz Summer Camp鈥攚as honored at the 93rd Annual Alumni Awards ceremony.
Photo: Longtime College of Music supporter Becky Roser, Willie Hill听and Dean John Davis.
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