The 精品SM在线影片 is widely recognized for its commitment to sustainability鈥攎ost often associated with protecting the environment. At the College of Music, that definition extends further. 

Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Music Education Margaret Berg highlights the importance of human sustainability鈥攖hat is, the well-being of individuals and communities. By integrating both human and environmental sustainability into music education, our college is helping students develop into responsible, thoughtful professionals who are prepared to make an impact on our interconnected society.

鈥淗uman sustainability is about more than just resources,鈥� Berg explains. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about the self鈥攕tudents and teachers鈥攖he community around the school or studio, and the larger systems like colleges or universities.鈥� This multifaceted approach emphasizes the significance of emotional resilience, community building and cultural inclusivity in shaping the future of music education. 

Berg鈥檚 Sociology of Music Education course amplifies the College of Music鈥檚 unique focus on preparing students for roles beyond music performance; the college鈥檚 universal musician approach to achieving its mission encourages interdisciplinary learning and broadly-based student development. 鈥淎 teacher taking a more holistic approach will make a difference,鈥� says Berg, emphasizing the value of connecting music education with sustainability in the classroom and beyond.

Aligned with 精品SM在线影片 Chancellor Justin Schwartz鈥檚 priority to accelerate sustainability on our campus, human sustainability in music education complements the College of Music鈥檚 progress toward reducing its environmental impact鈥攆rom 鈥済reen鈥� digital program books, energy-efficient LED lighting in Grusin Music Hall and music tablets that replace paper scores. Additionally, the use of braille building placards and other accessibility measures reflects the college鈥檚 commitment to inclusivity in all forms.

Integrating human and environmental sustainability equips students with the knowledge, skills and awareness to engage with both their immediate communities and the planet. In the classroom, Berg advocates for experiential learning practices that promote ecological literacy and environmental activism. For example, music educators can encourage students to engage with local sounds and landscapes, fostering an awareness of the natural world and its challenges. 鈥淲e can integrate local ecosystems into the repertoire selection process,鈥� Berg suggests, noting that Colorado鈥檚 mountains or water issues might inspire student projects.

Berg further emphasizes the significance of core reflection which encourages educators and students to assess their well-being and resilience. 鈥淚t has to start with the human,鈥� she says. That is, to sustain both the work and the community, we must take care of individuals first鈥攖eachers and students alike. Core reflection allows teachers to identify their strengths and recognize the need to care for their own mental and emotional health to avoid burnout. In this way, self-care becomes foundational to sustaining long-term success in educational settings.

Adds Berg, 鈥淣ature is constantly creating and evolving, and engaging with the arts is a creative act that empowers both students and teachers to respond to the challenges of climate change, for example, in productive and meaningful ways. This is invaluable, as it engages their hearts and fosters powerful, thoughtful responses. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 a profoundly healthy way to navigate such challenges.鈥� 

Related resources

• Berg, M. H. (2023): Fostering care through core reflection.
• Shevock, D. J., & Bates, V. C. (2019): A Music Educator鈥檚 Guide to Saving the Planet.
• Smith, T. D. (2023): Caring with the Earth, community, and co-learners for the health of biological, social, and musical ecosystems.

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NASM celebrates 100 years
Last month, Dean John Davis attended the annual meeting鈥攁nd centennial celebration鈥攐f the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in Chicago, Illinois. This organization of schools, conservatories, colleges and universities establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as other credentials for music and music-related disciplines. Our college has been a member since 1941.

Dear friends,

As we approach our much-anticipated annual Holiday Festival performances this weekend, I鈥檓 filled with awe and gratitude as I reflect on a busy, successful fall semester at the 精品SM在线影片 College of Music鈥攊ncluding continued progress in developing multiskilled, multifaceted universal musicians.

Our commitment to both refining and expanding our offerings has never felt more relevant鈥攁nd more urgent; our faculty members, advisors and other staff are highly motivated to ensure that our students not only master their chosen craft, but also emerge as well-rounded, adaptable professionals prepared to take on the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Having represented our College of Music at several conferences this fall鈥攊ncluding, among others, the annual conferences of the College Music Society and National Association of Music Executives at State Universities, the National Association of Schools of Music annual meeting, and the annual conference of the International Council for Arts Deans in Montreal, Canada鈥擨 was heartened to observe that our work at 精品SM在线影片 reflects real-world trends and mandates in music education. Colleges and schools like ours are similarly focused on widening students鈥� horizons, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and emphasizing broadly-based skills. I鈥檓 proud that our approach amplifies current best practices at comparable institutions, nationally and internationally.

We鈥檙e also aware that the landscape of higher education is shifting and that we must be vigilant, agile and proactive. In the new year, changes to federal policies may impact how we accomplish鈥攁nd communicate鈥攐ur work; what 颈蝉苍鈥檛 changing, however, is our commitment to support our students with the resources, knowledge, experiences and inspirations they need to succeed and thrive in their chosen ventures鈥攁nd in life. To that end, we continue to deepen our relationships with campus partners including Chancellor Justin Schwartz, who champions our efforts. The new 精品SM在线影片 chancellor has encouraged our campus community to embody courage, curiosity, care and consistency as we engage with one another, prioritize free expression and pursue creative ideas. His vision aligns with our values and I鈥檓 optimistic that the College of Music鈥攁long with all arts and humanities units on campus鈥攚ill prosper under his leadership, and sustain our current momentum in student recruitment and retention.

By reimagining our offerings to include more diverse disciplines and perspectives, we鈥檙e implementing a richer, more holistic educational experience for our students that ignites their explorations across wide-ranging fields of interest鈥攚hile nurturing their capacity to engage meaningfully, compassionately and confidently with the summons of our time.

From our dedicated community of supporters to our versatile students to our forward-looking faculty and staff, I鈥檓 immensely proud of what we鈥檝e already achieved together. In the new year, stay tuned for announcements of our most recent programmatic and curricular developments that meet the moment鈥攊ncluding a new BA degree emphasis.

Meanwhile, I wish you peaceful, joyful holidays!

John Davis
Dean, College of Music

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Recently, we鈥檝e witnessed troubling trends where diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are being curtailed or eliminated in some settings, including higher education. At the 精品SM在线影片, however, we stand resolute in our commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment; and at the College of Music, specifically, we鈥檙e doubling down on our dedication to actively championing DEI as key to our universal musician mission.

DEI 颈蝉苍鈥檛 just about compliance or a checkbox to be ticked off. Essential to fulfilling our mission of developing versatile musicians who are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world, DEI is woven into the very fabric of our educational philosophy. Our faculty and staff work daily to create conditions where every individual鈥攔egardless of their background鈥攆eels welcome, valued, respected and empowered to reach their full potential.

We know that embracing and uplifting diversity鈥攅ncompassing a spectrum of identities, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and disability鈥攅nriches our students鈥� educational experience and enhances the creativity, innovation and cultural richness of our college, campus and greater community. From last month鈥檚 first-ever statewide Jamaican Choral Music Symposium, organized by doctoral student O鈥橬eil Jones and supported by a Roser Visiting Artists Program grant; to our fifth annual Persevering Legacy event earlier this month, with support from the ; to our representing an autophysiopsychic approach to musicking; to hosting the Sphinx Performance Academy again this summer, supported by a DEI Impact Grant from the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion鈥攐ur commitment to diversity is gaining momentum and recognition.

I鈥檓 especially proud of the ongoing work of the College of Music鈥檚 DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility) committee. Reflecting principles of shared equity leadership, this committee comprises faculty and staff colleagues who are passionate about putting into practice inclusive excellence recommendations in the areas of curriculum development, co-curricular programming, concert repertoire/programming, faculty hiring and student recruitment. 

Drawing inspiration from the diverse lived experiences and cultural assets that our students, staff and faculty bring to the learning environment, we鈥檙e creating opportunities for them to leverage their unique backgrounds as sources of strength and ingenuity. In this way, it鈥檚 my goal to not only advance inclusivity, but also ignite greater collaboration and collective action within our college鈥攁nd across other colleges, schools and programs on campus. 

The result? Over time, I鈥檓 convinced that by embracing DEI as integral to our universal musician mission, we not only achieve flexible, interdisciplinary career options for our graduates, but also expand the artistic landscape and cultivate a community of curious, continuous learners who challenge biases, question assumptions and engage with diverse perspectives鈥攁nd who navigate nuance and complexity with openness, understanding and empathy.

I鈥檓 so grateful for your support and engagement in this critical mission.

John S. Davis
Dean, College of Music

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As the holiday season approaches, I鈥檓 filled with immense pride and optimism reflecting our shared journey at the College of Music. In a world too often shadowed by conflicts and divisions, I鈥檓 heartened by our college鈥檚 daily transcendence of sorrow and seeming helplessness through the solace and power of music鈥攎ost recently and beautifully conveyed in our annual Holiday Festival featuring the diverse experiences, ethnicities, cultures and spiritualities of our talented students and faculty, and our greater campus community. 

Additionally, as an update to my previous Dean鈥檚 Downbeat鈥攊n which I introduced our efforts to more effectively advance students pursuing music as a vocation as well as students interested in music as an active avocation鈥擨鈥檓 thrilled to announce that a new mission-driven Bachelor of Arts in Music emphasis has been approved by our hardworking curriculum committee! In our earnest commitment to identify and implement new non-traditional degree options that are more inclusive of our increasingly broadly-based student applicants, the College of Music鈥檚 Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music Production degree will be offered beginning fall 2025, paving the way for additional interdisciplinary degree emphases to come. 

In other words, we鈥檙e gaining momentum and we have a great deal to look forward to in 2024! Meanwhile, we鈥檙e celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments of all our winter 2023 graduates and wishing you鈥攐ur students, staff, faculty, alumni and community of supporters鈥攋oyful, harmonious holidays and a rejuvenating winter break. 

See you next year, 

John S. Davis
Dean, College of Music

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Like any other musician, Civelli finds a very personal kind of magic in performing. As a clarinet player, Civelli depends on the instrument for inspiration. But she doesn鈥檛 operate in a musical vacuum. 

Soon after Civelli began connecting with music and performance on a personal level, she knew she wanted to share the experience with others.

鈥淚鈥檝e known I wanted to teach music since I was in 7th or 8th grade,鈥� recalls Civelli, who graduates from the 精品SM在线影片 College of Music this month with a bachelor鈥檚 in music education (instrumental band emphasis). 鈥淚t鈥檚 always been something that鈥檚 been there.鈥�

The dual drive to play and to teach is part of what brought Civelli from Connecticut, where she completed the first two years of her college career, to 精品SM在线影片鈥攁 place she felt had more to offer in terms of her professional and personal ambitions. Transferring to the College of Music halfway through her undergraduate studies boiled down to a 鈥済ut feeling,鈥� she recalls, a sense that Boulder was the right place to refine her skills.

Two years later, that intuitive leap to a new learning environment has proved invaluable. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I really knew what was in store for me while I was transferring. I saw opportunities as they came up and I discovered more than I thought I would,鈥� Civelli says, crediting her professors, TAs and fellow students with helping her find new dimensions to her playing and teaching. 鈥淚鈥檓 a far better clarinet player than I ever thought I could have been, and a far better teacher as well.鈥�

True to the college鈥檚 mission to develop multiskilled, multifaceted universal musicians, Civelli found opportunities in both realms. Between playing high-profile performances with concert ensembles and coaching high school marching band students, Civelli鈥檚 time in Colorado has deepened her firsthand experience as both a musician and an educator, roles that are equally important as she looks beyond graduation.

鈥淥ne of my strong beliefs in music education is that I am developing lifelong lovers of music,鈥� Civelli says. 鈥淲hether they end up becoming professional musicians or not, at the end of the day they will be consuming music for the rest of their lives. Having the ability to explain why they like or do not like a song they hear, or why a guitar riff is really neat, is important.鈥�

Congratulations to Ashley and all our winter grads!

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Goodwin graduates this month with dual Bachelor of Music degrees from the 精品SM在线影片鈥攐ne in composition and one in bassoon performance. During their four years at our College of Music, the instrument has served as a gateway to creative growth, personal connections and artistic expression. They performed with the entire bassoon studio for holiday concerts, composed works that have been performed by the Chicago-based ~Nois saxophone quartet and collaborated with the university鈥檚 dance department.

All of these achievements stemmed from a connection to an instrument that could very well be considered accidental. 鈥淚 was in fifth grade and it was pick-your-instrument-night at school,鈥� says Goodwin, recalling a pivotal moment in their native Texas suburb. 鈥淎ll the flute spots were filled and my next two instruments of choice were also filled,鈥� they add, explaining how they landed on the bassoon. 鈥淣ow I know it was fate.鈥�

Goodwin soon fell in love with the instrument鈥攊ts low range, its expressiveness, its unique role in the orchestra. 鈥淏assoon just happened to be the reason why I made so many friends, too鈥攊t was my gateway into the orchestra world,鈥� they say. 

Playing the bassoon ultimately led to an interest in composition鈥攁 passion sparked in 8^th-grade orchestra class鈥攖hat eventually helped steer Goodwin鈥檚 path from Texas to Boulder.

鈥淚 knew that I wanted to study both bassoon performance and composition,鈥� Goodwin reflects. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to go to a place where I was able to do both, where a well-rounded education was encouraged. The 精品SM在线影片 College of Music was one of the only schools I applied to that was flexible in terms of the course load.鈥�

Indeed, our College of Music with its universal musician mission proved to be the perfect environment for Goodwin. In their eight semesters here, they not only successfully completed a double major, but also meaningfully connected with professors, peers and fellow musicians who helped chart their course in performance and composition. 

Specifically, Goodwin credits Professor of Composition Carter Pann and Professor of Bassoon Yoshiyuki Ishikawa for their constant support and guidance, just as they offer thanks to their fellow College of Music students for consistent inspiration.

鈥淚 feel like I learned a lot about perseverance and endurance, in terms of training and learning and studying,鈥� they say. 鈥淚 also learned about attention to detail鈥擨 think I really expanded that skill in college. Those lessons are applicable to almost any field.鈥�

Congratulations to Isabel and all our winter grads!

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Great ideas can come from anywhere鈥攅ven a meal with your friends. Three 精品SM在线影片 College of Music alumni鈥擟olleen White (DMA 鈥�17), Paul Zaborac (DMA 鈥�17) and Cecilia Lo-Chien Kao (DMA 鈥�19)鈥攄eveloped a vision for the (SMF) over brunch, and soon started working to make their dream come to life. 

鈥淲e casually thought, 鈥榃hat if we developed our own chamber music festival?鈥� Less than a year later, we had funding and a business plan,鈥� White says. 

The nonprofit festival, held in Manhattan, Kansas, debuted in 2023 and will return for its second season in June 2024. [Experience the SMF performing 鈥溾�� by Ingrid St枚lzel.]

The SMF aims to tell stories through chamber music and each season features a unique theme. The 2024 theme is 鈥淐reatures Great and Small,鈥� focusing on music inspired by wildlife and creatures of all sizes. 

The festival also hosts community events, children鈥檚 events and a composition competition that encourages composers to submit new works for voice, flute, saxophone and piano. The compositions must highlight narrative, focusing on the untold stories of underrepresented or marginalized groups and the festival theme; winning works will premiere during the summer festival.

鈥淭here鈥檚 something really unique and special about chamber music,鈥� Kao says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an intimate and powerful connection among the performers and this connection extends to the audience. 

In their festival activities, these music alumni say they regularly apply skills learned at our College of Music. 

鈥淓ntrepreneurial know-how gained at CU has been instrumental in helping us develop this festival,鈥� explains Zaborac. 鈥淔rom arts administration, marketing and audio/video production to audience relations and creative concert programming. Being able to draw on this wide skill set has significantly contributed to the success of the festival, allowing us to create something really exciting. 

鈥淧erhaps most important was the entrepreneurial mindset itself, of looking at challenges and finding creative solutions鈥攁nd the will to overcome, persevere and build something.鈥�

Congratulations!

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Music brings us together and connects us; music lifts our spirits and soothes our souls; and, perhaps most importantly, music allows us to yield to frustrated feelings or difficult emotions when we need to, providing a sense of refuge, renewal and hope.

Unlike other fields and disciplines鈥攅ven within the arts鈥擨 believe it鈥檚 music that people most often turn to in times of sorrow or despair; it鈥檚 music that鈥檚 most immediately and intensely accessible; and鈥攖he way I see it鈥攊t鈥檚 music that offers something inherently internal and palpably personal, yet ubiquitous. As an art form, I would argue that music alone maintains its essence and timelessness on-demand, across distances and mediums.  

At the same time鈥攊n a world where artificial intelligence is the zeitgeist鈥擨 believe nothing prevails over the power of live, human-created musical performance. Most of us are drawn to direct exposure to other human beings producing something uplifting, thought-provoking or otherwise emotionally resonant. Beyond experiencing music as a commodity, witnessing the unique talents and vulnerabilities of individuals creating music both deepens and amplifies our encounters with music鈥攕ometimes taking us back to special places stored deep in our memories, sometimes propelling us forward in our most closely-hold aspirations.

If there鈥檚 a reason to have hope in a world of upheaval and unrest, it鈥檚 experiencing a young person openly and courageously sharing their musical gift, including their angst or protest against injustices of all kinds. Beauty lies in their inimitable expression of their truth through music in a range of settings not limited to the concert hall. Beauty underpins our universal musician mission, for music majors and non-majors alike. Beauty is why we do what we do.  

In my role as dean, my true purpose is to facilitate and empower our students and faculty to achieve their highest, noblest aspirations of beauty鈥攆rom ensuring our faculty have what they need to best advise, mentor and inspire our students; to eliminating what might stand in the way of our students鈥� success and experiencing music in whatever form they seek; to supporting our staff who work so diligently in carrying out our mission on behalf of our entire College of Music community.

In that spirit鈥攁mong other efforts underway to more effectively advance students pursuing music as a vocation as well as students interested in music as an active avocation鈥擨鈥檓 excited about mission-driven revisions to our Bachelor of Arts in Music degree, including a proposed emphasis in music production. Paving the way for more potential degree emphases鈥攆rom music and the entertainment industry to music and business, music and law, music and media, music and health, critical music studies, sound engineering and endless other options鈥攖his non-traditional, retooled degree will be one way to better ensure our students鈥� agency and preparedness for as yet unknown futures.

Expanding our reach, more inclusive and accessible degree offerings like these will not require an audition or applied study; that said, students enrolled in our BA in Music degree may still opt for emphases in, say, composition, piano or percussion. Such flexibility affords near-limitless opportunities for a broader student demographic to tailor their education to their specific goals, complementing our expanding suite of 鈥渟tackable鈥� micro credentials, certificate programs and badges in such areas as arts administration, music entrepreneurship, music technology, music theory and singing health.

In sum, new mindsets are inspiring new and necessary innovations to our college curriculum and programs which, I believe, will ignite more broadly-based student engagement in creating beauty in our world.

John S. Davis
Dean, College of Music

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Ripley鈥攚hose passion for dance, music and theatre arts began at a young age鈥攚as born in Guatemala to a Brazilian-American mother and a Guatemalan father. At 精品SM在线影片, she exemplifies the College of Music鈥檚 universal musician mission by pursuing degrees in musical theatre, psychology and French.

She shares her favorite aspects of the College of Music and reveals the ways in which her music education is preparing her for a promising career:

What鈥檚 your favorite aspect of the 精品SM在线影片 College of Music?
Ripley: There鈥檚 a beautiful sense of camaraderie in the College of Music鈥攑eople look further than the instrument someone plays or the role they are given, and love and appreciate the person behind that. While it鈥檚 true that the hallways are filled with the sounds of music that people enjoy making for themselves, students here accept and embrace the beauty of sharing music with one another as well. I鈥檝e noticed a fantastic balance between drive for personal improvement and a love for the art form we鈥檝e all chosen.  

How does the College of Music support you in your professional endeavors?
Ripley: The College of Music provides me with curricular support. I鈥檓 acquiring practical skills鈥攍ike business and networking techniques鈥攂eyond the musical aspects of my degree through the classes offered in my major. I鈥檓 learning skills that can help me get further in my career鈥攅ven before I graduate and enter the workforce. 

I鈥檓 also receiving stellar individual training from brilliant professors. Jennifer DeDominici, Andrew Garland and Mutsumi Moteki are the professors I work most closely with in my applied area of voice. The art of collaboration is valued here, making me a more well-rounded artist, giving musician and focused person. 

There are many individuals here who share similar dreams to my own and who have supported me in pursuing my passion鈥攁 rare and cherished quality to find in classmates.

Congratulations, Adriana!

Inspired by a true story, 鈥淢ija鈥� is a new bilingual musical about survival, identity and the complexity of family鈥攊t follows characters across continents, decades and generations. When Luisa leaves behind her sheltered life in the United States for Guatemala, she鈥檚 blindsided by a life-threatening pregnancy. In Oregon, Gabi aches for grownup life to start but first she seeks to uncover secrets the adults around her deny. The show provides a finely-crafted look at the relationships between mothers and daughters across different eras, capturing both the specific and the universal. 

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Planning for such an intense on-the-road course began 鈥渁 few years ago,鈥� says Shay. 鈥淏efore we left, we had three class sessions, sort of as a crash course. I wanted to get the basics in place.鈥� Once in Vienna, everything changed. 鈥淏y actually being there, you鈥檙e seeing these things we鈥檙e talking about,鈥� Shay adds. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an immediacy. I can see how rapidly students can internalize information.鈥�

Since nine of the 10 young travelers had never visited Europe, one wondered about the impact of visiting the great Austrian city. 鈥淲e talked as a group afterward,鈥� recalls Shay, 鈥渁nd I got a general sense of their response to the trip鈥擨 think I whetted their appetite for more learning and for more travel.鈥�

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