彩民宝典

Willem Rohwer comes to the College of Music from Edwards, Colorado, to pursue an undergraduate degree in double bass performance. 鈥淒eveloping my own musical opinions and character are really something that I want to find here,鈥� he says. Discover Rohwer鈥檚 unique approach to a successful audition and his other interests.

The College of Music has had an alternatively-sized keyboard on loan since April 2023. Recent graduate Abigail Terrill shares how the narrower keyboard is helpful, why it鈥檚 needed and what her thesis research found about the process of transitioning between pianos.

Last summer, the College of Music and Sphinx Performance Academy kicked off a new partnership to welcome talented string students鈥攁ges 11-17鈥攖o our campus for an intensive scholarship program emphasizing cultural diversity. This month, it鈥檚 d茅j芒 vu as auditioned youths engage in lessons, master classes and more, culminating in public performances tonight and this weekend.

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.

The College of Music鈥檚 2024 New Opera Workshop (CU NOW) is underway, leading up to performances of Gene Scheer鈥檚 鈥淧olly Peachum鈥濃�攁s well as performances of opera scenes presented by our Composer Fellows鈥� Initiative鈥攊n June.

In this edition of the Dean鈥檚 Downbeat, Dean John Davis doubles down on the College of Music鈥檚 commitment to championing diversity, equity and inclusion. 鈥淚鈥檓 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.鈥�

Rock/jazz drumming giant Chad Wackerman will hold a rare residency at our College of Music next week. Mike Barnett, associate teaching professor in composition and music theory, shares how the residency demonstrates the college鈥檚 universal musician mission. 鈥淎s an artist, you can grow throughout your entire life,鈥� he says.

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. Doctoral student O鈥橬eil Jones is about to make that happen.

Among several exciting developments, the College of Music鈥檚 Thompson Jazz Studies Program is set to launch a new Bachelor of Music in Vocal Jazz degree this fall.

Known for her heartfelt philanthropy on both local and national levels, Anna Sie left a powerful legacy of impact at 彩民宝典, including establishing a transformational student scholarship in the College of Music with her husband, John, and endowing several faculty chairs.