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Meet Damani Phillips: 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient

Anonymous — Tue, 03 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Meet Damani Phillips: 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/03/2022 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

At the College of Music’s commencement ceremony this Thursday, May 5, we’re so excited to welcome alumnus Damani Phillips (DMA ’09) back to campus and to present him the college’s 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award!

“I’m beyond thrilled to receive this year’s Distinguished Alumnus award,” says Phillips, saxophonist, educator, author and recording artist who currently serves as head of the jazz studies program and associate professor of African American studies at the University of Iowa. “As you navigate your degree program, you always hope that once finished and your professional career gets fully underway that you can manage to be impactful in a way that represents both yourself and the institutions that you attended positively.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be formally acknowledged by your alma mater as a graduate who has managed to do so in a noteworthy way. I view this award as a great honor.”

A native of Pontiac, Michigan, Phillips earned bachelor and master of music degrees from DePaul University and the University of Kentucky in classical saxophone, a second master of music in jazz studies from Wayne State University and a doctor of musical arts degree in jazz studies here at the ��񱦵�, becoming the first African American in the country to do so.

“While graduate school is customarily about preparing for a very specific type of professional existence, my experience as a doctoral student at CU pushed beyond that,” reflects Phillips. “While I was well prepared for my obvious career path, my time here at the College of Music afforded me the chance to develop any number of possible peripheral skills needed for success.

“In short, I graduated with confidence in my ability to fill many different roles in my professional life—many of which were well beyond the training afforded to my peers nationwide. The versatile training provided by CU has been the cornerstone of my success to date, and has enabled me to do and be many things well beyond typical expectations.”

Indeed, an active performer, pedagogue and lecturer, Phillips has performed, presented and taught around the world. He previously served on the faculty of Grinnell College and Oakland University, and is a sought-after guest artist, clinician presenter and adjudicator across the country. He has performed with artists and groups such as Lewis Nash, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, Bobby McFerrin, Marcus Belgrave, Terrell Stafford, Hank Jones, Red Holloway and Pat Bianchi, among many others. He has further released five albums as a bandleader; his most recent album—“No More Apologies,” featuring jazz quartet with string octet—was released last fall.

Phillips is also an active academic scholar, with scholarly presentations at colleges, universities, professional/civic conferences and scholarly forums, both domestically and abroad, to his credit. His research focuses on addressing cultural concerns in the pedagogy of Black music within academia. His book—“What is This Thing Called Soul: Conversations on Jazz and Black Culture”—delves into the difficult yet timely topic of the decline of Black cultural influence and representation in jazz as traditionally taught in academic spheres.

Phillips’ advice for graduating Music Buffs? “In her 2021 New Yorker article—‘Black, Brown and Beige’ recounting the life and work of the great jazz composer and pianist Duke Ellington—author Claudia Pierpont remarked that Duke lived his life by the motto ‘One need not demand respect if one commands it,’” says Phillips. “This statement reflects just how important not only what we say, but what we do, is to making our mark on the world.

“Learn as many skills and absorb as much knowledge as possible now, as you never know what will be needed on your path ahead. In short, prepare yourself to face the world, unapologetically be what you are meant to be and do what you are meant to do. True, meaningful and lasting change in this world wholly depends on it.

“Go forward and command the respect that you have prepared yourself to earn.”

Congratulations on your well-earned distinction, Damani Phillips!

We’re so excited to welcome alumnus Damani Phillips back to campus this week and to present him the College of Music’s 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award at our commencement ceremony on May 5! “The versatile training provided by CU has been the cornerstone of my success to date, and has enabled me to do and be many things well beyond typical expectations,” he says. Meet Phillips and discover his powerful advice to graduating Music Buffs.

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Meet Judith Glyde: 2022 Distinguished Service Award recipient

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Meet Judith Glyde: 2022 Distinguished Service Award recipient Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/27/2022 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

At the College of Music’s commencement ceremony on May 5, we look forward to welcoming back Judith Glyde, formerly professor of cello and chamber music at the College of Music and chair of our string faculty. A founding member of the Manhattan String Quartet in 1970, she left the quartet at the end of the 1991-92 season to join the ��񱦵� faculty.

Since retiring in 2014 to live in New York City, the professor emerita she has been active with the college’s alumni community there, offering tremendous support to Forever Buffs who are now living and working in the city.

Upon hearing the news that she’s been selected to receive the College of Music’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award, Glyde said, “For over 60 years, my identity has been one of being a cellist and teacher. It is important to have new projects or structures that will give our talents the means they need. I certainly did not expect to be in New York City, retired, working with our CU alums, and receiving this Distinguished Service Award. I am honored and exceptionally grateful.”

Glyde also expressed gratitude for College of Music students, specifically: “I owe a big thank you to the students—they are the reason why we teach in an atmosphere such as the College of Music.

“We grow from knowing the students and, hopefully, they grow from knowing us. To be able to continue a relationship with our alums, supporting their music and their dreams, is a rare privilege.”

Glyde’s advice to new graduates? “Be ready! Keep your eyes and ears open for the next opportunity,” she said. “And have an adventurous spirit! To receive satisfaction in any field, one must be willing to participate in things that involve uncertainty and risk.”

She added, “Find a role for yourself. Find that which will distinguish yourself from all the others. I would like to feel that it is enough to create great music, and in doing so, make a difference in someone’s life.”

Looking ahead, she concluded, “Don’t be stagnant. It’s crucial to move with the times—one may need to have new projects or structures that will give our talents the means they need.

“Make sure that you are part of the changes that are occurring in music today … changes that I think of as a renewal of all the great things in music that have come before.”

Formerly artist-in-residence at Town Hall in New York City; Colgate University, New York; and at Grinnell College, Iowa, Glyde performed over 80 concerts a year with the Manhattan Quartet, appearing throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the former Soviet Union and South America. Their discography includes over 25 recordings for labels such as Naxos, Sony, Koch, Newport Classics and Centaur Records, including a set of six ESS.A.Y. compact discs featuring the 15 string quartets of Dmitri Shostakovich, the first recording of the complete cycle by an American quartet.

Congratulations on your well-earned distinction, Judith Glyde!

On May 5, we look forward to welcoming back Judith Glyde, formerly professor of cello and chamber music at the College of Music and chair of our string faculty. Since retiring in 2014 to live in New York City, the professor emerita she has been active with the college’s alumni community there, offering tremendous support to Forever Buffs who are now living and working in the city.

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CU Flute studio celebrates Earth Day with nature-inspired program

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CU Flute studio celebrates Earth Day with nature-inspired program Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/19/2022 - 00:00

MarieFaith Lane

To commemorate Earth Day, the CU flute studio will present a program of nature-inspired music on April 22.

Featured selections include music from a variety of composers including Valerie Coleman, Jennifer Higdon, Toru Takemitsu and Assistant Professor of Composition Annika Socolofsky.

“Our studio chose to present an Earth Day concert as a way to celebrate the natural world and reflect on our place within the ecosystem,” says junior flute performance student Andrea Kloehn. “The music we’re playing mirrors the diversity of both nature and humanity.”

She adds that—thanks to the support of Music Advisory Board Chair Laurie Hathorn—“we were able to commission two CU student composers to write pieces for this concert, Dianna Link and Conor Abbott Brown.” Their works are “Flutter,” composed by Link, and “We Were Always Wolves,” composed by Brown.

Concludes Kloehn, “The flute studio is excited to premiere these two pieces. ‘Flutter’ is a flute quartet, inspired by the monarch butterfly migration. ‘We Were Always Wolves’ draws on the concept of the wolf pack to create a large-scale work for the whole flute studio.”

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

On April 22, the CU Flute studio will present diverse works by Valerie Coleman, Jennifer Higdon, Toru Takemitsu and Annika Socolofsky to commemorate Earth Day.

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College of Music to welcome renowned composer for centennial anniversary celebration

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

College of Music to welcome renowned composer for centennial anniversary celebration Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/14/2022 - 00:00

Ally Dever

In a delayed celebration of the College of Music’s 100th anniversary, the CU Symphony Orchestra will perform a specially commissioned work by renowned composer Christopher Theofanidis.

Theofanidis, a professor at Yale University, is a Grammy-nominated composer who has written music for acclaimed ensembles around the world, including the London Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and the American Ballet Theater.

Originally commissioned by the college in 2020, the debut of Theofanidis’ work was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now that in-person performances have resumed, Theofanidis’ “On the Bridge of the Eternal” will debut in Macky Auditorium on April 26. The event is free and open to the public.

“In some ways, the piece is about mystery,” Theofanidis says. “It has this feeling you might get when looking at the Grand Canyon, or the night sky—that no matter what’s passing in front of you, there’s always a bigger picture.”

Inspiring the next generation

As a composer-in-residence and co-director of the composition program at the Aspen Music Festival, Theofanidis spends his summers in Colorado and has maintained close professional and personal relationships with several College of Music faculty members, including Composition Chair Carter Pann.

Pann, who met Theofanidis during their time at the Eastman School of Music, hoped to make the most of his visit by inviting his old friend to campus for a nine-day residency. Theofanidis will work one-on-one with students and faculty—coaching chamber groups, teaching masterclasses and answering questions students have about his experience as a professional composer.

“A composition career is really tough to sustain,” Pann notes. “And Theofanidis represents somebody who’s not only succeeded at it, but also remained humble, kept a smile on his face and took every opportunity to connect with other musicians and students.”

During his graduate studies, Theofanidis received countless prestigious fellowships, including a Fulbright fellowship to study at Ircam—a French music institute focusing on avant garde and electro-acoustical art music. He went on to compose for some of the world’s top orchestras and symphonies, all while maintaining a teaching career.

Having taught at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and Juilliard School, Theofanidis believes inspiring the next generation of musicians should be every composer’s goal.

“Being personally connected with other musicians is the way that you transmit positive energy, and keep it alive,” he says. “The way that I can do that, in my small world, is to be a coach and a cheerleader for these students.”

To students seeking a career in composition, Theofanidis has one piece of advice: Don’t chase success.

“You can only do so much in terms of your career, and success will inevitably be unsatisfying,” he says. “The one thing you can do is create something that represents you—a musical poem that you leave behind for others to enjoy and perform.”

During his stay on campus, Theofanidis will also get to enjoy one of his shorter pieces performed by the CU Wind Symphony, alongside their premiere of “The Battle for the Ballot” by Stacy Garrop on April 19 in Macky Auditorium. Garrop’s piece, also commissioned by the college in 2020, celebrates the centenary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Related news

��񱦵� violist Richard O’Neill wins Grammy: O’Neill, the newest member of the College of Music’s string faculty, won a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category for his performance of Christopher Theofanidis’ Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra.
Associate Professor of Guitar Nicolò Spera performs in Christopher Theofanidis’ “Door Out of the Fire ”

In a delayed celebration of the College of Music’s 100th anniversary, the CU Symphony Orchestra will perform a specially commissioned work by renowned composer Christopher Theofanidis. “The one thing you can do is create something that represents you—a musical poem that you leave behind for others to enjoy and perform,” says the Grammy-nominated composer whose “On the Bridge of the Eternal” will debut in Macky Auditorium on April 26.

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Annual Holiday Festival celebrates community comeback

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Annual Holiday Festival celebrates community comeback Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/01/2021 - 00:00

MarieFaith Lane

For many locals, the holiday season begins with the College of Music’s annual Holiday Festival featuring several of our ensembles—from the Holiday Festival Orchestra and the CU Chamber Singers to our West African Highlife Ensemble.

As a current graduate student studying violin performance and pedagogy—while serving as communications assistant for our college—it’s been rewarding to be a part of the behind-the-scenes preparations to launch this large-scale community event, Dec. 3-5. College of Music faculty and my fellow students have worked incredibly hard in rehearsals—especially since fall break—to deliver high quality performances this weekend. And the college’s communicators, marketers and box office staff have worked tirelessly, collaborating with different departments to creatively promote our Holiday Festival to interested audiences.

I’m honored to be concertmaster—the leader of the first violin section working closely with the conductor—this holiday season. I’m excited to be a part of this warm and entertaining holiday tradition presenting many beautiful arrangements of holiday favorites. One piece I particularly enjoy playing is “Christmas Overture” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, an Afro-English composer. The most easily recognizable carol themes referenced in the overture include “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Good King Wenceslas” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

With the college’s dedication to expanding diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do, it’s been wonderful to work on a program that features repertoire from composers of all backgrounds, including works by historically underrepresented composers.

This year more than ever, I’m grateful for the opportunity to perform live for in-person audiences. I’ve been talking with community members who are counting down to this concert-filled weekend—like me, many people are eager to return to some semblance of normalcy, including going to concerts and celebrating the holiday spirit together.

Gregory Gentry, who conducts the CU Chamber Singers, puts it this way: “Both our students and staff are proud that we’re able to come back to this community tradition that was silenced last year because of the pandemic. The Holiday Festival has been and continues to be a gift to not only our students and campus community, but the broader community as a whole.”

See you at Macky Auditorium this weekend!

Photo: MarieFaith Lane, front and center, is concertmaster of this year's Holiday Festival.

MarieFaith Lane, a current graduate student and Holiday Festival 2021 concertmaster, offers a first-person perspective on the spirit of this weekend’s community event.

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CU Philharmonia Orchestra features anthem for risk taking, for “that brilliant fire that lives in us all”

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +0000

CU Philharmonia Orchestra features anthem for risk taking, for “that brilliant fire that lives in us all” Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/10/2021 - 00:00

MarieFaith Lane

On Nov. 15, the CU Philharmonia Orchestra will present a diverse range of repertoire for strings and full orchestra, including a new work by Jessica Mays, Maurice Ravel’s “Ma mère l’Oye” and Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5 in D Major/minor, Op. 107.

“How great and refreshing it has been for students to come together this year—to listen and play together as a group again,” says Philharmonia Orchestra Director and Assistant Director of Orchestral Studies Joel Schut, who also conducts the Denver Young Artists Conservatory Orchestra.

“The College of Music is special in that we have two full orchestras,” he continues. “And the Philharmonia Orchestra is unique in that it's primarily comprised of undergraduate students, which provides great leadership opportunities for all instruments—winds are able to play major solo parts and string students are able to step into leadership roles where there might not be as many opportunities in the orchestra comprising primarily graduate students.”

As well, the Philharmonia Orchestra has a strong commitment to programming at least one underrepresented voice on each concert cycle. “I want to expose our students to different styles of music,” explains Schut. “For our November concert, we’ve prepared a brand new piece in a modern style, a classic French-style work and a traditional classical symphony—all requiring different techniques and ways of creating music.”

Specifically, the upcoming program includes Mays’ “Anthem for Go,” Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite” (note the many woodwind solos and the famous violin solo!) and Mendelssohn's four-movement “Reformation” symphony, one of the composer's most-performed scores.

In particular, the Philharmonia Orchestra’s performance of Mays’ “Anthem for Go”—originally commissioned for the Denver Young Artists Conservatory Orchestra—is all about a desire for risk taking and change. Mays puts it this way:

Within my piece, “Anthem for Go,” is an expansion on a theme that for me has embodied the spirit of overcoming hardship and listening to our burning desire for something more, something better. This piece is a tribute to both our heartbreak and resilience—our tears inspiring the conviction to move forward. Our desire to break down those systems that divide and rob us of our rights. It’s about our blind determination to push for something better for ourselves, our communities and our shared place on this miraculous planet. This is an anthem for that brilliant fire that lives in us all.

Schut further encourages concertgoers to listen for the unique voice of each part, marching forward to the end of the piece, bursting with energy and excitement.

Join us!

On Nov. 15, the CU Philharmonia Orchestra will present diverse works by Jessica Mays, Maurice Ravel and Felix Mendelssohn.

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Piano + Keyboard Program hosts DEI-focused guest lecturers, master class

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Piano + Keyboard Program hosts DEI-focused guest lecturers, master class Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/27/2021 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

Kicking off November, the College of Music's Roser Piano + Keyboard Program is thrilled to present virtual and in-person events as part of a doctoral seminar on diverse piano literature. On Nov. 2, 5 and 12, two guest lectures and a guest master class are open to the piano department as a whole; members of the college's Music Advisory Board and the general public are also welcome.

"Who's that? Creating a new standard repertoire"

Guest lecture by Assistant Professor of Piano Artina McCain, Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, University of Memphis
Nov. 5, 10:20 a.m. via Zoom:
https://cuboulder.zoom.us/j/91407388720
Meeting ID: 914 0738 8720)

According to McCain, "Teaching underrepresented composers is experiencing a renaissance. As trendy as it may seem, this is not a new topic. While works of Black women composers have been discussed for decades, there's a disconnect between individual research and what we see represented in our student auditions, concert halls and competition programming.

"In this session, we'll learn how to pair 'new' pieces with standard programming for intermediate through advanced repertoire."

Professor of Piano Andrew Cooperstock points out that McCain is both a specialist in piano music by Black women composers and an expert in "how to incorporate this music into traditional music study and performance."

He adds, "Dr. McCain is a leader among American artist-teachers today with a perspective that's closely aligned with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion [DEI] goals of the Keyboard Department and the College of Music overall."

Master class

Nov. 2, 2:20 p.m. in Grusin Music Hall (in person)

Leading up to McCain's lecture, join us for a guest master class with McCain (via Zoom), along with three of our doctoral students (in person)—and featuring diverse music by George Walker, H. Leslie Adams and Tania Leon.

"American music from the African diaspora"

Guest lecture by Keyboard Lecturer William Chapman Nyaho, Mary Baker Russell Music Center, Pacific Lutheran University
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
Author of Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora
Nov. 12, 10:20 a.m. via Zoom:
https://cuboulder.zoom.us/j/91407388720
Meeting ID: 914 0738 8720)

"Dr. Nyaho is the leading expert on piano music of Africa and the African diaspora," says Cooperstock of the Ghanaian American scholar. "He's lectured widely on the subject for a number of years and has published five graded volumes of music by these composers.

"As we seek to broaden our idea of repertoire, we have much to learn from Dr. Nyaho."

Join us!

Kicking off November, the College of Music's Piano + Keyboard Program will present virtual and in-person events as part of a doctoral seminar on diverse piano literature.

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Pendulum concert series a place for musical exploration

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Pendulum concert series a place for musical exploration Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/20/2021 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

On Oct. 28, Pendulum will present its second concert of the academic year. We reached out to Assistant Professor of Composition + Pendulum Director Annika Socolofsky—winner of the prestigious 2021 Gaudeamus Award—to get the scoop on the exciting work of the College of Music's new music concert series:

Describe Pendulum today and your vision for the ensemble:

Socolofsky: Pendulum is first and foremost a place for musical exploration—a chance for composers and performers to step out of their comfort zones and bring something brand new to life for the first time.

We're a rowdy bunch that loves to take risks and experience a huge range of musical genres and aesthetics. On any given concert, you can expect to hear just about everything from pop songs about dog excrement to existential string quartets, from fiddle tunes to art songs.

Pendulum is a space where we can celebrate personal expression within a community that values that authenticity.

How does Pendulum's concert this month deliver on your vision?

Socolofsky: As is usual for Pendulum, our Oct. 28 program will showcase a huge range of musical styles and expressions featuring works from 1961 right up to the present in the form of art songs, jazz, singer-songwriters and the Boulder Altitude Directive (BAD), ��񱦵�'s own contemporary music ensemble led by Composition Chair Carter Pann.

What's most exciting to you about Pendulum activities + programming this academic year?

Socolofsky: Some big events to look forward to this year include the BAD performances in October and March; the ~Nois Saxophone Quartet's residency in February as part of our show in the ATLAS Black Box Theatre; and, of course, the Ivalas Quartet on our season finale in April. All these performers will be premiering new works by ��񱦵� student composers, so we'll be the very first to hear them!

Last but certainly not least, you won the 2021 Gaudeamus Award! What does this recognition mean to you and your work with Pendulum?

Socolofsky: Thanks! It's a huge honor and I'm still kind of in disbelief. The trophy itself was designed and built by Netherlands-based artist Nuni Weisz and is an instrument-sculpture titled "Inner Voice Amplifier."

The instrument allows you to hear your own voice the way it sounds when it leaves your body. I think this is the perfect metaphor for Pendulum because we do this every day as creators of new music—we send our voices out into the world to be heard outside of our own heads, to be shared with our beautiful community here at CU and beyond.

Learn more about Pendulum and upcoming Pendulum events.

On Oct. 28, Pendulum New Music will present its second concert of the academic year. Says Assistant Professor of Composition + Pendulum Director Annika Socolofsky, "We're a rowdy bunch that loves to take risks and experience a huge range of musical genres and aesthetics."

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Winds program features music by celebrated BIPOC composer George Walker

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Winds program features music by celebrated BIPOC composer George Walker Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/13/2021 - 00:00

MarieFaith Lane

At the College of Music, we know that music—as an integral part of our daily lives—binds people together and creates space for artistic exploration.

In that spirit, the next Faculty Tuesdays recital on Oct. 19 features Professor of Horn Michael Thornton and Professor of Piano David Korevaar—alongside graduate students and members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO)— in an evening of music for winds, including celebrated BIPOC composer George Walker's "Wind Set."

“I try to use Faculty Tuesdays as a platform to bring in colleagues from different parts of my research and work, and to enhance our students' professional development," says Thornton, who holds concurrent appointments as principal horn of LACO and the Colorado Symphony. "In the past, I've performed with members from the Colorado Symphony and friends from various music festivals. For this show, I'm excited to collaborate with College of Music faculty, the ��񱦵� Graduate Wind Quintet and LACO colleagues.

“For the Graduate Wind Quintet, this is a really good challenge in preparing repertoire in a timeline that's normal for professional musicians, while making meaningful connections with big names in TV and film industries. I'm also excited about diversifying the program with a composer who has meaningful connections to ��񱦵�."

Indeed, the late George Walker was a visiting professor here in the 1960s; in 1996, Walker became the first African American composer to win a Pulitzer Prize for "Lilacs," a work for voice and orchestra.

In addition to "Wind Set," next Tuesday's program presents the college's Graduate Wind Quintet in Mozart's Serenade in C Minor, K. 388, as well as pianist Korevaar in Beethoven's Quintet for Piano and Winds.

“Beethoven in this piece is jumping off from a model established by Mozart, who first wrote a piece for this combination of instruments," explains Korevaar, who—as an active soloist, chamber musician and collaborator—is thrilled to be playing in-person performances again. "Beethoven, of course, handles it differently. Young Beethoven was interested in his own virtuoso pianism and maybe didn't share the spotlight as well with the other players, compared to Mozart.

“That said, there's wonderful wind writing that reflects this late-18th-century moment when orchestra wind sections were coming into their own.”

Concludes Korevaar, "Beethoven has the exquisite ability to write music that's meant for five great soloists to play in collaboration, where everybody has a critical role. It’s an extremely well-written and fun piece to play, full of infectious humor. And I'm really looking forward to working with Mike and his colleagues, whom I haven’t worked with before."

On Oct. 19, horn and piano faculty will collaborate with the ��񱦵� Graduate Wind Quintet and members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in a Faculty Tuesdays program for winds, including George Walker's "Wind Set."

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College of Music's Faculty Tuesdays series celebrates 22 years of community-focused music making

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 20:42:42 +0000

College of Music's Faculty Tuesdays series celebrates 22 years of community-focused music making Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/17/2021 - 14:42

Ally Dever

��񱦵�’s College of Music has been offering free, live faculty performances to the Boulder community for more than two decades.

As part of the long-running Faculty Tuesdays series, professional musicians in the college play concerts most Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters, offering students and community members the opportunity to experience firsthand the renowned talent housed right here on campus.

Daniel Sher, former College of Music Dean, and Joan McLean Braun, assistant dean for concerts and communications and executive director of CU Presents, started the popular Faculty Tuesdays series in 1999.

The first concert—on August 24, 1999—was a tribute to beloved Professor Emeritus Howard Waltz and featured a number of faculty performers. The next concert in the series featured the Lehnert Solo/Duo, featuring husband-wife duo and longtime College of Music professors Oswald (violin) and Doris (piano) Lehnert. [The first concert this season—on August 24, 2021—will feature Associate Professor of Trumpet Ryan Gardner and Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano Margaret McDonald in an exciting and diverse program.]

As dean, Sher inherited a series that was called First Tuesdays from his predecessor, which consisted of one designated concert by faculty on the first Tuesday of every month.

“One faculty concert a month, and only up through March, meant only a few faculty members got to perform in one year,” Sher said. “But, the College of Music had many more faculty members who were performers.”

Sher decided to change the series to occur every Tuesday to provide a more consistent schedule for concertgoers and more opportunities for faculty to perform.

“With this series, the College of Music launched something unique," Sher said. “There really wasn't a formal approach to faculty recitals at other schools and colleges at the time.”

But word of the first-of-its-kind series quickly spread to other universities. Sher routinely attended several conferences and roundtables for music deans and directors across the country, and found many of his colleagues at other institutions were inspired by Faculty Tuesdays. Some even expressed interest in similar programs of their own.

“Music deans at other schools would ask how we got such a large audience to the concerts and how we got faculty to participate,” he said.

Since then, several music schools across the country have instituted similar programs, like Yale’s Faculty Artist Series, Arizona State University's ASU in Concert Series and Michigan State University’s Faculty Recital Series.

Craft and collaboration

Distinguished Professor of Piano David Korevaar has been a frequent performer at Faculty Tuesdays since its inception, participating in over 70 individual performances.

As a world-renowned professional musician who has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America, Korevaar believes Faculty Tuesdays offers something unique.

“This is one of the best audiences I play for anywhere in the world,” Korevaar said. “And as performers, that's what musicians are all about.”

For faculty, the series has served as a platform to practice their craft. It provides them with an appreciative audience and a free venue to try out their material before they take it on the road—an opportunity that’s not offered to most professional musicians, according to Sher.

“It's integral to a faculty member’s development as a performer, because however high their level of artistry, they’re always looking for ways to to improve,” Sher said.

Faculty Tuesdays format exposes students and the broader ��񱦵� community to different genres of music. And, by allowing performers to schedule their slots in advance, it also inspires faculty to plan collaborative performances with colleagues in different departments, bringing a new dimension to the weekly performances.

“After switching to Faculty Tuesdays, our professors were less siloed and began to appreciate one another, and learn more about the artistry and abilities of their colleagues,” Sher said.

“It contributed significantly to the climate of collaboration that the college enjoys today and elevated the mutual respect and admiration between our faculty members.”

Korevaar, who has collaborated with many of his talented colleagues, including violinist Charles Wetherbee and vocalist Jennifer Bird, also believes the series has fostered cross-departmental collaboration.

“It created an opportunity to put together some really interesting ensembles and do pieces we might not have an opportunity to do elsewhere,” Korevaar said.

But, Faculty Tuesdays doesn't only benefit performers and area audiences, it’s also an opportunity for professors to serve as role models for their students.

“A lot of what we do as professors is modeling, and part of the modeling that we do is performance,” Korevaar added. “So having these first-rate concerts available to the students on campus is very meaningful for us.”

Cultivating community

Faculty Tuesday has always served as a space to bring together the local and surrounding communities.

The series’ accessibility has fostered professional relationships, created long lasting friendships and even allowed the community to gather during difficult times.

Korevaar reflected on one of his first and most memorable performances. During his second year on faculty, the World Trade Center twin towers collapsed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A Faculty Tuesday performance was scheduled for that night. Although there were discussions about canceling the event, the college decided the show would go on.

“It ended up being this really amazing community event,” he recalled. “It was what we all needed that day, and that’s the performance that really sticks with me.”

And, unlike other concerts, attendees don’t have to drive far and pay expensive fees to hear professional quality music.

Chris Brauchli, a longtime donor to the College of Music, has been a staple of the local music community since he moved to Boulder in 1958. A violinist himself, he regularly hosts local musicians at his house for chamber music jam sessions.

Brauchli has attended Faculty Tuesday performances since the series’ inception.

“The quality and level of the talent continues to blossom, and it makes the concerts superb,” he said. “It's a real treat for people who live here to be able to hear these performances for free on a weekly basis.”

The College of Music relies on community donations to continue to host Faculty Tuesdays.

“Faculty Tuesdays are free and open to the public and that’s wonderful, but donations from the community have helped the college construct new facilities for events and raised the level of performances,” he said.

To encourage others to donate, Brauchli has been known for his “magic envelope” bit on occasional Tuesday events.

Formerly inserted in each hardcopy program, there was an envelope for voluntary donations.*

“As a joke, I’ve pointed out that attendees can tear it off, throw it away and it becomes trash,” he said. “Or, they can put money inside, mail it back to the college and it becomes gold.”

*With the College of Music’s move to digital programs, give here to add your support for the Faculty Tuesdays series.

As part of the College of Music's long-running Faculty Tuesdays series, professional musicians, vocalists and ensembles in the college play concerts most Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters, offering students and community members the opportunity to experience firsthand the renowned talent housed right here on campus.

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