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Rudy Betancourt named director of ��񱦵� Artist Series

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:48:48 +0000

Rudy Betancourt named director of ��񱦵� Artist Series Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/04/2024 - 08:48

Clay Bonnyman Evans

After almost 15 years at the helm of Macky Auditorium at the ��񱦵�, Rudy Betancourt has also been named the new director of the College of Music’s long-running Artist Series which has brought the finest jazz, classical, world music and dance performers to town for more than eight decades.

Betancourt—a native of Venezuela and an accomplished classical guitarist—will continue to serve as director at Macky which welcomes more than 100,000 people to over 100 events every season. He says adding the beloved series to the venue’s portfolio has the potential to turn over a new page for both.

“The Artist Series has been evolving for decades with an unparalleled cultural impact,” he says. “Having the Artist Series within Macky’s portfolio helps the venue to be a presenter as much as a facility for rent.”

Betancourt says the Artist Series will continue to delight long-time patrons as it also seeks to expand and diversify its programming.

“The series will still include dance, classical music, jazz, performing arts from all over the world, as well as new genres. Keeping true to its well-established mission while feeling the cultural pulse in Boulder will help determine its evolution,” he says. “There will be wonderful choices for our legacy and new audiences to enjoy.”

When CU Presents Executive Director Joan Braun retired at the end of June after 30 years, it was determined that it made sense to separate the curation of the Artist Series from the operations of CU Presents. Braun and ��񱦵� College of Music Dean John Davis recommended Betancourt to be the Artist Series director as the most natural choice.

“Rudy is an excellent, accomplished musician and he has impeccable taste and awareness of the music scene,” Braun says. “As director of Macky, he also is very aware of audience tastes and preferences, and what they respond to. He can see some different pathways and possibilities and I’m excited to see what he does with it.”

“Joan’s legacy of innovation in the arts and securing the Artist Series’ place in the hearts of its audiences is a tall order—one that I am honored to continue. I am excited to work with the College of Music’s leadership and the Artist Series Advisory Board. It is a real privilege,” Betancourt says.

Betancourt will continue to work closely with the staff at CU Presents. “The CU Presents team brings unparalleled knowledge of how to reach our audiences and cultivate our relationship with them,” he says. “Continuing and deepening this collaboration will be paramount to the success of the series.”

CU Presents will continue to work with other College of Music programs as well as with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and CU Theatre & Dance.

Tickets for the 2024-25 Artist Series are on sale now.

After almost 15 years at the helm of Macky Auditorium, Rudy Betancourt has also been named the new director of the College of Music’s long-running Artist Series which has brought the finest jazz, classical, world music and dance performers to town for more than eight decades.

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College of Music welcomes new executive director of CU Presents

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0000

College of Music welcomes new executive director of CU Presents Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/03/2024 - 00:00

Marc Shulgold + Sabine Kortals Stein

Andrew (“Metz”) Metzroth can’t contain his joy when he talks about his new job as executive director of CU Presents, effective since Aug. 5. “I’ve worked toward this for a decade—it’s truly exciting,” he enthuses. As part of the ��񱦵� College of Music, CU Presents is the home of performing arts on campus annually presenting hundreds of events by ��񱦵� students and faculty, as well as world-famous guest artists.

Overseeing CU Presents requires administrative skill, a steady hand and a cool head. Just consider the competition Metzroth had to contend with after longtime director Joan Braun retired at the end of last season.

“I’m happy that the College of Music conducted a national search,” says Metzroth. “I think there were about three dozen applicants.” But one look at his résumé and it’s not surprising that Metzroth landed the position. For starters, his years of experience in nearly every aspect of the theater—backstage, onstage, above-stage, you name it—is mind-boggling. As his local credits will attest, he’s been everywhere at CU Presents for decades. Plus, his enthusiasm is contagious.

“I’ve always had a love for the theater,” he says. As for his relationship with ��񱦵�, he became box office manager in 2007, handling ticketing for campus performing arts events for nine years. That’s no small task, he emphasizes: “The ticketing software [Tessitura] goes incredibly deep, and takes a long time to learn and teach.” Moving further up the ladder, he became director of operations at CU Presents in 2017.

Today, Metzroth’s responsibilities entail close involvement in managing the Artist Series in Macky Auditorium and Takács Quartet concerts in Grusin Music Hall. But there are more shows to handle—a lot more. “There are some 450 on-campus events including about 350 College of Music events, 50 Theatre & Dance Department events and 50 Colorado Shakespeare Festival performances,” he explains. “I’ll be involved in strategy, ticketing, and marketing and communications for all our series, particularly College of Music events. You have to know what’s important to all of them, to know their goals.”

Not that he intends to remain invisible. “I never want this to be a desk job,” stresses the four-time ��񱦵� alumnus. “I see myself as a community ambassador—I want to bring audiences into performing arts experiences.”

In previous years, you could usually find Metzroth behind a box office window handling ticket sales. With a laugh, he says those days may not be entirely behind him. “Yeah, I might have to work there some nights, if we’re short-staffed.”

But as long as there’s a show going on, CU Presents’ new executive director is happy. “We’re performance- and outreach-oriented,” he adds. “An example of upcoming outreach opportunities are student matinees of [Engelbert Humperdinck’s] ‘Hänsel und Gretel’ in October. We’ll be bringing in students from kindergarten through second grade. That will take some coordinating with a number of schools.”

Sounds like a lot of work for “Metz”—but it’s a good bet he’ll be as excited as all those kids when the school buses arrive.

Andrew (“Metz") Metzroth can’t contain his joy when he talks about his new job as executive director of CU Presents. “I want to bring audiences into performing arts experiences,” he says.

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Fortepiano refurb a labor of love

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Fortepiano refurb a labor of love Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 06/26/2024 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

Avlona Yarbrough Taylor, daughters Karen (Patrice Walsh) and Kathryn (Paul Barchilon), as well as Evelyn Taylor—sister of the late Douglas Taylor.

It was a long time coming.

Piano Technician Mark Mikkelsen—who, for more than eight years, has supported the care and maintenance of the College of Music’s fleet of 160 pianos, two harpsichords and an organ—was 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 two fortepianos—one is a replica after Conrad Graf 1828 by Robert Smith, ca. 1982; the other is a replica after J. A. Stein by Richard Kingston, ca. 1982—are a tremendous boon for our college. Five years following their donation, the refurbished Smith fortepiano was performed on for the first time on April 8 by Wes Leffingwell, a doctoral student of Professor of Harpsichord Robert Hill.

Since the instrument’s donation, Mikkelsen—whose overall responsibilities include tuning, voicing, regulation, rebuilding and repair—researched the Smith fortepiano and embarked on a years-long restoration project in service to our students and faculty.

“The more I learned about the fortepiano from various sources—its history, how it was made, how it was shipped—the more I understood the instrument which inspired my problem solving,” says Mikkelsen, who was trained in piano technology at the nationally renowned North Bennet Street School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Avlona Taylor enjoying Wes Leffingwell’s performance on the refurbished fortepiano up close.

Adds Operations Manager and Head Piano Technician Ted Mulcahey, “When the Smith fortepiano arrived, it was not in playable condition. After about 120 hours of creative work—including inventing or sourcing missing parts, strings, tools and more—Mark turned it into a beautiful working instrument.”

“It was like working on a ship in a bottle,” continues Mikkelsen, who grew up playing piano. “I really enjoyed the historical and problem-solving aspects of this project … and the positive reactions of the Taylor family, Wes and our faculty really made the effort worthwhile.”

Mikkelsen’s connection to the Taylor family extends beyond this project and our College of Music. Over the years, he’s worked on Avlona Taylor’s harpsichord and he’s started tutoring her daughter, Karen, in the art of tuning.

“Mark is very generous with his time and attention,” concludes Mulcahey. “He knew this project meant a great deal to our donors, faculty and students … and he gave it his all. He cares an awful lot.”

Our tremendous gratitude to the Taylor family; to Robert Hill for his guidance throughout this project; and to the College of Music’s entire Operations team—also including Piano Technician Phil Taylor—for their tireless, behind-the-scenes commitment to keeping our college running smoothly.

Photos below: Members of the Taylor family with Leffingwell, Mulcahey, Mikkelsen, Piano Technician Phil Taylor, Professor of Piano Andrew Cooperstock—with whom Leffingwell studied as a master’s student—and friends. A new plaque adorns the newly playable fortepiano, a replica after Conrad Graf 1828 by Robert Smith, ca. 1982: “This fortepiano was generously donated by Douglas and Avlona Taylor.”

Photos: Shih-Han Chiu

It was a long time coming. Piano Technician Mark Mikkelsen—who, for more than eight years, has supported the care and maintenance of the College of Music’s fleet of 160 pianos, two harpsichords and an organ—was 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.

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College of Music welcomes Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives Kate Cimino

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

College of Music welcomes Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives Kate Cimino Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 01/25/2024 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

The College of Music at the ��񱦵� is thrilled to welcome Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives Kate Cimino who brings a wealth of experience in executive leadership and higher education, and a long-held passion for music. Cimino started her new role on Jan. 8.

“The Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives is a key member of the dean’s cabinet,” says College of Music Dean John Davis. “I’m confident that Kate’s experience and expertise are perfectly suited to coordinate campus and unit-level initiatives, ensuring alignment and harmony between the college’s mission to develop universal musicians and the ��񱦵� system-wide mission, vision and goals.

“Especially, I’m looking forward to relying on Kate as a thought partner in establishing and executing strategic priorities.”

Cimino’s journey in higher education administration has been both impressive and impactful. For 13 years, she served the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs as assistant director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance. Simultaneously, she held the role of executive director of the Policy Fellows program, a nationally recognized professional development program bringing together mid-career leaders from business, government and nonprofit sectors. Cimino was honored with a superior civilian service award from the Minnesota Army National Guard for her work engaging its members in the Humphrey Policy Fellows program for over a decade.

Earlier in her career, Cimino worked in residence life at Creighton University. Most recently, she served for three years as executive director of the Citizens League, a nonprofit organization with a mission to engage people in nonpartisan public policy and community initiatives. Cimino also served for 10 years on the board of directors—including two years as board chair—at MacPhail Center for Music, the nation’s largest community music school.

“Even though I’m new to ��񱦵�, coming to the College of Music feels, in a way, like coming home,” says Cimino, who’s also a bassoonist. “Music has shaped every phase of my life and the opportunity to work professionally in this capacity—to support the musicians and creative artists of the College of Music—is truly a joy.

“I’m excited to work alongside the dean and colleagues to advance the strategic and innovative efforts of the college, and to be part of the ��񱦵� community.”

Cimino holds two master’s degrees: A Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) and a Master of Arts in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University. As an undergrad at Case Western Reserve University, Cimino minored in music; in graduate school, she played bassoon with the UMKC Conservatory Orchestra.

“Music is central to what it means to be human and I’m constantly amazed by the power of music to connect people, combat isolation and express sentiments beyond words,” adds Cimino, who—originally from Buffalo, New York—now calls Boulder home.

Welcome, Kate!

The ��񱦵� College of Music welcomes Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives Kate Cimino who brings a wealth of experience in executive leadership and higher education, and a long-held passion for music.

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Senior House Manager Rojana Savoye named 2023 Chancellor’s Employee of the Year!

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Senior House Manager Rojana Savoye named 2023 Chancellor’s Employee of the Year! Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/09/2023 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

We’re proud and delighted that longtime Senior House Manager Rojana Savoye is one of just four recipients of the Chancellor’s 2023 Employee of the Year award!

Savoye—who manages all front-of-house operations at Macky Auditorium and within the College of Music, including Artist Series, Takács Quartet, Eklund Opera and other College of Music performances—was nominated for the award by CU Presents Executive Director Joan Braun, Operations Director Andrew Metzroth and Box Office Manager Adrienne Havelka.

“For so many people in our community, Rojana is literally the face of the college when they attend our events—of which there are hundreds each year,” says College of Music Dean John Davis. “The moment they walk in the door to one of our venues, they see her—and she sees them. Her heart is so huge, she makes sure everyone feels attended to.

“Rojana is eager, willing and quick to solve problems, and we all love working with her. She’s so deserving of this award for her important role that is sometimes overlooked. I couldn’t be happier for her.”

Agrees Braun, “Rojana is a true professional and invaluable representative for the College of Music, CU Presents and the University of Colorado. She has worked in a tough job for over 20 years, and I have total respect and gratitude for her work.

“As the senior front-of-house manager for all College of Music and CU Presents events at Macky Auditorium, Grusin Music Hall, the Music Theatre and other venues in our Imig Music Building, Rojana acts as the primary PR representative for these entities as well as the University of Colorado in general. Not only does she provide invaluable service in solving problems, she is responsible for our patrons’ safety should there be a medical emergency, fire or other life-safety event.

“Rojana consistently goes above and beyond her duties in solving patron conflicts and enforcing the university’s safety policies. And she does it in such a way that there is learning rather than animosity as a result. As warm and kind as she is, she has a backbone of steel.”

“I am beyond humbled and honored,” says Savoye. “I’m part of the best team I could imagine working with, and my work is and always has been for the greater good. Receiving this award is so meaningful to me—I can’t begin to express my gratitude for the recognition.”

According to Metzroth, “It’s an honor to work with Rojana. Her job on campus is already very specialized, but her unique approach and unflappable character put her well above any other house manager I’ve worked with.

“Rojana’s mentorship and high standards have created a roster of compassionate and proactive employees. Her leadership has not only taught them how to be good ushers, but also how to take responsibility, troubleshoot problems with independence and analyze complex problems for the betterment of all parties. Many of these ushers have gone on to careers in other arts organizations including the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Colorado Symphony and more.”

Also noting that Savoye goes “above and beyond” in her role, Havelka further sheds light on Savoye’s active participation and engagement in the College of Music’s staff council: “Rojana regularly volunteers and contributes great ideas on what we can do for our staff. She is involved in almost all of our community and engagement events, and she regularly participates in extracurricular activities with both staff and faculty.

“Rojana has taken the time to get to know the staff and faculty at the College of Music and has created wonderful relationships. There isn’t one person at the College of Music who would speak poorly of Rojana. She is a woman of many talents and continually puts those to work.

“It’s staff members like Rojana who keep our department running, and her smiling face and great attitude keep people coming back to our events.”

Thank you, Rojana, and congratulations!

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 3:30-5 p.m., Savoye and her co-award winners will be honored at a reception with Chancellor DiStefano [Chancellor’s Auditorium, ��񱦵� Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE) building].

For more than two decades, Rojana Savoye has maintained positive public relations with ��񱦵� patrons, presenters and co-workers; managed and enforced operational policies and procedures within the College of Music; and hired, supervised and mentored student ushers.

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“A Boulder treasure”

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

“A Boulder treasure” Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/12/2023 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

Celebrating the illustrious career of CU Presents Executive Director Joan McLean Braun

Boulder native and ��񱦵� alumna Joan McLean Braun (BM ’81 and MBA ’93) has achieved an extraordinary 30-year career at her alma mater, much to the delight and deep appreciation of campus and community audiences alike.

“As executive director of CU Presents since 2001, Joan took the helm when CU Presents was still CU Concerts at the College of Music,” recalls Dean John Davis. “From the beginning—back when I directed the college’s jazz studies program in the early 2000s—Joan took the time to really listen and understand the goals, needs and performance activities of the program which opened the gates for me to achieve what I envisioned.

“She extended the same can-do, open-minded approach to all academic areas in the College of Music, quickly recognizing that she needed to closely partner with our departments and studios to develop the infrastructure of a sustainable performing arts entity that also supports our academic mission.”

Since then, Braun—who further serves as the college’s assistant dean for concerts and communications—has led the expansion of CU Presents to become what it is today: The home of all performing arts on the ��񱦵� campus with hundreds of concerts, recitals, plays and other events each year, including the popular Holiday Festival and uniquely innovative Faculty Tuesdays series, as well as the much-lauded Artists Series and Takács Quartet series, the nationally acclaimed Colorado Shakespeare Festival and more.

“Joan has done a wonderful job of building and sustaining CU Presents over its long history,” says ��񱦵� Chancellor Philip DiStefano. “Her dedicated work connecting the community with all that the College of Music offers has elevated the college’s reputation and strengthened the university’s relationships with the community.

“Joan’s efforts have been deeply appreciated and have laid the foundation for future success for CU performers, scholars and artists.”

Indeed, under Braun’s artistic vision—and thanks to the collaborative relationships she’s established on campus and with other Colorado arts presenters and artists’ agents worldwide—our audiences have experienced the College of Music’s many outstanding ensembles and opera/musical theatre productions, as well as ��񱦵� Theatre & Dance performances and groundbreaking acts by award-winning, world-renowned icons.

“The Artist Series has been and remains an extremely prestigious and important series,” says Toby Tumarkin, executive vice president and global head of artists and attractions with IMG Artists. “Under the leadership of Joan Braun, CU Presents has continued to bring new stars from around the globe while maintaining its traditional audiences, subtly and successfully adapting to a changing arts landscape.

“Consistently an anchor for artists and touring projects in the region and a crucial lynchpin to help to bring shows to the West Coast, Joan Braun’s work at CU Presents is a powerful example of important and thoughtful arts presenting.”

But Braun—who will retire at the end of the 2023-’24 season—is quick to deflect such well-earned respect and admiration. “I have the good fortune of a brilliant team,” she says, also crediting a strong, synergistic collaboration with College of Music Dean Emeritus Daniel Sher over more than two decades. “The way I see it, my role is to empower my senior team, and to ensure they understand what I’ve learned and how I do things—especially artist management and meeting the needs of our community. That’s how we can best support the next director of CU Presents.”

Among her dedicated staff are longtime colleague Laima Haley who directs CU Presents’ marketing and public relations; CU Presents’ Operations Director Andrew Metzroth who oversees Tessitura ticketing operations; Senior House Manager Rojana Savoye; and Macky Auditorium Director Rudy Betancourt. “Boulder’s cultural scene would not have achieved its world-class reputation without Joan’s vision for what is possible, steadfast leadership and resilience in the face of challenges,” says Betancourt. “She has been a trusted mentor and a dear friend not only to me but to many at CU Presents, the College of Music and—closer to my heart—Macky Auditorium.

"Her service to the university and the surrounding area has become an unmatched legacy.”

And it’s precisely Braun’s remarkable legacy that inspires our invitation for donations to the Artist Series endowment in her honor, with the goal of reaching $1 million this season.

“I’m so gratified knowing that the endowment ensures and protects the Artist Series and the overall health of CU Presents—long after I’m retired and into the future,” says Braun. “In the arts, we’re quite vulnerable to events beyond our control—like the recent pandemic or the floods in 2013 when, understandably, a lot fewer people were able to come to our performances.

“For myriad reasons, when earned revenues fall short, the endowment provides crucial funding—hopefully in perpetuity.”

“Managing a performing arts venue is an affair of the heart and mind. On one hand are the myriad logistics: Contracts, communications, transportation, finances. On the other: Human connection, the gift of beauty and meaning. At best, these all play together in a poetic rhythm, organic and natural, to create a unity that seems like it was inevitable. But it only happens when someone has the vision to see the whole in all of its parts. For the Artist Series and CU Presents, that person is Joan who for 30 years has brought us together for encounters with beauty and meaning through music and dance. She is truly a Boulder treasure.”
_{—Daryl James, Artist Series Advisory Board member + former chair}

“A Boulder treasure”—We’re celebrating the inspiring, illustrious career of longtime CU Presents Executive Director Joan McLean Braun who will retire at the end of this academic year.

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Key change

Anonymous — Wed, 10 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Key change Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/10/2023 - 00:00

John Davis

Friends,

As the 2022-’23 academic year culminates in commencement this week and I reflect on the last couple years since I became dean of the College of Music in January 2021, it’s fair to say that we’ve witnessed and experienced a sea change—or, in musical terms, a key change.

We’ve come out of the COVID-19 pandemic only to be thrust into an increasingly complex global environment that’s characterized in part by deepening societal divisions, accelerating climate change and the as-yet unknown consequences of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

What I do know is that our mission matters more than ever. Because what we do as musicians requires not only skill, but humanity—that is, the simultaneous conveyance of emotion, connection and understanding.

That’s why I’m thrilled to share with you our newly revamped annual digital magazine. Colorado Musictakes stock of how far we’ve come through the success stories of our engaged, inspiring students, including Izzy Fincher—our Outstanding Graduating Senior who’s earned a BM in classical guitar performance, a BA in journalism, a business minor, as well as a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate and a Music Theory Certificate. In Colorado Music, we also highlight the impact of our trailblazing alumni, including our 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Ashraf Sewailam; and the influence of our accomplished, dedicated faculty, including Professor of Musicology Rebecca Maloy who was named Distinguished Professor for her research, dedication to teaching and service to her profession.

Colorado Music further brings to light a few examples of how our college is leading the way with innovative research and new curricula; and spotlights some of the transformative professional experiences we offer our students, including the return of “CU at Boettcher” and a robust roster of inspiring guest artists throughout the year.

Finally, we pay tribute to University Medal recipient Allan McMurray who retired from the College of Music in 2013 after a 35-year career directing our bands, developing our master’s and doctoral programs in instrumental conducting, and so much more; and Willie Hill—a College of Music alumnus and former professor—who was honored at the university’s 93rd Annual Alumni Awards ceremony. We also tip our hats to our community of supporters, including Margot and Christopher Brauchli whom we gratefully recognize as our 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipients. And we fondly remember the faculty, alumni, colleagues and friends who have recently passed on, including our dearly held, highly esteemed Associate Professor of Violin Charles “Chas” Wetherbee who died in January.

As we venture forward and look to the next academic year, we must acknowledge a pressing priority facing the arts and society alike, namely the critical need to recognize and embrace our unique differences. We must remain vigilant and exemplary in celebrating our differences rather than allowing them to divide us. Because in music, we understand that diversity can serve as a meeting place for fostering unity and collaboration.

As the late Harry Belafonte put it, “Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization’s anchor. We are the compass for humanity’s conscience.”

That’s a noble call to action and a responsibility I take seriously.

Enjoy your summer,

John S. Davis
Dean, College of Music

In this edition of the Dean’s Downbeat, Dean John Davis offers reflections and a vision for the future as he shares highlights from our newly revamped annual digital magazine—Colorado Music. “...our mission matters more than ever. Because what we do as musicians requires not only skill, but humanity—that is, the simultaneous conveyance of emotion, connection and understanding. Colorado Music takes stock of how far we’ve come.”

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Inclusive excellence at the College of Music

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:24:50 +0000

Inclusive excellence at the College of Music Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/13/2023 - 15:24

Kathryn Bistodeau

At the College of Music, we’re committed to expanding and deepening a culture of belonging and inclusivity for all.

Higher ed and the arts are beacons of progress in times of social change, and the College of Music is poised to contribute to that story. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni are committed to expanding and deepening our collective approach to active allyship and anti-racism; and to a culture of belonging and inclusivity for all, with an emphasis on racial equity and justice.

We’re making strides, but we know we must do much more to achieve the full potential of diversity, equity + inclusion (DEI) at our college—and on campus. To learn more about where we are—and where we’re going—we sat down with our Associate Dean for DEI Susan Thomas and Diversity + Outreach Coordinator Alexis McClain.

What are some examples of current DEI—diversity, equity and inclusion—activities at the college?
McClain: For starters, we offer regular activities to connect, hold space and build community through our Diverse Musicians’ Alliance (DiMA). We’ve also instituted “tea + equity” chats—weekly DEI discussions in Grusin Lobby for students, faculty, staff and other campus constituents. Additionally, the college presents its long-running Persevering Legacy concerts to our college, campus and greater community every semester.

Coming up, we’re looking forward to our World Music ensembles’ spring performances and—this week—we’re excited to present our Annual Distinguished Lectureship.

What is DiMA?
McClain: DiMA is part of the CU Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, Diversity (LEAD) Alliance focused on inclusivity and student success. It offers a space for students to come together. We enjoy a variety of activities together including guest speakers—many of whom are alumni who share their insights on expertise on a range of topics related to inclusivity, finding your voice and achieving success.

Tell us more about the Persevering Legacy concerts.
Thomas: Our Persevering Legacy events—representing a partnership between the College of Music and our American Music Research Center (AMRC)—champion collaboration that elevates the stories of women composers, and that aligns music study and performance with social activism. Our most recent Persevering Legacy concert included a master class with Gregory Walker, son of Helen Walker-Hill who wrote the first book on Black women composers; the AMRC has research papers from that book project, including many unpublished or hard-to-access manuscripts or compositions.

When we started Persevering Legacy in 2019, the goal was to inspire performances of the Helen Walker-Hill Collection. Now, we encourage students to select compositions by women from underrepresented groups—which can include the Helen Walker-Hill Collection, but students aren’t limited to that. Persevering Legacy concerts are a different vibe because they’re entirely student driven, they select the pieces that they want to perform; and you get to experience a variety of genres, styles, instrumentations, ensembles and voices in nontraditional formats. It’s really entertaining and interesting as an audience member because you get to hear so much in such a short amount of time.

Tell us more about the upcoming Distinguished Lectureship.

McClain: We’re so excited about this year’s Annual Distinguished Lectureship featuring André de Quadros (pictured above)—conductor, ethnomusicologist, music educator, writer and human rights activist. Based on decades working in some of the most desperate and marginalized settings, de Quadros will anchor his March 16 keynote in the great tradition of freedom dreaming. He calls for a new architecture of music performance and scholarly work, founded on radical compassion, dialogue and community engagement. Our distinguished lectures are quite a big deal for our college—and for our campus.

Thomas: As a changemaker, de Quadros is a really important voice to bring into the conversation here: His experiences and expertise are embedded across prominent music institutions which gives him a bird’s eye view on the structural issues of DEI in institutions of music learning—and we’re really excited to get exposure to that perspective.

What are your goals for DEI in the College of Music going forward?
Thomas: My number one goal is to build an infrastructure that outlasts individuals. So often in DEI work, the work has happened through the passion, commitment and often volunteerism of really dedicated people who have a lot of knowledge—but when they leave, that knowledge and those experiences leave with them. The college is in a strong position now to build an infrastructure that will outlast Alexis and me. In a word, my goal is sustainability.

McClain: A lot of what I do is student-facing, so my goal is to ensure that students who are from marginalized identities feel welcome, comfortable and supported at the College of Music—beyond mere words on a piece of paper, but in everything we do at the college. For faculty and staff, too, it’s important that we be authentic and steady in our work toward expanding and strengthening inclusivity.

Thomas: The College of Music has committed to putting people in place to help the institution deliver on its DEI goals … and our students are completely energized to do the work, too. So I feel like we’re primed to make progress at a time when the campus shares the same level of energy, momentum, intention and accountability.

Note: As we continue to grow our efforts around DEI at the College of Music, five task forces have prepared recommendations—re: curriculum, co-curricular programming, concert repertoire/programming, faculty hiring and student recruitment—for improving and expanding our commitment to inclusive excellence within our college. This work resulted from the combined efforts of faculty, staff, students and community members. Currently, the College of Music’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Accountability (DEIA) Committee is working to facilitate and implement the recommendations made by the task forces.

What does inclusivity look like at the College of Music today? What are the college’s DEI—diversity, equity and inclusion—goals going forward? We’re making strides, but we know we must do more.

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Walking the talk

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Walking the talk Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/13/2023 - 00:00

John Davis

Dear friends,

At the College of Music, we’ve covered a lot of ground since the beginning of the year including these highlights—among many others:

The 2023 Colorado Music Educators Association Clinic/Conference featured Denver native and College of Music alumna Tia Fuller as the conference keynote speaker, plus wide-ranging presentations by our faculty and stellar performances by the ��񱦵� Chamber Singers and University Choir. As well, alumna Allison Zema received this year’s Outstanding Young Music Educator Award—of note, our grads have received this recognition for five years in a row!
Graduate conducting student Kedrick Armstrong made us proud by conducting the world premiere of “The Factotum” with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The Aspen Music Festival and School’s Musical Connections residencies with Ensemble Flatirons (graduate brass quintet in residence) and the Lírios Quartet (graduate string quartet in residence) successfully demonstrated our commitment to community outreach and engagement.
Assistant Professor of Composition Annika Socolofsky was named a Faculty Fellow of the Center for Humanities + the Arts, Professor of Music Theory Daphne Leong is currently serving as the Schulich Dean’s Chair in Music at McGill University and—after a comprehensive international search—Kelly Parkes has accepted our offer to join the College of Music as associate professor of music education, beginning this fall.
Canadian composer Alexina Louie joined us for a week-long residency; the ��񱦵� Treble Chorus was honored to perform the U.S. premiere of Louie’s “Rain Makes Its Own Night.” We also welcomed guest composer Kevin Day, Mario Lavista scholar Ana Alonso-Minutti and the Grammy-nominated choral ensemble VOCES8 to our campus, among other esteemed visiting artists.
The American Music Research Center announced the Alex Craig and Christina Lynn-Craig Living Music Award for undergraduate and graduate students.
And our Diverse Musicians’ Alliance hosted a discussion with El Sistema Colorado’s Executive Director Ingrid Larragoity-Martin, a ��񱦵� alumna.

This week, I hope to see many of you at our Annual Distinguished Lectureship featuring André de Quadros—conductor, ethnomusicologist, music educator, writer and human rights activist. Based on decades of work in some of the most desperate and marginalized settings, de Quadros will anchor his presentation in the great tradition of freedom dreaming and call for a new architecture of music performance and scholarly work rooted in radical compassion, dialogue and community engagement.

At a time when political, economic, socio-cultural, environmental and other external influences appear all-too threatening, de Quadros represents what it means to apply the arts as a tool for social activism. I look forward to de Quadros’ perspectives on how music can manifest real world relevance and how we—as musicians, creatives and changemakers—can make new meaningful impacts on the world. There’s no more critical period in recent years than now to demonstrate the applicability of the arts.

The research and lived experiences of trailblazers like André de Quadros ignite understanding of this current moment in American and world history—and how diverse, creative communities can help shape, sustain and support a democracy that ensures justice and liberty for everyone.

Also this month, we’re excited to host the prestigious 2023 National Trumpet Competition and in May, and for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll once again present CU at Boettcher featuring Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana,” the world premiere of a new work by the College of Music’s Professor of Composition Carter Pann and a collaboration with El Sistema Colorado.

Looking ahead to summer, our College of Music and the Sphinx Performance Academy will partner to provide a full-scholarship, intensive summer chamber music and solo performance program focused on cultural diversity for string musicians ages 11-17. The SPA—which also partners with The Juilliard School and Cleveland Institute of Music—offers a curriculum that includes lessons, master classes, recitals, career enrichment sessions and mentorship tailored to each student.

In a word, we walk the talk when it comes to developing universal musicians in an environment of inclusive excellence—I’m inspired by our momentum and I hope you are, too. I invite you to keep up with our continuous and consistently inspiring student, alumni and faculty news on our website, social media channels and newsletters; and be sure to keep current with College of Music events, including the Eklund Opera Program’s lush production of Jules Massenet’s “Cendrillon” this weekend, ��񱦵� SoundWorks events this spring, and performances by our World Music ensembles marking three decades of exploring artistic identity, intercultural collaboration, global pedagogy and multidisciplinary approaches to music making at the College of Music.

Making strides,

John Davis
Dean, College of Music

In this edition of the Dean’s Downbeat, Dean John Davis shares highlights from recent College of Music activities and accomplishments, including his perspective on the significance of our 2023 Annual Distinguished Lectureship: “The research and lived experiences of trailblazers like André de Quadros ignite understanding of this current moment in American and world history—and how diverse, creative communities can help shape, sustain and support a democracy that ensures justice and liberty for everyone.”

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Announcing a University Medal and increasing diverse representation in music

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Announcing a University Medal and increasing diverse representation in music Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/01/2022 - 00:00

John Davis

Photo: Dean John Davis and CU President Todd Saliman show their school spirit at Saturday’s final home game.

Dear friends,

As the year sprints to a close, I look forward to ushering in the spirit of the season this weekend at our long-running, much-loved Holiday Festival. I hope to see many of you at Macky Auditorium, enjoying inspired, heart-warming performances featuring our talented students and faculty.

Meanwhile, I’m pleased to share glad tidings: Professor of Conducting Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Allan McMurray was just notified of his selection for the CU Regents’ 2023 University Medal! You’re among the first to know of this tremendous, well-deserved recognition of McMurray’s lifelong dedication to his craft at our college and beyond.

McMurray was nominated without his knowing by myself and Conducting Area Chair, Professor of Conducting and Director of Bands Donald McKinney; Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Enrollment Management, and Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education Matthew Roeder; and Professor of Piano and former College of Music Dean Daniel Sher. Also supporting his nomination was alumna Karen Fannin who earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from our College of Music, studying with McMurray; she’s now professor and director of bands at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

McMurray is recognized as one of the leading teachers of wind ensemble and conducting in the world—he has taught and guest conducted at more than 200 colleges and conservatories internationally. At the College of Music, he served as director of bands and the Robert and Judy Charles Professor of Conducting from 1978 until 2013. McMurray will be formally recognized by the Board of Regents at the spring commencement ceremony in May 2023.

Complementing and building on McMurray’s trailblazing legacy, I’m also excited to share news from our current activities at the college: Just after Thanksgiving, I was thrilled to see that artists from the Sphinx Organization—who joined us at the College of Music for a series of master classes in September—were featured in The New York Times (They Were Ahead of the Curve on Diversity in Classical Music). These artists—including our new Assistant Professor of Violin Alex Gonzalez—are working to increase diverse representation in music, a key aspect of the College of Music’s emphasis on inclusive excellence. In brief, according to the Times, the Sphinx Organization has “started training programs and ensembles, and has pushed for more diverse repertory and orchestra rosters. It has promoted young soloists and arts administrators, and operates an ever-expanding annual conference. With a burst of new attention to phrases like diversity, equity and inclusion over the past two years, Sphinx’s steady, patient work has come to seem prescient.”

Indeed, the Times article well reflects the spirit of my vision to develop multiskilled, multifaceted universal musicians through diverse opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and a culture of belonging.

In these uneven times, our community is also in mourning following the Club Q tragedy. The College of Music joins the campus community in standing by the LGBTQ+ community, the Colorado Springs community, and the family, friends and loved ones of those so senselessly killed and injured on Nov. 19. Together, we’ll keep doing our part to foster a welcoming environment that promotes diversity of music, ideas and underrepresented identities at the College of Music.

Please take care of yourself and of one another this holiday season.

In the final Dean’s Downbeat of the year, Dean John Davis announces Allan McMurray’s 2023 University Medal; describes how the important, prescient work of the Sphinx Organization underscores his vision for the College of Music ... and more.

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Staff

Rudy Betancourt named director of ���񱦵� Artist Series

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College of Music welcomes new executive director of CU Presents

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Fortepiano refurb a labor of love

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College of Music welcomes Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives Kate Cimino

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Senior House Manager Rojana Savoye named 2023 Chancellor’s Employee of the Year!

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“A Boulder treasure”

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Key change

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Inclusive excellence at the College of Music

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Walking the talk

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Announcing a University Medal and increasing diverse representation in music

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Rudy Betancourt named director of ��񱦵� Artist Series