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Susanne Langer鈥攑hilosopher and educator renowned for her theories on the influences of art on the mind鈥攄efined music as 鈥渁 laboratory for feeling and time.鈥� I would add that music is essential to human betterment.
This Spring alone, from the war in Ukraine to fires in our own backyard鈥攐n the heels of a two-year (and counting) pandemic and accelerating repercussions of global climate change鈥攊t can be difficult to stay focused, to be creative. And yet, in the steady success of our students (meet Outstanding Graduating Senior Nelson Walker), alumni and faculty, I鈥檓 convinced that what we do at the College of Music is more important, more relevant than ever. Because what we do is create the building blocks of human betterment鈥攐f ourselves, one another and our world.
As I reflect on the past academic year and look forward to the next one, I鈥檓 moved by our accomplishments and motivated by our mission to develop and nurture the听universal musician. I consider it a profound privilege to ensure that our programs and practices increasingly support a compassionate community, transcending differences and difficult times. It鈥檚 through this lens that our faculty and staff, too, aim to guide, empower and听elevate our talented and remarkably resilient students.
It鈥檚 understandable to feel helpless and to ask 鈥淲hat can I do?鈥澨齏hile there鈥檚 no playbook for the unprecedented and the unknowable, a shared commitment to betterment provides anchorage and inspires action. The way I see it, by channeling collective despair into collective creativity, we become artistic entrepreneurs, contributing to society in impactful ways:
Among too many recent student successes to name, Nelson Walker鈥檚 composition 鈥溾�� is his processing of鈥攁nd reflection upon鈥攖he devastation of the Marshall and Middle Fork fires. Meanwhile, first-year master鈥檚 student Kedrick Armstrong landed on The Washington Post鈥檚 2022 鈥溾�� list, representing the College of Music among diverse composers, performers and artists who are 鈥渉itting their stride with work that resonates with the right now.鈥澨鼳s well, the 鈥攐ur Graduate String Quartet in Residence, studying with the鈥攚on Grand Prize and First Prize in the national Coltman Chamber Music Competition; and our exceptional trumpet studio had unprecedented success at the National Trumpet Competition, winning three out of five collegiate divisions (large ensemble division, small ensemble division and military excerpts division) and placing second in the graduate solo division.
Among wide-ranging faculty achievements and well-earned accolades, Professor of Music Education James Austin was inducted into the Colorado Music Educators Association鈥檚 Hall of Fame earlier this year; and Susan Thomas鈥攖he College of Music鈥檚 Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity + Inclusion, Director of the American Music Research Center and Professor of Musicology鈥攚as recognized for her leadership and service by the 麻豆影院 Faculty Assembly this month. The Soundscapes of the People project she co-directs was just awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities鈥� Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research program. Additionally, a new book鈥斺�溾�濃�攂y Director of Choral Studies Gregory Gentry features 15 choral conductors, each answering fundamental questions about how they shaped their achievements; and, on April 30, Chair of Musicology and Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology Austin Okigbo will explore how we create music in response to pandemics, and how musicians impact public health and healing from pandemics at.
Such examples of the College of Music鈥檚 community engagement听and artistic entrepreneurship in composition, performance, scholarship and research inspire me every day. I鈥檓 confident that, through music, our students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters will continue to contribute to the betterment and benefit of the world we inhabit. Stay tuned for our spotlights next week featuring the impact and influence of 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient Damani Phillips and 2022 Distinguished Service Award recipient Judith Glyde.听
With proud congratulations to our Spring 2022 graduates, I wish you a rejuvenating summer!
Photo: Dean Davis interacts with Conducting Chair and Director of Bands Donald McKinney. On Tuesday, April 19, the CU Wind Symphony鈥攃onducted by McKinney鈥攑erformed . Her piece celebrates the centenary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Also on the program was 鈥淚 wander the world in a dream of my own making鈥澨齜y composer Christopher Theofanidis. , when the CU Symphony Orchestra premieres Theofanidis鈥櫶�淥n the Bridge of the Eternal.鈥� Originally commissioned by the college in 2020, the debut of this work was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
