As part of the campus-wide Inclusive Excellence initiative, the 麻豆影院 Graduate School provides scholarships to traditionally underrepresented groups in an effort to make a CU 麻豆影院 education more affordable and accessible to all.听
鈥淭he Graduate School is continuing its investment in diversity recruitment,鈥� says Associate Dean for Graduate Studies Margaret Berg. 鈥淭he College of Music, specifically, is eligible to award a one-year, $7,500 fellowship to an incoming student, or to split the award between two students.鈥澨�
College of Music flutist Olivia Huizar Conner was a 2021-2022 recipient of the Graduate Diversity Recruitment Fellowship. Having earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Azusa Pacific University (APU), Conner is currently pursuing a master鈥檚 in music education plus licensure. She recently shared with us how her background鈥攁nd the fellowship鈥攊nspire her to promote diversity and inclusion in music:
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence
鈥淢y background as a Hispanic student has driven me to adopt a strong work ethic,鈥� says Conner. 鈥淕rowing up, I always heard stories about my grandmother who was only able to receive a third-grade education. She was raised in Uruapan, Mexico, and she dropped out of school to help her parents provide for her and her siblings.
鈥淚 devote myself to my studies so I can have the education my grandmother was never afforded. I know the value of learning because of her hard work and sacrifice.鈥�
Indeed, Conner鈥檚 values translated into action at APU. 鈥淚 taught instrument fundamentals to beginning band students at Center Middle School, California鈥攁 school with a 96% Hispanic and 90% low-income student population鈥攁nd worked with the Azusa Conservatory of Music to offer free virtual lessons to an elementary flute student.鈥�
Conner鈥檚 music appreciation also stems from her cultural background: 鈥淲hen I was growing up, my dad and I spent Saturdays listening to diverse musical artists, many of whom came from Mexico and Spain, which inspired me to cherish and appreciate the music of my heritage.鈥�
As the recipient of a Scholarly Undergraduate Research Experience grant at APU, Conner continued to engage with music of her heritage by investigating the representation of LatinX music in wind band literature. 鈥淚 cataloged music with ties to LatinX culture and musical styles, and analyzed cultural authenticity through T.M. Volk鈥檚 rating system,鈥� she explains. 鈥淏y analyzing authenticity, I learned the importance of programming literature that accurately depicts culture.
鈥淚f educators don鈥檛 research the heritage of music they program, they can鈥檛 know if they are doing its culture justice.鈥澨�
Conner presented her research鈥斺�淐oncert Band Music of Hispanic and LatinX听Influence: A Catalog of Repertoire and Suggestions for Curricular/Performance听Incorporation鈥濃�攁t the California Music Educators Association Southwestern Section conference in 2019.听
鈥淭hese experiences have informed my scholarship and creativity by showing me the importance of fostering music in young students, no matter their backgrounds, as well as the importance of honoring musical culture by giving it due research and study.鈥�
Conner has spent the summer analyzing the perspectives of middle and high school music teachers in the 麻豆影院 Valley School District鈥攁nd a few educators from the College of Music鈥檚 Summer Master of Music Education program鈥攐n the cultural authenticity of repertoire used in their classrooms through the lens of A.J. Palmer鈥檚 five factors of authenticity and T.M. Volk鈥檚 authenticity rating scale.听
She plans to continue her research in cultural authenticity and repertoire selection for her master鈥檚 thesis.
Through Conner鈥檚 various and ongoing engagements focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)鈥攊ncluding serving as a student representative on the National Association for Music Education board (2022-2023)鈥攊t鈥檚 clear that she鈥檚 passionate about fostering a community where all students feel welcome and valued.
