麻豆影院

Sometimes, the best way to express yourself is through music. Sometimes, it鈥檚 through art. For Michiko Theurer, it鈥檚 often both.

鈥淓verything I do is connected with what I鈥檓 trying to express,鈥� says Theurer. 鈥淚 find that pouring my ideas back and forth between the different containers of visual art and performance can help me figure out what those ideas are at their essence.鈥�

In addition to the full-time responsibilities of being a violin doctoral student and Artist in Residence for the, Theurer is a听. Recently, she combined her two passions in a pair of well-received performances for the new BBF Education Series.听featured听Bach and Debussy pieces鈥攑erformed by Theurer and BBF Education Director and pianist听鈥攃horeography and dance by CU-麻豆影院 dance professor听and Theurer鈥檚 paintings.

Theurer has been a musician since she was a toddler. Both her parents are musicians, and she learned from them. 鈥淢y mom started teaching me violin when I was 3. It鈥檚 always been a part of my life,鈥� says Theurer.

While music is in her blood, Theurer says she always had a love for painting and drawing, too. 鈥淎rt is something that鈥檚 always aligned closely with my musical studies,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the flipside of what I do when I鈥檓 practicing. Painting is my release.鈥�

That interconnectivity began to play out in earnest during Theurer鈥檚 graduate studies at Indiana University. 鈥淚 presented a solo art exhibit and recital that explored the theme 鈥榯hreaded dances,鈥� which is a quote from a. I was inspired by the ways different media can interpret the idea of motion and dance in their own languages.鈥�

Dance is a major theme in Line/Motion/Color. 鈥淲e thought dance was the perfect bridge between music and art,鈥� continues Theurer. Together with Gajic, Theurer began to use music, art and dance to 鈥渆xplore the ideas of line and color鈥� in Bach鈥檚 and Debussy鈥檚 music.

It was by happenstance that Randall also became involved in the project. 鈥溌槎褂霸� two weeks before the performance, our dancer had to drop out,鈥� says Theurer. 鈥淟uckily, the director got in touch with Erika, and she stepped in at the last minute. What started off as sheer panic became this incredible collaboration.鈥�

Theurer and Randall instantly clicked. 鈥淓rika is so passionate about poetry, music and art, so to collaborate with someone who鈥檚 open to different ideas and art forms is inspiring,鈥� Theurer says. 鈥淓ven though we met at the last minute, I felt like we were speaking the same language 鈥� playing chamber music across genres."

Randall was equally thrilled to be working with Theurer. 鈥淎fter receiving the email requesting a dancer/choreographer to work with Michi, I went to her website to hear her and see her paintings. Immediately, I felt my inner kick-ball 4th grader jumping up and down, yelling, 鈥楶ick me! Pick me!鈥�

鈥淲e both hear and feel color, sense that third thing beyond the score and floor. After just a short time of rehearsing together, we found ourselves deep in conversation, body and bow, and it was dreamy,鈥� Randall says.

Theurer has several more projects on the horizon, each of them involving music, art and literature. Her final solo recital for her DMA is in January, in addition to a recording project based on. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 in collaboration with composers I met at the,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he piece imitates the structure of the story, which revolves around six different characters鈥� inner monologues. Those themes are woven together by my paintings.鈥�

Theurer says she鈥檚 continually inspired by the opportunities available for a musician and artist in 麻豆影院. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to be able to study with听Professor [Harumi] Rhodes, and听Ed Dusinberre听and the听as a student. And to be able to work with the Bach Festival and director听, who is teaching the CU Early Music ensemble in Professor听Elizabeth Farr's听absense, both in school and through the festival has been an incredible and humbling experience.鈥�

After graduating with her DMA, Theurer says she鈥檇 like to teach, and continue to perform. 鈥淚鈥檓 really interested in musicology. I鈥檇 love to combine an intellectual engagement in music with the passionate and physical performance aspect.

鈥淭he kinds of collaborations I鈥檝e been able to have鈥攕haring my experiences with audiences in that way鈥攁re vital to showing what music can be and why we do it.鈥澨�

Theurer鈥檚 DMA recital is Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m., in Grusin Hall.