Strings
Congratulations to the winners of the 2022-23 Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition!
Violist Avedis Escandon shares what diversity means to him and how he strives to encourage others to become DEI advocates as well. Just like with music, major changes dont happen overnightchange requires small bits of effort over time, so we cannot discount the impact of a meaningful dialogue.
A new member of the College of Music faculty shares his approach to preparing students to become universal musicians, and fostering an environment of diversity and inclusivity. It's not about hyper-specialization, but about flexibility, creativity and keeping an open mind, he says.
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 colleges alumni community there, offering tremendous support to Forever Buffs who are now living and working in the city.
This springs Outstanding Graduating Senior award goes to composition major Nelson Walker. Congratulations to Walker and all our outstanding 2022 grads!
In a delayed celebration of the College of Musics 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 youa 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.
To support our students and our communitys musical development, the College of Music offers summer session courses and richly varied summer programming.
In this edition of our monthlyDeans Downbeat, John Davis reflects on our students successes, introduces new violin facultywelcome, Alex Gonzalez!and celebrates Susan Thomas BFA Excellence Award. Transcending pandemic burnout, our faculty offer anchorage through their teaching excellence, and their wonderfully consistent artistic achievements as performers, composers and researchers, he writes.
On Feb. 20, flutist Courtney Badura (BM '23) and violinist Reuben Kebede (AD '22) took the "gold." Congratulations!
Brooklyn, New York-based saxophonist, composer and improviser Aakash Mittal is collaborating with current masters student MarieFaith Lane on a project blending Hindustani and Western classical music.