Willem Rohwer

Meet Willem Rohwer—2024 Sher Distinguished Musician Scholarship recipient

Sept. 18, 2024

Willem Rohwer comes to the College of Music from Edwards, Colorado, to pursue an undergraduate degree in double bass performance. “Developing my own musical opinions and character are really something that I want to find here,” he says. Discover Rohwer’s unique approach to a successful audition and his other interests.

Abby Terrill Headshot

Alternative keyboard offers College of Music students greater reach

Sept. 10, 2024

The College of Music has had an alternatively-sized keyboard on loan since April 2023. Recent graduate Abigail Terrill shares how the narrower keyboard is helpful, why it’s needed and what her thesis research found about the process of transitioning between pianos.

SPA 2024

The (musical) kids are back in town

June 28, 2024

Last summer, the College of Music and Sphinx Performance Academy kicked off a new partnership to welcome talented string students—ages 11-17—to our campus for an intensive scholarship program emphasizing cultural diversity. This month, it’s déjâ vu as auditioned youths engage in lessons, master classes and more, culminating in public performances tonight and this weekend.

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.”

Fortepiano refurb a labor of love

June 26, 2024

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.

Table Read of “Polly Peachum” with the full cast, composer Gene Scheer and librettist Bill Van Horn.

Nurturing young singers with new opera

May 31, 2024

The College of Music’s 2024 New Opera Workshop (CU NOW) is underway, leading up to performances of Gene Scheer’s “Polly Peachum”—as well as performances of opera scenes presented by our Composer Fellows’ Initiative—in June.

John Davis leaning on desk in his office

Embracing DEI: Keystone of the universal musician

March 21, 2024

In this edition of the Dean’s Downbeat, Dean John Davis doubles down on the College of Music’s commitment to championing diversity, equity and inclusion. “I’m convinced that by embracing DEI as integral to our universal musician mission, we not only achieve flexible, interdisciplinary career options for our graduates, but also expand the artistic landscape and cultivate a community of curious, continuous learners who challenge biases, question assumptions and engage with diverse perspectives—and who navigate nuance and complexity with openness, understanding and empathy.”

Chad Wackerman

College of Music hosts drumming legend + clinician Chad Wackerman

March 14, 2024

Rock/jazz drumming giant Chad Wackerman will hold a rare residency at our College of Music next week. Mike Barnett, associate teaching professor in composition and music theory, shares how the residency demonstrates the college’s universal musician mission. “As an artist, you can grow throughout your entire life,” he says.

O'Neil Jones

Grad student brings first statewide Jamaican Choral Music Symposium to Boulder

Feb. 9, 2024

Mention Jamaican music to most Americans and the pop sounds of reggae usually come to mind. But there’s much more—the wonderfully rich harmonies of choral music, hundreds of rarely heard sacred songs and folk songs that deserve more exposure. Doctoral student O’Neil Jones is about to make that happen.

Vintage microphone with blurred neon jazz sign in the background

Thompson Jazz Studies Program introduces new vocal jazz degree, new ensemble and more

Feb. 1, 2024

Among several exciting developments, the College of Music’s Thompson Jazz Studies Program is set to launch a new Bachelor of Music in Vocal Jazz degree this fall.

Anna and Joan J. Sie.

Celebrating the legacy and impact of Anna Sie, lifelong supporter of the arts and humanity

Jan. 12, 2024

Known for her heartfelt philanthropy on both local and national levels, Anna Sie left a powerful legacy of impact at CU Boulder, including establishing a transformational student scholarship in the College of Music with her husband, John, and endowing several faculty chairs.

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