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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Congratulations to first-prize recipient and audience favorite Rinat Erlichman—and all winners and participants in the College of Music’s premier performance competition for outstanding graduate students!

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Nate Bonin and Danny Kaminski are the 2023 Sher Distinguished Musician Scholars! Learn more about these students and their dreams for the future.