��سԹ�’s 2024-25 Artist Recital Series Launches in September</h1> <article> <h1>��سԹ�’s 2024-25 Artist Recital Series Launches in September</h1> <p>srasmuss — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 22:25:11 +0000</p> <span>��سԹ�’s 2024-25 Artist Recital Series Launches in September</span> <span><span>srasmuss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-07-24T18:25:11-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 18:25">Wed, 07/24/2024 - 18:25</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For more than 145 years, ��سԹ�’s <a href="/artsguide/artist-recital-series">Artist Recital Series</a> has brought many of the world’s celebrated artists to our community. This season's concerts showcase brilliantly diverse performers and intimate music-making that ranges from classical to contemporary to American Roots to world music.<br> <br> The series kicks off September 28 with the Takács Quartet, who are joined by bandoneón artist Julien Labro, and continues through April. All programs in the six-concert series will be held in Finney Chapel at 90 N. Professor Street in ��سԹ�.</p> <p>The complete schedule includes:</p> <p><strong>Takács Quartet with Julien Labro, bandoneón-accordion <br> Saturday, September 28 | 4:30 p.m.</strong></p> <p>The Grammy-winning Takács Quartet joins bandoneón artist Julien Labro for an innovative program that features commissioned works by Bryce Dessner and Clarice Assad plus original compositions and arrangements by Labro, with the Ravel String Quartet.</p> <p><em>“Classical music doesn’t get much more life-enhancing than this.” —</em>The Guardian</p> <hr> <p><strong>Seckou Keita, kora<br> Saturday, December 7 | 7:30 p.m.</strong></p> <p>An exceptional and charismatic musician, Seckou Keita has become one of his generation’s most influential and inspiring kora players. A master of the African instrument, which resembles both a harp and a lute in sound, Keita has been celebrated for his ingenious tunings and virtuosity and is praised as "one of the finest exponents of the kora."</p> <p><em>“...the most hypnotic instrumental work of the night.”—</em>The Guardian</p> <hr> <p><strong>Emanuel Ax, piano, and<br> Anthony McGill, clarinet<br> Tuesday, February 4 | 7:30 p.m. </strong></p> <p>During Emanuel Ax’s 50-year career, he has amassed eight Grammy Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize, and countless accolades for his performances as both a solo artist and collaborator. With Anthony McGill—one of classical music’s most recognizable and brilliantly multifaceted figures and principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic—this clarinet-piano duo will perform works by James Lee, Franz Schubert, Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Adolphus Hailstork, and Leonard Bernstein.</p> <p><em>“[Ax’s] greatness, his overwhelming authority as musician, technician, and probing intellect emerges quickly as he plays.” —</em>Los Angeles Times</p> <p><em> “[McGill is] a captivating virtuoso on the stage and a longtime advocate for social change extending beyond it.” —</em>New York Times</p> <hr> <p><strong>Midori<br> Wednesday, March 5 | 7:30 p.m.</strong></p> <p>Violinist Midori is a visionary artist, activist, global cultural ambassador, and dedicated music educator who explores and builds connections between music and the human experience. In the four decades since her debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 11, she has performed with the world’s most prestigious orchestras and collaborated with renowned musicians such as Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma. Her ��سԹ� program includes works by Che Buford, Brahms, Poulenc, and Ravel, in collaboration with pianist Özgür Aydin. </p> <p><em>"More than 30 years after bursting on the scene as a pint-size violin prodigy, Midori continues to set an example for how to be an engaged musician in the modern world."</em> —San Francisco Chronicle</p> <hr> <p><strong>Martha Redbone Roots Project<br> Sunday, April 6 | 7:30 p.m.</strong></p> <p>Martha Redbone and her ensemble’s performance weaves the sounds of her childhood and her ancestral homelands in coal country, Harlan County, KY, while embodying the folk, blues, and gospel sounds from the ancestors of the Black migration mixed with the Indigenous foundation of the region.<br> <br> <em>“...[The Martha Redbone Roots Project is] a brilliant collision of cultures…</em>”—The New Yorker</p> <hr> <p><br> <strong>Third Coast Percussion with Jessie Montgomery, violinist and composer <br> Wednesday, April 30 | 7:30 p.m.</strong></p> <p>This Grammy-winning percussion quartet has forged a unique path with its virtuosic, energetic performances that showcase the extraordinary depth and breadth of musical possibilities in the world of percussion. They are joined by Grammy-winning composer and acclaimed violinist Jessie Montgomery in a program of works by Lou Harrison, Tigran Hamasyan, Jlin, and Philip Glass, along with a new piece written for the ensemble by Montgomery.</p> <p><em>"...experience a musical performance that is propulsive, exciting, and full of gorgeous sounds all the way through" —</em>New York Classical Review</p> <p><em>“[Jessie Montgomery] never fails to enthrall with her rhythmically complex, richly orchestrated, highly original pieces.” —</em>WTTW (Chicago PBS)</p> <hr> <p>Three bonus ��سԹ� Conservatory special events—featuring guest artists in concert with ��سԹ� students and faculty—are scheduled for this year. </p> <p><br> <strong>“The Art of Afghan Rubâb and Tabla” with Homayoun Sakhi and Salar Nader<br> Sunday, October 6 | 7:30 p.m.<br> Finney Chapel</strong></p> <p>Premier rubâb player Homayoun Sakhi and acclaimed tabla artist Salar Nader perform the music of their Afghan homeland, pushing artistic boundaries that reflect their country’s position at the confluence of Persian, Central Asian, and Indian cultures. The program also features ��سԹ� Conservatory’s Performance and Improvisation (PI) Ensemble.<br> <br> <em>“The evocative music of Homayoun Sakhi and Salar Nader tells a story of hope and perseverance, both of the Afghan people and of their traditional music.”</em> —Richmond Times-Dispatch</p> <hr> <p><strong><em>Omar</em> by Rhiannon Giddens ’00<br> and Michael Abels<br> Friday, December 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Finney Chapel<br> Sunday, December 8 | 7 p.m.<br> Maltz Performing Arts Center, Cleveland<br> <em>Reservations required</em></strong></p> <p>Join us for a special concert performance of the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera written by Rhiannon Giddens ’00 and orchestrated by Michael Abels, based on the true story of a 19th-century Islamic scholar from West Africa who was enslaved in South Carolina. Conducted by John Kennedy ’82, the performance spotlights Gidddens and a cast of acclaimed ��سԹ� alumni, joined by the ��سԹ� Orchestra and choral ensembles.<br> <br> <em>“...a melting pot inspired by bluegrass, hymns, spirituals and more, with nods to traditions from Africa and Islam. It’s an unforced ideal of American sound: expansive and ever-changing.”</em> —New York Times</p> <hr> <p><strong>International Contemporary Ensemble<br> Friday, March 14 | 7:30 p.m. Warner Concert Hall</strong></p> <p>Now in its third decade, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) is a multidisciplinary collective of musicians, digital media artists, producers, and educators, including numerous ��سԹ� alumni committed to building and innovating collaborative environments. ICE artists will culminate a weeklong residency at ��سԹ� with a performance of their program, “Composing While Black, Volume I,” joined by ��سԹ� students and faculty.<br> <br> <em>“[The International Contemporary Ensemble] remains an essential contributor to the exploration of new music.”</em> —Musical America</p> <hr> <p><strong>Subscriptions and Single Tickets</strong><br> <a href="/tickets/series-subscription">Subscriptions to the 2024-25 Artist Recital Series</a> are available to the public now, with full-season and Pick 3 packages both offering significant savings over individual ticket prices.</p> <p>Get tickets for the full season—all six Artist Recital Series concerts—for just $180, a savings of $5 per ticket. Seniors age 55 and older, members of the military, and ��سԹ� staff and alumni pay just $150, and students pay only $48.</p> <p>Pick 3 packages allow you to select any three concerts on the Artist Recital Series (pending availability) and save $5 off the regular price of each ticket.</p> <p>Single tickets for individual concerts will be on sale August 15.</p> <p>For the second year—thanks to the generosity of Richard ’62 and Linda ’62 Clark—��سԹ� students can receive free tickets to each concert on the Artist Recital Series with a valid OCID.<br> <br> <a href="/artsguide/ticket-information/artist-recital-series">Subscription packages are available now online.</a><br> <br> ��سԹ�’s <a href="/tickets">Central Ticket Service</a> will open for business on August 1. Patrons may reserve tickets by calling 800-371-0178 or visiting at the Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Annex (67 N. Main Street) from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Six concerts plus three bonus events bring some of the world’s foremost musicians to campus.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-07-24T12:00:00Z">Wed, 07/24/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Conservatory Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2364">Artist Recital Series</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>��سԹ� Opera Theater to Present Offenbach and Rossini Double Bill</h1> <p>cstrauss — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 19:53:01 +0000</p> <span>��سԹ� Opera Theater to Present Offenbach and Rossini Double Bill</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-11-07T14:53:01-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2022 - 14:53">Mon, 11/07/2022 - 14:53</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Composers Gioachino Rossini and Jacques Offenbach are mostly known for a small part of their voluminous output for the lyric stage.</p> <p>Rossini achieved fame for his 39 operas before abruptly leaving the genre behind at the surprising young age of 37. He lived and composed for another 40 years, but didn’t write any other theatrical works.</p> <p>Many of Offenbach’s hundred or so stage works are not heard very frequently these days, aside from <em>Orpheus in the Underworld</em> and <em>The Tales of Hoffmann</em>.</p> <p>They each wrote several one-act works, and ��سԹ� Opera Theater will present two of them in four performances at ��سԹ� College’s Hall Auditorium, running Thursday, November 10 through Sunday, November 13.</p> <p>Offenbach’s operetta <em>Le mariage aux lanternes</em> ("The Wedding by Lantern Light") and Rossini’s burletta <em>L'occasione fa il ladro</em> ("Opportunity Makes a Thief")—have never been presented on ��سԹ� stages before.</p> <p>Both are double cast with ��سԹ� Conservatory vocal performance students. A full orchestra, led by conductor and ��سԹ� alumnus Joseph Mechavich ’92, will collaborate. Longtime opera professor Jonathon Field is directing the production.</p> <p>Offenbach’s <em>Le mariage aux lanternes</em> has been described as a semi-hidden gem. The farce—a simple love story set in a country village—consists of an overture and seven musical numbers connected by spoken dialogue, with a witty libretto by Michel Carré, one of the most prolific French librettists of his time. The operetta will be sung in French, with projected English supertitles.</p> <p>Following this will be Rossini’s <em>L'occasione fa il ladro</em>, written when the composer had just turned twenty. It offers an early taste of the great masterpieces that flowed from Rossini's pen—delightful comedy, brilliant vocal writing, and an orchestral overture with some of his signature storm music. This work—a comedic romp where identities and affections are swapped between two pairs of would-be lovers—will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.</p> <p>This production will be one of the last at ��سԹ� for director Jonathon Field. He has announced his retirement as associate professor of opera theater after the academic year ends.</p> <p>Field has been at the helm of <a href="/opera-theater">��سԹ� Opera Theater</a> since 1997. A trailblazer in the world of opera, he has directed more than 120 opera productions across the United States, working with companies including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, Arizona Opera and Opera Omaha. He is fascinated with traditional as well as modern stage techniques and he has developed and been using video-projected scenery for more than 25 years in productions that have been called “brilliant,” “dazzling” and “riveting.”</p> <p>“Each opera has its individual flavor that comes from the countries of origin: France and Italy,” says Field. “The French opera deals with the rustic life that was still a part of the culture, with songs that everyone can enjoy even now. </p> <p>“The Italian work has a more complex plot, dealing with mistaken identities and mixed up luggage, which we are calling ‘Love's Luggage Lost.’ Our design and technical team have created worlds that are modern, yet keep the unique flavor of each piece. We are also fortunate to have with us alumnus Joseph Mechavich as guest conductor.”</p> <p>Mechavich has established a leading position on the modern music podium with breakthrough productions of contemporary operas such as Jake Heggie’s <em>Dead Man Walking</em>, <em>Moby-Dick</em>, <em>Great Scott</em>, <em>Out of Darkness: Two Remain</em>, and <em>Three Decembers</em>, as well as Carlisle Floyd’s <em>Susannah</em>, <em>Cold Sassy Tree</em>, <em>Of Mice and Me</em>n, and <em>Wuthering Heights</em>, to name a few. This season, Mechavich will be on the podium for <em>La Boheme</em>, <em>La Cenerentola</em>, and <em>The Gift of the Magi</em> at Kentucky Opera, where he serves as principal conductor and artistic consultant. He’ll also return to Opera North Carolina for <em>Don Giovanni.</em></p> <p>Field shares, “It will be a unique opportunity to see these pieces and,” he winks, “it’s two operas for the price of one!”</p> <p><strong><a href="/tickets/event-details?EventId=1401">TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW</a></strong>: ��سԹ� Opera Theater’s <em>Le mariage aux lanternes</em> ("The Wedding by Lantern Light") and <em>L'occasione fa il ladro</em> ("Opportunity Makes a Thief") will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 10-12; the run concludes with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, November 13. Hall Auditorium is at 67 N. Main St. in ��سԹ�.</p> <p>Tickets ($10, $8 for all students) are available by calling 800-371-0178, by visiting Central Ticket Service (67 N. Main St., ��سԹ�) noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, or through the <a href="/tickets/event-details?EventId=1401">online box office</a>. All seating is general admission.</p> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Romance and deception engulf this pairing of comedies featuring ��سԹ� vocal studies students and guest conductor Joseph Mechavich ’92.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-11-07T12:00:00Z">Mon, 11/07/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss ’84</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2372">Performing Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2974">Conservatory Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=32971">Opera Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35596">Voice</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/conducting-and-ensembles" hreflang="und">Conducting and Ensembles</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Scene from a rehearsal of Rossini's "L'occasione fa il ladro."</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amber Rogers</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Discovering a Passion for Science Communication: Lisa Learman '16</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 18:37:23 +0000</p> <span>Discovering a Passion for Science Communication: Lisa Learman '16</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-01-06T13:37:23-05:00" title="Wednesday, January 6, 2021 - 13:37">Wed, 01/06/2021 - 13:37</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Learman was a biology and musical studies double major and a chemistry minor who graduated with highest honors. Her ��سԹ� career was vast and multifaceted: she played flute in the ��سԹ� Arts and Sciences Orchestra, the ��سԹ� College Marching Band, and in the pit orchestra for six ��سԹ� Musical Theater Association shows. She also did research in Professor of Biology Maureen Peters’ lab, was a teaching assistant and personal biology tutor, was on the Biology Majors Committee, and participated in the annual Lab Crawl event.</p> <p>Learman recently won the 2020 Lasker Essay Contest for young scientists. Now, she is working toward her PhD in neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. Learman can be reached on Twitter at @LearmanLisa.</p> <p><strong>Can you describe what you currently do in your PhD program at Johns Hopkins University?</strong></p> <p>I’m currently a fifth-year finishing up my PhD in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine program at Johns Hopkins University. I’m conducting my thesis research project in the lab of Dr. Paul Worley, where I study the molecular mechanisms behind memory formation and how they go wrong in neurological diseases. Since matriculating at Hopkins, I’ve engaged in a variety of science communication activities, which include being a collaborative teaching fellow through the Johns Hopkins Teaching Academy, volunteering at the Maryland Science Center, and serving as a writer and editor for the Biomedical Odyssey blog.</p> <p><strong>How did you figure out what to major in?</strong></p> <p>I went to ��سԹ� knowing that I would be a music/science double major. In high school, the band community was my family: I was in the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, pep band, and marching band. Because music had defined who I was for so long, I knew I wanted to continue my education as a musical studies major. In terms of the science, I had an amazing AP chemistry teacher in high school, and loved learning organic chemistry mechanisms. I started out at ��سԹ� as a biochemistry major, but after taking BIOL 101 with Professor Yolanda Cruz, I was so enthralled by the science of life that I decided to switch to the biology department.</p> <p><strong>How have you navigated being a PhD student in the medical field during COVID-19?</strong></p> <p>All of my extracurricular experiences at Johns Hopkins made it very clear to me that scientific discovery can only take us so far without a public understanding of those discoveries. This has become even clearer in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. I developed a firm aspiration for a career in science communication, a career in which I believe I can make the best use of my scientific knowledge and passion for increasing public understanding of science. </p> <p>I set out to further hone my writing skills by pursuing as much experience as possible. I attended events from the Professional Development and Career Office (PDCO) at Hopkins and wrote summaries of the events to put on the office website. I joined a student-led science editing service called ReVision. In the lab, I wrote and was later awarded a predoctoral grant from the National Institutes of Health, which I considered to be an exercise in persuasive writing. When my laboratory shut down due to COVID-19, I was eager to find even more opportunities to write.</p> <p><strong>How did you approach The 2020 Lasker Essay Contest?</strong></p> <p>I knew about the Lasker Essay because in previous years my mentors and peers had emailed me about it, knowing that I was passionate about writing. Until this year, though, I wasn’t crazy about the prompts. I knew that I would write a better essay if I waited for a prompt I had strong feelings about. </p> <p>The 2020 Lasker Essay Contest prompt was to "describe how a notable scientist has inspired [me]—through the scientist’s personality, life experiences, and/or through their scientific contributions." This topic seemed perfect for me, as I have been fascinated by cytogeneticist Barbara McClintock for many years, but never sat down to organize my thoughts. Writing a concise essay for the contest enabled me to reflect on how she has influenced my scientific philosophy. In my essay, I describe how McClintock’s approach to science, and the pushback she received from her contemporaries, inspires me to embrace complexity and diverse perspectives in science to arrive at a more complete truth. I am deeply grateful to be one of the honorees this year, as the Lasker Foundation exemplifies high-quality biomedical research, communication, and outreach. </p> <p><strong>How did ��سԹ� help you build skills for academic, personal, and professional success?</strong></p> <p>My time at ��سԹ� definitely helped me see that almost any endeavor, including science, has to be viewed and worked-at from many different angles for it to be done well. ��سԹ�’s liberal arts education helped me develop a very well-rounded set of skills that make me a better scientist and a better communicator. How can you be expected to think outside of the box, to innovate, when your skill set is all in one box? </p> <p>In addition to being a biology major, I was a musical studies major, concentrating on music theory. In many ways, I find science and music theory to be very similar. Much like the goal of science is to discover the rules that govern the natural world, the purpose of a music theory analysis is to discern the rules that govern a world that Brahms or Debussy created. Ultimately, ��سԹ� helped me develop the creative as well as analytical thinking skills that I continue to improve on today.</p> <p><strong>What’s next for you?</strong></p> <p>Right now I’m considering two career options. One option is to find a postdoctoral fellowship in which I can focus on teaching as well as develop my own research program. After that I would take my teaching skills and research to a primarily undergraduate institution, where I would have mostly teaching responsibilities, with research on the side. </p> <p>The second option would be to find a job in science communication or outreach. Right now I’m applying for a fellowship program to gain some hands-on experience in science writing for a media outlet. If I’m accepted, it would help me make professional connections and learn more about different careers in science communication. </p> <p>My ideal job would be working as a science communicator for a disease organization, such as the Alzheimer’s Association, where I could help patients and families better understand why they have certain symptoms, existing treatment options, as well as what to expect in the future. I could also see myself writing for NPR, Discover, NOVA, or a similar news outlet targeted toward people interested in science.</p> <p>In addition, since I have enjoyed my volunteer work at the Maryland Science Center, I can see myself writing content for a science museum geared toward guests of all ages. It’s funny— it took so much mental work for me to decide that I wanted to go into some kind of science communication, that I didn’t even realize there would be so many options within that field.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-01-06T12:00:00Z">Wed, 01/06/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jaimie Yue '22</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Lisa Learman ‘16 is a prime example of how Obies can explore and build upon a range of interests and activities in undergrad and beyond. A biology and musical studies double major at ��سԹ�, Learman is completing the fifth year of a PhD in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine program at Johns Hopkins University. In this Q&A, Learman discusses the pathways that led to an aspiration for a career in science communication. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After ��سԹ�</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25281">Musical Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/musical-studies" hreflang="und">Musical Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Lisa Learman '16 is a fifth-year PhD student in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine program at Johns Hopkins University.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Lisa Learman</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Winter Term: Recording the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with Piano</h1> <p>ygay — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 19:15:58 +0000</p> <span>Winter Term: Recording the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with Piano</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-09-10T15:15:58-04:00" title="Thursday, September 10, 2020 - 15:15">Thu, 09/10/2020 - 15:15</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Fourth-year violin major Peiwen Su took on the ambitious project to learn and record the entire Stravinsky Violin Concerto in D major. She was guided through the process by current and former teachers, and even benefitted from a new connection facilitated by her ��سԹ� professor. The project was both challenging and inspirational—and demonstrated to Su what is possible in this new reality.</p> <p>To prepare for the recording while back at home in Taiwan, Su studied with her teacher <a href="/marilyn-mcdonald" target="_blank">Marilyn McDonald</a>, professor of violin and baroque violin at ��سԹ� Conservatory. McDonald made the introduction for Su to her former student, Eliot Heaton ’13, now concertmaster of the Michigan Opera Theatre, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Saginaw Bay Symphony. Like McDonald, Heaton worked to “increase the ideas” in Su’s music. </p> <p>“At first, I thought it was difficult to convey my musical opinions over Zoom due to limitations with computer sound quality,” admits Su. “However, professors still can give precise comments, which helps me immediately create musical ideas, and makes me realize which is the best way for me to perform.” </p> <p>While in Taiwan this summer, Su also reconnected over several lessons with her former violin professor, Yu-Wen Chen. She had the opportunity to work with a collaborative pianist, where rehearsing with a face mask brought its own challenges—breathing deeply for upwards of 20 minutes during a performance made for rather hot rehearsals. </p> <p>The recording was made in the church hall in her hometown in Taiwan.</p> <p>“Overall, the experience was actually special and brings positive energy to me,” says Su, who will be taking classes at ��سԹ� this fall. “Due to the pandemic, most of my summer festivals were cancelled. Many difficult situations appeared. I stayed at home but still did my best in my approach to the music. And, I completed all the work. The project motivated me, inspired me to challenge myself, and made my summer meaningful!”</p> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-09-10T12:00:00Z">Thu, 09/10/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35116">Violin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Fourth-year violin major Peiwen Su.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Peiwen Su '21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id class="o-flex--video-embed"> <div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Sophia Bass ’20 Awarded Fulbright Research Grant in India</h1> <p>hhempste — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:57:04 +0000</p> <span>Sophia Bass ’20 Awarded Fulbright Research Grant in India</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-13T16:57:04-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 16:57">Wed, 05/13/2020 - 16:57</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>��سԹ� Conservatory experienced a record year in 2019-20 with five students named Fulbright Finalists. We are proud to share their stories in this series.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;">***</p> <p>Sophia Bass was compelled to apply for the Fulbright after two transformative experiences that cultivated her interest in North and South Indian classical music traditions: a class she took during her junior year and an encounter with musicians from India.</p> <p>During Bass’ junior year she took Internalizing Rhythms, a year-long course taught by Professor of Advanced Improvisation and Percussion <a href="/jamey-haddad">Jamey Haddad</a>. Through his class, Bass discovered the art of konnakol and solkattu vocal percussion and was exposed to Indian rhythmic organization, improvisation, and the split-fingering technique used in mridangam and tabla performance. </p> <p>The other influencing factor in her decision to apply for a research grant in India was a memorable experience when tabla artist Udayraj Karpur and Indian classical musician Pandit Rajeev Taranath visited a class taught by Bass’s advisor, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology and Anthropology <a href="/jennifer-fraser">Jennifer Fraser</a>. </p> <p>She attributes both of these impactful experiences for wanting to learn more about the musical traditions of India, particularly so she could further develop her repertoire as a musician and composer.</p> <p>During her Fulbright, Bass will be in Karnataka, India, studying the South Indian mnemonic system, Konnakol, along with the South Indian drum, mridangam, under the guidance of world-renowned Carnatic violinist Mysore Manjunath, who teaches at Mysore University College of Fine Arts. She also plans to research the mathematical background and philosophy of raga and tala systems within Hindustani music with world-renowned tabla player Udayraj Karpur.</p> <p>Bass says that what she has learned at ��سԹ� will position her well to study other musical traditions. </p> <p>“As a film and concert composer, I appreciate the excellent training and education I've received studying the Western classical tradition. ��سԹ� has given me much-needed tools and laid the foundation for my further study of music. I will go to India with the posture of a student, with the hope that a challenge to my traditional way of thinking will lay the groundwork for me to compose in a fuller, more creative way.”</p> <p><a href="/dana-jessen">Dana Jessen</a>, director of conservatory professional development and associate professor of contemporary music and improvisation, emphasizes Bass’ dedication to musical activities. </p> <p>“Sophia is a phenomenal student who is well equipped to pursue her Fulbright research project of Carnatic and Hindustani music in India,” says Jessen. “I have observed Sophia thrive in all manner of musical activities in the Conservatory: from composing full orchestral film scores and conducting ensemble performances, to her involvement in student-led organizations like <a href="/news/conversation-phlox-ensemble-conductor-sophia-bass">Phlox.</a>”</p> <p>For Bass, the opportunity to study in India is also personally very meaningful. “It is a privilege that I get to study in India, because my ethnic heritage on my mom’s side originates there. To have the opportunity to go to India and study some of the oldest musical traditions in human history feels like being summoned back to my musical beginning.” </p> <p>After completing her study in India, the West Chicago, Illinois, native plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in composition for film.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-05-13T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/13/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Hillary Hempstead</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Senior musical studies major Sophia Bass ’20 has been awarded a Fulbright research grant to study Carnatic music in India.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25281">Musical Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/dana-jessen" hreflang="und">Dana Jessen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jennifer-fraser" hreflang="und">Jennifer Fraser</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/musical-studies" hreflang="und">Musical Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Sophia Bass ’20</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Sarah Bass</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Dance Like Everybody’s Listening</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:33:07 +0000</p> <span>Dance Like Everybody’s Listening</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-31T16:33:07-05:00" title="Friday, January 31, 2020 - 16:33">Fri, 01/31/2020 - 16:33</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In recent years, ��سԹ� has fostered numerous collaborations with GroundWorks DanceTheater, a Cleveland-based professional dance company dedicated to building community through the performance of contemporary works.</p> <p>For Winter Term 2020, the conservatory’s <a href="/node/51641">TIMARA department</a> teamed up with GroundWorks for a project that united composers and dancers under the guidance of TIMARA professor <a href="/peter-swendsen">Peter Swendsen ’99</a>.</p> <p>Throughout the experience, TIMARA students were challenged to develop pieces that the performers would interpret through dance. Because the music and the dances were created simultaneously, the composers informed the dancers’ decisions just as much as the dancers informed those of each composer. For those on both sides of the creative process, the experience required thinking outside the box and a spirit of adventure—plus the ability to communicate their visions clearly.</p> <p>Their work together culminated in a pair of informal performances: one in ��سԹ�’s dance studio in Warner Center and another at Cleveland State University.</p> <p>The TIMARA participants found composing music for dance to be very different from their previous music-writing experiences.</p> <p>“It was really fun, because we would talk about concepts and then the dancers would choreograph something,” says Piper Hill, a fifth-year double-degree student majoring in TIMARA and mathematics. “Then I would make some sounds, and they'd be like <em>Oh that's really cool! </em>Then they would choreograph some more. Usually, it was me writing music to the dance instead of the other way around."</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-31T12:00:00Z">Fri, 01/31/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Oli Bentley ’21</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>TIMARA students compose music for dance... with dancers at their side.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33031">TIMARA</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33331">Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/contemporary-music" hreflang="und">Contemporary Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Peter Swendsen ’99</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Master a Beast in 4 Short Weeks</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:01:51 +0000</p> <span>Master a Beast in 4 Short Weeks</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-31T16:01:51-05:00" title="Friday, January 31, 2020 - 16:01">Fri, 01/31/2020 - 16:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>How many ��سԹ� students does it take to produce a world-premiere opera? In January 2020, 32 student singers, instrumentalists, and designers produced <a href="/news/rachel-j-peters-wild-beast-premieres-oberlin-jan-29-feb-2-0"><em>The Wild Beast of the Bungalow</em></a>, a new opera by composer Rachel J. Peters and librettist Royce Vavrek. The dark comedy follows a young girl reacting to her parents’ failing marriage with a menagerie of whimsical, candid creatures.</p> <p>Led by 10 faculty and professional artists, the cast rehearsed the show while the production team researched taxidermy, sewed mermaid costumes, and built a hot-pink bedroom set on the stage of Warner Concert Hall—all in four weeks.</p> <p>Twelve years in the making, the opera received its stage legs through ��سԹ�’s new <a href="/node/177606">Opera Commissioning Program</a>, supported by Elizabeth and Justus ’71 Schlichting. A fall semester workshop cast fine-tuned <em>Beast</em> with Peters and Vavrek in preparation for the winter production, which was produced in conjunction with Cleveland Opera Theater’s New Opera Works {NOW} Fest.</p> <p>��سԹ�’s dedication to new opera increases opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Kitty Schwartz ’20, an English and history double major, served as assistant director for this production. Her love of opera blossomed through visits to Lyric Opera of Chicago while pursuing research in the city during her junior year.</p> <p>“Seeing my interests converge through <em>Beast</em> showed me new possibilities for life after ��سԹ�,” she says. “I can definitely see myself in arts administration, and I would love to work in opera.”</p> <p><em>The Wild Beast of the Bungalow</em> ran at ��سԹ� Conservatory January 29 through February 2. It was directed by Christopher Mirto, conducted by Joseph Hodge, and musically prepared by Daniel Michalak.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-31T12:00:00Z">Fri, 01/31/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Charlotte Maskelony '21</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Students devote winter term to mounting an opera premiere.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3322">��سԹ� Opera Commissioning Program</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35596">Voice</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25346">English</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/english" hreflang="und">English</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yevhen Gulenko</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Shining a Light on Composition</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:10:04 +0000</p> <span>Shining a Light on Composition</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-31T16:10:04-05:00" title="Friday, January 31, 2020 - 16:10">Fri, 01/31/2020 - 16:10</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Alex Christie ’09 visited campus in spring 2019 to take part in the <a href="/news/timara-dept-presents-techs-machina-festival-mar-13-15">(T)echs Machina Festival</a>, a showcase of technology-enabled approaches to making music in which the former <a href="/node/51641">TIMARA</a> student demonstrated his own work in photosonic composition.</p> <p>Christie returned to ��سԹ� for Winter Term 2020 to lead a workshop on the subject, which revolves around the use of light as a tool for creating and performing. With sensors and lightbulbs, students designed projects that generated light through sound, others that generated sound through light—and some that achieved both.</p> <p>“The photosonic composition workshop proposed a marriage of light and sound that we had scarcely explored in cinema or theater,” says Hannah Sandoz, a third-year double-degree student majoring in TIMARA and cinema studies. “Thinking of light as an intervention in our performance practices, we were led through a series of workshops involving technologies we’d never used, ultimately inspiring and shaping our final works.”</p> <p>The workshop concluded with demonstrations of the students’ creative interpretations of photosonic composition. The following projects were among those shared by TIMARA majors who took part:</p> <p>• Rachel Gibson ’20 customized a hat with light-detecting sensors and equipped a glove with LED lights that create sound.</p> <p>• Jack Hamill ’20 used a record player, lights, and various means of making sounds directly on vinyl. When a needle or contact microphone hit the spinning record, one of the lights connected to it would illuminate.</p> <p>• Helen He ’20 made a sculpture that involved swinging lights above a sensor. Different speeds of swinging caused variations in sound as each light hovered over the sensor.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-31T12:00:00Z">Fri, 01/31/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Oli Bentley '21</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>TIMARA students devote Winter Term 2020 to creating light through music—and vice versa.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33031">TIMARA</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25256">Cinema and Media</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/contemporary-music" hreflang="und">Contemporary Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/cinema-studies" hreflang="und">Cinema and Media</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Oli Bentley '21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>A Conversation with Phlox Ensemble Conductor Sophia Bass</h1> <p>hhempste — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:10:52 +0000</p> <span>A Conversation with Phlox Ensemble Conductor Sophia Bass</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-30T12:10:52-05:00" title="Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 12:10">Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:10</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Phlox ensemble, an orchestra and choir promoting women and trans individuals in classical music, is an intensive winter term project that provides a space for students of traditionally underrepresented gender identities and those with a commitment to gender inclusion to engage with classical music, and celebrate repertoire by composers of these identities.</p> <p>The Phlox ensembles will present two events during the final week of winter term, featuring a program of primarily women composers, ranging from Fanny Mendelssohn to ��سԹ� <a href="/timara" target="_blank">TIMARA</a> student, Rachel Gibson.</p> <p>We sat down with student conductor and senior Sophia Bass to find out more about her thoughts on this project.</p> <p><strong>Sophia, how did you become involved in the Phlox ensemble? </strong></p> <p>It happened in a roundabout way. After I completed my sophomore year at ��سԹ�, I decided to take a year's leave of absence to pursue my own independent study in music. During my time away, I scored a thesis film entitled ‘‘Thicker than Water’’ in association with Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. This is where I started to find my own voice as a female composer of color. In fall 2018, I began conducting studies with Visiting Assistant Professor of Conducting <a href="/tiffany-chang" target="_blank">Tiffany Chang</a> ’09. Working with her is what inspired me to take the ‘‘Thicker than Water’’ composition further. One day, when I was sitting at home in my PJs, I had this crazy idea to record the 22-minute film soundtrack with a live orchestra. Even though I had only had a semester and a half of conducting at the time, I challenged myself to do it . I assembled a 45-piece orchestra, from musicians in the conservatory and in the Arts and Sciences Orchestra , and in April 2019, we recorded a live session of the composition where I led as the conductor. Because of that project, I was approached by Anne Pinkerton, an oboist who participated in the recording, about the Winter Term Phlox Orchestra. When she explained their mission to promote gender inclusivity in classical music, and asked if I would be open to participating in their spring concert as student conductor, I was happy to come on board!</p> <p><strong>Why is this project, and projects supporting women and trans people in the classical music scene, meaningful to society and for you personally? </strong></p> <p>We are living in a time in which there is greater awareness of the lack of diverse gender representation in the classical music scene, and strides are being made to amend that. For example, this past fall I participated in a research project that made large-scale efforts to unearth the hidden legacy of African American composer and ��سԹ� alumna, Shirley Graham Du Bois. My research was part of a StudiOC cluster class that was spearheaded by professors Fredara Hadley and Tamika Nunley. Du Bois is the first known African American woman to have written a major opera, but her opera hasn’t been performed since 1932 and efforts are being made to stage it on campus in December. This project, along with the Winter Term Phlox Orchestra, are important because they help to further the wide efforts toward gender inclusion within classical music by providing greater awareness and access, both in the classroom and on the stage.</p> <p>For me personally, it was not until I stepped to the podium as a conductor that I had to learn my own confidence as an African American female conductor. The things I have learned from Shirley Graham Du Bois’ life as a black woman who had to navigate spaces in the classical music scene also inspired me to find my place on the podium.</p> <p><strong>What is it that you're most excited about in this coming year? </strong></p> <p>I am in the process of writing my first symphony, which I hope to have completed and recorded before I graduate. I am also looking forward to continuing my conducting studies with my teacher, Professor of Conducting <a href="/raphael-jimenez" target="_blank">Raphael Jiménez</a>. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-30T12:00:00Z">Thu, 01/30/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Hannah Schoepe ’20</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2379">Student Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3155">��سԹ� Orchestra</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33031">TIMARA</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35616">Conducting</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/conducting-and-ensembles" hreflang="und">Conducting and Ensembles</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Sophia Bass, Phlox ensemble student conductor.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Sophia Bass</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Phlox Ensembles Give Underrepresented Groups a Voice</h1> <p>hhempste — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 21:40:02 +0000</p> <span>Phlox Ensembles Give Underrepresented Groups a Voice</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-30T16:40:02-05:00" title="Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 16:40">Thu, 01/30/2020 - 16:40</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Phlox ensemble, an orchestra and choir promoting women and trans individuals in classical music, is an intensive Winter Term 2020 project that provides a space for students of traditionally underrepresented gender identities and those with a commitment to gender inclusion to engage with classical music, and celebrates repertoire by composers of these identities.</p> <p>The Phlox ensembles presented two events during the final week of winter term, featuring a program of women, trans, and non-binary composers, ranging from Fanny Mendelssohn to Rachel Gibson ’20, a percussion performance and <a href="/timara" target="_blank">TIMARA</a> major.</p> <p>The project has around 60 members who rehearsed daily for two weeks, culminating in performances on February 1 and 2. Named after the phlox flower, a symbol of harmony and partnership, the ensemble was founded by ��سԹ� students in 2018, all of whom are now members of the ��سԹ� Students for Gender Inclusivity in Music committee, founded to support the organization of the Phlox project.</p> <p>Student conductor and musical studies major Sophia Bass ’20 notes the importance of these activities: “We are living in a time in which there is greater awareness of the lack of diverse gender representation in the classical music scene, and strides are being made to amend that.”</p> <p>Gibson’s piece brings many of these thoughts together in her composition, which she describes as an “orchestra of mobile phones.” Gibson collected voice recordings from Phlox members for the composition, asking each individual to talk about what gender inclusivity in classical music means to them, whether it’s experiences, words, feelings, or something else.</p> <p>As another component, Gibson created a phone app that allows the recordings to be played as a longer work by phones stationed in and around the audience. Each “phone player” has control of certain sound parameters (such as adding echo to the recording, for enamel) freely as they wish to distort the voices.</p> <p>Gibson describes the listening experience saying, “Ultimately, the “lo-fi”-ness of playing the recording through the speakers of a phone, plus the sound manipulation, will force the audience to listen very closely to hear our thoughts and stories. I think this comments on how women/non-binary/trans-people are often overlooked or not listened to in today’s society.”</p> <p>Other events initiated by the Phlox ensembles include a listening party featuring an all women/trans/non-binary composer playlist and a talk by professional conductor Nan Washburn in Kulas Recital Hall. Public Services librarian Kathy Abromeit also led a Wikipedia ed-ithon, where students improved the Wikipedia pages of women/trans/non-binary artists. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-19T12:00:00Z">Sun, 01/19/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Hannah Schoepe ’20</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ensembles promote women and trans individuals in classical music, and celebrates repertoire by composers of these identities.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3318">Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3328">Musical Opportunities for College Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25281">Musical Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33031">TIMARA</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=7491">Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/musical-studies" hreflang="und">Musical Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/contemporary-music" hreflang="und">Contemporary Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Dale Preston '83</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>