Brass + percussion

Paul McKee: On mentorship and a new take on “Pomp & Circumstance”

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Paul McKee: On mentorship and a new take on “Pomp & Circumstance” Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/20/2024 - 00:00

Marc Shulgold + Sabine Kortals Stein

Associate Professor of Jazz Studies Paul McKee (center) at the inaugural Paul McKee Jazz Festival!

For Associate Professor of Jazz Studies Paul McKee, it doesn’t seem all that long ago that he was playing a gig with a small combo at yet another wedding. Around him were a handful of bored players, earning another paycheck. “But regardless of whether it’s a rehearsal or a gig, it’s important to always put forth your best effort,” says the trombonist and composer/arranger extraordinaire. “That’s what I told the kids at Indianola last month: ‘You’ve got to play full power all the time. Give it 100% effort.’”

McKee was referring to his recent visit to Indianola High School: On Feb. 17, his high school alma mater inaugurated the Paul McKee Jazz Festival, rebranded in tribute to an illustrious alumnus. “It’s a huge honor and a big event,” he explains. “Forty bands competed in the festival—from middle school to high school.

“Next year, I’m going to write a piece for the Indianola High School Jazz Band—and maybe come back and play something.” This year, McKee served as a guest judge.

McKee speaks with the Indianola High School Wind Ensemble sharing stories and life advice.
Photo courtesy: Indianola High School Band.

Being recognized in this way invites reflection on an unusual life in music—one in which McKee nimbly juggles academics with exciting experiences in jazz performance including a stint with the legendary Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd.

“I always wanted to play,” he says. “But I felt that getting a college degree would be a wise choice, so I earned music education and composition degrees. I later had the opportunity to send an audition tape to the Woody Herman band. That was in 1984.

“I had sought out opportunities to go out on the road—so when they brought me on board, I was ecstatic. It was one of the big deals of my lifetime.”

McKee’s years as a traveling musician still serve as a valuable experience to share with his students. “I always strive to teach by example,” he points out. “I give them the ball and let them run with it.”

On May 9, McKee’s impact will extend beyond the classroom to the university commencement ceremony at Folsom Field stadium, premiering his new arrangement of the familiar theme from Sir Edward Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1 In D (1901), performed and recorded by students in the college’s Thompson Jazz Studies Program. “It’s a contemporary arrangement in three parts capturing the diversity of our graduates and our campus community,” explains McKee. “You’ll hear a big band rendition of the march, then in the Latin montuno style and finally in the New Orleans style that should lighten things up for everybody.”

This eclectic musical mix both mirrors McKee’s approach to life and the lessons he imparts in his teaching, and reflects the College of Music’s universal musician mission: “The more skills you have, the stronger a candidate you are for finding interesting, interdisciplinary work,” he says. “That’s what I reinforce in mentoring my students. I encourage them to build on what they’ve experienced, what they’ve learned and what they know, and to understand how much they have to offer.”

Associate Professor of Jazz Studies Paul McKee reflects on the impact of mentorship and shares the spirit of his new, three-part arrangement of “Pomp & Circumstance” to be premiered at the spring 2024 university commencement ceremony!

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College of Music hosts drumming legend + clinician Chad Wackerman

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000

College of Music hosts drumming legend + clinician Chad Wackerman Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/14/2024 - 00:00

Marc Shulgold + Sabine Kortals Stein

On March 19 and 20, rock/jazz drumming giant Chad Wackerman will hold a rare residency at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder College of Music, thanks to support from a Roser Visiting Artists Grant and DW Drums. “We’re grateful to Becky Roser and her late husband Jim who have been wonderful benefactors to ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ for quite a while,” says Mike Barnett, associate teaching professor in composition and music theory. “This is going to be such an amazing opportunity for students to spend time with Chad.”

Barnett’s past life in rock is paying off. “I was in a metal band when I saw Chad back in ’88 in Pittsburgh when he was drumming with [Frank] Zappa—it was life-changing,” he recalls. “He’s a phenomenal musician.

“We met up recently and he reached out about coming here. On March 19, he’ll talk with my songwriters and that night he’ll do a drumming technique master class that’s open to the public. On March 20, he’ll work with student composers on improvising.”

While the residency lasts only two days, the experience can resonate much longer for young students, Barnett suggests—just as Wackerman’s drumming with Zappa influenced him. That thought brings him to the College of Music’s universal musician mission.

“A musician these days needs as many skills as possible,” explains Barnett, himself an artist-composer-songwriter-educator. “As an artist, you can grow throughout your entire life. And what we’re accomplishing here at the College of Music can be an example to inspire students. If they branch out while they’re here, they will be ahead of the game when they graduate.

“It’s about more than getting good grades. It’s about making your inner self larger. College is just the beginning of your life in learning.”

Barnett’s experience in the music business still fires his imagination—and is key to the College of Music’s new degree emphasis in music production. He also calls up his vast experience and connections in the world of rock ‘n’ roll to bring his students up close to musicians from the outside world.

Barnett’s impressive résumé further includes songwriting and drumming work for 30 years with numerous rock, heavy metal and classical fusion bands with such exotic names as Tainted Saint, Phantom Crew, Terminal Degree and Throttle.

Barnett’s compositions include chamber works, concertos for piano and violin, pieces for wind ensemble, solo works and songs—music that has been performed by various orchestras and ensembles around the world. Closer to home, he’s collaborated with College of Music colleagues Erika Eckert, David Korevaar, David Requiro, Michael Thornton and particularly the late Charles Wetherbee.

All that said, one of his first loves is teaching and his commitment to one-on-one mentoring. “I enjoy creating a welcoming environment for all my students,” he says. “I teach the history of rock music. I also teach a songwriting class for non-music majors. I believe that music belongs to everybody.”

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.

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College of Music mourns passing of alumnus Ben Pollack

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

College of Music mourns passing of alumnus Ben Pollack Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/24/2024 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

The ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder College of Music community mourns the loss of alumnus Ben Pollack (BME ’14) who unexpectedly passed away of natural causes on Dec. 14, 2023, in his home near Denver, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ. He was 31.

“While I am deeply saddened by the news of Ben’s passing, I fondly remember his passion for music and his love for teaching,” says Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies + Enrollment Management and Associate Professor of Conducting + Music Education Matthew Roeder.

“Ben’s dedication to music students and music education was recognized by his being named the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Music Educators Association’s Young Teacher of the Year in 2019. His commitment to his students was rightly acknowledged early on in his teaching career by being honored as the first-ever recipient of this award.”

“Teaching music is the most important thing I do,” said Pollack five years ago in an interview celebrating his CMEA award. “It has to matter every day.”

Pollack was the recipient of a full out-of-state tuition scholarship from the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. As an undergrad, he was principal chair of the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder Symphonic Band euphonium section and tuba/euphonium ensemble. Pollack was also a member of our Golden Buffalo Marching Band and the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Buffoons, one of the state’s premiere a cappella groups.

“Suffering the loss of a student—current or former—is in many ways akin to losing a child,” reflects Associate Professor of Tuba + Euphonium Michael Dunn with whom Pollack studied. “When I heard about Ben’s passing, my first reaction was shock followed closely by gratitude—he was by all measures an extraordinary student.

“Ben was truly born to teach. Our lessons often revolved around how to deliver a view of the ‘bigger picture’ to students. He wanted his students to have a sense of their place in the world and for each of them to understand that they are capable of changing the world for the better. Ben happened to use music as his vehicle to deliver this message.”

Pollack continued his pursuit of excellence by earning a master’s degree in music education from the Jacobs School of Music at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, where he was principal chair of the IU Concert Band euphonium section.

As a band and choral music educator with a track record of success, Pollack sought to influence large-scale changes in education through music and community. Upon graduating from our College of Music, Pollack taught choir music at Carmel Middle School in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Springs and later embraced the challenge of building up a music program in Walsenburg, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ, leaving an indelible mark on the students and community whose lives he touched and transformed. Last summer, he began a new chapter teaching instrumental music at Ponderosa High School in Parker, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ.

“We in the College of Music’s tuba and euphonium studio are grateful to have had Ben in our fold and know his star will continue to burn brightly,” says Dunn.

Benjamin Michael Pollack obituary (Legacy.com)

The ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder College of Music community mourns the recent passing of alumnus Ben Pollack (BME ’14). As a band and choral music educator with a track record of success, Pollack sought to influence large-scale changes in education through music and community.

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2023 Sher Distinguished Musician Scholars announced

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

2023 Sher Distinguished Musician Scholars announced Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/20/2023 - 00:00

Kathryn Bistodeau

Nate Bonin and Danny Kaminski are our 2023 Sher Distinguished Musician Scholars! These students will receive full scholarships funded by John and Anna Sie who established the award in 2014.

“I’m delighted that both Nathan and Daniel have been named our next Sher Distinguished Musician Scholars, and I'm pleased that we’re able to support two exceptional music students from ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ,” says Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies + Enrollment Management Matthew Roeder. “Nathan and Daniel are not only outstanding individuals but also exemplary musicians who will undoubtedly represent the College of Music extremely well.”

Nate Bonin

Bonin—a Longmont native—is studying French horn performance with Professor of Horn Mike Thornton. “I chose ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder because I’ve worked with Professor Thornton in the past,” he says. “My teacher in high school would take me to master classes and things that were happening at the studio here—I got to see everything and really wanted to be a part of it.”

Bonin has chosen to pursue music because it makes him feel “completely fulfilled.”

"I’ve played in a number of ensembles and not only being a part of those groups and playing, but also being in the audience is a good experience for me—and I think it honestly is for everybody,” says Bonin who’s excited to be at the College of Music.

“This scholarship is absolutely life changing,” he adds.

Danny Kaminski

Kaminski grew up in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Springs and is studying jazz bass with Jazz Studies Lecturer Bijoux Barbosa. He chose the College of Music because he loves the faculty and the students here. “My main goal in looking at music schools was to follow where the good players are going,” Kaminski says. “Because that’s where the future of music is and that’s what I want to be a part of.

“I just can’t necessarily imagine myself being happy doing anything else. I feel like, when I play music, it’s the only time that my thoughts feel more cohesive and more streamlined and purposeful. And most importantly, why we pretty much do anything, it’s really fun.”

Kaminski’s goals for the future are to continue to push jazz music forward and bring it into the modern age. More than anything, though, Kaminski says, “I just want to help give back. I’ve had too many teachers to count, my parents, so many students, that helped me in immeasurable ways. I feel like I owe it to them and to everyone else, including the next generation, to give that back and to be a helping force.”

The Sher Distinguished Musician Scholarship will help Kaminski along that path and allows him to fully engage in his College of Music education. “I’m eternally thankful for that and I don’t think it will ever truly set in that I got a full ride. I truly don’t have the words, I’m so deeply thankful.”

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

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The Cleveland Orchestra residency—“A great partnership” resumes

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The Cleveland Orchestra residency—“A great partnership” resumes Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/08/2023 - 00:00

Marc Shulgold

It’s been a while, thanks to COVID’s unwelcome interruption, but beginning Sept. 11, The Cleveland Orchestra residency at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder’s College of Music returns. For three days packed with sectionals, rehearsals, mock auditions, master classes, a Q&A and a Faculty Tuesdays concert, 14 members of the renowned Ohio orchestra will work side-by-side (literally) with ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder student musicians eager to learn.

“It’s been a great partnership,” observes Steve Rose of this every-other-year collaboration that began a decade ago—until 2020 when the pandemic “got in the way,” as The Cleveland Orchestra’s principal second violinist puts it. This program, he says, “serves as a testament to ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder to have the foresight to support the wonderful College of Music faculty and to have our orchestra lend our talents.”

Rose has been more than a cheerleader and faculty member since the birth of the residency. By pure luck, he was instrumental (pardon the pun) in its birth. The story begins with College of Music Dean-Emeritus Daniel Sher’s son Martin, who was a close friend of Rose’s back when Sher was dean at Louisiana State University (where Rose and Martin were students). The two friends would then continue their studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Later, the saga shifts to Boulder where the elder Sher was about to retire as dean. “Dan called me and told me of this dream of his (to have a Cleveland residency),” Rose recalls. “He asked, ‘Could this be possible?’” Yes, it could, thanks to Sher’s commitment and the financial assistance of The Clinton Family Fund led by Bruce Clinton.

Daniel Silver is another longtime participant in the Cleveland residency, but he’s locally based (albeit with Ohio roots). “I grew up in Cleveland,” says the College of Music professor of clarinet. “I grew up with that orchestra. I’ve known a lot of the players.” More than that, he learned to understand what makes them more than merely members of a world-class ensemble. “They bring to Boulder their wisdom—their realization of what it’s like to engage in a collaboration with others, to be a part of a team. Szell [longtime Cleveland music director George Szell] talked about players needing to listen to each other.” That spirit, he says, will be imparted to College of Music students—along with so many other extra-musical qualities.

Rose stresses the value of students getting close to musicians living daily lives as full-time orchestra members, to learn what that’s really like. “The experience of this residency comes in addition to their studies at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder, of course,” he says. “These students are so fortunate in getting a great music education. What we’re doing is contributing to that.”

One can imagine that participating students will be soaking up every minute of those three intense September days and evenings. Fact is, the same enthusiasm exists among the Cleveland contingent, Rose says. “I reached out to my colleagues to see who might be interested and available, concentrating on principal players in each of the sections.” He had no trouble getting takers. “We have some tremendous performers, ones who have the desire and the ability to teach,” the violinist adds.

Silver seconds that view. “They all look forward to coming here,” he observes. And yes, the students will be thrilled to participate in the three-day program ... but these aren’t a bunch of wide-eyed youngsters, he cautions. “We have highly motivated students with a range of sophistication.” While it’s a shame that the residency is only three days, Silver acknowledges, “it’s still possible for them to be sparked to a deeper awareness. Our goal is for the experience to leave them with something to work on. Maybe they’ll come away with a patience they didn’t have before.”

Members of The Cleveland Orchestra residency will join College of Music faculty and students in a free Faculty Tuesdays concert on Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. in Grusin Music Hall. Preview, download or print the program.

The Cleveland Orchestra’s biennial residency at our College of Music returns for three days packed with sectionals, rehearsals, mock auditions, master classes, a Q&A and a Faculty Tuesdays concert.

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Passing the baton: Celebrating faculty retirements

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Passing the baton: Celebrating faculty retirements Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/27/2023 - 00:00

MarieFaith Lane

Photo (left to right): James Austin, Paul Erhard, William Stanley and Daniel Sher

For most of us, retirement is a major milestone. And for these esteemed faculty members—Professor of Music Education and CMEA Hall of Fame inductee James Austin, Professor of Double Bass Paul Erhard, Associate Professor of Trombone William Stanley, and Professor of Piano and former Dean Daniel Sher—their retirements this spring represent a tireless commitment and dedication to inspiring up-and-coming musicians and educators.

Austin, Erhard, Sher and Stanley have deeply influenced and helped shape the futures of countless students’ lives through their unique teaching methods and shared expertise. As we bid them farewell and look back on their contributions, achievements and legacy at the College of Music, we’re pleased to pass along some of their reflections:

What experience are you most proud of, during your career at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder?
SHER: My relationships with people come first. I was gratified by the number of faculty I became privileged to appoint and to come to know, the many students whose acquaintances I made, and the wonderful staff upon whom I relied every day for their work and support of our programs and people. It has been an added bonus that my wife Boyce and I now enjoy so many enriching and rewarding friendships to this day among Music Advisory Board members and former members, and the many patrons who chose to invest in our college.

Most of all, I am proud of the collaborative spirit that grew during my tenure. It has been a joy to see faculty leadership and a robust participation in shared governance—and to observe, since I stepped away from the Dean position, that this trajectory continues its upward path.

STANLEY: Hosting the 1998 International Trombone Festival with 750 participants and 60-plus artists and teachers from all over the globe was big. As was the graduate brass quintet winning a bronze medal at the 2009 Fischoff Competition.

But the experience of working with the wide array of students who have come through the studio is what I’m most proud of. Many of them went on to outstanding graduate programs, to teaching and performing positions, and to other successful careers that include music in their lives. Seeing each student grow and learn about themselves as musicians, trombonists and humans is what kept me going.

AUSTIN: I’m most proud of my over two decades’ leadership provided to the College of Music as Music Education Chair and then as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. As chair, I advocated for the music education faculty to make their own admissions decisions and scholarship recommendations through a formal interview and evaluation process; instituted sophomore interviews as a gateway to upper-division licensure coursework; increased enrollment in both the undergraduate and graduate programs; and improved the placement record of program graduates into K-12 and higher education positions.

As associate dean, I established an early alert system to provide at-risk students with timely academic counseling and other forms of support; established a system for tracking budgetary implications of merit scholarship awards; expanded the student recognition program to include outstanding freshman and sophomore awards; and oversaw a major revision of the undergraduate curriculum.

What trends or culture shifts did you observe over the course of your career? What’s your career advice to students today?
STANLEY: It would probably be easier to list what hasn’t changed. Technological advances have had a huge impact on how students learn and how teachers teach. In 1985, when I started at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ, personal computers were pretty new, compact discs were new, the library had a card catalog, there was no internet, no email—even the copy machine was terrible. The enormity and speed of technological change over that period of time has been amazing to watch.

As well, an emphasis on offering a diverse cultural experience at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ has been under discussion for many years—it’s wonderful that these efforts are becoming actualized with increased diversity in repertoire selections, guest artists and speakers … and a genuine level of awareness throughout the college and across campus. Moving forward, I hope there can be continued efforts supporting the recruitment of diverse faculty and students.

Finally, my career advice is to go all in. A half-hearted effort during the college experience rarely leads to success. Students who can enjoy the process of preparation and improvement, and who are persistent and who have patience, will be better positioned for a life in music. But no one can say what that will look like. Given the rate of change in our society, flexibility and creativity will become not just catch phrases, but a way of life.

Oh, and go vote.

AUSTIN: One of the biggest cultural shifts I’ve observed is a broadening and rethinking of career paths open to music majors and, in a related sense, a steady increase in the number of undergraduate students pursuing dual degrees within music—or double majors in music and a second field outside of music. At the same time, unfortunately, it has been more difficult to attract students to a career in music education, largely because of the misperception of music teaching being a high-demand, low-status occupation.

SHER: The trends that I’ve watched and tried to nurture include the establishment of our Entrepreneurship Center for Music, the first of its kind when it was established back in the mid-90s; as well as the establishment of our collaborative piano program and jazz studies program; the growth of our scholarly/research programs which now boast a blossoming ethnomusicology division; and a music theory master’s degree. Also of note are our Soundworks series, and I’ve been especially pleased to observe the chamber music program which is thriving and has grown to new heights.

As I look back on my 20-year tenure as dean, I think of it as a dream position during which time I tried my best “to do no harm” (borrowing from the physicians’ oath) and to enable a gifted, talented and perceptive faculty to work together—which has, in turn, enabled their students to be the best that they can be.

Join us on May 5 from 3-5 p.m. (E160) in honor of our retiring faculty members and in celebration of their many years’ dedicated service to the college and the university. They will be greatly missed by their colleagues and students. RSVP to Lauren Petersen by May 1.

Professor of Music Education and CMEA Hall of Fame inductee James Austin, Professor of Double Bass Paul Erhard, Associate Professor of Trombone William Stanley, and Professor of Piano and former Dean Daniel Sher have dedicated their careers to inspiring up-and-coming musicians and educators. We reflect on their contributions, achievements and legacy with gratitude.

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Meet Allan McMurray: Honoring a career in service to music

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Meet Allan McMurray: Honoring a career in service to music Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/26/2023 - 00:00

Marc Shulgold

His dad played a little ukulele and liked to collect sheet music, but that’s about how serious it got for music in Allan McMurray’s home way back when. And yet, the boy had developed a hunger. “I was learning trumpet,” he recalls. “We moved around a lot, and I found that music was a way to make friends.” He would spend time with his dad’s sheet music, connecting his trumpet to the song’s melody lines. “I liked practicing.”

His playing got good enough so that he could jam with a few small ensembles. “Later, I turned professional and was in a brass quintet, and I found I was not afraid to share my views on how a piece should be played. I’d say to them, ‘Why don’t we try it like this?’” The path toward a career as a conductor of winds clearly beckoned. But he was haunted by the memory of his parents’ scoldings.

“They wanted me to be a lawyer,” McMurray says. “For years, I kept hearing the same warning from them: ‘You’ll never amount to anything if you pursue music.’”

In 2013, McMurray retired after 35 years as professor at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder College of Music, directing the college’s bands, developing the master’s and doctoral programs in instrumental conducting, hosting the first College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Summer Conducting Symposium and becoming the first in the College of Music to receive a lifetime appointment as a Distinguished Professor.

No reason to stop there. McMurray has guest-conducted in 15 countries, guest-taught at more than 200 universities and conservatories, been keynote speaker at various CBDNA events and—you can catch your breath here—he has just been awarded the University Medal by the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Board of Regents, one of five individuals to be honored on May 10 at a private ceremony on the Boulder campus.

Now, at age 76, McMurray is truly a man of the world. He continues to travel and work with no sign of slowing down. He’ll be conducting in Canada through April, then in Illinois, finally returning to Boulder early in May to receive his award. “ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ will always be a significant part of who I’ve been as a musician,” he noted. “This [University Medal] is a great honor.”

Few in music can boast such an impressive résumé, and few can speak with such modesty and passion for their chosen profession. “My life has been so enriched by music,” he says. “I love working with students.

“You know, the term maestro translates as teacher. When I teach, I dialogue with my students a lot—I ask them about the score we’re working on. I tell them, ‘The score is your friend. Talk to it. Get to know it.’ I tell them that you have to work hard, and if you do, you’ll get closer to where you want to be. Learning is a journey. What’s better than that?”

McMurray bubbles with endless optimism, even in these chaotic times. Amidst all the divisiveness around us, there is a common source of unity, he reminds us. “Everybody loves music—from lullabies for babies to taps at the end, there is music. The world needs music. Life needs music.”

Congratulations on your well-earned distinction, Allan McMurray!

Professor of Conducting Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Allan McMurray was nominated for the University Medal by Dean John Davis and Conducting Area Chair, Professor of Conducting and Director of Bands Donald McKinney; Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Enrollment Management, and Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education Matthew Roeder; and Professor of Piano and former College of Music Dean Daniel Sher. Also supporting his nomination was alumna Karen Fannin who earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from our College of Music, studying with McMurray; she’s now professor and director of bands at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

In 2013, Allan McMurray retired after 35 years as professor at the College of Music, directing our bands, developing the master’s and doctoral programs in instrumental conducting, and more. He was the college’s first to receive a lifetime appointment as a Distinguished Professor and he’s recently been awarded the University Medal by the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Board of Regents.

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Meet incoming Assistant Professor of Trombone Sterling Tanner

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Meet incoming Assistant Professor of Trombone Sterling Tanner Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/23/2023 - 00:00

Sabine Kortals Stein

The College of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Sterling Tanner who will join our faculty this fall as assistant professor of trombone.

A performer, educator and clinician, Tanner is currently trombone assistant professor of practice at Ohio State University. In addition to leading trombone activities at Ohio State, Tanner coaches chamber music and serves as the faculty advisor for the Buckeye Trombone Association.

“I’m looking forward to building on the positive culture among trombonists at the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder College of Music with a hyperfocus on the trombone ensemble,” says Tanner, an S.E. Shires Performing Artist who has appeared as a soloist throughout the United States and abroad including performances in Hong Kong and Valencia, Spain. “My goal is to lead our students to realize we are more than a collection of trombonists—we’re a family.

“It’s important to me to hold students to the highest level of professionalism while inspiring them to think beyond sheet music—becoming not only proficient artists and educators but great citizens for the betterment of our world.”

Tanner was named the winner of the 2016 and 2018 American Trombone Workshop Division III Bass Trombone Solo Competition, as well as the 2015 Southeastern Trombone Symposium S.E. Shires Solo Competition; he was a finalist in the 2016 International Trombone Festival’s Donald Yaxley Solo Competition.

He adds, “The University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder College of Music has a long-standing reputation as one of the leading music institutions globally. Since I began teaching music, it’s been my dream to join an institution of this caliber as a faculty member.

“The College of Music’s rich history of academic and artistic excellence, esteemed faculty and a vibrant student population of over 500 music majors are among the many attractive aspects that drew me to ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder.”

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Tanner earned a bachelor’s in music education from Columbus State University. He also holds both MM and DMA degrees in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin; his primary teachers include Bradley Palmer and Nathaniel Brickens.

“Innovation is one of the first words that comes to mind when I think about the College of Music—for example, the college’s commitment to inclusive excellence in teaching, research, performance and creative activity through groups such as the Diverse Musicians’ Alliance,” concludes Tanner. “I also recall during the COVID-19 pandemic, most music programs across the country were following ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder’s recommendations regarding safe music making.

“I’m elated to have the opportunity to contribute and take part in such innovative ideas and activities that help shape our musical communities and, ultimately, society as a whole.”

Welcome, Sterling Tanner!

The College of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Sterling Tanner who will join our faculty this fall!

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Alumna builds career on multifaceted ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder experience

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Alumna builds career on multifaceted ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder experience Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/08/2023 - 00:00

Adam Goldstein

Sarah Stoneback was already an accomplished musician when she enrolled in the master’s program at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder College of Music in 2008.

She had earned a bachelor’s at Arizona State University in Tempe and she’d built up an impressive performance résumé with band members who just happened to be family: The Stoneback Sisters and Brass featured Sarah and her sisters, as well as her mother and father—all of whom played trumpet and brass. Complementing her undergraduate studies, this experience offered Stoneback real-world credits as a touring musician and a professional artist.

It was her experience at the College of Music, however, that helped steer the course of her chosen career.

“When I think about the College of Music, I think about a vibrant learning environment and a vibrant space to grow,” says Stoneback, an active Conn-Selmer Bach clinician and artist. “I had the opportunity to work with faculty and administration in ways that helped me learn about the way the academic system runs and operates. That’s how I navigate my career at Montana State University.”

At MSU—as Assistant Professor of Trumpet Pedagogy and Performance—Stoneback is a respected educator, clinician, soloist and chamber musician who’s been featured on stages across the globe in various ensembles. She credits many of her accomplishments directly to the guidance, inspiration and encouragement she found at our college, where she earned a Master in Music degree and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in performance and pedagogy.

At ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder, Stoneback embraced world-class performance opportunities: As a member of Flatirons Brass, she participated in numerous national competitions and world tours. In 2009, the ensemble was a Bronze medalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. And in 2011, Flatirons Brass worked as artists in residence at the University of Renmin in Beijing, China; the group conducted workshops, provided individual instruction and performed recitals.

“That was a major part of my time at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder,” Stoneback recalls. “We did competitions, traveled internationally and did a lot of educational outreach. We had so many experiences that were musically enriching.”

Stoneback also leveraged opportunities to record professionally—and to participate in the marketing, design and packaging of the “Of Love and Life” CD, a performance she participated in with the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder Wind Symphony under Professor Emeritus Allan McMurray.

“The university invested in me by inviting me to work with them,” Stoneback says. “They welcomed my skills and interests. It was a pivotal experience.”

Just as critical to Stoneback’s development were the teaching opportunities she found at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ. Stoneback participated in the college’s graduate teacher program, an opportunity that taught her how to teach students of all backgrounds and specialties how to build a professional portfolio, refine different performance styles, and effective ways of becoming better musicians and scholars of their chosen discipline. These teaching experiences, along with the chance to serve as an adjunct professor at Denver’s Regis University, laid the groundwork for her current role.

“The College of Music provided me the tools that I keep developing in pursuing my own teaching career,” notes Stoneback whose approach to teaching incorporates her evidence-based research in applying the Kolb Learning Style Inventory. “The academic side of my experience at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder helped me become more multifaceted.”

She concludes, “I loved every aspect of studying at the College of Music. I loved earning my graduate degrees in Boulder. I remember driving in the first time and thinking, ‘I just have to be here. This is exactly where I want to be.”

“When I think about the College of Music, I think about a vibrant learning environment and a vibrant space to grow,” says alumna Sarah Stoneback. “The College of Music provided me the skills and tools that I keep developing in pursuing my own teaching career.”

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College of Music summer programs + courses

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

College of Music summer programs + courses Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/07/2022 - 00:00

MarieFaith Lane

To support our students’ and our community’s musical development, the College of Music offers summer session courses and richly varied summer programming, including:

From May 31-June 3, the Panoramic Flutist—a program for aspiring and professional flutists—will host an interactive, four-day residential that includes workshops, master classes and/or private lessons, as well as experiencing faculty recitals and even enjoying yoga together.

And be sure to spread the word about Flute + Trumpet Day on June 11: Designed for high school students, this fun-filled day will include warmup sessions, classes, workshops, and performances featuring Professor of Flute Christina Jennings and Associate Professor of Trumpet Ryan Gardner.

“We’re very much looking forward to bringing high School flutists and trumpeters to ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ for a day of music and community,” says Jennings. “The flutes and trumpets are sort of the pack leaders of their instrument families and bringing these shiny leaders together is a fun way of bonding and sharing the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ experience.”

Adds Gardner, “It’s been a great deal of fun to collaborate and to share ideas with Christina. We’re so excited to host and work with the students, to play fun music … and, most of all, to have a great time!”

The college’s Summer Music Academy further presents opportunities for both high school and middle school students to receive world-class music instruction. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, join us in making music together in-person again—from string orchestra, wind ensemble and concert band to piano.

Meanwhile, our ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ New Opera Workshop (ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ NOW)—part of the college’s Eklund Opera Program—is a three-week, interactive session for student singers and composers to collaborate and workshop both their own pieces and works by new opera professionals. Composer Kamala Sankaram—who has made a name for herself composing unique works utilizing unconventional methods and ideas, including exploring the interplay of singers with electronic and digital music—will join ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ NOW this summer. Public performances of Sankaram’s “Joan of the City” opera will take place June 17-19: stay tuned for details!

Additionally, through the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ NOW Composer Fellows’ Initiative, student composers will receive individualized mentorship from world-renowned Gene Scheer and Tom Cipullo to create original 20-minute operas.

For professional wind and orchestral conductors, the college’s Conducting Symposia—led by College of Music conducting faculty and renowned guests—strengthen conducting technique, rehearsal strategies and more.

The College of Music’s Summer Master of Music Educationis designed to address a variety of interests, needs and areas of expertise for K-12 teachers. Students working toward an MME degree complete 12 hours of study in music education, 12 hours of study in music and six hours of open electives. This summer, the program will be offering a course in Music Teacher Wellness which will be co-taught by our Professor of Music Education Margaret Berg alongside Associate Professor of Music Education Frank Diaz of the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University Bloomington.

Speaking of wellness, don’t miss our Alexander Technique Summer Coursethat helps change the ways in which participants think about habits and movement. The program is designed to enhance overall well-being through exploration of Alexander Technique, Body Mapping, Biotensegrity, T’ai Chi and Qigong … and more.

To support our students’ and our community’s musical development, the College of Music offers summer session courses and richly varied summer programming.

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Brass + percussion

Paul McKee: On mentorship and a new take on “Pomp & Circumstance”

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College of Music hosts drumming legend + clinician Chad Wackerman

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College of Music mourns passing of alumnus Ben Pollack

Benjamin Michael Pollack obituary (Legacy.com)

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2023 Sher Distinguished Musician Scholars announced

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The Cleveland Orchestra residency—“A great partnership” resumes

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Passing the baton: Celebrating faculty retirements

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Meet Allan McMurray: Honoring a career in service to music

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Meet incoming Assistant Professor of Trombone Sterling Tanner

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Alumna builds career on multifaceted ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder experience

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College of Music summer programs + courses

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Alumna builds career on multifaceted ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder experience