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In November, Dean John Davis attended the annual meeting—and centennial celebration—of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in Chicago, Illinois. This organization of schools, conservatories, colleges and universities establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for music and music-related disciplines, and more. Our college has been a member since 1941.

Kennedy Center honoree and five-time Grammy-winner Renée Fleming, soprano—with Howard Watkins, piano—headlined the College of Music's Artists Series on Jan. 31 in a program inspired by her “Voice of Nature” album focused on the environment.

Fleming’s Colorado residency further included a panel discussion—”Music and the Mind”—at the CU Anschutz Center for Bioethics and Humanities and a master class at Grusin Music Hall.

More:��
(CU Presents)
(CU Anschutz)
World-renowned soprano explores the power of music as it relates to health and the brain.
(Boulder Weekly)—Superstar soprano Renée Fleming makes Boulder debut with recital based on Grammy-winning album.

June 9, 2025
By Kathryn Bistodeau

In June 2025, the College of Music’s New Opera Program (CU NOW) workshopped Mark Adamo’s “Sarah in the Theatre” spotlighting legendary (and controversial) American opera conductor, impresario and stage director, Sarah Caldwell.����

Photo (left to right): Composer/librettist Mark Adamo, composer John Corigliano and College of Music Dean John Davis.

Hosted by the American Music Research Center (AMRC), legendary blues musician Otis Taylor led a musicians workshop for students and faculty this spring. A singer, songwriter, guitarist and banjoist, Taylor has recorded 15 albums since 1996, pioneering electric, psychedelic “trance blues.” Check out the AMRC’s�� and catch this��two-part interview with the��internationally renowned and Boulder-based blues banjo player.

In March, Director of Choral Activities Coreen Duffy and Associate Director of Choral Studies Elizabeth Swanson participated in the 2025 national conference of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in Dallas, Texas!��Our College of Music community shined including alumna Charlene Archibeque (DMA ’69) who received the Robert Shaw Award, the highest honor in the field. Archibeque is the first woman to earn a DMA degree in choral conducting, doing so at ����������. Additionally, Kirk Aamot��(DMA ’01)—director of choral activities, Montana State University—was named this year’s ���������� Distinguished Choral Alumnus Award recipient; both Aamot and Archibeque were honored at the well-attended alumni reception.��

Moreover, Duffy’s composition “”—premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2024—was featured during a dynamic ACDA reading session. And Swanson, who serves on the ACDA National Board as co-chair of student activities, moderated a panel—“Aspiring Conductor-Educators: Maximizing Your Undergraduate Years”—featuring prominent leaders in the field. As well, Raul Dominguez (DMA ’22) presented “Nosotres existimos: Mexican Choral Repertoire and Resources.” Current students Lau Marial (BME) and Blake Clawson (MM Choral Conducting) also attended the conference—their first national ACDA experience!

In September, music students at Boulder’s Platt Middle School met Luka Vezmar, a College of Music junior, who combined the band, orchestra and choir students’ suggestions into a single piece, which premiered at a November school concert. Platt band director and alumnus Caleb Starbuck (BME ’02 + MME ’07) started the composer program more than 15 years ago in partnership with Professor of Composition Carter Pann.��

More:��
(Daily Camera)
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The Fall 2024 Powwow at ���������� marked the return of a beloved tradition to campus after a 23-year hiatus. On Sept. 28 at Farrand Field, College of Music students, staff and faculty participated or attended the event including (front) Director of Community Support + Programming��Alexis McClain��and Associate Professor of Musicology + Director, American Music Research Center��Michael Sy Uy; and (back) Administrative + Student Services Assistant��Josie Moe��and husband��Peter.��

On March 27, the��Sundance Institute named Boulder, Colorado as the new host of the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027. “Boulder is a tech town, a college town, it’s a really creative town,” says Eugene Hernandez, the festival’s director. “It’s just a really creative place. And that integration of the artsy community with the university side of it all is really dynamic.”

More:��
(The New York Times)
Sundance selects Boulder for film festival—beginning in 2027 (���������� Today)

����������’s Macky Auditorium Concert Hall will host Sundance Film Festival screenings.