Happenings
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Recent news
Dean’s Downbeat
Listening our way forward
When the world feels uncertain, the instinct is to hedge,” notes College of Music Dean John Davis. “I argue the opposite: Let’s push forward on what we're good at, on what we aspire to be good at and, above all, what we’re hearing from our students. Real listening is the most dependable way forward.” Continue reading our dean’s exploration of what it means to make connections, pay attention and effectuate change by listening, first. MORE
Browse previous editions of the Dean’s Downbeat,
a regular communiqué from Dean John Davis.
Noteworthy media mentions
‘No two concerts are alike’—Mihai Marica on joining the Takács Quartet (Oct. 13, 2026, The Strad)
As he begins his first season as the Takács Quartet’s new cellist, Marica reflects on stepping into András Fejér’s chair, finding his place within the ensemble and discovering the quartet from the inside.
The Performing Arts Are the New Civics: Everyone’s talking about civics education. But the way we’re conceptualizing it is far too narrow—not to mention ideologically aligned (Oct. 1, 2026, Inside Higher Ed)
This op-ed co-authored by American Music Research Center Director Michael Uy explores the question, “In what ways are all professors, no matter their discipline, civic educators?”
K-pop, BTS, and What the Grammys Get Wrong About Asian Music (Sept. 26, 2026, Time Magazine)
In this opinion essay, our Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology Stephanie Choi argues that the Grammys’ new “Best Asian Pop Music Performance” category conflates distinct musical cultures under one “Asian” label—and explores the challenges thereof.
