News archive

“A Boulder treasure”—We’re celebrating the inspiring, illustrious career of longtime CU Presents Executive Director Joan McLean Braun who will retire at the end of this academic year.

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.

Professor of Musicology Robert Shay and 10 of our students went beyond the traditional classroom this summer—to Vienna, Austria! Part of the CU Boulder Study Abroad program, this exciting, interdisciplinary two-week experience was one of several instructor-led Global Seminars.

This summer, young string musicians from across the country came together at the College of Music­ to hone their craft and advance a culturally diverse future of music at the Sphinx Performance Academy summer camp.

The Sphinx Performance Academy has changed the lives of thousands of underrepresented young musicians, offering a curriculum that includes lessons, master classes, recitals, career enrichment sessions and mentorship.

Professor of Composition Jeffrey Nytch—who directs the College of Music’s Entrepreneurship Center for Music and who was recently awarded a MacDowell Fellowship—considers the application of entrepreneurial principles as essential to his creative practice.

We’re excited to welcome Associate Professor of Double Bass Susan Cahill as the newest addition to the esteemed faculty of the CU Boulder College of Music.

As part of the College of Music’s approach to developing multiskilled, multifacted universal musicians, the Musicians’ Wellness Program provides students with a variety of strategies and information to help them achieve peak performance, prevent injury and cultivate robust mental health throughout their careers…and overall lives.

In this edition of the Dean’s Downbeat, Dean John Davis offers reflections and a vision for the future as he shares highlights from our newly revamped annual digital magazine—Colorado Music. “...our mission matters more than ever. Because what we do as musicians requires not only skill, but humanity—that is, the simultaneous conveyance of emotion, connection and understanding. Colorado Music takes stock of how far we’ve come.”

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.