Colorado Music Teachers Newsletter - Aug. 26, 2024

The College of Music is thrilled to welcome Director of Choral Activities Coreen Duffy to the faculty this fall. Formerly of the University of Montana School of Music, Duffy is an inspiring conductor, pedagogue, composer and specialist in Jewish choral music. She joins a dynamic all-female choral faculty dedicated to mentorship, interdisciplinary study and diversity in research and repertoire.

“I can’t wait to make music with the incredible students and faculty at CU Boulder,” says Duffy, current vice president of the NCCO and president-elect of the Northwest ACDA, having previously served as its co-chair for world musics and cultures. “As we move into the second quarter of the 21st century, I think we’ll find that choirs are among the most resilient—as well as the most responsive—ensembles in the face of game-changing developments such as AI.” MORE 

Duffy hopes to build relationships with high school choir directors in our area. We invite you to say hello, update your school’s contact information or register your students for an upcoming choral event (more info below!)

High School Honor Reading Choir Festival: This two-day experience, designed for Colorado’s advanced high school choral singers and sight-readers, takes students on a journey from sight-reading and rehearsing new choral works to performing them in concert at CU Boulder’s historic Macky Auditorium.

• CLINICIAN: Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Studies Jennifer Sengin (University of Missouri-Kansas City)
• DATE: Sept.15-16, 2024
• COST: $10/student
• REGISTRATION: Directors, CLICK HERE to register 1-2 quartets (or more!) of your top sight readers.
• DEADLINE:Extended to Aug. 30, 2024!

Chamber Choir Festival (formerly Madrigal Festival): This one-day festival invites high school choral ensembles to learn and perform in CU Boulder’s historic Macky Auditorium.

• CLINICIAN: Internationally acclaimed composer and conductor Andrea Ramsey 
• DATE: Nov. 6, 2024
• REGISTRATION: Directors, CLICK HERE to register one of your choirs.
• DEADLINE: Sept. 15, 2024

Applications are now open for the inaugural class of CU Boulder’s Bachelor of Arts in Music: Music Productiondegree emphasis. This degree program does not require an instrumental audition, but does require a personal statement + portfolio submission by Dec. 1. We hope you’ll join us in sharing this opportunity with your students.

The CU Boulder College of Music has established a fee waiver program for aspiring musicians in need. A limited number of fee waivers are available for applicants to undergraduate music degree programs. To receive a waiver, an applicant may request a statement from their high school teacher. Please contact us if your student would benefit. 

Colorado residents may also take advantage of the Colorado Free Application Days when application fees are waived for all 32 public colleges and universities in our state. Free Application Days are one of several state initiatives improving higher education affordability. Another—the Colorado Promise: Two Free Years of College Expanded—pays for two years of tuition for qualifying families. 

• Imig Music Building tours (weekdays, 10:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.): Tour our state-of-the-art music building and learn about our degree programs and application process. Great for prospective undergraduates and their families.
• Woodwind All-State Prep Day (Saturday, Oct. 20, 2024): The College of Music woodwind faculty present a workshop on the 2024 Colorado All-State audition repertoire. Students, register today to get your audition in tip-top shape!
• Music Day (Monday, Nov. 11, 2024): Students in grades 9-12 are invited to live a “day in the life” of a Music Buff by observing classes and rehearsals, meeting faculty and exploring campus. Perfect for any student considering collegiate music study. Registration coming soon.

The college hosts hundreds of performances each year, many of which are available through livestream. Upcoming highlights include:

• Faculty Tuesdays: Peter Cooper (oboe), Jennifer Hayghe and Alexandra Nguyen (piano), Ryan Gardner (trumpet) and more
• Takács Quartet: Haydn, Janáček and Beethoven (Sept. 15-16)
• SoundWorks: New pieces by CU Boulder students and faculty (Sept. 18)

Complimentary tickets to College of Music performances may be available to Colorado music teachers, prospective students and their guests, subject to availability. To request tickets, please email undergraduate.music@colorado.edu with your request. Please allow at least one week’s notice. 

• Dec. 1, 2024: College of Music priority undergraduate deadline + graduate final deadline
• Jan. 15, 2025: CU Boulder Undergraduate Common Application deadline
• Feb. 1, 2025: College of Music FINAL undergraduate deadline 
• March 1, 2025:Summer Master of Music Education deadline