This week at the College of Music: Faculty + staff edition - March 7, 2024

Southwestern American Choral Directors Association conference
“We are proud of the CU Boulder University Choir’s participation in the SWACDA conference in Denver last week!” says Associate Director of Choral Studies Elizabeth Swanson. “This ensemble was invited to perform as the demonstration choir for the graduate conducting master class which featured five talented graduate conductors from our seven-state region. It was an honor to sing for each of these conductors and to provide feedback on their conducting gesture.”

• Louis Saxton (BM ’24) has been named the College of Music’s 2024 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award recipient. Discover Saxton’s inspiration, journey and experience at CU Boulder!
• Assistant Professor of Music Theory Leah Frederick will join the College of Music in fall 2024. “I believe that music is an ideal medium through which students can embrace curiosity and learn to effectively communicate their own perspectives and ideas—skills that are essential to the College of Music’s mission to develop universal musicians.” Welcome!  
• The College of Music’s Austin Okigbo—associate professor of ethnomusicology and interim director of our American Music Research Center—has co-authored the interdisciplinary, just-released book “Ubuntu, A Comparative Study of an African Concept of Justice.” Ubuntu is an African philosophical tradition that embodies the ability of one human being to empathize with another.
• March 8 via zoom: Thriving in Wellness: Resources to Support You—Panelists share how faculty can tend to their mental health, well-being and overall wellness.
• The College of Music’s Takács Quartet brings “Flow” by violist and composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama—of Ndebele (Zimbabwean) and Japanese descent—to Boulder audiences this weekend; the program also includes works by Haydn and Dvořák. (Sharps & Flatirons)
• March 14, 4:30-6 p.m.: Faculty SPACE—Happy Hour! Shared Perspectives and Community Engagement (SPACE) is a community-building event organized by faculty from across campus. All faculty welcome!
• Outstanding Mentor Award for Mentoring Faculty: The Office of Faculty Affairs seeks nominations for awards in recognition of outstanding faculty mentoring. Deadline for nominations is March 15.
• March 16-17, for students, staff, faculty and community members: TRANSforming Gender Conference. 
• Call for proposals: Grant funds awarded by the Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (PACES) Committee must involve “engaged scholarship,” connecting CU Boulder faculty-led research, creative work or teaching with community needs, interests and activities. Individual faculty applicants may request up to $11,000 for each project, and groups of 2-3 faculty members may request up to $24,000 for a single, collaborative project. Learn more + apply by April 19.

• Find your old band or orchestra instrument a new home in a Colorado music program (CPR Classical).
• The newly launched university commencement website is designed to prepare our graduates, their families and guests—complementing the College of Music commencement webpage for day-of details, including a soon-to-be posted schedule of our college’s recognition ceremonies and other festivities.
• Stay current with the College of Music in our online newsroom.
• Preview, download or print CU Presents digital programs—performances, student recitals + past programs.
• Questions? Check out Buff Info, CU Boulder’s centralized point of contact for information and resources.