Happenings
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Recent news
Dean’s Downbeat
Innovation as a collaborative act
Greetings “from the road” where I’ve been engaged in two accreditation site reviews for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) as well as a trio of October conferences: From hosting the National Association of Music Executives at State Universities (NAMESU) Annual Meeting right here on our campus and at the new Limelight hotel to the 61st Annual Conference of the International Council for Arts Deans (ICfAD) in Santa Fe, New Mexico to the College Music Society (CMS) National Conference in Spokane, Washington this week where I’ll be interacting with other deans and senior arts administrators engaged in public service and mentoring. Everywhere I go, I enjoy representing the unique achievements, aspirations and opportunities of our College of Music; along the way, I’ve been struck by the supportive camaraderie and timely shared learnings among my counterparts.
As noted by American theatre and opera director Anne Bogart, “We have been discouraged to think that innovation can be a collaborative act” and yet it’s exactly that—a collaborative act—that’s at the heart of institutions like ours. MORE
Browse previous editions of the Dean’s Downbeat,
a regular communiqué from Dean John Davis.
Noteworthy media mentions
In the Middle of It Together (Winter 2026, Chamber Music America)
In this spotlight, the esteemed members of our Takács Quartet-in-residence reveal their teaching philosophy and holistic approach to artistry that endures and evolves over time.
Why Boulder Produces So Many Musicians: Boulder Music Scene 2026 (Feb. 15, 2026, About Boulder)
We love this spotlight on our College of Music as playing a major role in shaping Boulder’s creative pipeline—and beyond!
Bridging the Gap: Music Careers, Entrepreneurial Mindsets and College Pathways (January 2026, Washington Music Educators Association Journal)
In this article, Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies Annie Booth draws on her own experience to explore the many ways musicians can build lives in music today, and how educators can better prepare students for what comes after college.
