Students
Every summer, the CU New Opera Workshop (CU NOW) hosts an extended workshop where graduate voice students and alumni have direct interaction with living composers and librettists to develop and perform their music over a few weeks. This year, CU NOW again welcomes composer and librettist Mark Adamo and his new work “Sarah in the Theatre” about the legendary American opera conductor, impresario and stage director, Sarah Caldwell.
Each spring, our Entrepreneurship Center for Music awards project grants to support students in their professional and artistic endeavors. This year’s adjudicator panel awarded 16 grants—meet some of the amazing student recipients and learn about their projects!
When Taylor Howard dove into the Sister Mary Dominic Ray Collection, she was expecting to find the nun’s biography, books she annotated or articles she wrote. Instead, she unlocked a highly varied collection of documents that left Sister Mary—who founded our American Music Research Center—a mystery.
Congratulations to Samuel Nixon (BM ’25), the College of Music’s most recent Presser Scholar! Discover what brought him to CU Boulder and his experience here.
For Nathan George—who will graduate from the CU Boulder College of Music on May 8 as our Outstanding Graduating Senior—“community of performance” drew him to prepare for a career in music education.
On April 6, undergraduate violist Finn Cruit and graduate pianist Ohad Nativ were awarded first prizes in the College of Music’s annual Concerto Competition. Congratulations to all participating students and collaborative pianists!
"At the College of Music’s recent Eklund Opera gala, Chancellor Justin Schwartz described the magic of music as a hallmark of human connection; of a civilized society; and as its own kind of renewable energy. As I reflect on the first months of 2025, I’m struck by the countless ways in which our students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters embody these values. In these disorienting times, I’m heartened that our mission is more relevant than ever—as is my commitment to continue to celebrate and support our students and colleagues in their transformative work and artistic aspirations."
A wealth of influences coexist in Pelta-Tiller’s ambitious, experimental approach to music. A master’s candidate in jazz performance + pedagogy at our College of Music, her creative evolution to date will culminate in a show at Dazzle Denver on March 11.
Since 2019, the CU Boulder College of Music’s annual Persevering Legacy events have showcased works by women composers, including those from historically marginalized groups. This year's concert and master class are no different: Join us on March 4 and 6!
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Music Education Margaret Berg highlights the importance of human sustainability—that is, the well-being of individuals and communities. By integrating both human and environmental sustainability into music education, the College of Music is preparing students to make an impact on our interconnected society.