FACULTY HIGH NOTES

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Leigh Holman


Alumna and Associate Professor of Opera Leigh Holman—who directs the College of Music’s Eklund Opera Program—was namedCU Boulder's new commencement marshal.

John Clay Allen—lecturer, music technology + composition—released his third solo piano album, “Deep Star Atlas,” on the Axiom Music label. The album—available on all streaming platforms—features 12 original compositions highlighting Allen’s talents as both composer and performer.

John Clay Allen

Professor Emerita Judith Glyde’s memoir——is based on her extraordinary experiences in the Khumbu region of the Himalayas. In a secluded village—following in the footsteps of the Buddhist teacher who enters contemplative isolation to study—she re-explored Bach’s six suites for solo cello. Learn more about Glyde’s fusion of music, nature and determination on her.In 2022, Glyde was named the College of Music’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award recipient.

Under the Goddess of the Sky book cover

In December 2024, Professor of Jazz Studies John Gunther launched “”—a solo recording created in “The TANK” in Rangely, Colorado, and featuring Gunther playing some 20 different instruments.

Gunther-Tales from the tank

In October 2024, Professor of Music Theory Daphne Leong was featured in the distinguished Barwick Colloquium Series at Harvard University giving a lecture-recital with Ken Hamao and Jessica Bodner of the Parker Quartet on “A Metric Puzzle in Sibelius’s Violin Concerto.” Leong has explored the concerto with violinists Jinjoo Cho (McGill University), John Haspel Gilbert (Texas Tech University) and alumnus Victor Avila Luvsangenden (DMA 2023). Sparked by a question from former CU Boulder violin faculty Lina Bahn, the project began to take shape during Leong’s 2022 weeklong residency at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland; her findings will be published by the Sibelius Academy in 2025.

2024 Daphne Leong_Ken Hamao_Harvard Barwick Series

Nick Perna—associate professor of voice and director of vocal pedagogy—has been named the.Additionally, Perna is a grantee of the CU Boulder Research & Innovation Office (RIO)Arts & Humanities Grant Program, reflecting the depth and diversity of research and creative work at CU Boulder.

Associate Professor of Vocal Coaching Jeremy Reger and Grammy Award-winning mezzo soprano Michelle DeYoung released “,” continuing their celebrated collaboration on the composer’s works.

jeremy reger

Jazz Studies Lecturer Matt Smiley awarded prestigious MacDowell Fellowship
Oct. 17, 2024
By MarieFaith Lane

Alumnus Matt Smiley (DMA ’22)—a jazz lecturer at our College of Music—hadthe opportunity to advance his compositional goals by exploring the intersection of jazz and contemporary classical music, and embracing improvisation and innovative composition techniques that challenge the boundaries of both genres.

Matt Smiley

Associate Professor of Guitar and Director of the Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program Nicolò Spera received a Provost's Faculty Achievement Award.

Nicolò Spera

Assistant Professor of Conducting and Associate Director of Choral Studies Elizabeth Swanson received a Provost's Faculty Achievement Award.

Assistant Professor of Trombone Sterling Tanner was elected as secretary of the Central Chapter of the College Music Society. Additionally, Tanner is a grantee of the CU Boulder Research & Innovation Office (RIO)Arts & Humanities Grant Program, reflecting the depth and diversity of research and creative work at CU Boulder. Tanner’s recently released debut solo album——was recorded at the CU Boulder College of Music and also featuresProfessor of Collaborative Piano Margaret McDonald.