Happenings
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Recent news
Deans Downbeat
Innovation as a collaborative act
Greetings from the road where Ive 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 Ill 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, Ive 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 its exactly thata collaborative actthats at the heart of institutions like ours.泭MORE
of the Deans Downbeat,
a regular communiqu矇泭from Dean John Davis.
泭泭Noteworthy media mentions
(Nov. 18, 2025, The Strad)
Chamber Music America has announced the recipients of its highest awards for 2026 honoring ensembles that have made an impact on the field through leadership, creativity and artistic excellence, as well as rising talent and significant promise: CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Tak獺cs Quartet that will receive the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award in recognition for its career representing historic service on a national level. The quartet celebrates its 50th anniversary this year; its members have been artists in residence at our College of Music since 1986.
(Nov. 10, 2025, National Association of Teachers of Singing)
The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) has elected officers for the 2026-2028 term including Nicholas Perna, the College of Musics associate professor of voice and director of vocal pedagogy, as president-elect! I am excited [...] to help lead NATS into a new, bright and diverse future as we invigorate our mission to transform lives through the power of singing.
(Nov. 10, 2025, Daily Camera)
This Veterans Day, a spotlight on the College of Musics new Director of Bands Shanti Simon: After seven years as a flight commander and associate conductor for the Air Force, Simonwhos also a voting member of the Recording Academy and Grammysleft active duty and embarked on a path that led to CU Boulder. Learn more about her journey, and her approach to producing and directing CU Boulder bands, drawing national attention to our program.
