Voice + opera + musical theatre
Costume Coordinator/Designer + Shop Manager Ann Piano explains the process behind creating costumes for College of Music operas and musicals. She also explains her vision for the collegeās production of āThe Cunning Little Vixen,ā April 16-19.
A newly funded interdisciplinary collaboration will examine why itās difficult to adapt to singing here in Colorado, and provide best practices for singers who tour through or move to our state āto keep their voices healthy and adapt to singing at altitude with efficiency,ā says Nicholas Perna, associate professor of voice + director of vocal pedagogy.
Associate Professor of Voice + Director of Vocal Pedagogy Nicholas Perna is committed to making the Berton Coffin Voice Lab one of the premier centers for research and innovation in the country, emphasizing the science and craft of vocal pedagogy.
Congratulations to the winnersāand all participantsāof the College of Musicās annual graduate student competition, named in honor of former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Bruce Ekstrand.
The American Music Research Center awarded the 2025 Alex Craig and Christina Lynn-Craig Living Music Award to Katiann Nelson and Kristina Butler, both recent voice performance grads.
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 āSarah in the Theatreā about the legendary American opera conductor, impresario and stage director, Sarah Caldwell.
"At the College of Musicās 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, Iām struck by the countless ways in which our students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters embody these values. In these disorienting times, Iām heartened that our mission is more relevant than everāas is my commitment to continue to celebrate and support our students and colleagues in their transformative work and artistic aspirations."
We are thrilled to announce the winner of the 2024-25 Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition: The Koa String Quartet!
At the CU Boulder Entrepreneurship Center for Music, students can find the skills and tools they need for their music careers. This spring, the ECM awarded $5,820 in grants to support eight student-led professional development and community engagement projects.
The College of Musicās 2024 New Opera Workshop (CU NOW) is underway, leading up to performances of Gene Scheerās āPolly Peachumāāas well as performances of opera scenes presented by our Composer Fellowsā Initiativeāin June.