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"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."

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 Music’s 2024 New Opera Workshop (CU NOW) is underway, leading up to performances of Gene Scheer’s “Polly Peachum”—as well as performances of opera scenes presented by our Composer Fellows’ Initiative—in June.

Associate Professor + Director of Vocal Pedagogy Nicholas Perna will join the College of Music in fall 2024.

Director of Choral Activities Coreen Duffy will join the College of Music in fall 2024.

Mention Jamaican music to most Americans and the pop sounds of reggae usually come to mind. But there’s much more—the wonderfully rich harmonies of choral music, hundreds of rarely heard sacred songs and folk songs that deserve more exposure. Doctoral student O’Neil Jones is about to make that happen.

Directed by Broadway veteran and CU Boulder College of Music guest faculty Bob Westenberg, “Titanic, the Musical” comes to Macky Auditorium in March.

Congratulations to first-prize recipient and audience favorite Rinat Erlichman—and all winners and participants in the College of Music’s premier performance competition for outstanding graduate students!

Adriana Ripley—a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s in musical theatre at the College of Music—shares her favorite aspects of the College of Music and reveals the ways in which her music education is preparing her for a promising career.