CU Philharmonia honors Florence Price in newly imagined orchestration

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CU Philharmonia honors Florence Price in newly imagined orchestration Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/19/2022 - 00:00

John Moore

It was something of a miracle when Florence Price shook up the classical world by becoming the first Black woman to have a symphony performed by a major U.S. orchestra in 1933. And it was something of a travesty that it received only one play from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

“I think a lot of things went into that, but I can’t help but think racism and sexism and segregation were involved,” says Assistant Director of Orchestral Studies and Instructor of Music Education Joel Schut. “I think she’s one of the great, underrated American composers and it’s time that she gets her voice fully heard.”

Schut, who directs the CU Philharmonia Orchestra, is coordinating a concert on Feb. 8 featuring a full orchestration of “Seven Miniatures for Piano.” The work comprises seven standalone pieces—published in An Album of Piano Pieces and Second Album of Piano Pieces—each of which reveals different facets of Price’s creative personality. Seven CU Boulder student and alumni composers completed the orchestrations.

“For this project, there was a strong interest among faculty, students, researchers and music-lovers to feature voices that have been silenced or overlooked in the past,” Schut says.

Price, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and educated at the New England Conservatory of Music, was a classical composer, organist and music teacher. “But in so many ways, the heart and soul of her repertoire was piano,” says Schut, “so we’re trying to put that into a full orchestra context.”

The program will begin with each of the seven piano pieces performed by seven different student pianists in the original setting that Price wrote them. “It’s really cool that all seven pianists are freshman students new to CU,” Schut says. That will be followed by the 70-student Philharmonia Orchestra playing a newly imagined orchestration of those works complete with strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion and harp. “We’re trying to see the work both as it was originally written and then also imagine it in a 2022 context,” Schut says.

The idea to honor Price in this way actually came from a student, “which I think is fabulous,” Schut adds. What excites him most about that idea, he says, are the infinite possibilities.

“A piano gives you the pitches and any detail that the composer chose to put in the score, but hearing it in three dimensions with many different timbres and textures and instruments and family groupings—that’s just a whole other way to do the piece,” he says. “I really love it because it sparks students’ imaginations, and it forces them to listen in multiple directions and dimensions.”

Price’s history-making concert in 1933 was tainted by racism. Her first symphony only made it onto the Chicago Symphony Orchestra program because it was underwritten by Maude Roberts George, eventual national president of the National Association of Negro Musicians. Price once famously wrote: “I have two handicaps: I am a woman and I have some Negro blood in my veins.” Her work largely faded into obscurity after her death in 1953.

Schut says, “I’d like to think that audiences are anxious to hear things in 2022 differently than they would have in 1932.”

This CU Philharmonia concert is part of a full weekend honoring diverse women composers.

As part of a weekend honoring diverse women composers, join us for a full orchestration of “Seven Miniatures for Piano” comprising seven standalone pieces—each of which reveals different facets of Florence Price’s creative personality. CU Boulder student and alumni composers completed the orchestrations.

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Alumna awarded CMEA Outstanding Young Educator Award

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Alumna awarded CMEA Outstanding Young Educator Award Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/11/2022 - 00:00

MarieFaith Lane

Every year, the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) recognizes individuals for their contributions to music education. We're pleased to share that the most recent recipient of the CMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award is our own Carrie Proctor (BME ’19).

Proctor—who studied French horn with Professor of Horn Michael Thornton and music education with Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education Matthew Roeder and Assistant Professor of Conducting and Music Education Matthew Dockendorf—currently serves as director of bands at Westview Middle School in the St. Vrain Valley School District.

Proctor says she always knew she wanted to impact young lives by becoming a music educator. We caught up with her recently to learn more about her passion to inspire youths through a shared connection to music and how her experience at the College of Music prepared her for a career that elevates the talent, tenacity and creativity of young musicians.

What does receiving the CMEA award mean to you?
Proctor: My three years of teaching so far have all been heavily impacted by COVID, so there have been a lot of extremely challenging situations to navigate. There are countless young educators across the state who are deserving of recognition for starting their career and pushing through the obstacles thrown their way.

To be chosen for this award when I know how tirelessly other teachers in my shoes have worked feels incredibly humbling. I am also very thankful to have supportive colleagues and a strong parent community behind me. Being nominated and selected for this award is such an honor.

What ensembles did you participate in at the College of Music?
Proctor: During my time at CU, I performed with the Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra and several brass quintets. I also played in the CU Athletic Bands and the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, where I served two years as a Drum Major. I was the recipient of the Colorado Bandmasters Association’s 2019 Student Teacher Scholarship.

How has your experience thus far prepared you for your current position?
Proctor: I worked with a variety of young ensembles and instrumentalists having served as a conductor for the Middle School Ensemble program, band director at the St. Louis K-8 Catholic School and head counselor for the CU Middle School Summer Music Academy. I still actively teach young French horn players in the Longmont area and serve as youth symphonic band director for the Longmont Youth Symphony.

What projects or organizations are you currently a member of that support your musical and professional aspirations?
Proctor: As a lifelong learner, I continually pursue opportunities to grow as a teacher, musician and conductor. I am a member of the National Association of Music Educators and the Colorado Bandmasters Association. I regularly attend conferences for professional development, participate in conducting clinics and perform as a member of the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria.

The CMEA presents an annual clinic/conference including many sessions discussing top-level strategies, techniques and inspiration from veteran educators to prepare new teachers for their first jobs. The CMEA’s Annual Clinic/Conference is Jan. 26-29. We'll be there and we hope to see you!

Recent alumna Carrie Proctor always knew she wanted to impact young lives by becoming a music educator. Discover her passion to inspire youths through a shared connection to music.

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CU Philharmonia honors Florence Price in newly imagined orchestration

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Alumna awarded CMEA Outstanding Young Educator Award

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