Graduations—oh, the places they’ll go

It’s graduation season—bittersweet endings and exciting new beginnings. Final recitals and concerts bring tears of joy and a bit of sadness as we say goodbye to young musicians who have touched our lives with beauty and grace.

Ever wonder where our precollege graduates go after high school? A look at where the Myra Jackson Blair Honor Scholars have gone in the last five years, and where they are headed after graduation this year, speaks volumes about the impact of music education at Blair. These 78 young people are accomplished academically and musically: 47 have been or are going to be music majors in conservatories or universities; 27 majored in fields including engineering, physics, neuroscience, finance, education and communications; 14 are now in graduate music programs; and five are now in professional graduate programs in fields such as public health, bioinformatics and medicine. On May 13, undergraduate junior and Blair precollege alumna Mary Grace Johnson will perform a violin solo at Vanderbilt Commencement. Precollege alumni Amy Thompson, harp, and Nathan Lowry, violin, won prestigious awards at the Blair undergraduate awards ceremony. Amy was the winner of the Martin Williams Award and the Blair Composition Award, which was established in honor of precollege and undergraduate alumnus Sean Calhoun (who is graduating this year with a master’s degree in composition from the Peabody Conservatory and headed to Eastman School of Music for his doctorate). Nathan Lowry won the David Rabin prize for undergraduate performance. Both are members of the national music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda and both are headed to graduate schools of music.

Our graduates and alumni consistently tell us that music—and Blair—have played a major role in preparing them mentally, physically and emotionally for the joys and challenges ahead. We are very proud of them, and hope they’ll always feel at home here at Blair.

Keep playing!

Pam Schneller
Associate Dean, Precollege and Adult Program

Blair precollege ensemble concerts this week

Curb Youth Symphony
7:30 p.m. May 2
Ingram Hall

Director Carol Nies leads the CYS in music of Von Suppe, Giordano, Mozart and Respighi. Jenna Mangum performs as soloist with the orchestra in Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto.

Nashville Youth Repertory Orchestra
Youth Strings Orchestras and Reading Orchestras
7:30 p.m. May 3
Ingram Hall

Directors Craig Madole and Celeste Tuten lead their orchestras in music of Dvorak, Tchaikovsky and others.

Blair Children’s Choruses
Mary Biddlecombe, Artistic Director
2 p.m. May 8
Ingram Hall

Celebrate Mother’s Day with this exciting concert presented by the children’s Concert Choir, Young Men’s Chorus, Chorale, Choristers, Boychoir and Training Choir. The sweet sounds of these young people will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart!

Philharmonia Orchestra
Carol Nies, Director
7:30 p.m. May 11
Ingram Hall

Philharmonia, Blair’s newest youth orchestra, presents a varied program of orchestral music.

Curb Youth Symphony and Nashville Symphony perform a side-by-side concert

7 p.m. May 21
Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Blair’s top youth orchestra, the CYS, will perform side-by-side with the Nashville Symphony in this festive, free concert. Vinay Parameswaran, associate conductor of the Nashville Symphony, will lead the orchestras. Curb Concerto Competition winner and Blair MJB Scholar Jocelyn Hartley will perform as soloist in Saint-Saens Concerto No. 1, and the orchestra will perform music of Smetana, Shostakovich and others.

Precollege Jazz Jam offered in June

7:30-9 p.m. June 8, 15, 22, 29

Jazz master and guitarist Jerry Kimbrough shares fun, creative approaches to jazz improvisation. Students in grades 6-12 are welcome—all instruments and voices. Together, you’ll make exciting music.

Tuition is $105 for this four-session course. Contact Jerry Kimbrough for more information.

Youth orchestra programs this summer

Nashville Summer Orchestra Institute, May 29-June 3
Now in its third year, NSOI will feature an intensive orchestral experience for youth, including a concerto competition, master classes, section rehearsals and a final celebratory concert featuring the concerto competition winner. Open by audition to students in grades 7-12, college students and adults, the institute is an exceptional opportunity to perform and learn from advanced players. The NSOI webpage contains the application, audition and scholarship information. Questions? Contact Carol Nies, orchestra director.

Nashville Youth Repertory Orchestra, June 26-30

This orchestra experience will include rehearsals, master classes and a full concert. Open by audition to students in grades 7-12, the orchestra is a great way to enjoy making beautiful music this summer and keep your musical skills sharp. Audition and schedule information is on the NSOI webpage. Questions? Contact Craig Madole, orchestra director.

Summer Youth Strings, June 7-July 14
String players in grades 3-11 are invited to audition for the Summer Youth Strings. For audition and application information, contact Celeste Tuten, orchestra director.

Coming in June: Music theory without fear

10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 6-10
Ages 12-adult

Unlock the secrets of music theory in this fun, interactive course taught by Paul Deakin, senior lecturer in music theory. This course is perfect for anyone who wants to gain a fundamental understanding of the building blocks of music in a short time. Excellent college prep and no previous experience is necessary. Contact (615) 322-7651 for more information.

Kindermusik with Miss Amy

June 14-July 23

Six classes for children and their caregivers are offered this summer. Cuddle and Bounce is for new parents and their babies. Classes for toddlers and parents are Peekaboo, I Love You!, Sing and Play!, Zoo Train!, Creatures at the Ocean, Beach Days! and Drums, Drums, Drums! Amy Alley is a Kindermusik Maestro teacher and expert in early childhood education. Tuition is $160 for five weekly classes.

Vanderbilt Giving Day a success!

Thank you for making Vanderbilt Giving Day a success!

May concert highlights

• ALIAS Chamber Ensemble wraps up its 2015-16 season with a program that ranges from the early Baroque to a world-premiere performance of a piece by California composer and mathematician John Marvin, 8 p.m. May 3, Steve & Judy Turner Recital Hall. Tickets: $20 adults, $5 students with ID, free for Blair students. Proceeds benefit the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

• Vanderbilt Community Chorus closes its season with a program of 20th-century works by Maurice Duruflé, featuring Blair’s New Dobson pipe organ and chamber orchestra, 8 p.m. May 14, Steve & Judy Turner Recital Hall.