Featured
In a Musical Labyrinth
Mar. 28, 2011—Josh McGuire, senior lecturer in aural studies, and Stan Link, associate professor of the philosophy and analysis of music, traveled to Mexico City to premiere Link’s Toda la Tierra.
Fully Costumed and Orchestrated
Aug. 31, 2010—The mischievously dark worlds of filmmaker Tim Burton, illustrator Edward Gorey and the humorously twisted “Fractured Fairy Tales” cartoons are influencing this fall’s Vanderbilt Opera Theatre production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. It’s quite a change from the traditional, straightforward approach taken when the opera was performed a decade ago, and a change in...
Music That Heals
Aug. 31, 2010—It would be easy, and true, to say Pam Schneller lives and breathes music. It would also be an understatement. Schneller—a longtime fixture within the Blair School of Music—views music as more than lyrics, voices and instruments, as more than even the world-unifying “universal language.” Indeed, Pam Schneller sees music as a spiritual force of...
A Full-body Instrument
Aug. 31, 2010—Voice majors at Blair learn the details—both inside and out—that make the singer
In the VORTEX
Aug. 31, 2010—A vortex is so powerful that it draws everything into it, making the name of Blair’s newest percussion ensemble extremely accurate. “The name ‘VORTEX’ brings to mind a pulling together of disparate things to create a hybrid,” says Michael Holland, artistic director of VORTEX. “A student will be challenged to perform as more than a...
From Stage to Stage
Feb. 27, 2010—In As You Like It William Shakespeare wrote that “all the world’s a stage.” That expression describes Alicia Enstrom’s life perfectly. Enstrom, BMus’09, has performed on the violin all over the world—from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to venues in China, Korea and throughout Europe. Enstrom grew up in Topeka, Kan., in a musical...
Balancing Act
Feb. 27, 2010—When she was only 5 years old, Holly Jurca’s father sat her at a piano for the first time. Her feet dangled from the bench and her tiny fingers barely reached the keys, but she and the instrument connected. A decade later, Holly is among the upper echelon of pianists her age and already making...
Blocks Away from Music History
Feb. 27, 2010—It’s only a few blocks from the Blair School of Music to Music Row, but they once seemed light years apart. Today, Blair bridges the gap between the popular music world and the academic study of music by bringing the talent and experience of popular musicians into the classroom. Keyboard/accordionist Jen Gunderman, solo artist/music journalist...
A Different Language to Learn
Feb. 27, 2010—Seniors Alyssa Weinberg, Matt Clark and Ben Hart are exploring septuplets in Marianne Ploger’s advanced ear training and sight singing class. Referring to Robert Starer’s Rhythmic Training, they count and clap together, examining rhythm in a basic way. “Ta! Ta! Ta-ta-ta-ta!” the student trio intones, all the while lightly clapping their hands on their thighs....
Join us for the Fall 2009 Concert Series Performances
Aug. 6, 2009—As always, nearly all concerts, lectures, guest artist performances, master classes and special events are free and open to all. Complimentary valet parking is provided for many events, and free self-parking in South Garage is available for all concerts listed in the fall calendar. Highlights include: BLAIR SIGNATURE SERIES A Plucked String Event, John Johns, guitar Chair...