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The School of Music celebrated its inaugural Research Week September 16-20, 2024. This event, orchestrated by School of Music Director Dr. Kim Councill, aligned with the broader College of Fine Arts initiative under the guidance of Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Rebecca Zarate, further highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of creative and scholarly work in the arts.  

Exhibit signageA poster outlining the events for Research Week.

An anchor for the week was an engaging exhibit in the McKay Music Library, featuring research from almost 40 faculty members across the disciplines of music, art, dance, and film. The exhibit displayed their work from the past five years through digital presentations and physical artifacts, including journal articles, audio albums, books, and scores. The exhibit integrated harmoniously into the environment of the library, enhancing it, without compromising its primary function. As students entered the library, they were drawn into another world: a familiar study space, enriched. Many paused in their daily routines, captivated by the display of their professors' work. We can only imagine how the experience may have added inspiration to the rest of their day, week, or future work. 

Two events punctuated the week on September 18, both following the CFA Assembly: 

An afternoon gathering featured compelling post-sabbatical presentations. Dr. Jane Hatter gave her image-rich talk, "From Betrothal to Cloister: Echoes of Women's Musical Lives in Sources and Images c. 1500." Kirstin Chávez then told a captivating story of the genesis and evolution of her innovative "Carmen Inside Out" project. These talks showcased the depth and diversity of faculty research, highlighting both historical inquiry and contemporary performance practice. Exhibit entryThe exhibit entry in the McKay Music Library.

Later in the day, the School of Music hosted a celebratory reception, where each of the four featured music faculty who had published during the spring and summer of 2024 took the spotlight to introduce their new work: 

  • Professor Kirstin Chávez introduced her book, co-authored with Jonathan Pape, Living the Dream: Building a Sustainable Career in the Performing Arts, and offered seasoned advice to vocal students attending the reception. 
  • Dr. Elizabeth Craft lead the audience in the openings of two Cohan tunes as she introduced her monograph, Yankee Doodle Dandy: George M. Cohan and the Broadway Stage. 
  • Dr. Elisabet Curbelo shared her thoughts about her album Resonance Unbound, highlighting its compositional influences and thanking School of Music colleagues for their recorded track on the CD, "Canarian Bayram." 
  • Dr. Michael Sammons moved us with his deeply personal remarks on his Morse Code album, which also featured an inspiring collaboration with a former student. 

 

  • Councill evening introductions School of Music Chair Kim Councill gives evening introductions at the reception 

In addition to highlighting our faculty's exceptional scholarly expertise, Research Week 2024 also illuminated the powerful bonds between professors and our students. From mentoring budding creators to turning students on to potential life-changing research, our faculty demonstrated their commitment not only to their scholarship, but to nurturing the next generation of musical artists, researchers, and innovators. 

Lisa Chaufty's Avatar

Lisa Chaufty

Lisa began her professional career over two decades ago at J. Willard Marriott Library. She has been the Director of the McKay Music Library in the School of Music since 2013. Her expertise spans academic libraries, music librarianship, data curation, and instruction. Lisa is also an accomplished early music performer and concert curator. Her background in medieval/renaissance studies and musicology has informed her work as director of the University of Utah Early Music Ensemble since 2014. Lisa's passion for music and libraries drives her to create innovative collaborations and opportunities for students, bridging historical musical traditions with modern academic practices.

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