Welcome To Music At UM-Flint!
Within a modern, regional campus, The Department of Music at the University of Michigan Flint offers students a smaller, personalized University of Michigan experience as they work toward earning their degree. For nearly 40 years, the experienced faculty have created an environment that fosters the very best of student talent and creativity. Students who graduate from the Music Program at UM-Flint go on to outstanding careers and experiences as performers, teachers, and artistic visionaries. At UM-Flint, you will make music as you begin to make a foundation for your future. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music ... MORE
42nd Choir Invitational a Huge Success
The 42nd Chamber Choir Invitational gathered close to 200 high school singers from the Flint area and beyond for a day of choral singing and performing on Monday, October 22, 2018. This annual event is hosted by the Department of Music Chamber singers at the Court Street Methodist Church in Flint. This year the young singers sang under the direction of guest conductor and renown American composer Stacey Gibbs.
Um-Flint Faculty Premiere Composition in France
With funding awarded by the University of Michigan Flint Office of Research, Brian DiBlassio and Jessica Cech presented the 2018 premiere of Suite in F, in Limonest, France. The piece, written by DiBlassio for woodwinds, string quartet, and jazz trio, is a unique composition that blends 17th century French dances with modern-day jazz. Suite in F’s debut in France was a collaborative performance, combining music faculty from three different institutions – UM-Flint, the Flint Institute of Music and the Limonest Conservatoire. Attended by members of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, the piece’s debut occurred at the grand opening of Limonest’s new Agora cultural center, followed by interactive outreach performances at local school programs. Plans for local performances are currently underway.
National Music Award of Excellence to Michigan Music Educators
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) recently awarded the Michigan Music Educators Association (MMEA) the 2018 Excellence in Advocacy Award in recognition of their efforts advocating for music education. MMEA President Lisa Furman, along with Executive Director Cory Micheel-Mays and Immediate Past-President Karen Salvador, accepted the award on behalf of MMEA during NAfME's June Hill Day activities. MMEA has been a key player in several public policy discussions at the state level, including the writing and implementation of Michigan's state ESSA plan. MMEA's efforts led to a state ESSA plan that includes music and arts in their state accountability reporting system, as well as identifying music and arts as potential uses for federal Title IV-A funds. The MMEA was instrumental in removing a state education clause allowing music to be taught by a non-music certified instructor.
"We are grateful for this recognition of our work on behalf of music students and music educators, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure access to ongoing, sequential music instruction, provided by a certified music educator, for all students PK-12 in Michigan." - MMEA Immediate Past-President, Karen Salvador
Dr. Gabriela Hristova, Winner of the Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Gabriela Hristova, Associate Professor of Music, Choral Conductor at UM-Flint, is the 2018 Distinguished Service Award Winner. Although not awarded every year, recipients of this award are considered based on their professional service in the university, within the community and in professional organizations. Dr. Hristova is a recent past President of the Michigan Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and recently completed a concert tour of Western Michigan with the UM-Flint Chamber Singers. Congratulations to Dr. Hristova for recognition of her work by her peers.
Senior Vocal Academy of Music Final Performance
Congratulations to the Senior Summer Academy students for their stellar performance on Friday, July 27 in the University of Michigan-Flint Theatre. The concert was their culminating performance after two weeks of intensive study. Hope to see the students next year or in the Department of Music's classes this fall.
Genadi Zagor, Performing Tchaikovsky Opera at French Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Genadi Zagor, Lecturer in Applied Piano will be performing "The Queen of Spades," Tchaikovsky's 1890 opera at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. on June 7, 2018. The performance gala will benefit the Russian Chamber Art Society. More information can be found at: https://franceintheus.org/spip.php?article8597
UM-Flint Jazz Combo on Goodwill Tour to Puerto Rico
The UM-Flint Department of Music Jazz Combo students will leave soon for performance events in Puerto Rico, performing around the towns of Cidra and San Juan. According to musician and student spokesman, Michael Abbasspour, "This trip is an effort to raise spirits of the Puerto Rican community by forming connections and collaborations through music. We also hope to raise funds for those still in need due to the effects of hurricane Irma and Maria through a live-streamed concert that will be broadcasted on Facebook on June 2nd. For this concert we will be collaborating with Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico and it’s student orchestra, Orquesta Avanzada. We are also very to excited perform with La Escuela Libre de Musica de San Juan for their semester concert where we will also receive an intimate jazz master class and insight into Latin Jazz from their jazz instructor. With Flint and Puerto Rico being two places of environmental impact with insufficient government aid, we want to exemplify our cultures to each other and to the world through music - despite our hardships. We are so excited for this chance to connect the communities of Flint and Puerto Rico through music. We are also very grateful for the support provided by The University of Michigan-Flint, the Department of Music, and The Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint." Pictured above from top left are Michael Abbasspour: Guitar, Xavier McCollum: percussion, (bottom left) Brandon Sexton: trumpet, and Russell Sauter: percussion. Combo musicians not pictured are: Jordan Pavlica: trombone and Austin Tripp: Saxophone.
Western Michigan Concert Tour for the Chamber Singers
Department of Music Vocal Faculty Dr. Gabriela Hristova said, "The University of Michigan-Flint Chamber Singers were excited to announce their West Michigan Concert Tour. The group presented a number of performances for High School and Community College students in the Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, Grand Haven, and Holland areas. We were excited to meet and make new friends and share our passion for singing and the choral arts." The UM-Flint Chamber Singers held Concerts in Western Michigan April 26, 27 and 28 in Dowagiac, Grand Haven and Lansing. It was their first cross Michigan tour.
Genadi Zagor to play recital at MSU
UM-Flint's Genadi Zagor, Lecturer, Applied Piano, will be performing a recital at Michigan State University with Professor Richard Sherman, flute, on Thursday, April 5, at 7:30 pm at the Cook Recital Hall, Michigan State University in Lansing. The duo will perform works from the Bristish Isles, written for flute and piano. Admission is $10.
UM-Flint Jazz Students Perform With the Paul Keller Orchestra in Ann Arbor
The UM-Flint Jazz Ensemble Students performed in Ann Arbor on March 26 with the well-known Paul Keller Orchestra (PKO), "one of Michigan's finest, oldest, most-respected and well-traveled jazz big bands." For 29-years, the PKO, has performed in Ann Arbor and currently appears every Monday night at the Zal Gaz Grotto, 2070 W. Stadium Boulevard on Ann Arbor's west side. Their repetoire includes works from the entire history of Jazz. The orchestra often encourages student musician groups to sit-in and play for the evening. In the photo above, UM-Flint's Jazz Ensemble takes the stage led by UM-Flint Jazz Faculty Brian DiBlassio. For more photos of the performance: select.
First Recipient of the Wyant Scholarship
The UM-Flint Music Department is proud to have a new way to support students while also honoring the legacy of a local musician. The Donald Lorne Wyant Music Scholarship was established in memory of musician, entrepreneur, and Flint-native Don Wyant. The first recipient, Antonio Caballero, is a jazz pianist, trumpet player, and music education major in his junior year at UM-Flint.
“I am beyond thrilled to have this opportunity,” said Caballero. “There is no feeling like someone else believing in your dream enough to help you achieve it. I am more than grateful, and am more than honored, to be the first recipient of a scholarship that will have a lasting impact on many music students to come.”
UM-Flint Musicians Play in North Central Intercollegiate Band
Four members of the UM-Flint Department of Music participated in the College Band Directors National Association North Central Intercollegiate Band held at Western Michigan on February 22-24, 2018. Peter Conigliaro, Abigail Darnall, David McEachern, and Austin Trip joined 71 other collegiate musicians from 26 colleges and universities across the North Central division to form the 2018 Intercollegiate Band. The ensemble was conducted Dr. Jamie Nix, director of wind ensemble activities, professor of music, and The Hal J. Gibson Distinguished Chair in Conducting at Columbus State University's Schwob School of Music. Members were selected based on the recommendation of their collegiate band directors, and each student prepared excerpts of music for an on-site audition held on February 22 at WMU. Over twelve hours of intense rehearsal followed over three days with a final concert performed in WMU's Miller Auditorium. The Intercollegiate Band is formed every two years in conjunction with the Division conference.
Faculty Karen Salvador Voted President-Elect of NAfME North Central
UM-Flint Department of Music faculty Karen Salvador has just been voted as President-elect of the North Central Division of the National Association for Music Education. She will begin a 6- year term on NAfME's executive board (two years as President-elect, two years as President, and two years as Immediate Past President) this June. The North Central Division includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Faculty Pat Prouty's Music Sails Into Hollywood Movie
Congratulations to Music Faculty Pat Prouty, the composer and musician of a musical selection included in the remake of Hollywood's "Overboard" movie, in theaters April, 2018. Prouty wears many hats in the Department of Music as a Lecturer, teaching Applied String Bass, as University Orchestra Conductor, and Jazz Combo director. For additional information about the film go to: http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1563742/?ref=m_nv_sr_2
UM-Flint Water Crisis Remembered in Song
Composer Andrea Ramsey conducted the UM-Flint Choir Invitational singers in the premiere of her new composition called "But A Flint Has Fire" a choral work dedicated to and about the continuing Flint Water Crisis. This video is from the concert in November 2017.
Faculty Pat Prouty Guest DJ's on WEMU
Pat Prouty, Department of Music Leo faculty, spent the afternoon on WEMU public radio as a guest DJ over the Thanksgiving weekend. You can hear Pat's time on the air and read about his experiences at WEMU, 89.1 FM by selecting here.
Kisma Jordan, Vocal Lecturer, Receives $50,000 Grant for OperaSoul
Kisma Jordan, UM-Flint Music Vocal Lecturer will be continuing her Detroit work in Opera fusion thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Knight Foundation. Jordan's been fusing opera and music of different genres for years and lately has focused on Soul (Detroits contribution to Music) and Opera. The funds will allow Jordan to create a world-class concert experience that seamlessly fuses operatic vocals with various music styles in order to expand the scope of and audience for classical voice performances. Congratulate Ms. Jordan on her project, funding and find time to see her work. You will not be disappointed.
