The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s recently announced class of fellows includes Peabody alumni Linhan Cui (MM ’20, Conducting) and Ismael Guerrero (BM ’20, Cello). Conductor Cui was named one of the four 2022-23 Dudamel Fellows, who will refine their craft through mentorship and participation in the LA Phil’s programming. Cui will conduct the Symphonies for Youth Sisterhood program, which is inspired by the friendship between Florence Price and Margaret Bonds and the barriers they overcame as Black composers in the early 20th century, in November. Cellist Guerrero was named one of the three Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen LA Phil Resident Fellows. Guerrero, a Cuban native who studied with Peabody professor Amit Peled, will focus on artistic development through a variety of concert programming at the LA Phil’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and in community settings. Guerrero was also recently named one of the seven Salon De Virtuosi 2022 Career Grant Winners, and will perform at the series’ annual Gala Awards Concert October 19 at the Merkin Concert Hall in Manhattan.

It is almost impossible to believe that we are on the cusp of the 2022-23 academic year and will soon be welcoming 750 students to campus—the largest number in our history, surpassing the projected goal for new incoming students by nearly nine percent. Forty-two percent of the total students matriculated will be international, representing more than 39 countries, including Korea, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and many others. Forty-four of the 50 United States will also be represented on campus. Out of a total 2,061 applications this year, we have seen a significant increase in applications from China, where 24 percent of our class is from. And the student body at Peabody is growing in diversity. Fifteen percent of our incoming class come from historically underrepresented communities, and the total enrollment is projected to be comprised of 17-18% BIPOC students. In addition, while many of our disciplines continue to grow, we are seeing particular increased interest in Music Engineering and Technology programs with applications up 40%, driving important conversations around new program development across these areas. Of course, the numbers tell just part of the story. We are also seeing one of the most talented classes in recent years, as evidenced by the matriculation and increased proportion of students in the top twentieth percentile of faculty audition ratings, coupled with a five percent increase in the proportion of admitted students who are enrolling this year.

As you can see, this makes for a very diverse, cosmopolitan, and talented community here at Peabody. We are thrilled and look forward to welcoming our new and returning students in a just a few short weeks.

Sincerely,

Fred Bronstein, Dean

Voice professor William Sharp and Chamber Music faculty artist Maria Lambros perform on the season finale concert at Yellow Barn Summer Festival, a unique chamber music series in Putney, Vermont, where Peabody Chamber Music professor Seth Knopp marks his 25th season as artistic director. The finale includes works by Amy Beth Kirsten (DMA ’10, Composition), Anton Bruckner, George Lewis, and more. Tickets are available online.

Peabody flute professor Marina Piccinini travels to Chicago for performances at the Grant Park Music Festival. On Sunday, August 7, Piccinini and her pianist husband Andreas Haefliger perform the world premieres of composer John Harbison’s Mark the Date and Tebogo Monnakgotla’s “It is the Lark that Sings . . .” in a program at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. On Wednesday, August 10, Piccinini is the guest soloist with the Grant Park Orchestra for the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ Flute Concerto, along with works by Libby Larsen and César Franck. Tickets for both the August 7 and August 10 concerts are available online.

Mezzo-soprano Taylor-Alexis DuPont (MM ’16, Voice) co-stars in the world premiere of Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s new one-act opera Holy Ground at the 2022 Glimmerglass Festival, singing the role of Gabriel. It is staged as a double-bill with composer Kamala Sankaram’s Taking Up Serpents, in which DuPont appears as Reba/Young Mother/Holiness Congregation Member. The performances take place at the Alice Busch Opera Theater on the shores of Otsego Lake in upstate New York; tickets are available online.

Soprano Arianna Rodriguez (MM ’19, Voice) and pianist Shawn Chang (BM ’08, Piano) were named to the 2022 cohort of the Merola Opera Young Artists program, which concludes with a grand finale featuring all 31 artists performing at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco; tickets are available online.

Rhymes With Opera—the intrepid chamber opera company co-founded in 2007 by Ruby Fulton (DMA ’09, Composition); Elisabeth Halliday-Quan (’07, Voice; KSAS BA ’07, German); George Lam (MM ’05, Music Theory, Composition); Bonnie Lander (MM ’07, GPD ’08, Voice; GPD ’08 Computer Music); and Robert Maril (MM ’04, Voice)—presents its final season virtually this month, which includes the album release of its 2014 production Red Giant and a final concert at the Flea Theater in lower Manhattan, featuring performances from across RWO’s 15-year history. Tickets will be available online and the performance will be livestreamed.

_______________________________

Peabody Notes highlights select off-campus performances featuring Peabody performers. For other events, please visit our Peabody Conservatory Facebook page.