With its Breakthrough Curriculum, the Peabody Conservatory has reimagined professional training to prepare performing artists for 21st century careers. As we continue to adapt to a changing landscape, a new video speaks to young artists about the importance of flexibility and innovation in today’s world, the central role of art in communities, and how Peabody can help them start their journey. The music for the video was composed by Music for New Media student Vincent Fasano, and mixed by Recording Arts and Sciences graduate student Hyun Joo Chough. View the video on our website or by visiting our YouTube channel.

As we continue to navigate this unusual academic year, Peabody has announced this week our plans to invite all Conservatory students back to campus for a hybrid spring semester that will offer as much in-person instruction as is feasible, while continuing the remote experience across various areas of instruction and for those unable to return to campus. As always, our plans are driven first and foremost by considerations for the health and safety of our community, and in inviting students back to campus we will continue to require strict adherence to proven public safety protocols and are actively working with Johns Hopkins University to implement a significantly expanded COVID-19 testing protocol. At the same time, we will be carefully monitoring the public health situation and making a final determination in early January, if not sooner, about whether conditions will allow us to safely carry out our plans.  

Our cautious optimism in developing these plans is predicated on the communitywide understanding that safety is a shared responsibility, and I am confident that every member of the Peabody community will do their part to keep each other safe and healthy. Above all, I am grateful for the commitment that students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors have made to Peabody, especially during these recent months. There is much to be proud of in the Peabody community’s response to the challenges facing us, and I believe there is even more to look forward to. 

I also am struck by the moment we find ourselves in. As I write this, we are on the cusp of knowing the results of this election. This has been a challenging time for all of us. But however this unfolds, there is one thing that is clear. More people than ever in the history of this country voted. The election has been peaceful. The votes are being counted. And despite all of the fears, some well-founded, about whether democracy and our institutions are holding, we are witnessing a resounding yes! to that question. And despite a pandemic, we are all getting a much needed reminder that in the United States we vote, and the people have the ultimate say. That is something to celebrate.

Please stay safe,

Fred Bronstein, Dean

Johns Hopkins University’s SNF Agora Institute and Hopkins at Home present a live radio broadcast of OperaDelaware’s production of the acclaimed opera Scalia/Ginsburg, followed by a conversation with composer and Peabody faculty artist Derrick Wang, hosted by Dean Fred Bronstein. Wang’s 2015 comic opera playfully dramatizes the unlikely friendship between U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who were frequent foes on the bench. The event is free and open to the public; registration is required for the post-opera discussion.

Julius Wirth (MM ’87, Viola) joins colleagues from the National Philharmonic for a livestreamed program titled “Music That Suspends Time,” featuring works by Hildegard von Bingen; Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; Johann Sebastian Bach; Tomaso Albinoni; Arvo Pärt; Judith Lang Zaimont; and Astor Piazzolla.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Women in Classical Music Symposium honors Preparatory alumna Hilary Hahn and includes panel discussions, networking events, performances and opportunities for peer engagement on the unique experiences of women in classical music. Director of Graduate Conducting Marin Alsop conducts the kickoff concert, featuring Hahn as soloist, on Sunday, November 8 at 2:30 pm CST, and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Artistic Director of Ensembles Joseph Young (AD '09, Conducting) participates as a panelist in a discussion on the future of orchestral music on Wednesday, November 11, at 12:15 pm CST.

Thomas Kotcheff (BM ’10, Piano) presents a virtual album release concert for his new recording of Frederic Rzewski's Songs of Insurrection, based on seven songs of protest from various countries and eras. Rzewski takes these melodies as starting points for his own variations and invites the pianist to conclude each movement with improvisation. The performance will also include a world premiere of Jordan Nelson's And Then Their Voices Came Together.

Sandbox Percussion – Victor Caccese (BM ’11, Percussion), Terry Sweeney (BM ’13, Percussion), Ian Rosenbaum (BM ’08, Percussion), and Jonathan Allen – join the Concordia Chamber Players for a livestreamed performance including music by Johann Sebastian Bach, David Crowell, Natalie Dietterich, Julius Eastman, and Andy Akiho.

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

Every day, all over the world, Peabody alumni, faculty, and students are performing, creating, and achieving great things. And it makes us #PeabodyProud to share your news! If you have upcoming performances (online or on stage), collaborative projects, new professional appointments, recent competition wins, or other career highlights to share, please use this form to tell us, so we can tell the Peabody community.