school of music

Video Compilation of “Nearer, My God, to Thee” Breaks New Ground in Virtual Performance

A collaborative album between the BYU Chamber Orchestra and Broadway superstar Lea Salonga, “The Story of My Life: Lea Salonga Live from Manila,” recently received the 2020 BroadwayWorld Album Award for Best New EP/Solo Release. For a university orchestra to win an award like this is “unheard of,” said BYU professor Kory Katseanes, who conducted the performance. It was recorded with a live audience for the album at the end of the orchestra’s three-week tour of the Philippines in 2017. BroadwayWorld is the predominant social media organization of Broadway. Salonga and the BYU Chamber Orchestra beat out illustrious competition for the Best Solo Release award, with runners-up including Ben Platt of “Dear Evan Hansen,” Leslie Odom Jr. of “Hamilton” and star Kristin Chenoweth. “This isn’t a college award,” Katseanes noted. “It’s an award for professionally produced albums on Broadway. It’s unbelievable — but not undeserved — that BYU won.” Read the full article on the University Communications website.

Mary Hoskins chosen as second place winner for Classical Emerging Professional category

“Flute Tube” is geared towards Clayton’s flute students, but videos for general musicians are also included on the channel When BYU School of Music professor April Clayton started a YouTube channel in early 2013, she had one purpose in mind: share her performance of the piece “Half Moon at Checkerboard Mesa,” composed by Phillip Bimstein. But when COVID-19 hit seven years later, Clayton saw an opportunity to revive her channel to provide additional assistance to her students. The result was a series of videos known as “Flute Tube.” “I knew very early on in this pandemic that I wanted to begin posting some instructional videos for my students,” Clayton said. “I felt their lesson experience over Zoom was too sparse — I wanted to provide another learning tool for them. I knew this was a chance to explain some topics truly in depth. In fact, it gave me a platform to go into much more depth as a teacher than I am usually able.” Read the full article at music.byu.edu.

In place of an annual conference, winners were invited to record their winning compositions

Crockett is the current director of the BYU a capella group Vocal Point and was recently featured in BYU Magazine’s “A Thing of Beauty”

Bastian made a marimba recording from his home to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision

BYU vocal grads Jonah Hoskins and Dylan Glenn spotlighted as finalists in prestigious national vocal competition

Visiting professors I Nyoman Windha and I Gusti Agung Ayu Warsiki bring Balinese music and dance to BYU classrooms

Tabernacle Choir director Mack Wilberg is a former professor and alum of the BYU School of Music

Jason Bergman (trumpet), Jared Pierce (piano) and Alex Woods (violin) performed a hymn that they previously recorded together for recently released album “Be Still My Soul: Songs of Hope and Inspiration”

Hodgson — from Sandy, Utah — will graduate with a BM in music performance with an emphasis in piano on April 24, 2020

Teuscher — from Vancouver, Washington — will graduate with a BM in commercial music on April 24, 2020

Day — from Sandy, Utah — will graduate with a BM in music performance with an emphasis in strings on April 24, 2020

Centennial Middle School band director Peter Werner reached out to his former professor Don Peterson after the cancellation of the State Junior High Band Festival

BYU student Jonah Hoskins sang his way into $20,000 and a winner of the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions this weekend, one of the most prestigious opera competitions for young adults. Held at the legendary Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, Hoskins was one of five performers to win the prestigious award. This year’s finalists were chosen from more than 1,000 singers across North America. He sang “Ah! Mes amis” followed by “Si ritrovarla”with accompaniment from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. “Winning this competition totally changes everything for me in this career,” Hoskins said. “It’s a huge opportunity and gives you amazing exposure to all the big opera houses in the country.” Hoskins, a senior majoring in vocal performance, has studied with BYU vocal performance professor Robert Brandt. Read the full story by Aaron Sorenson at news.byu.edu.

“Rise, My Soul” features arrangements of 12 sacred and inspirational hymns

Bergman collaborated with industry professionals and BYU faculty and students in arranging, performing and recording each song on the album