school of music

Playing the violin has always been an important part of Megumi Terry’s life since she began playing at the age of four. Her favorite part about being a music performance major is getting to create something everyday. “I feel it is a privilege to be able to do something I love everyday and work with the most amazing faculty in the world.” Terry said the most meaningful experience she has had during her time at BYU has been receiving weekly private instruction from violin Professor Monte Belknap. “I enjoyed our lessons together. He has taught me so much more than how to play the violin. He has also taught me how to be a good person, a musician of faith, and how to keep God first in my life.” As she reflects on her time at BYU, Terry has enjoyed performing at Carnegie Hall, being the concertmaster of the BYU Philharmonic, soloing with the BYU Philharmonic and BYU Symphony orchestras, and being apart of the BYU Honors Quartet. Recently, she performed with the BYU Chamber Orchestra in concert with Lea Salonga. “It was such a thrill to be able to perform alongside one of my biggest idols in the music industry this past Winter semester,” Terry said. Terry applied for the adjunct professor position in the violin department and hopes to fill her time after graduation doing that. Other plans include auditioning for graduate schools and orchestra jobs. What was the most influential class you took at BYU? “Dr. Gaskill's World Religions class. Ironically, learning about other religions and their truths only strengthened my faith in God and in the LDS church. I am grateful to him for his very insightful class, it has changed my life.” Unique superpower you wish you had: “Teleportation. Can you imagine being able to go to one rehearsal after the other in a matter of seconds? Or being able to have lunch in Italy and then teleport back to work when your lunch break was up?” Teachers that impacted your education: “Everyone in the School of Music. There wasn’t one professor I had in the music department that I didn’t learn from. They all had such a profound impact on me and I truly believe that the best part of the BYU School of Music is the faculty.” Favorite BYU ice cream: “I don't really eat ice cream, but I have purchased a lot of hot pockets from the HFAC vending machine on those long days.” What is the legacy you hope you left for BYU? “I hope people remember me as the violinist that worked hard, but still had fun. At the end of the day we are creating great music and I was so grateful to be a part of that creative process.”

Diane Reich, Associate Professor of Vocal Performance and Division Coordinator for Classical Voice in the BYU School of Music, will deliver the Devotional address on June 6, 2017. With doctoral and master’s degrees from Indiana University, Reich has had an impressive career, winning numerous accolades and performing both across the nation and overseas. Reich was hired at BYU in 2007, where—in addition to her position as Division Coordinator—she teaches Vocal and Opera Literature. Read more…

As a major snowstorm descended on New York, opera star Renee Fleming boarded one of the last planes out and squeezed between two passengers to claim her economy class seat. Fleming almost always flies first class, so sacrificing comfort to beat the storm was an unusual move, but she was determined to keep a commitment in Utah. Fleming had agreed to perform as part of BYU’s BRAVO! series. In fact, renowned performers from all over the globe consistently write a stop at BYU’s Harris Fine Arts Center into their schedules. The series holds enough weight in the entertainment industry to catch agents’ attention and bring in some pretty big names, BRAVO! producer Jeffrey Martin said. But it wasn’t always this way. Read More

BYU presents the newest a cappella group on campus, Noteworthy, in concert Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m., in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $10-12 and can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422- 2981 or online at byuarts.com. Noteworthy, though recently added to BYU’s Performing Arts Management portfolio, comes with a ten year history and an amazing resume. Noteworthy’s nine female singers deliver a power-packed concert that combines vocal percussion, humor and a tight harmony. The group’s varied repertoire includes rock, pop, country, jazz, R&B, spiritual and other musical styles. 'There's nothing like Noteworthy anywhere else at BYU—or anywhere else—period. The chance to work with such talented, committed ladies to make such exciting, inspiring music is one I cherish,” said Keith Evans, director of Noteworthy and former Vocal Point member. “These days, young women can so easily find female role models who don’t inspire and uplift. That is what makes it a privilege to direct an ensemble of women who are honest, loyal and virtuous, as well as bright, talented and fun.' The performers take songs and rearrange them to deliver a new rendition with just their mouths. They mimic complex instrumentation, hold a perfect pitch, and give a beautiful harmony. Noteworthy is full of class and charm. All nine members are carefully selected through competitive auditions and they are experts at displaying musical ability, creativity and stage experience—resulting in original, skillful and spirited performances. Noteworthy has appeared on NBC’s hit television show The Sing-Off and was crowned International Championship of Collegiate A cappella champions in 2007. In October 2015, their music video “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” went viral two weeks after its release and currently has more than 17 million views. Performance Date:Saturday, Nov. 19 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $10-12

BYU’s Group for New Music looks towards the Orient as they prepare to showcase contemporary music by composers from China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea on Tuesday, November 1, in the Madsen Recital Hall. The concert titled “New Music From Asia” involves more than 20 BYU students and faculty who are part of BYU's Group for New Music, and includes a world premiere score for erhu (a Chinese instrument) and piano. Dai Fujikura, who composed the featured piece of the evening, Flute Concerto, is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after composers in the world. 'You've never heard a flute do anything like what's in Fujikura’s piece. Its unique character and the presence of the composer will make this a very special concert,' said Professor Stephen Jones, director of the Group for New Music. Born in Japan and now residing in London, Fujikura has worked with conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Peter Eötvös, Gustavo Dudamel, and Kazuki Yamada. “What’s even more remarkable,” said Jones, “is that this difficult concerto, written for internationally acclaimed flutist and MacArthur Fellow Claire Chase, will be performed by undergraduate student Catherine Winters.” Winters remarked that the experience of learning Fujikura’s Flute Concerto has been challenging, but also very rewarding. “I’ve been collaborating with Chase and Fujikura through email and Skype, and they’ve been very supportive and encouraging,” said Winters. “I’m incredibly excited to bring this new work to BYU audiences.” Fujikura’s Concerto pushes the performer to her limits requiring her to use what are known as extended techniques. Commenting on the piece, Jones said, “Its virtuosity is simply stunning. Watching Catherine play it will keep you on the edge of your seat!” Fujikura has also received two BBC Proms commissions, and is a recipient of a commission from BYU’s Barlow Endowment for Music Composition. “The evening has something for everyone,” said Jones. “Adventurous listeners are going to love the diversity and engagement this music will bring them.” The Group for New Music concert is free to the public. PHOTO: Jin Ohashi (© Jin Ohashi) 写真：大橋　仁 Read more about the event >>>

The BYU School of Music presents La Bohème, an opera in four acts, on Oct. 15 and Oct. 18-22 at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Dress rehearsal performances take place Oct. 15 and 18, and main performances Oct. 19-22. La Bohème, directed by Dr. Lawrence Vincent, tells the story of a poet, painter, musician and philosopher–a circle of Bohemian friends strong enough to survive anything. One of the most beloved operas of all time will transport the audience back to Paris in the early 1800s, where they will share in romance, friendship and death. 'The music is exquisite, the story entertaining and moving,' said Vincent. 'Musically and vocally it is challenging but not beyond the abilities for talented singers at Brigham Young University.' The opera lyrics are sung in Italian with English supertitles. Music for the opera, composed by Giacomo Puccini, is provided by BYU Philharmonic with Kory Katseanes as the conductor. “An opportunity to hear and watch Puccini's La Bohème is one of those ‘bucket list’ items,” Katseanes said. “It's the world's most popular opera for all the right reasons. Full of overwhelming beauty and emotion, this is simply something not to be missed.' La Bohème is Vincent's last opera production after a 20-year history of directing the opera program at BYU. Dates: Oct 15, Oct 18-22 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $10 Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com

The Brigham Young University BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series presents an evening with The Branford Marsalis Quartet, in the Pardoe Theater on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be joined by guest-vocalist Kurt Elling, also a Grammy award winner, who is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. In a singular collaboration of musical forces, the tight-knit band will feature Marsalis on saxophones, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass and Justin Faulkner on drums.

The Brigham Young University 2016-17 BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series opens Sept. 2 and 3, 7:30 p.m. with two special performance from Leslie Odom, Jr., Tony Award-winning star of the hit musical, Hamilton.

After being named one of the youngest winners in the history of the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition at the age of 21, BYU student Rebecca Pedersen began a prestigious operatic career. Although she has partial hearing loss and did not have any formal training until five years ago, Pedersen has now performed at The Met, Lincoln Center, and other acclaimed venues. Her mentor, BYU music professor Darrell Babidge, believed in her potential from the beginning and says the hard-working opera singer (a 2016 graduate of the BYU School of Music) is on her way to an international career.

Keep an eye out for Jordan Kamalu. Or rather an ear. Kamalu, a BYU commercial music studies major who is graduating this month, has been surrounded by music from a very young age. Throughout his university experience, composing music has given him unique opportunities and even earned him a Student Emmy nomination. Before going to college, Kamalu had already received two awards for composing music. Winning the National PTA Reflections contest his senior year in high school gave Kamalu a vision of how he could make a living by doing what he loved. That’s the dream isn’t it? “Music was something that I excelled at and enjoyed doing,” said Kamalu. “I really didn’t see any other way of making money that would be as enjoyable.” From that moment forward, composing became Kamalu’s focus. - See more at https://news.byu.edu/news/byu-grad-finds-early-success-music-composition

BYU DANCE Evening of Dance May 6-7 | de Jong Concert Hall Young DanceMakers, the performing company of the BYU Children’s and Teen’s Creative Dance program, perform dances inspired by activities and words of discovery BYU THEATRE Charlotte's Web May 27-June 11 | Pardoe Theatre This heartfelt drama about friendship tells the story of a girl with the ability to understand the language of animals, an irresistible young pig, and an extraordinary spider who works a miracle within the magic of her fragile web. BYU SCHOOL OF MUSIC The Lost Children of Hamelin June 8-11 | de Jong Concert Hall In this new opera, a girl sets into motion a series of events that reveal the true identity of the piper and the fate of the lost children of Hamelin in Germany in the year 1295.

Last September, the BYU Men’s Chorus invited YouTube sensation, Alex Boyé, to join them in a new music video of Baba Yetu, a choral, Swahili version of the Lord’s Prayer. That new video has now reached more than 100,000 views in less than a week. BYU Sound Engineer Jeff Carter recorded and mixed a new version of this popular song from the Men’s Chorus repertoire to include the BYU Philharmonic conducted by Kory Katseanes and features Alex Boyé, a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who rose to fame with his 'Africanized' version of well-known pop songs. 'As this is an African version of the Lord’s Prayer, we thought of Alex Boyé and his 'Africianized' songs, so we invited him to be a soloist and he was perfect,' said Benjamin Jacob, president of the BYU Men's Chorus. 'He brought his own style to the piece–just a great combination of Men’s Chorus and Alex Boyé.' Read more and see the video >>>>>>>>>>

Brigham Young University’s School of Music will present “Jazz for Kids II,” with the Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band as part of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Family Concert Series on Saturday, Mar. 5, at 11 a.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Admission is free, thanks to a generous donation from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, but all attendees age two years and older need a ticket. Children of all ages are admitted to this performance (including babes in arms). Tickets can be reserved at familyconcerts.byu.edu. Directed by Steve Call, the BYU Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band will play the music of New Orleans, a city where elements of spiritual songs, blues, ragtime and military bands merged to give birth to Jazz, America’s unique and contribution to the world of music. The audience will learn about and hear the music of Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, who were the first great jazz musicians. The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Family Concert Series was created to introduce the joy of music to children and youth. All family members are encouraged to attend regardless of age.

The BYU School of Music presents the Philharmonic Orchestra in concert in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The performance will include “Songs of a Wayfarer” by Gustav Mahler, with baritone soloist, Darrell Babidge, and Symphony no. 4 'Romantic' by Anton Bruckner. Comprising 95 of the university’s finest musicians, the Philharmonic Orchestra performs regularly on campus and collaborates with BYU’s choral, opera and ballet programs. The Philharmonic is conducted by Kory Katseanes. Its repertoire focuses on the Romantic period but also includes 20th and 21st century music. This performance will be streamed live from the BYU School of Music’s website at liveconcerts.byu.edu. Performance Date: Friday, February 12 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $10 (discounts for senior citizens, BYU students, groups and alumni) Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com

Vocal Point, Brigham Young University’s popular nine-man pop a cappella group, will perform on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the de Jong Concert Hall.

Vocal Point is seeking a hard-working, qualified student to join the group as the beat boxer/vocal percussionist. If accepted, you would begin immediately. Auditions will take place on Wednesday, January 6, from 1:30-3:30 pm in HFAC C130 (de Jong Green Room). To audition, go to the link below and click 'sign up' next to your desired time. You will be asked to enter your name, email, and cell phone number (you do not need to sign up for an account).ONLINE SIGN UP SHEET: http://goo.gl/6Ja1rCOn audition day, please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out an audition form. We will audition two people every 10 minutes. Come warmed up and prepared with:1. 30-second beat box solo (show us what you've got!)2. the ability to show grooves from different styles and genres (rock,jazz, pop, etc.)3. 30-second vocal solo in any contemporary style (no musical theater)Those wishing to audition must be full-time BYU students as of January 2016. Any questions can be directed to vocalpoint@byu.edu.

Experience the wonder and splendor of music and dance as internationally acclaimed Brigham Young University performing groups take the stage in Salt Lake City with BYU Winterfest 2016. Over the course of several weekends the Contemporary Dance Theatre, Vocal Point, Noteworthy, International Folk Dance Ensemble, Living Legends, and Ballroom Dance Company will dazzle audiences with performances showcasing a variety of artistic tastes. BYU Winterfest 2016 provides entertainment for audiences of all ages. As part of Temple Square Performances, Winterfest concerts will be held in the Conference Center Theater. Read more >>>>

As a continuation of its Set Apart project, the Brigham Young University Men’s Chorus will share its newest release, “Savior, Redeemer of My Soul,” as a free download starting December 4, 2015. The original Set Apart: Beloved Missionary Hymns album, originally released in April 2013, is still available as a free download. Both can be downloaded at. Hymns for the free Set Apart album were thoughtfully selected to especially honor prospective and current missionaries, and was originally created as a gift to all who share in the love of missionary work. Since the initial album release, songs from the album have been downloaded more than half a million times in 177 countries. Giving away a new song for free as a Christmas gift has become a BYU Men’s Chorus tradition. “We believe that music has the ability to teach indefinable truths, comfort in times of inconsolable pain and inspire even the hardest of hearts,” said Benjamin Jacob, president of the BYU Men’s Chorus. “Every time we sing, we bear our testimony of the reality of Jesus Christ. Men's Chorus is a place of refuge and strength for all as we seek to serve our brothers and sisters through song.” The BYU Men’s Chorus is the largest collegiate men’s choir in the nation. Conducted by Rosalind Hall, they serve as one of the pillars of the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communication’s performing groups, with 180 members and decades of rich, musical history. The choir hopes to spread joyful messages to everyone with the download of this original arrangement of crowd-favorite, “Savior, Redeemer of My Soul.” Rosalind Hall, the director of the BYU Men’s Chorus, considers this particular song an ideal gift to missionaries and to the world this Christmas. Hall feels this song took on new significance when many in Men’s Chorus choose to sing it as their audition piece. Hall soon asked retired faculty member Ronald Staheli to personally arrange and conduct this hymn for her choir members because she knew that no one else would write a more beautiful arrangement. “The first time that I started teaching it to the Men's Chorus, I knew that it would be a special piece. There was such a connection to it. They connected to it from the word go,” Hall said. “I know that missionaries out in the field will feel the same way–it will speak to their souls and it will be especially meaningful to them as they meet all the challenges that come to them as they devote two years of their lives to the Savior of the World.' While Hall and Jacob hope those preparing for missions will download the hymn, they hope that everyone will happily receive the chorus’ Christmas gift. Notable arrangers for the hymns, including Daniel McDavitt, Matthew D. Nielsen, David Zabriskie, Lane Johnson, Rob Gardner and Ron Staheli generously forfeited licensing rights so the BYU Men’s Chorus could offer the hymns on the album for free.