A new series of multifaceted music colloquia kicks off at Eastern Mennonite University this semester. The series brings in a flutist from the Houston Symphony, a performance psychologist from Juilliard, and a Carnatic musician-turned-neuroscientist.
Each presentation will be livestreamed at 12:20 p.m. on the department’s Facebook page.
“Since everything is virtual, it is a wonderful opportunity to bring many more great artists from around the nation and even around the globe to our students,” said Professor David Berry, director of the music department. “It is not every year that we can bring such a diverse array of top-rate artists and presenters to our students in one semester.”
The colloquia will include a mix of students performing for and learning from the guest artists, interviews, and lectures.
“We have found these combined modes of presentation to be very engaging for everyone no matter the spectators’ area of musical specialty,” Berry said.
- Feb. 25 – Judy Dines, a flutist with the Houston Symphony, the Greenbriar Consortium, the Ritz Chamber Players, and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. “Ms. Dines is an excellent orchestral and chamber musician, with a wealth of experience,” Berry said. Her colloquium will include an interview and a masterclass, in which Dines will coach EMU sophomore Samuel Soste-Taffur following his flute performance.
- March 25 – Noa Kageyama, PhD, a performance psychologist, Juilliard professor, and violinist. Kageyama’s presentation will focus on dealing with performance anxiety and performing at one’s best under pressure. Berry said he “has become one of the most respected and sought-after experts in the field of performance psychology for musicians.”
- April 15 – Deepti Navaratna, PhD, an Indian Carnatic classical musician and neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts General Hospital. Navaratna “is a true cultural entrepreneur who combines expertise in music and medicine,” Berry said. She’ll speak on her career and some of the musical traditions of India.
- Cellist Amanda Gookin, executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, began the series in early February.