FACULTY HIGH NOTES

In February,��alumna and Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies Annie Booth��(BM ’11, jazz piano performance and MM ’20, jazz performance + pedagogy) was named a��CU �鶹ӰԺ Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholar and will be a featured presenter in a public program this fall. This distinction recognizes Booth’s exceptional creative work and the meaningful impact of her scholarship. In January, Booth’s article—“” (Washington Music Educators Association Journal)—explored the many ways musicians can build lives in music today, and how educators can better prepare students for what comes after college.��

Additionally, Booth directed the Washington All-State Jazz Ensemble and presented at the WMEA Conference. Also this spring,����an intimate concert that reimagines Beatles classics through jazz arrangements led by Booth and vocalist Marion Powers; the series of four local concerts further featured��Patrick McDevitt (bass) and our Jazz Studies Lecturer Alejandro Castaño (drums). In December 2025,��under the direction of Joseph L. Jefferson, St. Olaf Jazz performed Booth’s “Cactus Blossom” for large jazz ensemble at the Midwest Clinic International Band & Orchestra Conference. A month earlier, Booth—who’s also a double alumna��(BM ’11, jazz piano performance and MM ’20, jazz performance + pedagogy)—released “Now We’re Talkin’ Christmas,” her joyful new holiday album featuring a festive mix of beloved classics and fresh holiday originals.

Lecturer John Clay Allen (DMA ’19) released “” featuring two recent concertos—one for piano and string orchestra and the other for oboe and string orchestra. The recording is a collaboration between Allen and the �鶹ӰԺ Symphony under the direction of conductor Devin Patrick Hughes, with alumni piano soloist Er-Hsuan Li (DMA ’24) and oboe soloist Ingrid Anderson (BM ’08).��
More:��An ECM project grant + an alumni collaboration

Marilyn Brock—assistant teaching professor + interim director of our Entrepreneurship Center for Music—was awarded the Gary D. Beckman SAEE Research Impact Award for her presentation “How Freelance and Self-Employed Musicians Make Sense of Negative Life Experiences Through Entrepreneurial Journeys” at the Society for Arts Entrepreneurship Education (SAEE) annual conference.��

On May 2, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Music India Carney appeared on Saturday Night Live performing with pop music superstar Olivia Rodrigo.��
More:�� (Daily Camera)

CUriosity: Why is K-pop so popular in the United States?

March 10, 2026
By Yvaine Ye
In 2026, “Golden” became the first K-pop song to win both an Oscar and a Grammy Award (from the 2025 “KPop Demon Hunters” animated musical urban fantasy film). In this feature story, Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology Stephanie Choi—a K-pop fan—shares why this music genre has gained widespread popularity beyond South Korea. “There are lots of social functions in music,” she says. “... K-pop culture makes you want to be part of the community.”

During his spring 2026 sabbatical, Professor of Piano Andrew Cooperstock was a Resident Fellow at the American College of the Mediterranean in Aix-en-Provence.��

Associate Teaching Professor of Voice Jennifer DeDominici was nominated for a Henry Award (Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” Lone Tree Arts Center).

Music ed lecturer Michelle Ewer was named recipient of the: “Ewer’s 47-year career in education is a story of access, impact and unwavering dedication to students. [...] Michelle has been a driving force in music education across Colorado and the nation—serving as president of both the Colorado Music Educators Association and the Colorado String Teachers Association [...] and helping shape student leadership through her work with the Tri-M Music Honor Society.”

Assistant Professor of Harpsichord Lillian Gordis continued her journey into the heart of Johann Sebastian Bach's catalogue with a new album released in January 2026, “.”��

John Gunther—professor of jazz studies + director, Thompson Jazz Studies Program—released a new recording, “,” in memory of the great jazz trumpeter Ron Miles (MMus ’89) whose extraordinary music making left an indelible mark. Gunther also looks to his mother, Judy, whose art adorns the album cover.��

Associate Professor of Piano��Jennifer Hayghe was named a�� an international distinction reserved for pianists of the highest caliber.

“Always a Flutist” celebrates flutes, community and music

Sept. 18, 2025
By Adam Goldstein
On Sept. 23, Professor of Flute Christina Jennings brought together alumni representing her 20 years’ teaching at the College of Music, as well as other faculty, staff, supporters and community collaborators for a joyful reunion and flute-forward music making.

Assistant Teaching Professor of Jazz Studies Hugh Ragin was selected for an inaugural Center for African & African American Studies (CAAAS) Artist-In-Residence (AIR) Award.��

Professor of Composition Carter Pann’s “Music for Motion” was released on Sept. 16, 2025. A collaboration with Denver’s Sphere Ensemble, conducted by College of Music alum Alejandro Gómez Guillén and commissioned by Christine Harbison, this four-movement work for strings celebrates the 13 players (including many CU �鶹ӰԺ alumni) over a collage of genres culminating in a finale that combines classic (or “yacht”) rock with John Adams-style minimalism from the same era. Available on�� and��.

The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) has�� including Nicholas Perna, the College of Music's associate professor of voice and director of vocal pedagogy, as president-elect! “I am excited [...] to help lead NATS into a new, bright and diverse future as we invigorate our mission to transform lives through the power of singing.”

Faculty Leadership Institute 2025-26 fellows: Congratulations to Associate Professor of Vocal Coaching Jeremy Reger.

Professor of Musicology Laurie Sampsel’s fourth edition of�� includes new topics such as the use of special collections and archives, use of artificial intelligence, evaluation and discussion of student writing examples, an updated companion website and more.��

Assistant Teaching Professor of Jazz Studies Altin Sencalar appeared in the January edition of DownBeat Magazine’s Best of 2025 albums. “‘Unleashed’ has received some wonderful comments, reviews and outreach—I’m grateful to have it recognized as a part of this publication’s best of 2025 albums,” says Sencalar. Also released this year, Sencalar’s seventh album as a leader—“Natural Rhythm”—landed him an��; and garnered four-star reviews from and which further ranked him seventh on its “Rising Star Trombonist of the Year” list. Additionally, in January 2026, the��International Trombone Association Journal published Sencalar’s��“The evolving path of a jazz trombonist”—his reflections on the evolving role of the jazz trombonist today, drawing from his experience as a performer, recording artist and educator. And this summer,��Sencalar presents “Connecting the dots—effective ways to incorporate commercial trombone playing into your warmup/routine” at the 55th International Trombone Festival in Riga, Latvia.��

(Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco clearing house site)
When Associate Professor of Guitar Nicolò Spera and ethnomusicologist and conductor Giovanni Cestino conceived an ambitious project to expand the repertoire for choir and guitar, one of their first steps was a deep dive into Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Romancero Gitano Op. 152. Separately, Spera��was also awarded a 2026 Research & Innovation Office (RIO)��Arts & Humanities Grant.

The CU �鶹ӰԺ Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship announced Benjamin Teitlelbaum—associate professor of musicology and international affairs—as��faculty director for strategic events and public discourse including planning the Conference on World Affairs.

2026 is Miles Davis’ centenary birth year and Professor of Music Theory Keith Waters was invited to give talks on Davis at the Royal Academy of Music (London) in March and the Verdi Conservatory of Music (Milan) in October.

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