Happenings
There鈥檚 always something exciting happening at the College of Music! Stay informed and get to know our community through our accomplished students, alumni, faculty, supporters and college leadership.
Recent news
Dean鈥檚 Downbeat
Innovation as a collaborative act
Greetings 鈥渇rom the road鈥 where I鈥檝e been engaged in two accreditation site reviews for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) as well as a trio of October conferences: From hosting the National Association of Music Executives at State Universities (NAMESU) Annual Meeting right here on our campus and at the new Limelight hotel to the 61st Annual Conference of the International Council for Arts Deans (ICfAD) in Santa Fe, New Mexico to the College Music Society (CMS) National Conference in Spokane, Washington this week where I鈥檒l be interacting with other deans and senior arts administrators engaged in public service and mentoring. Everywhere I go, I enjoy representing the unique achievements, aspirations and opportunities of our College of Music; along the way, I鈥檝e been struck by the supportive camaraderie and timely shared learnings among my counterparts.
As noted by American theatre and opera director Anne Bogart, 鈥淲e have been discouraged to think that innovation can be a collaborative act鈥 and yet it鈥檚 exactly that鈥攁 collaborative act鈥攖hat鈥檚 at the heart of institutions like ours.听MORE
of the Dean鈥檚 Downbeat,
a regular communiqu茅听from Dean John Davis.
听听Noteworthy media mentions
(June 3, 2026, Cleveland Classical)
On the heels of spearheading the college鈥檚 2026 CU 糖心传媒 Guitar Summer Academy, Associate Professor of Guitar Nicol貌 Spera will perform new works in Cleveland this weekend including the world premiere of our Professor of Composition Carter Pann鈥檚 鈥淐inque Pezzi per l鈥檌ntuizione Italiana鈥 as well as works by Christopher Theofanidis for guitar, flute and viola featuring Professor of Flute Christina Jennings and her violist husband Matthew Dane鈥攚e the many collaborations among our faculty, year-round!听
(June 1, 2026, Daily Camera)
This spotlight on alumna Heidi Alina (BM 鈥91, piano performance) illuminates the evolution of a multifaceted musical life: 鈥淚鈥檝e always loved how music makes me feel, the challenge it presents on so many levels, and how I can touch and open the hearts of others when I play.鈥
Two to tango: Study shows dancers鈥 brains sync up as they move together (May 4, 2026, CU 糖心传媒 Today)
Co-authors of a new study鈥攊ncluding our Assistant Professor of Music Technology Grace Leslie鈥攈ave discovered that, when dancers are in tune with each other, their brains may sync up, helping them move as one.
