The Boston University College of Fine Arts comprises the School of Music, the School of Theatre, and the School of Visual Arts. Although each School has its own faculty and program of study, all three Schools share the goal of providing the best possible training in the arts.
Our focus is on the student’s development of skills and techniques through personalized instruction. Faculty members are carefully selected for their ability to impart knowledge, their personal accomplishments, and their commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. Among the College of Fine Arts faculty are artists, performers, and scholars of national and international reputation.
If you are seeking an institution that is committed to superior artistic preparation, academic excellence, and a stimulating and challenging environment in which to learn and grow, we encourage you to explore our programs and our community of artists.
Message from the Director
I am delighted to introduce you to the Boston University School of Music, the oldest degree-granting music school in the United States. Our focus is on preparing the artists, teachers, and scholars of the future; teaching is our first priority. Composed of 173 practicing musicians and scholars of national and international renown (many of whom are members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra), our faculty is committed to guiding and encouraging student achievement. The School’s position at the heart of a great university provides students with a nearly limitless range of artistic and intellectual opportunities.
In Boston, music matters. The School of Music has played an important role in establishing Boston as a leading center for music and culture in America; and our students perform in venues throughout the city and beyond. This is an inspiring place to be a musician. I invite you to learn more. Please call us at 617-353-3341 or e-mail cfamusic@bu.edu.
Robert K. Dodson
Director, School of Music
Walt C. Meissner
Dean ad interim
Facilities and Resources
In the main building, 120 spacious, acoustically sealed, fully ventilated, individual and ensemble practice rooms were recently installed, creating an exceptional studio atmosphere. There is a 485-seat concert hall; three halls for large ensemble rehearsals; a recording studio; two electronic music studios; an academic computing center; and a keyboard instruction lab. Opera rehearsal and coaching studios are located in a spacious facility across the street from the College of Fine Arts. The Tsai Performance Center, three blocks away on the Boston University campus, is an outstanding concert and rehearsal space for the major performing organizations of the School of Music. The Opera Institute performs at the Boston University Theatre, which is also the home of the Huntington Theatre Company.
The library within the School of Music maintains a large collection of scores, recordings, and books. The Boston University Mugar Memorial Library contains a distinguished research collection of books, microfilms, and journals, and offers a full array of library services such as reference, electronically delivered information, course reserves, and interlibrary loans. Mugar Library’s Gotlieb Archival Research Center includes significant music-related holdings of manuscripts, letters, and first editions.
Steven Ansell, viola*
Edwin Barker, string bass*
Cathy Basrak, viola*
Lynn Chang, violin
Jules Eskin, cello*
Edward Gazouleas, viola*
Raphael Hillyer, viola
Marc Johnson, cello
Bayla Keyes, violin
Michelle LaCourse, viola, head
Lucia Lin, violin*
Malcolm Lowe, violin*
Dana Mazurkevich, violin
Yuri Mazurkevich, violin
Ikuko Mizuno, violin*
George Neikrug, cello
James Orleans, string bass*
Leslie Parnas, cello
Michael Reynolds, cello
Rhonda Rider, cello
Todd Seeber, string bass*
Roman Totenberg, violin
Lawrence Wolfe, string bass
Michael Zaretsky, viola*
Peter Zazofsky, violin
Woodwinds
Laura Ahlbeck, oboe Jennifer Bill, saxophone Geralyn Coticone, flute Doriot Anthony Dwyer, flute John Ferrillo, oboe Ian Greitzer, clarinet Ronald Hartounian, bassoon John Heiss, flute Gregg Henegar, bassoon* Renee Krimsier, flute Christopher Krueger, flute Craig Nordstrom, bass clarinet* Elizabeth Ostling, flute* Richard Ranti, bassoon* Matthew Ruggiero, bassoon Robert Sheena, oboe and English horn* Ethan Sloane, clarinet Linda Toote, flute
Brass
Peter Chapman, trumpet* Terry Everson, trumpet Joseph Foley, trumpet Lynne Larsen, horn Don Lucas, trombone, head Richard Menaul, horn Thomas Rolfs, trumpet* Mike W. Roylance, tuba* Eric Ruske, horn James Sommerville, horn* Jay Wadenpfuhl, horn*
Percussion
Richard Flanagan Tim Genis* Sam Solomon Lee Vinson
Harp
Ann Hobson Pilot* Barbara Poeschl-Edrich
Piano
Anthony di Bonaventura Maria Clodes-Jaguaribe Linda Jiorle-Nagy Boaz Sharon, head
Voice
Sarah Arneson, coloratura soprano Penelope Bitzas, mezzo-soprano Eve Budnick, phonetics Sharon Daniels, soprano James Demler, baritone Gary Durham, baritone Simon Estes, bass-baritone Phyllis Elhady Hoffman, mezzo-soprano Frank Kelley, tenor Matthew Larsen, (performance techniques) Susan Ormont, soprano Jerrold Pope, baritone, head Maria Spacagna, soprano
Historical Performance
Aldo Abreu, recorder Sarah Freiberg, baroque cello Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba Christopher Krueger, baroque flute Catherine Liddell, lute, theorbo Martin Pearlman, conducting, harpsichord Robinson Pyle, natural trumpet Marc Schachman, baroque oboe Jane Starkman, violin, viola Peter Sykes, harpsichord, head
Collaborative Piano
Shiela Kibbe, head Robert Merfeld
Musicology and
Ethnomusicology
Victor Coelho Steven Cornelius Brita Heimarck Thomas Peattie Joshua Rifkin Andrew Shenton Joel Sheveloff Jeremy Yudkin
Composition and Theory
Brett Abigana Martin Amlin, head Deborah Burton Richard Cornell Joshua Fineberg Samuel Headrick David Kopp Rodney Lister Catherine Nez John Wallace Steven Weigt
Music Education
Diana Dansereau André de Quadros Jay Dorfman Andrew Goodrich Lee Higgins Patrick Jones, chair Ron Kos Roger Mantie Sandra Nicolucci William Pappazisis Chris Parks
Conducting and Musical Organizations
David Hoose, orchestral
conducting Ann Howard Jones, choral conducting, chair of ensembles
David Martins Scott Metcalfe (choral literature)
Opera Institute
Sharon Daniels, director of Opera Institute and Opera Programs Helena Binder (stage direction) William Lumpkin Melinda Sullivan-Friedman (period dance) Allison Voth
Programs of study within the School of Music vary according to degree sought, area of specialization, and major instrument. Candidates study a major instrument with the exception of students in: MM in Theory, MM and DMA in Composition, MM and DMA in Conducting, MM in Musicology, and the MM and DMA in Music Education.
Performance instruction is offered in the following areas:
Bassoon Cello Clarinet Double Bass Flute French Horn Harp Harpsichord Historical Performance Oboe Percussion Piano Saxophone Trombone Trumpet Tuba Viola Violin Voice
Each student is assigned to a member of the faculty for private instruction. Individual instruction is given in hour lessons; every effort is made to consider the student’s preferences in studio assignment.
Participation in a musical organization is a vital component of the graduate programs. These organizations and ensembles include:
Alea III Chamber Chorus Chamber Orchestra Collaborative Piano Opera Theatre Opera Workshop Percussion Ensemble Symphonic Chorus Symphony Orchestra Time’s Arrow New Music Ensemble Concert Choir Wind Ensemble Women’s Chorale