BU Tanglewood Institute: From the Director’s Desk | May 2020
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Photo Credit Stratton McCrady
A few summers ago on the last day of our season, I asked 10 or so students from our Young Artists Orchestra to describe their summer experience in just a few words, which I later quoted in my remarks to the concert audience. I always find that students’ voices speak most powerfully! A general theme emerged, which resonates today more than ever: “We learned that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.”
As we all experience the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope you can find some comfort as well as pride in being part of something bigger, in this case the far-reaching, international music-making community that is Boston University Tanglewood Institute. This includes you, Class of 2020. Welcome!
Although for the first time in 54 years BUTI will not be in residence at Tanglewood this summer, we will still be doing our part to help young musicians grow. Today we launch the BUTI 2020 Student Vault designed to provide listening and skill-building resources throughout the summer season. The Vault, as well as a weekly special event series with alumni and other guests, are designed to provide information, motivation, and inspiration. Here’s a teaser to give you a taste of the types of listening features the Vault will include. Some of you will recognize several BUTI faculty and alumni in this performance!
We know anything we do online cannot replace the true BUTI experience, but are grateful for the online tools we can use to capture the BUTI and Tanglewood spirit for you, even briefly, and continue to build artistry and community in these unprecedented times.
And remember, as the Boston Pops shared its music to communicate a broader message of gratitude, we each have the power to do something generous like this, either through music or some other form of kindness – for others, for our community, and as part of building our collective resilience in facing the challenges of our time. If you share your music with your home community this summer in this way, please send news of it to us. We want to hear about it!
Until the next Prelude edition, from all of us on the BUTI team, I send thanks and best wishes.
Sincerely,
Hilary Field Respass
Executive Director