{"id":122957,"date":"2025-07-21T10:10:21","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T14:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?post_type=bu-article&p=122957"},"modified":"2025-08-15T15:49:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T19:49:18","slug":"creatives-in-practice-barb-raney","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2025\/creatives-in-practice-barb-raney\/","title":{"rendered":"Creatives in Practice: Barb Raney"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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Nora Cannizaro (CFA’25), left, a BU bassoon performance alum, and Barb Raney at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, the performance venue of Bristol Chorale. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

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BARB RANEY<\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Boston University School of Music’s beloved academic advisor is also a singer in the Bristol Chorale, a community choir based in Attleboro, MA, whose chamber orchestra includes many BU music alums and students.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n
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July 21, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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One thing that gravitates the next generation of artists to Boston University College of Fine Arts<\/a>? Knowing that their professors, advisors, and mentors are also working artists, gaining real-world experience and bringing that back into the classroom through their curriculum, lessons, and talks. In CFA\u2019s Creatives in Practice<\/strong><\/em> series, your favorite CFA faculty and staff members share the work they\u2019re doing off campus, locally, nationally, and globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Assistant Director of Student Services for Boston University School of Music<\/a>, Barbara “Barb” Raney<\/strong><\/a> (CAS’85) proudly supports and serves BU’s finest student musicians. As an Academic Advisor for undergraduate students, Barb engages students in the collaborative process of exploring and creating their educational path.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A BU alum, Barb is the personification of being #ProudtoBU. Her husband, Earl Raney<\/strong> (CFA’84,’09), and daughter Katie Raney <\/strong>(CFA’18) are also BU alums, and all are musically trained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this installment of CFA’s Creatives in Practice<\/strong><\/em> series, Barb shares how she’s involved with The Bristol Chorale<\/strong><\/a>, a community choir based in Attleboro, MA, and you guessed it… so are Earl and Katie (Earl is the music director and conductor with an impressive performance background). The non-profit organization presents concerts featuring a diverse repertoire of choral music and is comprised of dedicated and talented artists, including a number of BU alums and current students who play in the choir\u2019s chamber orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Barb, this professional opportunity helps her stay connected to the music industry, allowing her to be a more effective advisor to the future music-makers, -changers, -educators, and -advocates of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q&A WITH BARB RANEY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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CFA:<\/em> How does your real-world experience in the field connect to your role as a staff member at BU College of Fine Arts?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Barb: <\/em><\/strong>My husband and children are all professional musicians, so it\u2019s pretty much all we talk about! I have a deep connection to the music world through them and their various professional positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspires you about this role? How do you think it makes you a better artist, educator\/arts administrator? <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I love supporting our talented students in CFA! They have so many choices at BU \u2013 minors, double majors, extra-curricular opportunities like study abroad, internships, and fellowships. It is so rewarding when they seek my advice. And the more I know about the industry and world they plan to enter professionally, the more effective an advisor I can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there any BU or CFA connections in The Bristol Chorale?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We have many current students and alums who play in the orchestra! Zhen Wang<\/strong> (CFA’22,\u201925), clarinet; Nora Cannizaro<\/strong> (CFA\u201925), bassoon; Katie Raney<\/strong> (CFA\u201918), trumpet; William Hume<\/strong> (CFA\u201924), piano; Maya Lynn<\/strong> (CFA\u201924,’27), violin; Audrey Ma<\/strong> (CFA\u201928), violin; Matthew Holzaepfel<\/strong> (CFA\u201924,\u201926), viola; and Zachary Larson<\/strong> (CFA\u201919,\u201923), cello. Another fun fact is that my son Daniel Raney<\/strong> (bass) also plays in the orchestra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing it back to Terrier Town, are there any BU programs or events you\u2019re involved with?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

As an advisor, I am involved with the larger University undergraduate advising community. I also have a strong connection with our BU colleagues in London and our partner school, The Royal College of Music<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice would you give your students about building a sustainable career in the arts?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Be your own best advocate and promoter! Network, network, network. Nothing is a guarantee anymore in any industry, so follow your dreams and your passions, and you can make it work. It might not be a straightforward route without bumps and detours, but it will be rewarding and worthwhile because you will be making a difference in this world when you share your talent and gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any fun facts or other information you\u2019d like to share with us?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Well, back when I was in high school and college, I delivered singing telegrams! Is that still a thing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Connect with Barb! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Send Barb an email at braney@bu.edu<\/a> with any questions about her role at Boston University, her experience singing with the Bristol Chorale, or if you’d like to share your thoughts on whether singing telegrams are still a thing or not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About Mentioned Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t
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