Public Programs

The stated goals from the programming subcommittee include the following:

1. Improve inclusivity and a sense of community within the Shepherd School, 
2. Create more meaningful relationships with our surrounding community, 
3. Connect our concert programming to education, 
4. Acknowledge the contributions of BIPOC composers, and 
5. Bring new and previously unsung, underrepresented works to life

An immediate recommendation was for the Shepherd School programming to increase presentations of music written by Black and Latinx historical and contemporary composers. A few examples  are listed below: 

2022-2023 Programming:

• Chen Yi "Sparkle": Monday, October 24, 2022 at 7:30 pm
• Gabriela Frank "Concertino Cusqueño (2012)": Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 7:30 pm 
• Quinn Mason  "Running from A Joyous Trilogy": Friday, December 2, 2022 at 7:30 pm
• Valerie Coleman "Seven O'Clock Shout": Friday, March 3, 2023 at 7:30 pm

2021-2022 Programming:

• Jesse Montgomery “Starburst (arr. Jannina Norpoth)” 
• Ulysses Kay “Scherzi Musicali”
• George Walker “Lyric Suite for Strings”
• Alberto Ginastera “Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23”
• Silvestre Revueltas “Homenaje a Federico Garcia Lorca”
• Gabriella Lena Frank (SSM alumni) “Apu: A Tone Poem for Orchestra”
• Heitor Villa-Lobos “Ciranda das Sete Notas”
• George Lewis “Born Obbligato”

MUSE Series: 
A second immediate recommendation from the Public Programming Subcommittee was the creation of the "MUSE Series." The new series features conversations, interviews, workshops, and masterclasses with leading BIPOC professionals in their field. The goal is to make this an annual series representing all disciplines studied at the Shepherd School of Music. 

The task force created a MUSE Series Student Coordinator position to assist the co-chairs with the new MUSE Series. The coordinator surveyed Shepherd School students to help with the artist selection process. Funding for the series came through a pledge of support from former Dean Yekovich and from a grant obtained from the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning's Fund for Racial Justice Teaching and Programming: https://www.cercl.rice.edu

Artist Conversations with Aaron Dworkin

Entrepreneurship and Leadership focus
August 30, 2021 at 7:30 PM

Professor Maverick Throws the Dice: A Wager on Diversity, Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship in the Arts

Artist Conversations with ANTHONY ELLIOTT and DEMARRE MCGILL

Orchestral and Ensemble focus
October 22, 2021 at 7:30 PM

Artist Conversations with The MARIAN ANDERSON STRING QUARTET (SSM Alumni)

Chamber Music focus
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 7:30 PM

Artist Conversations with JULIA BULLOCK and ANTHONY DAVIS

Opera and Composition focus
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 7:30 PM