The Colburn Effect 2021–22

the colburn effect 2021–22 year in review

2introduction 4music

education

16 dance

education

20 community impact

24 growing

our campus

26 performances 34 philanthropy 36 leadership 37 stay

connected

contents

A Message from the President Founded on the principle of access to excellence, the Colburn School has remained committed to providing the best possible performing arts education to dedicated students for over 70 years. Our balanced curriculum and tailored learning environment motivate young musicians and dancers to not only excel at their craft, but also to become inquisitive artists and contributing global citizens.

This second issue of The Colburn Effect tells the story of the 2021–22 academic year, marking our long-awaited return to campus, in-person instruction, and live concerts.

Inside, you’ll read about the awe-inspiring accomplishments of our students and faculty who are not only shaping education at Colburn, but are also transforming the performing arts as choreographers, composers, performers, and more. You’ll also get a glimpse of our plans for the Colburn Center, a transformational addition to our downtown LA campus that will position us as a hub of activity for local and international artists and audiences from across Los Angeles.

The myriad learning and performance opportunities you see featured in this booklet are made possible by our trustee and donor community, whose constant support has ensured that the exceptional education Colburn is known for remains our highest priority. We are grateful to have our beloved Zipper and Thayer Halls once again filled with friends like you, who welcome our young artists to the stage and take genuine interest in their growth and progress.

As you enjoy this year’s issue of The Colburn Effect, I hope you feel a sense of pride for all that our community has achieved as well as increasing excitement for next fall. Your support and commitment are vital to our success. On behalf of our students and faculty—thank you.

Sincerely,

Sel Kardan, President and Chief Executive Officer

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introduction

access to excellence Located in the cultural corridor of downtown Los Angeles, the Colburn School provides the highest quality music and dance education to 2,000 students in a typical year. The School’s founding principle of “access to excellence” provides a performance-centered education with unparalleled faculty and facilities for all stages of development. Robust scholarship support for students levels the playing field in arts education.

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units of the colburn school Community School of Performing Arts From humble beginnings as a small music preparatory school, the Community School of Performing Arts now serves approximately 1,700 students and offers private lessons and group instruction in classical music, jazz, drama, and music theory, as well as early childhood classes.

Conservatory of Music The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.

Music Academy The Music Academy offers pre-collegiate students a conservatory-style experience, balancing performance, musical instruction, and academics.

Now in its second decade, the Music Academy has quickly developed an international reputation for developing young talent during students’ most formative years.

Trudl Zipper Dance Institute The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute nurtures younger students through the Youth Dance program, as well as more seasoned pre-professional dancers in the Dance Academy. In addition to performance, the curriculum includes opportunities to learn about dance history, choreography, artistic inquiry, and more.

Center for Innovation and Community Impact Created to serve all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact empowers the music and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Center for Innovation and Community Impact embodies Colburn’s commitment to developing young artists with the curiosity, skills, and desire to make a difference in their field.

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music education

community school of performing arts your support matters Donors, foundations, corporations, and our endowment provided over $850,000 for the scholarship program in the Community School in 2021–22. Students of all ages in numerous programs received vital support, from Early Childhood through Jumpstart, Chamber Music, Colburn Youth Orchestra, and Herbert Zipper Scholars.

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The Community School of Performing Arts is committed to making the highest quality music education available to all. Passionate, dedicated students of all ability levels and ages come to Colburn’s campus each year to play in ensembles and to study instruments, voice, music theory, drama, and more, with world-class teachers.

student success Awards and Competitions Community School students win top prizes nationwide each year.

Highlights from 2021 and 2022 include: ASCAP Foundation, Morton Gould Young Composer Award

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship recipient Lang Lang Foundation Young Scholar

Bonn and Salzburg “Grand Prize Virtuoso”

Music Center Spotlight Awards,

International Music Competition, First Prize

Grand Prize Finalist, Jazz Instrumental;

and Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize

11 semi-finalists in Jazz and Classical

California Association of Professional Music Teachers Concerto Competition, four prizewinners

divisions; six merit award-winners Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, First Prize

California Association of Professional

Southern California Junior Bach Festival,

Music Teachers Honors Competition, two

Gold Medal, eight prizewinners, one

prizewinners, one honorable mention

honorable mention

Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestra, three students accepted

U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, 2021 Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, two Honors Chamber groups advanced to quarter-final round

Artist Competition, Gold Medal YoungArts 2022 National Arts Competition, one finalist, five honorable mentions,

Great Composers Competition: Art of

seven merit award-winners

Musical Theatre, Winner, Age Category II

“ Being back in person at Colburn has given me the chance to do what I love most again. My first quartet rehearsal after one year of playing purely solo saxophone is a perfect example of how much I cherish and appreciate playing music again with others. The vibrations of the saxophones and the overwhelmingly beautiful harmonies brought me to tears. I battled those tears with all my might because I didn’t want to stop playing. I am incredibly thankful that every week I get the opportunity to relive that moment and the chance to create more.”

Among her accomplishments this school year, Emily was one of three students accepted to the 2022 All-State Honor Band.

Emily Hsiao, Community School student and Herbert Zipper Scholar

Learn more about Herbert Zipper Scholars

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music education program spotlight

Jazz at Colburn The Community School’s jazz program, known as the Colburn Jazz Workshop, encourages students to explore the art of improvisation.

Our jazz students find their unique voice through private instruction, classes, and together in ensembles. This comprehensive training makes Colburn one of the strongest jazz programs in Southern California. Students consistently win DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards, are named semi-finalists and grand prize finalists in the Music Center’s annual Spotlight Awards, and attend top collegiate jazz programs in the country.

The Workshop has a strong track record of success, and many Colburn jazz alumni have gone on to establish brilliant careers as performers, composers, recording artists, and producers.

“ Being in classes led by Jazz Chair Lee Secard has been one of the biggest impacts on my personal growth. He has been one of my biggest supporters and a strong critic, and has always pushed me in the right direction when I feel lost.”

Elijah Alexander, Community School student

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careers after colburn

Kris Bowers (Community School ’06) An Emmy Award-winning composer and pianist, Kris Bowers entered Colburn’s Community School at age seven to study jazz, piano, and composition. In 2011, the young artist won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Now a professional composer and musician, Kris has gained accolades for scoring the hit Netflix series Bridgerton and the Academy Award-winning film Green Book, and co-directing the Academy Award-nominated short film A Concerto Is a Conversation.

faculty spotlight

Dr. Nita Baxani In 2021, the Community School welcomed Dr. Nita Baxani as the new Early Childhood Chair, following former Chair Christine Martin’s retirement after 20 years of service to the School. Continuing in Ms. Martin’s legacy, Dr. Baxani leads a program of sequential, ageappropriate curriculum designed to both nurture and challenge students as they grow. With over 10 different class offerings for students ages seven months to five years, the Early Childhood program is the perfect way to introduce a child to the performing arts through music, theory, voice, movement, and drama.

“ Ever since I started teaching, I have been passionate in my commitment to engaging students through collaboration in music making, maximizing individual student musical potential that instills a sense of self-worth, inspiring students of all ages ‘to music’ together. I have dedicated my career to these pursuits, and I will continue to advocate for music in the community.”

Dr. Nita Baxani, Early Childhood Chair

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music education

conservatory your support matters Three new Conservatory scholarships were underwritten in 2021–22, one with a new endowment gift and two through annual support. Please consider joining this life-changing group of donors by underwriting Conservatory tuition.

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The Conservatory of Music opened in 2003 with one goal: to train the very highest level of classical instrumental performers for careers in music. Today’s students continue to enjoy a tradition of outstanding performance opportunities, unparalleled faculty, and full scholarships and grants covering tuition, room, and board. Our highly regarded program trains young artists to become dynamic soloists and the next generation of chamber group and orchestral musicians.

Above: The Colburn Orchestra performs their season-finale concert in Walt Disney Concert Hall.

“I know how important representation is, and I know first-hand how impactful representation can be in my community to see someone like me on the podium. So I’m pursuing conducting because this is the most meaningful way for me to continue to create musical experiences with others while being an advocate for our art in all communities.”

Kyle Dickson, Salonen Conducting Fellow

program spotlight

Negaunee Conducting Program The Colburn Conservatory of Music welcomed two new students into its 2021–22 class of Salonen Conducting Fellows: Assistant Conductor of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, Kyle Dickson, and emerging young conductor Molly Turner. Selected by Esa-Pekka Salonen, Kyle and Molly joined current Salonen Fellow Ross Jamie Collins.

As an extension of their work as Salonen Conducting Fellows, Kyle, Molly, and Ross were also selected to join the conducting staff of the San Francisco Symphony. Each served as an assistant conductor to Maestro Salonen for his programs during the 2021–22 season.

An extraordinary benefit of the Negaunee Conducting Program is that each student’s experience is uniquely tailored. Molly spent last December assistant conducting the Orchestre de Paris under Maestro Salonen and also conducted the final round of the 2021 Primrose International Viola Competition hosted on the Colburn campus. Meanwhile, Kyle conducted a side-by-side program with Colburn’s Academy Virtuosi and the Sphinx Virtuosi, and also led the Academy Virtuosi in George Walker’s Lyric for Strings during their fall concert. Ross conducted the Colburn Orchestra in two performances of concerti and recently gave his Philharmonia Orchestra debut in the UK alongside violinist Randall Goosby.

The Negaunee Conducting Program is funded in part by the Negaunee Foundation and through additional generous support of the Lab Orchestra in honor of James DePreist.

Right: Salonen Conducting Fellows Kyle Dickson, Molly Turner, and Ross Jamie Collins

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music education

creating international partnerships Saline Royale Academy Colburn and other conservatories worldwide formed a partnership with the Saline Royale Academy in France to share their faculty’s expertise and offer new experiences for students. Beginning in 2022, faculty from the Colburn Conservatory, Hans Eisler School of Music in Berlin, the Royal College of Music in London, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin will teach at the Saline Royale Academy in Arc-et-Senans, France, during student spotlight

week-long sessions throughout the year. Students from each institution

aubree oliverson

will also attend the Saline Royale Academy. As part of the Saline Royale

In 2022, Colburn Artist and violinist Aubree Oliverson was signed

by Askonas Holt, one of the world’s leading artist management companies. Already in demand as a concerto soloist, Aubree’s 2021–22 season included performances with the San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony, Brno Philharmonic, Louisiana Symphony, Roma Tre Orchestra, and the Pasadena Symphony.

the schools’ faculty will be filmed holding master classes for their online

Academy’s mission to provide an international catalogue of master classes, library at salineacademy.com.

welcoming new faculty

Geraldine Walther and David Rejano Cantero Geraldine Walther, former violist of the Takács String Quartet, joined the Conservatory of Music faculty as Interim Director of Chamber Music and was featured on the Colburn Chamber Music Society series in the 2021–22 season.

David Rejano Cantero, principal trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, also joined the Conservatory faculty. Prior to coming to Los Angeles, he served as principal trombone with the Münchner Philharmoniker, Barcelona Opera House, and Orquestra Sinfonica de Navarra.

12 10

student success Awards and Competitions Conservatory of Music students win top prizes in competitions both nationally and internationally each year. Highlights from 2021 and 2022 include: Australian Broadcasting Commission Young Performers Awards, Semi-Finalist Carl Nielsen International Competition, four candidates Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, Lerman Gold Prize Concours International de Genève, Semi-Finalist Edith Knox Young Artists Performance Competition, First Prize Ghent International Clarinet Competition, Second Place Gillet-Fox International Oboe Competition, Second Place and Honorable Mention Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition, Second Prize Kobe International Flute Competition, Finalist National Trumpet Competition, Graduate Solo Division, Second Place Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition, three candidates

Professional Positions Colburn Conservatory students are found in orchestras around the world. Alumni won the following positions in 2021 and 2022:

professional perspectives

Gustavo Dudamel The Colburn Conservatory’s 2022 Commencement featured keynote speaker Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director,

Bakersfield Symphony, Principal Horn

who received an honorary

Boston Symphony Orchestra, First Violin Section

doctorate. The celebrated

Charlotte Symphony, First Violin Section Dallas Symphony, Cello Section Fort Worth Symphony, Principal Bassoon Los Angeles Philharmonic, Fourth Horn

conductor and passionate arts advocate encouraged graduating students to use the universal language of music to guide the world to a more

New Zealand Symphony, Piccolo

understanding, compassionate

Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen, Principal Flute

future, telling them, “As

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Clarinet Section

musicians, this is our

Utah Symphony, Associate Conductor

vocation, our responsibility,

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Principal Harp

and our privilege.”

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music education

music academy your support matters Kohl Scholarships, Thibaudet Scholarships, Greendale Scholarships, and additional special awards make studying at the Music Academy possible—providing $400,000 for the 2021–22 school year.

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The Music Academy brings exceptional pre-college students from around the world to Colburn, where they take their training to the next level. Young musicians, ages 14–18, balance performance, musical instruction, and academics in a comprehensive full-time program that allows them to flourish and develop their artistry.

Above: Music Academy students play side-by-side with the Sphinx Virtuosi in Zipper Hall.

Colburn’s Music Academy Celebrates 10th Anniversary During its first decade, the Music Academy has quickly developed an

over

90%

conjunction with exciting artistic opportunities during an aspiring young

of Music Academy alumni went on to prestigious music programs, including:

artist’s most formative years.

Cleveland Institute of Music

international reputation for providing an unparalleled music education in

Approximately 40 students from all around the world enroll in the

Colburn Conservatory of Music Conservatorium van Amsterdam

Music Academy each year to study at this highly selective training

Curtis Institute of Music

program. Countries represented over the past 10 years include:

Eastman School of Music

Australia

Hungary

Philippines

Taiwan

C anada

Japan

Russia

United States

C hina

Malaysia

South Korea

Venezuela

F rance

Mexico

Spain

Vietnam

New England Conservatory Juilliard School Northwestern University Peabody Institute Royal Academy of Music San Francisco Conservatory Yale College

“ Being a student in the Academy has greatly enhanced my music education. The Music Academy curriculum is very rigorous and diverse. In addition to private lessons, I also take theory, aural skills, keyboard literature, music history, and movement classes. All of these classes equip me with the fundamental skills needed to become a musician. The Music Academy also gives students a lot of performance opportunities. Every time I hear my fantastic peers play on a Music Academy Young Artist Performance or master class, I get inspired and motivated to work harder.”

Daniel Wang, Music Academy student

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music education

Academy Virtuosi in the Spotlight The Academy Virtuosi took center stage at the Celebrate Colburn Gala in 2022, performing Mozart’s rarely heard Triple Concerto. Music Academy students Caden Lin and Daniel Wang joined Colburn Artist in Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet as piano soloists in the concerto led by Salonen Conducting Fellow Kyle Dickson.

The Academy Virtuosi were also featured in Unite for Ukraine, a benefit concert presented by Colburn and seven other top conservatories and music training programs in North America. With soloist Anaïs Feller, the Virtuosi performed Mieczysław Weinberg’s Concertino for Strings. The performance not only brought attention to Colburn’s exceptional pre-college program, but also to Colburn’s Zieiring-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices, which strives to bring attention to composers like Weinberg whose careers and lives were shattered by the Nazi regime. For details, see page 30.

Other highlights from the Academy Virtuosi season included a side-by-side rehearsal with the Sphinx Virtuosi of Lyric for Strings by George Walker, and the world premiere of Poem for String Orchestra by Music Academy graduate and Colburn Conservatory student Ezra Shcolnik.

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Above: Daniel Wang and Caden Lin perform with the Academy Virtuosi at the 2022 Celebrate Colburn Gala.

student success Awards and Competitions Students of the Music Academy are recipients of national awards and winners of international competitions. Highlights from 2021 and 2022 include: Frost Young Artist International Piano Competition, First Place Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition, Finalist International British Flute Society Young Performer Competition, First Place International Grande Music Competition, Woodwind Division, First Place M usic Teachers National Association Junior Performance Competition, Woodwind Division, First Prize Music Center Spotlight Awards, Grand Prize Finalist, Classical Instrumental National YoungArts Competition, Classical Music Division, Finalist New York Young Virtuoso Competition, First Prize Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition, Grand Prize Rising Stars Grand Prix 2021 International Music Competition Berlin, First Prize Stulberg International String Competition, Finalist Tibor Varga Junior International Violin Competition, Second Prize Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, Gold Medal

student spotlight

Anaïs Feller, Violin Popular classical music radio program Performance Today selected Music Academy violinist Anaïs Feller as one of its 2021–22 Young Artists in Residence.

Each year, the program collaborates with the best music schools in the country to identify top students to partake in this elite residency. As a Young Artist, Anaïs recorded a performance and interview with host Fred Child and participated in outreach to elementary and middle school students. She was also recently featured on NPR's national radio program From The Top. A student of Martin Beaver, Anaïs won a gold medal at the Burgos International Festival Competition in Spain in 2019 and won second prize at Southern California Philharmonic Young Artist Competition in 2020. Her recent performances include the Bach double concerto alongside Ray Chen at the Laguna Beach Music Festival and the Basically Beethoven Festival in Dallas. Anaïs, a Thibaudet Scholar at Colburn, also devotes her time to performing at charity events for organizations like the Brain Trauma Foundation and those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

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dance education

trudl zipper dance institute your support matters Dancers received $187,000 in scholarships in the 2021–22 school year.

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The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute honors and extends the great traditions of ballet, modern, and tap dance, forming young people as collaborative agents who will take the art of dance forward. From beginners starting in Youth Dance to aspiring professionals in the Dance Academy, performers of all levels receive sequential training in a cohesive curriculum that emphasizes the joy of dance through artistic and technical accomplishment.

program spotlight

New Curriculum and Programming In 2021, the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute established several new class offerings to nurture dancers as creators and professional artists. The Dance Academy’s choreographic composition and improvisation class gives students a platform to create their own works.

In December, this first cohort of choreography students presented an in-studio showing of their original solos as the culmination of the semester-long course.

Dance Academy students also had the opportunity to participate in the Audition Techniques Forum this past winter, preparing them for the life of a dancer beyond Colburn. This day-long intensive served as a mock audition for participants and also revealed the inner workings of the ballet audition process for Colburn community supporters in attendance.

In summer 2022, the Dance Institute looks forward to its two-week summer ballet intensive program designed to provide students with a bridge to connect the end of their year-round training and the start of their longer summer courses. Classes will include ballet technique, contemporary, partnering, conditioning, conversations on ballet’s history and evolution, cultural excursions, and learning the repertory of leading choreographers like William Forsythe and Alonzo King.

faculty spotlight

Silas Farley Last fall, multi-faceted artist, educator, choreographer, and New York City Ballet alumnus Silas Farley joined Colburn as Dean of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute.

In addition to overseeing the School’s dance activities, Dean Farley continues his creative pursuits, seen this year in his new work entitled Strayhorn Suite performed at Counterpointe, as well as his world premiere at New York City Ballet, based on a series of compositional exchanges between composer Igor Stravinsky and legendary choreographer George Balanchine.

“ Dance is this mutual joy-filled enterprise. And that’s really the fire that sustains us through the challenges and difficulty of dance training.”

Silas Farley, Dean, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute

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dance education

inspiring young dancers Jumpstart Dance For almost a decade, Colburn’s Jumpstart program has given young musicians a solid foundation for their artistic and creative journeys. Now, the School welcomes young dancers into the program, beginning with three students from Esperanza Elementary School who received a scholarship to join the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute’s ballet program in 2021. These students will receive a fully-funded Colburn dance education through high school graduation. The program, which is made possible through special annual funding, aspires to grow by five students each academic year, building a long-term trajectory of dance access for those who cannot otherwise afford it.

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The Beverly, Donald, and David Kobrin Scholarship Fund Supporting Male Dancers from Underrepresented Communities This year, Colburn received an extraordinary $1 million gift to establish the Beverly, Donald, and David Kobrin Scholarship Fund. Dedicated to providing opportunity and access, the fund benefits male dancers from underrepresented communities attending the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. Recipients of the scholarship can use funds to support individual needs such as tuition, room and board, dancewear, and audition expenses. This was made possible through the generosity of David Kobrin, who created the fund in honor of his parents Beverly and Donald, whose vision for equitable access to arts education fuels the fund’s purpose.

The Work Continues Dance Academy and Youth Dance students from the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute were accepted to top summer training programs across the United States for summer 2022, including: Ballet Austin

Houston Ballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Ballet Met

Kaatsbaan Ballet

The Rock School

Ballet West

Miami City Ballet

San Francisco Ballet

Boston Ballet

Musical Theater Summer

School of American Ballet

Cincinnati Ballet

Program, University of Michigan

College Placements Graduating students in the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute will continue their studies at colleges and universities with top academic and performing arts programs, including: Cal Arts

New York University

UC San Diego

Brown University

UC Irvine

Washington University

Johns Hopkins University

UCLA

in St. Louis

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community impact

center for innovation and community impact your support matters Foundations, companies, and individuals provided over $800,000 for Center for Innovation and Community Impact programs, which reach all corners of the School and help students serve our community beyond our walls.

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An artist’s influence extends far beyond the stage. In addition to inspiring audiences, they educate and mentor new generations of performers. Serving all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact equips the artists and educators of tomorrow with the tools to impart a deep and lasting impact on Los Angeles and the global performing arts community.

Students benefit from coursework and programming in entrepreneurship, community engagement, and pedagogy as they prepare for fulfilling, sustainable careers.

Gluck Teaching Fellows One of the most significant and comprehensive programs in the Center for Innovation and Community Impact, the Gluck Teaching Fellows support the entire ecosystem of music education. The program spans three generations of students and teachers: Conservatory faculty teach a pedagogy and performance course and a citizen artistry course for Conservatory students who are interested in connecting with their communities through teaching and performing in non-traditional settings.

These courses prepare Conservatory students to begin practical teacher training for classroom, private, and group teaching.

The Conservatory teaching fellows then begin their teaching through the Jumpstart program at Colburn, with the guidance and mentorship of faculty, and they work with the Center for Innovation and Community Impact and music and drama

Over 150 Jumpstart students are currently taking lessons from 61 Gluck Teaching Fellows at Colburn, and thousands of community members— through online and in person programs— have enjoyed a Colburn Teaching Fellows experience.

faculty at Colburn to create new programs to be performed in the community.

Social Innovation Grants The Social Innovation Grant, a new small grants program awarded in spring 2021, supports Conservatory students in off-campus community-based music education projects that serve populations who are underrepresented in classical music.

This year, violinist Greg Lewis received a grant for the Heartbeat Music Project, a student-led organization based on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. The Heartbeat Music Project offers music education for Navajo (Diné) K-12 students living on the Navajo Reservation, striving to create an atmosphere of cultural exchange in which they acknowledge the impact of past and present colonialism on indigenous peoples. The Social Innovation Grant provided violins for students, helping make possible the Heartbeat Music Project's tuition-free model so they can create an accessible and safe space for students.

Other grant recipients included oboist Eder Rivera for his HOPE program (Honduras Oboe Project Education) and trumpet player Melissa Munoz for her program, Brass Out Loud.

Left: Fortissima, in its second year at Colburn, piloted a residential week-long program on campus, which welcomed a national cohort of 10 high school-aged girls to study with Colburn faculty, perform together, engage in career development activities, and experience Conservatory campus life.

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community impact

A Growing Partnership with Sphinx As a part of our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Colburn formed a partnership with the Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based non-profit dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.

In fall 2021, Colburn launched the partnership by hosting the Sphinx Virtuosi, an ensemble comprised of the nation's top Black and Latinx classical soloists, including alumni of the Sphinx Competition. The residency featured performances, master classes, and community engagement activities.

In summer 2022, Colburn will host two cohorts of the Sphinx LEAD (Leaders in Excellence, Arts & Diversity) program, a two-year leadership program designed to evolve the industry landscape by empowering the next generation of executive leaders. Arts leaders of color are selected annually to participate in a curriculum including mentorship, networking, and leadership retreats at top institutions nationwide.

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Above: The Sphinx Virtuosi perform in Zipper Hall as part of their 2021 residency.

Stories and Strings In 2021, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact created Stories and Strings, a collaboration with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) to enhance literacy and introduce music instruction to elementary school students. Colburn Conservatory students worked with 13 first graders from Dr. Owen Lloyd Knox Elementary School in downtown Los Angeles, teaching violin and offering literacy training two days each week.

Stories and Strings is part of a multi-faceted partnership between the Center for Innovation and Community Impact and ICYOLA, the largest majority Black orchestra in America. The partnership offers in-depth teaching, artist support, and scholarships to attend the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts.

Musical Encounter Interactive A cornerstone program of the Center for Innovation and Community Impact, Musical Encounter Interactive delivers the joy and wonderment of music to young children throughout Southern California each year. In 2021, Musical Encounter Interactive was converted to an online experience, guiding students in kindergarten through fifth grade through multiple elements of the arts— from piano basics to musical expression, interpretation, and emotional responses.

This innovative curriculum was made available to thousands of children living in Orange County as part of Colburn’s partnership with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Colburn in turn received access to the Philharmonic Society's Digital Music Mobile online curriculum, which we shared with hundreds of students attending our local Title I partner schools.

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growing our campus

colburn center In spring 2022, we revealed plans for a transformational new addition to our downtown Los Angeles campus. Born out of our aspiration to serve both the community and the School, the 100,000 square-foot addition of state-of-the-art performance venues and learning spaces unites Colburn’s passion for the performing arts and collaboration to spark interdisciplinary educational partnerships and residencies all across the region.

meet the design team

Frank O. Gehry, world-renowned architect, and founder and principal of Gehry Partners

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Yasuhisa Toyota

Michael Ferguson

Fred Vogler

of Nagata Acoustics,

of TheatreDNA, who,

of Sonitus is a Grammy

the acoustician

as a member of Theatre

Award-winning sound

for notable venues

Projects, consulted on

engineer who has

such as Walt Disney

the New World Center in

consulted on audio-visual

Concert Hall, Conrad

Miami, Theater for a New

design for concert halls

Prebys Hall, and

Audience in Brooklyn,

and university facilities

Elbphilharmonie

and many more

around the world

Above: Rendering of the Colburn Center viewed from 2nd and Hill Streets.

explore the space The School’s new Colburn Center will include: Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, a spacious yet intimate 1,000-seat concert hall in-the-round

Four glass-enclosed dance studios A 100-seat studio theater S pace for outdoor public performances Multiple gardens and green spaces

join us The success of this project depends on you. We invite you to be a part of this exciting cultural transformation in the heart of Los Angeles by making a philanthropic gift. Together, we will make an indelible impact on our city, our culture, and the future of the performing arts.

Please contact our Philanthropy Office at philanthropy@colburnschool.edu to learn more about current giving opportunities.

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performances

colburn presents More than 300 public music and dance performances take place each year on Colburn's downtown campus and throughout Southern California. With superb venues, low ticket prices, and world-renowned guest artists performing alongside our high-caliber student artists, the benefits of performance reach beyond our students to our patrons. These performances in the community, on campus, and online develop the next generation of audiences.

“ We have loved the Colburn concerts for more than 10 years. So glad you are back, better than ever!”

2021–22 audience member

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Above: Dancers perform Silas Farley's Strayhorn Suite in Zipper Hall.

Featured Guest Artists Performers of all kinds—chamber musicians, conductors, dancers, and more—came to Colburn this season for collaborations with students and solo performances. The School’s performance series included the following guest artists in 2021–22:

Sir Andrew Davis, Conductor, Colburn Orchestra Ally Helman, Ballet Project Orange County Makiko Hirata, Piano (Conservatory ’10), Next Up: The Life and Music of Ernst Toch Kyle Kremer, Curator (Conservatory ’15), Next Up: Celestial Suite Blake Lanesskog, Ballet Project Orange County Demarre McGill, Flute, Colburn Chamber Music Society Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor, Colburn Orchestra Kako Miura, Violin (Conservatory ’19), Next Up: To Be Bach or Not to Be Bach Pedja Mužijević, Piano, Colburn Chamber Music Society Jasmine Perry, Los Angeles Ballet Jenifer Ringer, Former Dean, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute Price Suddarth, Pacific Northwest Ballet Sam Weber, Tap

Master Classes In addition to compelling performances by celebrated artists, the School also welcomed the following individuals and ensembles to campus for master classes, coachings, and lectures designed to provide students with a new perspective on their repertoire:

Andrew Brady, Bassoon

Midori, Violin

C alidore String Quartet

Ludovic Morlot, Conductor

G autier Capuçon, Cello

John Neumeier, Hamburg Ballet

D unedin Consort

Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Viola

J ackie Kopcsak, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance

Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet

Kevin McKenzie, American Ballet Theatre

Daniel Squire, Trinity Laban Conservatoire

J aime Martin, Conductor

Sphinx Virtuosi

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performances

Amplify Series Colburn’s Amplify series, celebrating the careers of artists of color, offered master classes, panel discussions, and performances during the 2021–22 season, and created important new works for the music and dance repertoire.

Violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama (Community School ’93) gave the world premiere of her Quartet for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass on her February performance, and bassoonist Andrew Brady (Conservatory ’13) premiered Stefan L. Smith’s My Young Friend on his April concert. Both works were commissioned by Colburn.

Collaborations between Silas Farley, Dean of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, and double bassist Marlon Martinez (Conservatory ’15) put Billy Strayhorn in the limelight. Silas Farley’s Strayhorn Suite, featuring original choreography to four works by Strayhorn, was performed by Dance Academy students on two Counterpointe performances and filmed for the Celebrate Colburn Gala. Marlon Martinez also led an all-Strayhorn concert with his Marlonius Jazz Orchestra and recorded an eight-part online series on the life and music of Strayhorn, to be released this summer.

Primrose Competition In 2021, the Colburn School hosted the 16th Primrose International Viola Competition, a renowned string instrument competition with an international reputation for identifying the talent of tomorrow.

Twenty-four of the world’s best young violists arrived in Los Angeles in December for a week of competition, performing solo works, chamber music, and, for the three finalists, concertos with the Colburn Orchestra led by conducting fellow Molly Turner. The next Primrose Competition will take place in 2024 on the Colburn campus.

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Top left: Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Andrew Brady, Silas Farley, and Marlon Martinez.

Bottom left: Primrose Competition winner Natalie Loughran performs with the Colburn Orchestra and conducting fellow Molly Turner in Zipper Hall.

See the Music, Hear the Dance One of the more famous quotes from legendary choreographer George Balanchine, “See the music, hear the dance” is also the title of one of the most anticipated Colburn performances of the year, combining the talent of Conservatory musicians with the elegance of Trudl Zipper Dance Institute dancers and guest artists. This year featured a new work choreographed by Silas Farley and set to Amplify Artist Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s Sonoran Storm for solo viola; excerpts from Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering performed to solo Chopin piano works; and a new pas de deux choreographed

by Ally Helman to a high-energy brass work by Gabrieli.

Counterpointe Dance Academy and Music Academy students collaborated in this presentation of musicallydriven choreography featuring Silas Farley’s new work Strayhorn Suite, set to four piano pieces by Billy Strayhorn, and Jerome Robbins’ The Goldberg Variations. Jenifer Ringer, former dean of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, returned to Colburn to stage excerpts from The Goldberg Variations. Jenifer danced principal roles in the work at the New York City Ballet, where Jerome Robbins originally choreographed the piece in 1971. Since then, the Robbins Rights Trust has only allowed a select number of organizations to perform the work: the Bavarian State Opera Ballet, the Paris Opéra Ballet, and now, the Colburn School’s Trudl Zipper Dance Institute.

Above: Jasmine Perry and violist Clara Bouch perform as part of See the Music, Hear the Dance.

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performances Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at Colburn encourages greater awareness and more frequent performances of music by composers whose careers and lives were destroyed by the Nazi regime in Europe.

In 2021, the Ziering-Conlon Initiative released an original online series dedicated to composer Erwin Schulhoff (1894–1942) called Recovered Voices 2021: Schulhoff & More. Featuring James Conlon and performances by Colburn students and alumni, the four-part series delved into the life and music of this fascinating, prolific, and multi-faceted composer who embraced a full panoply of styles and influences from his era. Watch the series at colburnschool.edu/schulhoff.

“ Reviving and nurturing the music of the victims of totalitarianism, like that of the extraordinarily innovative Erwin Schulhoff, is of vital importance. My hope is that with the expanded, now-virtual reach of this year’s series, we can reach an even larger audience to draw attention to the composers like Erwin Schulhoff, whose lives were shortened but whose music can live on through all of us.”

James Conlon, Artistic Director of the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at the Colburn School

Works by Recovered Voices composers have been featured in concerts all across the country.

Most recently, a program of pieces by Zipper, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Weinberg, and Schreker was streamed in a virtual concert hosted by the Library of Congress. other notable performance sites include: I llinois Holocaust Museum H arvard Memorial Church N evada Chamber Music Festival C higiana Chamber Festival (Siena, Italy) B road Stage, in collaboration with Numi Opera The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices is made possible by the generosity of our philanthropic community and the artistic expertise of the project’s leadership. The Colburn School is especially grateful to Marilyn Ziering for her financial support of the Initiative’s endeavors; to James Conlon for his vision as Artistic Director of the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices; to Robert Elias for his many years of leadership; and to violinist and student associate Adam Millstein for his entrepreneurship and artistic commitment to engaging students and audiences from around the world.

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The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices name is used with permission from the LA Opera.

Reaching a Global Audience The technology infrastructure put in place during COVID-19 and the expertise gained from earlier online programming allowed Colburn to dramatically expand our livestreaming schedule and attract a worldwide audience. With an average of three performances per week, Colburn livestreams were viewed over 75,000 times during the 2021–22 season.

see what’s streaming next at colburn colburnschool.edu/livestream

49 countries Colburn livestreams are viewed across the globe, including in the United States, Canada, China, South Korea, Australia, Spain, Taiwan, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Land & Sky Artists all around the world continue to reimagine their performance venues, and Colburn is no different. Last year, we hosted a special event to premiere The Way Forward, a film by Hamid Shams. That collaboration expanded this year, with Land & Sky. Filmed entirely remotely, the filmmaker brought viewers to the Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, Montana.

Audiences flew over the sweeping natural landscape, accentuated by awe-inspiring sculptures and carried along by the musical backdrop of classical artists, including alumni ensemble the Calidore String Quartet.

Watch Land & Sky

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performances

colburn artists Now celebrating its 10th year, this unprecedented program provides real world experience to aspiring soloists and chamber ensembles. Selected students join an artist roster and are guided through the early stages of their careers, leading to professional engagements and appointment to prestigious artist management rosters. past and present colburn artists Ross Jamie Collins, Conductor

Blake Pouliot, Violin (2015–2018) opus 3 artists

Molly Turner, Conductor

Ray Ushikubo, Piano/Violin (2012–2018)

Vijay Venkatesh, Piano

William Hagen, Violin (2014–2017) mki artists

Aubree Oliverson, Violin (2019–2022) askonas holt

Simone Porter, Violin (2012–2015) opus 3 artists

Viano String Quartet (2018–2021) opus 3 artists

Calidore String Quartet (2012–2014) img artists

Faktura Piano Trio (2017–2019)

Sang Yoon Kim, Clarinet (2012–2014)

Rodolfo Leone, Piano (2017–2019) mki artists

Nigel Armstrong, Violin (2012–2013)

Alumni Highlights

Blake Pouliot, Violin Described as “immaculate, at once refined and impassioned,” (ArtsAtlanta) violinist Blake Pouliot has anchored himself among the ranks of classical phenoms. A tenacious young artist with a passion that enraptures his audience in every performance, Blake has established himself as “one of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime” (Toronto Star).

Blake's 2021–22 season included debuts with the Boise Philharmonic, Omaha Symphony, and Winnipeg Symphony, as well as recitals in Sarasota, Miami, and Philadelphia. He also served as a returning Artist-in-Residence with NPR’s Performance Today and toured Europe performing works by Beethoven.

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Simone Porter, Violin Violinist Simone Porter has been recognized as an emerging artist of impassioned energy, interpretive integrity, and vibrant communication. In the past few years, she has debuted with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and with a number of renowned conductors, including Stéphane Denève, Gustavo Dudamel, Nicholas McGegan, Ludovic Morlot, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Donald Runnicles.

Simone’s 2021–22 season began with orchestral performances alongside the Colorado, North Carolina, and St. Louis Symphony orchestras and also featured a recital as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston, where she performed the world premiere of a commission by composer Reena Esmail.

Viano String Quartet Praised for their “huge range of dynamics, massive sound and spontaneity” (American Record Guide), the Viano String Quartet is the First Prize Winner of the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition and the current Nina von Maltzahn String Quartet-inResidence at the Curtis Institute of Music. Their 2021–22 season included appearances at Bravo! Vail, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Red Rocks Music Festival, and Schneider Concerts (New York, NY).

Looking to the future, the 2022–23 season brings the Viano String Quartet on extensive tours throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States, with recitals in New York City, Hannover, Zurich, Budapest, Cologne, Heidelberg, Eisenstadt, San Diego, Denver, Calgary, Newport, and Philadelphia, among other cities. The quartet will also return to Southern Methodist University, where they are in residence through the 2022–23 season.

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philanthropy

your support matters Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donor community, we provided over $9.2 million in scholarships this year and hosted more than 3o0 live and virtual performances free to the public.

If you share our unshakable passion for music and dance, we invite you to join us in cultivating future generations of performers, creative thinkers, and arts leaders by making a gift today.

colburnschool.edu/give

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Above: Guests at the 2022 Celebrate Colburn Gala enjoy a serenade by Colburn students.

“ As professionals, as musicians, and as advocates of the arts

dedicated to excellence and fulfillment of human potential, we find Colburn to be extraordinary, unique, and highly relevant to our culture. Colburn’s mission is not only to equip students to be outstanding musicians and dancers, but to cultivate and nurture its students to be impactful and effective ambassadors of the arts.”

Tony DiResta, Board Member (pictured, at right, with Terrance Mason)

This year, gifts from individuals, institutional partners, our trustees, and ongoing support from legacy gifts to the Colburn School endowment allowed us to provide unparalleled educational and artistic opportunities. Special highlights include:

Lab Orchestra in Honor of James DePreist Supported by Anne Akiko Meyers and Jason Subotky, the Lab Orchestra was

77% of the School’s operating budget is made possible through philanthropy.

operating budget

created to provide additional podium opportunities for the Salonen Conducting Fellows. This program welcomed guest artists and faculty, including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jaime Martin, and Colburn Orchestra Music Director Yehuda Gilad, who provided insight and guidance on a broad range of repertoire.

Thibaudet Scholars Named for renowned LA-based pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, these scholarships were awarded to three Music Academy students to support their education at Colburn. This scholarship program not only honors Jean-Yves's artistic investment in the School, but also ensures special learning opportunities with one of the world’s most celebrated pianists.

endowment distribution 53.9% annual gifts 23.4% net tuition and fees, and r oom and board 16.4% other 6.3%

Early Childhood Program The growing Early Childhood scholarship pipeline ensures that the students entering the program on scholarship are able to continue on to other classes in the Community School without financial barriers. See page 7 for more information.

2022 Celebrate Colburn Gala The first in-person gala since 2018, Celebrate Colburn raised over $1,000,000 and welcomed over 330 guests to campus to celebrate Artistic Honoree Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Civic Honoree Cartier. Save the date for next year's gala on April 23, 2023.

Louise Garland Scholarship Fund Created by the Garland family in celebration of their mother, the Louise Garland Scholarship Fund underwrites one scholarship for a Conservatory student each year. An affectionate nod to Louise's love for the piano, the 2021–22 scholarship was awarded to pianist Sam Glicklich.

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leadership board of directors chairman Andrew Millstein life chairman emeritus Carol Colburn Grigor vice chairmen David D. Colburn Diane Naegele

directors Daniel L. Avchen Henry Choi Richard W. Colburn Alice Coulombe Jennifer F. Diener Anthony E. DiResta Darren Edwards Greg Guyett Catherine Colburn Høgel Carol F. Henry Bob Kelly William T. Kennedy

Molly Kirk Aliza Lesser Robert E. Lewis Beverly Marksbury Steven F. Matt Greg McWilliams Ann Mulally Mahnaz Newman Heinrich R. Schelbert Harry B. Suh Keith Terasaki Peter W. Wardle Dylan Yolles

honorary life directors Robert S. Attiyeh Toby E. Mayman in memoriam David N. Barry Iona Benson Edmund D. Edelman Robert B. Egelston Warner Henry Ann Ronus

colburn school leadership executive leadership Sel Kardan President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Cormier Vice President, Administration Adrian Daly, DMA Provost Jennifer Kallend Vice President, Communications

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academic leadership Maeesha Merchant Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Business Development Annie Wickert Vice President, Philanthropy

Lee Cioppa Dean, Conservatory of Music Susan Cook Dean, Community School of Performing Arts Adrian Daly, Provost Music Academy Silas Farley Dean, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute Nathaniel Zeisler, DMA Dean, Community Initiatives

stay connected The Colburn experience is made up of extraordinary opportunities in partnership with friends and supporters like you. To stay informed about upcoming performances and innovative projects by our students, alumni, and faculty, visit us online at colburnschool.edu.

“ Colburn has also taught me so much about life in general, including so many life lessons and things that you can’t really learn when you’re just at home: experience, connections, friends, colleagues, and teachers. It helped me grow as a musician, but also helped me grow as a person.”

Noah Jung (Music Academy '22)

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