The Colburn Effect

the colburn effect 2019–20 year in review

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2introduction 4music

education

16 dance

education

20 community impact

28 performances 32 partnerships 36 philanthropy 38 leadership 40 join us

contents

A Message from the President For decades, the Colburn School has dedicated itself to providing exceptional music and dance education to students of all ages, from those beginning their journey in our early childhood program to those pursuing professional careers at the highest level. Our rigorous training and tailored learning environment have a profound impact on our students, inspiring them to achieve their full potential during their time at Colburn and beyond.

In this first issue of The Colburn Effect, you’ll discover how the School provides unparalleled access to the highest quality performing arts education to students from across the Los Angeles region and around the world. You’ll also witness how the School’s commitment to engaging with our community results in meaningful and dynamic partnerships, and a campus that is a vital hub for artists and audiences alike.

In telling this story, we cover a time period—Fall 2019 through December 2020—that has been uniquely challenging, and also filled with great opportunity. Throughout the pandemic, our gifted artist faculty and accomplished staff have demonstrated remarkable creativity and flexibility, continuing to motivate, guide, and mentor our students in a new virtual environment. Our trustee and donor community have provided essential support for technology, scholarships, and the School’s growing equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. And throughout it all, our students consistently showed their resilience as they connected with Colburn from right here in California and around the world—learning, performing, and growing.

As you enjoy the inaugural issue of The Colburn Effect, I hope you will, like me, find inspiration in these stories and achievements. I look forward to welcoming you back to our campus in the fall and to staying engaged with you in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

Sel Kardan, President and Chief Executive Officer

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introduction

access to excellence The Colburn School provides the highest quality music and dance education at all levels of development, from early childhood to those pursuing professional careers. Under the care and guidance of our exceptional faculty, generations of students have discovered the joy and discipline of the performing arts.

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Driven by the core principle of “access to excellence,” a Colburn education helps propel students to great heights. Our young artists win competitions, give remarkable performances, and deepen their studies at every stage. At the end of their time at Colburn, they excel in whatever career they choose, inspired to realize their full potential in all that they do.

We make this transformative experience accessible to all passionate, committed students. Multiple entry-points enable students from diverse communities to attend Colburn, and robust scholarship support opens a world of training and opportunity.

Performances in the community and on campus not only foster a love for the performing arts, but also develop the next generation of audiences. Colburn presents illustrious guest artists and distinguished faculty in performance alongside our students, welcoming all audiences with free or low-priced tickets. Embracing the power of collaboration to increase access, we partner with organizations that share our values of excellence and community.

Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to our Community School of Performing Arts, Conservatory of Music, Music Academy, and Trudl Zipper Dance Institute to benefit from the renowned faculty, unparalleled facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community. At Colburn, creative forces converge to shape the present and future of the performing arts.

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music education

community school of performing arts Approximately 1,700 students, ranging from seven months to adults, enroll in more than 120 classes offered by the Community School of Performing Arts each year. The expansive curriculum offers training in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, drama, and music theory. Early childhood classes provide a hands-on introduction to the world of music, and students perform in ensembles, including band, orchestra, choir, and chamber music. Students hone their artistic abilities and learn skills that shape their lives on and off the stage.

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scholarship support

$775,000

Access Fund Campaign Raises $10 Million

in scholarship support was awarded to 425 students in the Community School of Performing Arts in 2019–20, including Jumpstart students and Herbert Zipper Scholars.

Colburn celebrated a milestone achievement in 2019: the Access Fund campaign to raise scholarship funds for Community School students surpassed its initial goal of $10 million, thanks to more than 250 donors. These need-based scholarships now support over 280 students annually, and its endowed funds and ongoing new fundraising help make a Colburn education in the Community School available to more young artists every year.

“ Thank you so much for supporting my passion in music…I have been exposed to amazing teachers who serve as models for what I want to achieve on my instrument and many peers who serve as a constant source of support and inspiration.”

Elijah Alexander, Community School student and Herbert Zipper Scholar

program spotlight New Online Courses in 2020 As Colburn pivoted to remote learning in response to the coronavirus epidemic, the Community School developed a variety of new courses specially designed for an online environment, including: College Audition Prep for Musicians Beethoven and the Ninth Symphony Violin Sonatas for Advanced Students Music Production M usical Minuettos, a new series of mini classes for early childhood families A cting the Song, a workshop on melding singing and acting techniques

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music education student success Preparing Students for College

97% of high school seniors in the Community School went on to higher education in 2019–20, entering Ivy League universities and top music programs, including: Columbia University

Oberlin Conservatory

Cleveland Institute of Music

Princeton University

Eastman School of Music

Stanford University

Juilliard School

University of California system schools

New England Conservatory

Yale University

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

Highlights from 2019 and 2020 include: 2020 youngarts competition, national youngarts foundation Winners receive financial awards, as well as creative and professional development experiences working with renowned mentors.

3 finalists 3 honorable mentions student spotlight

anoush pogossian

In addition to being a Spotlight Grand Prize Finalist, clarinetist Anoush Pogossian was one of only 20 students nationwide named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts in 2020. She graduated from high school the same year and is now a freshman in a dual program at Columbia University and the Juilliard School.

10 merit awards

2020 spotlight awards, the music center This scholarship and arts training program emphasizes preparation, courage, critical thinking, and perseverance for students. In 2020, the School announced a new $2,500 award available annually to Colburn students who are grand prize finalists in the classical instrumental category. Funded by Jerry and Terri Kohl, the prize will support the continued artistic development of the winning students.

2 classical instrumental grand prize finalists 2 jazz instrumental grand prize finalists

from the top America’s largest national platform celebrates young classically trained musicians through live events, NPR and video broadcasts, scholarships, and arts education programs.

4 students featured on broadcasts in 2019–20

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2020 downbeat student music awards, downbeat magazine The DownBeat Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education. Colburn students have consistently won DownBeat awards for the past decades.

4 high school honors winners 3 high school outstanding compositions

nancy and barry sanders composer fellowship program, la phil The innovative, multi-year program offers students a high level of consistent and intensive focus on the process and production of music composition, giving them the tools and freedom necessary to shape the future of concert music.

faculty spotlight

lee secard

Lee Secard, chair of the Colburn Jazz Workshop and saxophone faculty member in the Community School, was honored with the prestigious Jazz Education Achievement Award from DownBeat magazine in 2020.

8 student fellows in 2019–20

professional perspectives Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, two of the most in-demand young classical artists today, visited Colburn in December 2019. Community School cellists had an opportunity to perform and learn from Sheku in a master class and hear about the experience of being a touring musician from Isata in a Q&A with Provost Adrian Daly.

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music education

conservatory Each year, approximately 130 students attend the Conservatory of Music, where they prepare for careers at the highest level of classical instrumental performance. Students receive personalized tools and guidance to prepare them for careers in the 21st century and reap the benefits of Colburn’s world-renowned faculty, outstanding performance opportunities, and unparalleled financial support.

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scholarship support

$7.9 million

Full-Tuition Scholarships

in scholarship support was awarded to students in the Conservatory of Music in 2019–20, representing $61,700 of support per student.

Richard D. Colburn’s vision was for each student to graduate without debt from Colburn. Part of his legacy is the formation of Colburn’s endowment, which makes it possible for each Conservatory student to receive a full-tuition scholarship along with room and board. New donors every year help ensure the vitality of the complete scholarship model and related strength in programming and student opportunities beyond scholarships.

“ I have always viewed Colburn as the ideal place to further develop my talents, both musically and professionally. The quality of both my peers and professors at Colburn is incomparable…Every day I am inspired by the music I hear all around me.”

Martha Chan, Conservatory student

program spotlight Teaching Opportunities Conservatory students gain valuable experience and give back to the LA community through teaching. Students sophomore level and above have access to teacher training coursework and pedagogical opportunities including the Teaching Fellows program funded by the Max H. Gluck Foundation. Twenty-nine Conservatory students taught online lessons to Jumpstart students in 2020. Colburn also used the virtual environment to expand lesson opportunities to 18 students participating in the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.

Professional Development The Center for Innovation and Community Impact provides Conservatory students with career development training, which encompasses career advising, individualized support in creating professional materials, and a robust personal development curriculum including modules on personal finance for creative careers. A unique in-house professional management program called Colburn Artists prepares select students to work with industry leaders and artist managers. In 2020, Colburn launched an online performance series featuring Colburn Artists in dedication to the memory of Laura Liepins, who helped found the program and guided numerous young musicians and ensembles into spectacular professional careers.

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music education student success Professional Positions Colburn Conservatory alumni are found in orchestras around the world.

Conservatory students won the following positions in 2019 and 2020: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Second Clarinet Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Second Violin Section Den Norske Opera and Ballett, Co-Principal Clarinet Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Principal Viola New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Principal Timpani Pacific Symphony, Horn Section Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Second Violin Section San Antonio Symphony, Assistant Principal/Second Trombone Seattle Symphony, First Assistant Concertmaster Seattle Symphony, Associate Principal Bassoon

Awards and Competitions

faculty spotlight

esa-pekka salonen

The Colburn Orchestra regularly performs under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen, and in 2020 that work moved online.

To conclude the fall semester, the Colburn Orchestra presented a live Zoom performance of Terry Riley’s In C under the creative direction of Maestro Salonen. The 40-minute private performance involved over 70 students from 10 countries.

Students of the Conservatory of Music win top prizes in competitions both nationally and internationally each year. Highlights from 2019 and 2020 include: Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition, Finalist Davidson Institute Fellow Donald Peck International Flute Competition, Winner Fischoff Competition, Gold Medal International Online Trombone Competition by Innovatrombone, First Prize for Modality 2 (for trombonists from 14 to 18 years old) Manhattan International Music Competition, Chamber Music Division, First Prize Montreal International Violin Competition, Grand Prize Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition, Grand Prize Virtuoso & Belcanto Special Berlin Award Selection, Finalist Young Concert Artists International Auditions, First Prize

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orchestra positions

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In the short time since the Conservatory’s inception, almost 400 orchestral instrument alumni have graduated, and over 140 hold professional orchestra positions with at least 75 in principal, associate, assistant, or other comparable distinguished positions.

professional perspectives Guest Artists The Conservatory regularly engages leading musicians for Colburn.

In 2019–20, students learned from the following guest artists through in-person and virtual workshops, including master classes: student spotlight John K. Becker, Violin Restoration Noah Bendix-Balgley, Violin, Berlin Philharmonic Heidi Elise Bearcroft, Harp, Toronto Symphony Orchestra Burt Hara, Clarinet, Los Angeles Philharmonic Los Angeles Philharmonic Brass Demarre McGill, Flute, Seattle Symphony Jennifer Morsches, Cello, and Rudolfo Richter, Violin, Richter Ensemble Orli Shaham, Piano Edward Stephan, Timpani, San Francisco Symphony Christian Tetzlaff, Violin Sarah Willis, Horn, Berlin Philharmonic

“ You can easily tell Colburn is a student orchestra by the players’ youth. You can’t tell so easily if you close your eyes.”

Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

viano string quartet

The Viano String Quartet were joint first prize winners at the prestigious 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition. The Viano String Quartet and their co-winners the Marmen Quartet each received a cash prize and shared concert tours of over 40 major markets in Europe and North America.

Conservatory students benefit from a significant array of performance opportunities in a typical year, including six Colburn Orchestra performances in halls around the LA area, often to critical acclaim.

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music education

music academy Students ages 14 to 18 from around the world come to Colburn’s Music Academy to prepare for careers in music. A highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, the Music Academy enrolls approximately 40 students each year and balances musical training, performances, and academics.

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scholarship support

$384,000

Scholarships for Sphinx Competition Finalists

in scholarship support was awarded to students in the Music Academy in 2019–20, made possible by the Greendale Endowment Fund, the Thibaudet Scholars program, the Kohl Scholars program, and other institutional support.

In 2020, Colburn announced a new scholarship program intended specifically to engage and develop young artists of color. Past and present winners and semi-finalists in the Sphinx Competition Junior Division will be eligible for full-tuition scholarships to the Music Academy plus room and board as part of a new partnership with the Sphinx Organization. See page 22 for details.

“ For me, being at Colburn has been a dream come true.

I’ve had the best learning experiences under the guidance of exceptional faculty, which has allowed me to strengthen my technique and passion for music.”

Jazmin Pascual, Music Academy student

program spotlight Comprehensive Education A Music Academy education includes private instruction with world-renowned faculty, chamber music, string orchestra, accelerated music theory, musicianship, master classes, and music history coursework. Students also build stage presence and speaking skills, learn healthy practice and performance habits, and assemble a portfolio for the college application process.

A partnership with Oak Crest Academy, a California-based accredited high school, provides Music Academy students the opportunity to develop their academic capabilities to achieve success in the academic requirements for the top music schools in the nation.

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music education student success Prepared for Conservatory Study Music Academy students matriculate into the Colburn Conservatory or other top-ranked conservatories and music programs. Many of these programs, including the Colburn Conservatory, offer substantial scholarship support.

Graduates during the 2019–20 school year went on to the following schools: Cleveland Institute of Music Colburn Conservatory of Music Eastman School of Music Juilliard School New England Conservatory Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, Mercer University San Francisco Conservatory of Music Yale College

Awards, Competitions, and Performances Students of the Music Academy are recipients of national awards, winners of competitions, and featured performers with professional orchestras.

Highlights from 2019 and 2020 include: American String Teachers Association of Greater Los Angeles National Solo Competition, First Place Florida Flute Association Young Artist Competition, First Place student spotlight

jeanne marquez Jeanne Marquez recently recorded the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Manila Symphony Orchestra. She is one of a select number of Music Academy students to hold a Kohl Scholarship, covering tuition plus room and board.

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Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Soloist Joe Zawinul Foundation for Achievement, American “Z” Award Recipient Michigan Philharmonic, Soloist Pacific Academy Foundation Concerto Competition, Senior Division, First Prize Parness Concerto Competition, First Place Redlands Bowl Young Artists Concerto Competition, Grand Finalist Sound Espressivo Competition, Laureate Southern California Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, Artist Instrumental Category, First Prize Southern California Junior Bach Festival, First Place Stulberg International String Competition, Finalist

professional perspectives Guest Artists The Music Academy provides the opportunity for leading musicians to engage with students. In 2019–20, students worked with the following guest artists through in-person and virtual workshops, including master classes: N oah Bendix-Balgley, Violin,

Nobuko Imai, Viola

Berlin Philharmonic

Isata Kanneh-Mason, Piano

Calidore String Quartet

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Cello

Alan Chow, Piano

Yoheved Kaplinsky, Piano

Steven Doane, Cello

Ralph Kirshbaum, Cello

James Ehnes, Violin

Orli Shaham, Piano

B urt Hara, Clarinet,

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Piano,

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Colburn School Artist-in-Residence

Frank Huang, Violin, New York Philharmonic

ray chen and the academy virtuosi In 2020, acclaimed soloist Ray Chen came to Colburn for performances with the Academy Virtuosi, the Music Academy’s conductorless chamber ensemble, appearing at the Laguna Beach Music Festival and in a sold-out benefit concert for Colburn.

faculty spotlight

teng li

Teng Li joined the Music Academy faculty in 2020, working with students in online chamber music coachings during the spring semester.

Principal violist of the LA Phil, she was previously principal viola with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for over 10 years.

dance education

trudl zipper dance institute Performers of all levels receive sequential training in ballet, tap, musical theater, and modern genres in a cohesive curriculum that emphasizes the joy of dance through artistic and technical accomplishment. In a typical year, the Youth and Adult Dance programs enroll approximately 300 students of all skill levels, and the Dance Academy enrolls approximately 15 dancers who receive rigorous ballet training preparing them for professional careers.

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scholarship support Millepied Scholarships Named for Benjamin Millepied, former New York City Ballet principal dancer and artistic director of LA Dance Project, Millepied Scholarships support tuition, room and board, and wellness programs for male dancers across all genres—in the Dance Academy and Youth Dance. This scholarship program enables Colburn to offer a robust boys’ training program, which is vital to impart the different technique and skill requirements for male dancers and to complete a comprehensive program for female dancers.

$143,000 in scholarship support was awarded to male and female dancers in all genres in 2019–20, including Dance Academy and Youth Dance.

“ Since I began ballet at Colburn, all my teachers have made me the dancer I am today. Having the privilege of learning from my wonderful teachers is amazing even if it means having to dance at home. I’m beyond excited for the day I can get back in the studios and dance with my class and improve even more!”

Quincy Smith, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute student

program spotlight Learning in the Digital World The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute adapted quickly to online learning in 2020. Students received the equipment and remote wellness offerings to allow them to continue dancing at home.

Launched in 2020, the Colburn Virtual Dance Studio provided:

95 classes a week, including drop-in classes open to the public 30 faculty members 9 accompanists The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute also provided 90 dance floors to students and covered 75% of the cost. Dance Academy students received monthly remote physical therapy sessions and crosstraining classes.

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dance education student success Careers After Colburn Graduates of the Dance Academy perform in ballet companies across North America, including: Carolina Ballet

New York City Ballet

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Nashville Ballet

San Francisco Ballet

National Ballet of Canada

In the 2019–20 school year, students went on to professional training programs, including: Boston Ballet, Pre-Professional Division Idaho Ballet, Trainee Position Nevada Ballet, Trainee Position Pacific Northwest Ballet, Professional Division Pittsburgh Ballet, Graduate Program

faculty spotlight

melinda sullivan Tap faculty Melinda Sullivan (left) is associate choreographer for the Broadway show Flying Over Sunset (opening delayed due to covid-19).

james fayette and seth belliston Associate Dean James Fayette and Dance Academy faculty Seth Belliston were invited to judge at the Youth America Grand Prix competition.

tamsin carlson Modern Dance Chair Tamsin Carlson was featured in the Merce Cunningham Trust’s performance and subsequent film Night of 100 Solos: A Centennial Event.

a new endowment

professional perspectives

In 2020, a new endowment for male dance was established to support underrepresented male dancers in any program of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute.

Guest Artists

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The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute regularly brings leading dancers and choreographers to Colburn. In 2020, former New York City Ballet principal Silas Farley and other artists choreographed Sweets from the Nutcracker, an online reimagining of the classic Nutcracker ballet. In 2019–20, students also participated in virtual and in-person events with guest artists, including: Craig Hall

Andrea Long

Maria Kowroski

Lauren Lovette

Price Suddarth

Dancers of Color Series The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute produced a video series in 2020 focused on dancers of color to educate students on the crucial role these artists played in recent dance history. The featured dancers included: Aesha Ash

Former New York City Ballet dancer and current faculty at the School of American Ballet H ope Boykin

Former dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Company Dianne Walker

Artistic Director of TapDancin, Inc. in Boston and legendary tap dancer and teacher whose 30-year career spans Broadway, television, film, and international dance concerts

student spotlight

destiny wimpye Dance Academy student Destiny Wimpye was one of four students accepted to the Professional Division with Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2019–20.

new leadership for the trudl zipper dance institute Colburn recently announced that multi-faceted artist, educator, choreographer, and New York City Ballet alumnus Silas Farley will become Dean of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute at the start of the 2021–22 academic year. Darleen Callaghan, former director of the Miami City Ballet School and North Carolina Dance Theatre School of Dance, will become Associate Dean.

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community impact

center for innovation and community impact Performing artists embrace an expanded role that creates meaning beyond the concert stage with the help of the Center for Innovation and Community Impact. An institutional resource serving all units of the School, the Center equips the artists and educators of tomorrow with the tools to have a deep and lasting impact on Los Angeles and the global performing arts community.

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Above: A Conservatory violinist performs at the Weingart Center, a human services center for homeless men and women living in Skid Row.

“ I’m proud to support emerging artists at Colburn during the time when they are developing critical skills in artistic excellence, career development, and service in the community.”

Ann Ronus, Co-Chair, Community Engagement Committee

“ As a current adult student in Colburn’s Community School and a supporter of Colburn’s community impact efforts, I find it inspiring to see the goals of our institution expressed in the work of our students in the classroom, the performance hall, and our wider community.”

Michael Russell, Co-Chair, Community Engagement Committee

The Center offers innovative coursework and programming in the areas of entrepreneurship, teacher training, community building, career development, and interactive performance. It also takes a lead role in community engagement programming and equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts across the institution.

The Center for Innovation and Community Impact strives to: build agency for artists Offer opportunities for growth in citizen artistry, teaching artistry, innovation, and leadership create community Develop a convening space for artists to work and build community, exchange ideas, and access cutting-edge technology deliver thought leadership Host gatherings, lead research, and provide resources that help artists and organizations develop pathways to sustainability open pathways Provide access to multiple communities and curated programming that reaches the diverse population of Los Angeles

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community impact

pathways to colburn The Center for Innovation and Community Impact works to provide multiple entry points to Colburn for students of all ages and skill levels. new partner programs in 2020 Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) This multi-faceted partnership with the largest majority Black orchestra in America includes in-depth teaching, artist support, and scholarships to attend the Community School. Ten Conservatory students taught weekly online lessons in 2020 with ICYOLA musicians in middle school and high school. When safe to resume in-person activity, the partnership will also include side-by-side collaborations and the creation of a joint strings and literacy pilot program in a South LA elementary school.

Sphinx Organization As the first phase of a long-term collaborative partnership with Sphinx, past and future finalists ages 14 to 18 in the Junior Division of the Sphinx Competition are eligible for full-tuition scholarships to Colburn’s Music Academy, which include room and board. Colburn will also present the Sphinx Virtuosi, a dynamic professional chamber orchestra comprised of top Black and Latinx soloists, in an on-campus residency and host the first West Coast retreat for the Sphinx LEAD (Leaders in Excellence, Arts, and Diversity) cohort.

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pipeline of learning The Center for Innovation and Community Impact offers a suite of programs available to students from 15 Title I public schools within a six-mile radius of campus. Fully funded through scholarship and program support, these pathways for students to access the very best in music and performing arts education are offered at no cost to the students, their families, or their schools.

Musical Encounter Interactive performances introduce musical concepts to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In a typical school year, nearly 7,000 children experience a Musical Encounter performance.

Summer Encounter A multidisciplinary arts immersion camp for rising fifth graders, Summer Encounter includes classes in voice, guitar, keyboard, percussion, recorder, drama, spoken word poetry, and dance. Sixty students from the community take part each year.

Jumpstart Students receive instruments and materials at no cost in this immersive after-school music training program. Over 100 students participate each year and take part in weekly classes and private lessons led by Colburn faculty and Conservatory students. band Jumpstart Band, the most comprehensive music education track in the program, offers middle school-age students access to theory classes, sectionals, private lessons, and large ensembles. strings, piano, and harp Elementary-age students are immersed in both private and group instruction while also participating in several performance opportunities throughout the year. early childhood Children ages seven months to five years are introduced to the wonders of music with participation from their parents and our specially trained faculty. dance—new in 2020 Planning is underway for a new Jumpstart Dance program, created to intentionally engage a more diverse community as part of Colburn’s expanded equity, diversity, and inclusion programming.

student spotlight

angie villela

Angie Villela spent 12 years at Colburn as a Herbert Zipper Scholar. She graduated high school in 2020 and now studies vocal performance at the Bella Artes Young Artist Program in Mexico City. Herbert Zipper Scholars at Colburn receive full-tuition scholarships to cover a custom curriculum; many former Jumpstart students and Summer Encounter participants become Herbert Zipper Scholars.

100% of Herbert Zipper Scholars went on to college in 2020, with two-thirds majoring or minoring in the performing arts.

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community impact

equity, diversity, and inclusion fortissima

In 2020, Colburn committed to a number of new

The Fortissima leadership development program launched nationally in 2021. Started in 2017 as a local pilot program for young women from underrepresented minorities in classical music, Fortissima is now a national model that recruits young women from across the US to participate in a weeklong residential intensive on the Colburn campus.

and expanded equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)

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Above: The first class of Fortissima fellows with Jazmín Morales, assistant director of the Center for Innovation and Community Impact.

initiatives that built upon the existing cornerstones of a thriving community engagement pipeline, robust scholarship program, and educational offerings for students from beginner to pre-professional. These critical building blocks allow Colburn to support young artists at every phase and make a lasting contribution to diversity in music and dance.

Diverse Programming The Amplify Series celebrates the careers of artists of color through short-term residencies throughout the academic year; see page 31 for details. When in-person performances resume, Colburn will premiere at least one new work by a composer of color each season on a Colburn Chamber Music Society or a Colburn Orchestra concert; the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute will also feature new choreography by artists of color. Large ensemble and chamber music programs across all units of the School will regularly include works by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other underrepresented groups.

Local and National Partnerships Colburn has formed long-term, collaborative partnerships with local and national organizations that are established leaders in the EDI space. See page 22 for details of partnerships with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) and Sphinx Organization.

“ We are excited to work with Colburn to further the work of excellence and diversity in the arts. At Sphinx, we believe in the power of partnerships and striving for an impact that is greater than the sum of its parts. The time for transformative work is now and we are thrilled to do it together!”

Afa S. Dworkin, Sphinx President and Artistic Director

Scholarship and Audition Travel Support Expanded scholarship support is available for students of color in the Community School, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, and Music Academy (all Conservatory students already receive full-tuition scholarships). When in-person auditions resume, travel support will be available for students of color with demonstrated financial need who are applying to the Conservatory, Music Academy, and Dance Academy.

Student Experience Students engage with issues of social justice in the classroom and beyond with new curricular offerings and Social Innovation Grants, created to provide financial support for students working towards community engagement projects that benefit the BIPOC community or commissioning projects involving BIPOC composers or choreographers.

Learning Opportunities for Students, Faculty, and Staff Colburn has implemented ongoing EDI training and will continue to seek opportunities for regular learning and dialogue. The School will also create a President’s Council on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and expand current efforts to recruit a diverse applicant pool for open faculty, staff, and leadership positions.

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community impact

resources for our community Online and on-campus resources offer students, parents, alumni, audience members, educators, and lifelong learners opportunities to connect and learn.

Office of Alumni and Parent Relations In 2019, Colburn established an Alumni and Parent Relations Office to support parents and alumni in the community. Alumni events have taken place in Los Angeles, New York, and Seoul, South Korea, and monthly gatherings for the public, students, and parents called Office Hours have occurred on campus and online. The Alumni and Parent Relations Office has also produced four episodes of the alumni-focused podcast So, How’s That Going? and launched the Next Up concert series featuring alumni performances; see page 31 for series details.

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Above: Colburn students perform for families and fans during Grand Ave Arts: All Access.

Library and Special Collections Colburn houses a number of special collections open to the student body and campus visitors. Highlights include: G regor Piatigorsky Archive

the colburn library houses approximately:

30,000 scores and parts

J ames Conlon Collection of Recovered Voices Scores

8,500

Theodore Lettvin Music Collection

audio-visual materials

F rances and Eleanor Meyers Chamber Music Collection

6,000

H eller Audio and Video Collection

books

J im Arkotov Photography Collection H erbert and Trudl Zipper Archives

In 2019, the Crossroads School transferred the Herbert and Trudl Zipper Archives Collection to Colburn. This as-of-yet-unprocessed collection consists of hundreds of boxes of scores, personal letters, photographs, books, and objects from Herbert and Trudl Zipper, who were instrumental in the development of the Colburn School. Once the School can begin processing and digitizing the archive, we look forward to making the artifacts from the remarkable lives of Herbert and Trudl Zipper available to artists and researchers.

Support for Educators and Students in Los Angeles County Each year, Colburn opens its doors

Colburn has long provided free, public

to its partners in the community.

performances for the Los Angeles

Highlights include:

community. Highlights include:

the los angeles county office of education Four hundred teachers, staff, and administrators from across Los Angeles County come to Colburn each year for a series of professional development sessions in the arts.

zipper orchestra performances In a typical year, members of the Colburn Community School perform for over 2,000 students from five partner schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

grand ave arts: all access Over 2,000 visitors come to campus each year for a day of celebration of the arts on Grand Avenue.

community fellowship program Colburn students provide dozens of free, public performances in a typical year in retirement homes, elementary schools, and through collaborations with organizations like Urban Voices Project.

la’s best This after-school enrichment program brings elementary school string students from six schools across Los Angeles to campus for an afternoon of music making on the Zipper Hall stage.

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performances

colburn presents More than 350 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.

Zipper Hall Best Small Venue 2019–20 Audience Choice Awards

“ Zipper Hall is the trusted concert hall for classical musicians across the city.”

Peter Feher, San Francisco Classical Voice

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Above: Emanuel Ax performs with the Viano String Quartet in Zipper Hall.

In 2019, Colburn celebrated Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a festival built around the composer’s beloved string quartet cycle featuring students; former members of the Tokyo, St. Lawrence, and Guarneri string quartets; and alumni ensemble the Calidore String Quartet.

“ [The Calidore Quartet], formed by students at Colburn nine years ago and now taking the world by storm, is astonishing…Colburn, which also played an important role in the development of the Calder Quartet, looks to be an exceptional maker of string quartets.”

Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

Some of the most well-known artists in music and dance today, including Colburn faculty, perform each year with the Colburn Orchestra and Colburn Chamber Music Society and as part of both See the Music, Hear the Dance and Tapfest. Noted choreographers also regularly work with dance students. featured guest artists during 2019–20 include: Noah Bendix-Balgley, Violin

L auren Lovette, Principal,

Calidore String Quartet

New York City Ballet

James Conlon, Conductor

M arcie Munnerlyn, Choreographer

Ray Chen, Violin

P eter Oundjian, Conductor

Craig Hall, Repertory Director,

S an Francisco Symphony Brass

New York City Ballet

O rli Shaham, Piano

Silas Farley, Choreographer

J anie Taylor, Choreographer

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Cello

W est-Eastern Divan Ensemble

performance venues during 2019–20 include: Zipper and Thayer Halls,

T he Broad Stage,

Colburn campus

Santa Monica

Walt Disney Concert Hall,

S egerstrom Performing Arts Center,

Downtown LA

Costa Mesa

Alex Theatre, Glendale

T he Soraya, Northridge

Ambassador Auditorium,

S amuel M. Ciccati Theatre at

Pasadena

Cuyamaca College, San Diego

artist-in-residence

jean-yves thibaudet

Known for his elegant and insightful musicality, JeanYves Thibaudet has established himself as an iconic figure both on and off the stage. He also holds a lifelong passion for education and fostering young musical talent.

For seven years, he has served as Artistin-Residence at the Colburn School, the first to hold this prestigious position, working with students in all units.

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performances

grand building Dance Studio B Heifetz Studio Dance Studio A

upper level

Mayman Hall

Mayman Green Room

Grand Rehearsal Hall

Pop-up control room

Control/Mastering Room (lower level)

Zipper Hall plaza level

Thayer Hall

moving online “ The Colburn School has embarked on an ambitious effort to facilitate hightech teaching and performances. The program will create infrastructure that will be utilized long after covid-19 is a fraught but faded memory.”

Colburn’s busy performance schedule moved online in 2020 with new public programming created especially for the digital environment.

Investing in On-Campus Technology A custom technology solution implemented in 2020 connected eight spaces in the Grand Building via data, video, and fiber optic cables. With low-latency video monitors in place, musicians or dancers in any of these rooms can rehearse or perform simultaneously in different locations and teachers can lead socially distanced lessons. By eliminating the lag time associated with performances over the internet, this technology restores the live interaction and spontaneity that is essential to the performing arts.

Tom Jacobs, San Francisco Classical Voice

Above: Grand Building spaces wired for livestreaming and low-latency connection.

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Video and livestream-ready; low-latency connection Video and livestream-ready

The Way Forward During the covid-19 pandemic, Colburn began to reimagine the traditional performance-going routine as a new cinematic experience. Faculty, alumni, and students helped realize this new vision. Under the guidance of filmmaker Hamid Shams, The Way Forward spanned jazz, classical, vocal, and dance genres and was filmed around the world. The Way Forward premiered as a special donor event in 2020 and will be released to the public in 2021.

Master Classes Students in the Community School, Music Academy, and Conservatory had the opportunity to learn from musical luminaries in 2020, when 46 artists from around the world led online master classes across the School. Institutional master classes—those open to the public as well as all students in all units—were led by pianist Yoheved Kaplinsky, violinist James Ehnes, cellist Steven Doane, and violist Nobuko Imai.

Amplify Series This new series celebrates the careers of artists of color through short-term residencies that include performances, master classes, and panel discussions.

Amplify Artists for 2020 through 2022 are Andrew Brady, Silas Farley, Marlon Martinez, and Nokuthula Ngwenyama. These artists worked with students in virtual settings during 2020, preparing for in-person residencies in the 2021–22 school year.

A Serving of Beethoven

100,000

Colburn continued its celebration of Beethoven’s birthday in a digital format, livestreaming the complete string quartets performed in 2019 with introductions by faculty members Scott St. John and Dr. Kristi Brown-Montesano. The complete sonatas for violin and piano followed, performed by Conservatory faculty members Martin Beaver and Fabio Bidini.

viewers watched the Beethoven Sonatas for Violin and Piano in 2020. The series was named a "classical concert stream to watch" by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Next Up: Colburn Alumni Series Alumni share their unique visions with the world in the Next Up series. Selected from proposals submitted in 2020, the inaugural season began in 2021 with five online programs that spanned solo works, chamber pieces, and popular music.

Other Online Programming colburn artists series Featured pianist Rodolfo Leone and the Viano String Quartet.

See page 9 for details.

the anonymous lover Staged and streamed with LA Opera.

See page 33 for details.

sweets from the nutcracker Students from all levels and disciplines in the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute participated in this reimagined holiday tradition.

virtual office hours Offered curated content, resources, and information each month for the public, students, and parents.

See page 26 for details.

See page 18 for details.

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partnerships

in partnership with our community In addition to a busy schedule of performances by our students, faculty, and guest artists, the Colburn campus is also a welcoming home for the performing arts in LA. Celebrating nearly 25 years on Grand Avenue, the School is an anchor in the cultural corridor that includes the Music Center, the Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and MOCA.

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Above: A scene from The Anonymous Lover, produced and streamed by LA Opera in partnership with Colburn.

“ LA Opera devised some ingenious solutions for the current limitations on live performance. The show was produced at the Colburn School, across Grand Avenue from LA Opera’s usual home in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The orchestra, ably conducted by James Conlon, recorded its music in advance; the singers heard it through earpieces. With no audience, director Bruce A. Lemon Jr. could use every corner of the school’s raked concert hall for his staging.”

Heidi Waleson, Wall Street Journal

The Anonymous Lover Colburn’s facilities continued to play an important role in the Los Angeles performing arts community after covid-19 struck. On-campus video capabilities allowed performances to be safely recorded and shared.

In 2020, the Colburn School partnered with LA Opera to stage and stream The Anonymous Lover, an unjustly neglected 1780 chamber opera by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a pioneering Black composer who was a contemporary of Mozart. Colburn’s in-house audio and video experts along with Fred Vogler of Sonitus Consulting helped produce a socially distanced opera that blended modern film and traditional opera staging.

Top music and dance training programs, dance companies, festivals, and presenters use Colburn for their West Coast auditions, including the following in 2019–20: American Contemporary Ballet

New World Symphony

C incinnati Ballet

Santa Fe Opera

Interlochen Arts Academy

Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival

L A Dance Project

Tanglewood Music Center

M et Opera National Council Auditions

Verbier Festival

In 2019–20, the School's performance spaces were also home to events presented by: B road Museum

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

C amerata Pacifica

Monday Evening Concerts

J azz Bakery

Piano Spheres

K orean American Music Foundation

VOX Femina

Korea Times

Vroman’s Bookstore

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partnerships

partner programs As an international leader in performing arts education, Colburn shares resources and expertise with numerous organizations to promote excellence in classical music and dance education, build audiences, and increase diversity in the arts.

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Above: Members of the Sphinx Virtuosi perform in Carnegie Hall.

Recovered Voices

an original multimedia series

The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices encourages greater awareness and more frequent performances of music by composers whose careers and lives were destroyed by the Nazi regime in Europe. To raise awareness of these previously suppressed voices, the School presents a lecture series, performances, competitions, symposia, and special projects.

In 2020, special funding allowed for the recording of a new multimedia series exploring the works of composer Erwin Schulhoff in the context of other Recovered Voices composers and their cultural circumstances.

The series will be released in 2021.

SongFest For the past eight years, SongFest has taken place on the Colburn campus, attracting an internationally distinguished roster of artist teachers as well as students from top conservatories nationwide.

Primrose International Viola Competition One of the most prestigious string instrument competitions in the world, the Primrose International Viola Competition is co-presented by Colburn and the American Viola Society and will take place again in 2021.

Chamber Music Los Angeles Colburn collaborates with chamber music presenters in Los Angeles to support a thriving community of players and listeners.

new partner programs in 2020 Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) Working with the largest majority Black orchestra in America, Colburn will provide teaching support, scholarships, side-by-side collaborations, and partner on a joint strings and literacy program.

See page 22 for details.

Sphinx Organization As the first phase in a multi-year partnership, Colburn will provide scholarships to Sphinx Competition finalists, present the Sphinx Virtuosi, and host the Sphinx LEAD cohort.

See page 22 for details.

From the Top From the Top will come to campus to record its nationwide showcase of young artists, featuring Colburn students as well as others from around the country. The Center for Innovation and Community Impact will partner with From The Top to develop leadership training and community engagement programming for these performers.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County This new collaboration will create online community engagement programming to be shared with 120 school districts in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

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philanthropy “ You’re not just an audience member; you’re part of this circle of friends—this community—that Colburn offers. It’s an institution always in change and in growth. There’s no limit to the aspirations set at the Colburn School, and I find that incredibly exciting.”

Bill Kennedy, friend and supporter since 2015

your support matters Did you know? Less than 23% of the Colburn experience is funded by tuition, ticket sales, and other fees. Everything else is funded by philanthropy.

Hundreds of individuals, foundations, corporations, and our trustees allow us to offer uncompromising access to the best performing arts education. If you are not currently supporting the Colburn School, we invite you to join us. Your support matters.

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Above: Bill Kennedy and other Colburn supporters, students, and faculty gather on the campus Plaza.

This year, general operating support, special program grants, endowment funds, and planned gifts allowed Colburn to continue to educate and inspire thousands of young artists all around the world—despite the global pandemic. Special highlights include:

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

Colburn Community Response Fund Created to support students’ continued access to Colburn during the transition to online learning.

operating budget

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion A new multi-year partnership with the Sydney E. Frank Foundation and many other funders has helped grow our ongoing EDI programming.

Amron-Sutherland Award for Young Pianists Fully funded in 2020 by an estate gift from pianist and educator Bruce Sutherland, this fund provides financial support and special performance opportunities to recently graduated pianists.

Frances Rosen Violin Prize

endowment distribution 54.7% annual gifts 22.6% net tuition and fees 11.3% room and board 5.5% other 5.9%

Established in 2020 in memory of Frances Rosen by her son, this cash award celebrates an outstanding Conservatory of Music violinist.

Kohl Scholars For the first time, six Music Academy students were awarded scholarships covering full tuition plus room and board.

Access Fund Campaign This campaign to kick-off fundraising for scholarships in the Community School of Performing Arts raised $10 million for need-based scholarships, providing a robust endowment for continued scholarship fundraising.

Lab Orchestra This new program provides repertoire development opportunities for our musicians and Conservatory Negaunee Conducting Fellows.

“ I’ve seen through my entire life that generosity is so crucial in implementing your dreams, so I am a big believer in giving back... to see the growth from all these seeds gives me such delight.

There’s nothing like it.”

Anne Akiko Meyers (Community School ’83), internationally renowned violinist and Colburn Society member

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leadership

colburn school leadership board of directors

directors

Andrew Millstein Chairman

Daniel L. Avchen Henry Choi Richard W. Colburn Alice Coulombe Darren Edwards Nathan D. Frankel Greg Guyett Catherine Colburn Høgel Carol F. Henry Molly Kirk Aliza Lesser Robert E. Lewis

Carol Colburn Grigor Life Chairman Emeritus vice chairmen David D. Colburn Diane Naegele

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honorary life directors Beverly C. Marksbury Steven F. Matt Greg McWilliams Mahnaz Newman Elizabeth Redleaf Ann Ronus Heinrich Schelbert, M.D., Ph.D. Harry B. Suh Keith Terasaki Peter W. Wardle Dylan Yolles

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

executive leadership Sel Kardan President and Chief Executive Officer Adrian Daly, DMA Provost Maeesha Merchant Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Business Development

academic leadership Annie Wickert Vice President, Advancement Jennifer Kallend Vice President, Communications Linda Cormier Vice President, Administration

Susan Cook Dean, Community School of Performing Arts Lee Cioppa Dean, Conservatory of Music Jenifer Ringer Dean, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute Silas Farley Dean (beginning 2021–22) Trudl Zipper Dance Institute Nathaniel Zeisler, DMA Dean, Community Initiatives

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join us

a look to the future With decades of excellence—and a most unusual year of transformation—at our back, the Colburn School is ever-ready to train, empower, and celebrate the tremendous dedication and talent of our students here in Los Angeles and around the world.

join us colburnschool.edu

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“ Colburn was a perfect place for us to grow as a string quartet. It’s not easy to start a career as a chamber music group, and all of that support—financially, in addition to the individual care given by all of the amazing professors here—really made it possible for us to be where we are today.”

Jeremy Berry (Conservatory ’14), Calidore String Quartet violist

“ I loved Colburn.

The teachers are amazing, from the ballet teachers to the contemporary teachers and the tap teachers we had. I feel like I’ve grown so much from Colburn, and the experiences that I’ve learned, I’ve taken them to Ballet Idaho.”

Sircey Smith (Dance Academy ’20), Ballet Idaho trainee

“ At Colburn, all the teachers are 100% committed to helping the students improve to the best of their ability...There hasn’t been one moment, even during the time of the pandemic, that I haven’t found myself with something engaging and rewarding to do through Colburn.”

Andrés Engleman, Community School student

“ The Adaptive Music Program at Colburn and Ms. Bori are the truest treasures we have found for giving Grace’s spirit the freedom to sing through music, knowledge, and ever-increasing ability…

Beyond all of the educational benefits, from fine motor to gross motor, from math to melody, it is the accessing and opening of a child’s heart that had been previously locked up, which is most awe-inspiring.

It transcends all perceptible value.”

Olivia Rosewood, Community School parent

200 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, California 90012 colburnschool.edu Photos: Stephanie Berger, Alex J. Berliner, Julieta Cervantes, Jeff Fasano, Larry Ho, Luis Luque, Craig T. Mathew, Jon McKee, Rachel Neville, Philip Pirolo, Courtney Paige Ray, Sian Richards, Kyoko Takenaka, Peter Christiansen Valli, David Zentz

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