Thank you to everyone who participated in or supported the Experience Longy series in its first year. These virtual gatherings connected us with inspiring artists who are working at the intersection of music and social change, music and mindfulness, and resilient artistry. We were delighted to provide an insight into Longy’s reimagined conservatory education and the faculty, students, and alumni who are making a difference in the world through their music-making and leadership.
By showcasing the content from this past year, we hope you’ll enjoy the individual voices, storytelling, and wisdom that was shared in our Experience Longy series.
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies,
Cambridge Center for Adult Education,
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center,
Cary Memorial Library,
Free Soil Arts Collective,
and Dunamis.
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 | 7:00 pm
Culturally Responsive Teaching in the Classroom: Master of Music in Music Education
Music education is undergoing a revolution in how to center students to empower their agency and honor all identities within a classroom. Explore how Longy is leading the way in the culturally responsive teaching movement.
Panelists include Longy Master of Music in Music Education students Lauren DeLago, Maria Del Valle Brin, and Ivonne Luna; faculty members Sarah Fard and Eben Heldreth; and Erin Zaffini, Longy’s Director of Teacher Education.
Longy is grateful to event co-sponsor Dunamis.
“ Let’s Start at the Very Beginning: Equity in Music Theory and History ”
What would it mean to teach music and history without a narrow, Western-European lens? In response to this question, Longy blew up its theory curriculum and started from scratch. This groundbreaking shift illustrates how change is possible when you walk the walk and reimagine conservatory education through an equity lens.
Panelists include Longy President Karen Zorn, Music Theorist and Scholar-Activist Clifton Boyd, Theory and Composition Chair Alexandra du Bois, and faculty members Anna Yu Wang and Garo Saraydarian.
Longy is grateful to event co-sponsor Dunamis.
“ And They Persist ”
A conversation with contemporary composers about what it means to pursue an isolated existence in music, this event featured composers who represent various lived experiences and distinct individual artistic voices. A panel discussion illuminated the often-undiscussed features of a composer’s working life and the tenacity and perseverance required to bring their music to life. Co-hosted by Assistant Dean of Artistic and Social Change Ian Saunders and Composition Department Chair Alexandra du Bois, panelists included Matthew Evan Taylor, alumna Melika Fitzhugh, Longy faculty members Amy Beth Kirsten and Ruth Mendelson, student composer Hsiu-Ping (Patrick) Wu, and Wind and Brass Department Chair Andy Kozar.
“ Uncorseted and Unbound ”
There are always contemporary artists who work in the wilderness, pushing music making into new realms. What does it take to be one of these musicians working mostly in isolation? Fearless musicians shared their music making journey with one another and our audience. This event was hosted by Career Coaching Manager Ashley Hall and Jazz and Contemporary Music Department Chair Eric Hofbauer. Participants included Sadie Gustafson-Zook, Zayra Pola, Juan Ruiz, Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, and Jonathan Shin. Please enjoy the keynote address by Sadie Gustafson-Zook.
“ Music and Mindfulness: a new way to listen ”
In this experiential event, three mindfulness practitioners each provided a guided meditation for deep listening ahead of the performance of a pre-recorded piece of music. After the music, the practitioner led an interactive discussion about the experiences of the audience. Event participants were Certified Music Practitioner (R) Aline Benoit, soprano and meditation teacher Pamela Bathurst, and baritone and meditator David Small.
“ Contemplation and Action:
The Mind, The Body, and Artistic Practice ”
Socially-engaged artists are doing vital work to heal communities and disrupt inequity. Artists and contemplative practitioners discussed how the mind-body connection can fuel artistic practice, propel social action, and renew the artist to continue to make a difference in the world. Co-hosted by Assistant Dean of Artistic and Social Change Ian Saunders and Career Coaching Manager and Trumpet faculty member Ashley Hall, the event participants included: Rebecca Strauss, Certified Music Practitioner and founder of Harmony & Hope: Responding to Violence with Music; Christa Brown, actor and Executive Director of Free Soil Arts Collective; Jessica Grant-Domond, poet and community social practitioner; Rosalyn Driscoll, visual artist and contemplative practitioner; and Ronn Smith, stage director, writer, and Dharma practitioner. Please enjoy this excerpt from the event.
“ Their Own Words ”
Assistant Dean of Artistic and Social Change Ian Saunders hosted three socially-engaged artists who are making themselves heard in the music and music education fields. Presenters included: Kids 4 Harmony’s Senior Teaching Artist Courtney Clark, renowned opera singer Lauren Michelle, and composer Roberto Sierra. Each of their brief talks illuminated the intersection between their lived experience and what it means to be a socially engaged musician today. Ian closed the event discussing the presenters’ collective wisdom and what must come next for the fields of music and music education.
“ Music as Social Change: A Reckoning ”
This panel discussion, led by Longy Assistant Dean of Artistic and Social Change Ian Saunders, explored the reckoning of racism and misogyny within classical music dominated by dead white males. Our panelists included: Longy’s Chair of Composition Alexandra du Bois, founder and director of Quinteto Latino, Armando Castellano, and renowned opera singer, Lauren Michelle. They shared the intersection of their lived experience and classical music’s reckoning and what must come next for conservatories to be change agents.