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.” Dr. Vianna was invited to give a clinic in the composition/arranging category. Vianna’s clinic, “Brazilian Choro for Jazz Big Band: A Guide for Jazz Composers and Band Directors,” covered an old Brazilian instrumental style that is becoming more popular among American jazz musicians in recent years. Due to a lack of quality material for jazz big band in the style, Vianna shared his experience writing his own arrangements and helping students learn this exciting music style. Faculty participation

demonstrated unparalleled contributions to the world of music composition. She has been commissioned an impressive 22 times since 2012 to write music for chamber ensembles and brass orchestras, including her groundbreaking composition “Octave 9: Pale Blue Dot,” commissioned by the Seattle Symphony for their $6.7 million-dollar performance space. Inspired by the prose of Carl Sagan, audio from the Voyager Golden Records, and the imagery of the James Webb Space Telescope, the piece combines stunning visuals

native of Memphis, Tennessee, mentored by jazz piano great James Williams. He studied composition with Donald Freund and Jonathan Kramer, and ethnomusicology with David Evans. Dr. Deacon-Joyner came to western Washington from the University of North Texas in Denton, where he held the position of Associate Professor of Jazz Studies from 1986 to 2000. He received his Bachelor’s degree in composition and Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Memphis, and his master’s degree in composition from

apply for more than one Artistic Achievement Award, which are offered in Art & Design, Dance, and Theatre in addition to Music. However, your applications will need to be entirely separate and you will need to prepare all of the necessary application materials for all areas. If you have two music interests (such as more than one instrument, voice and an instrument, or composition and an instrument, for example) our application process allows you to detail up to two music areas that you want taken

lot next to the Mary Baker Russell Music Center. Dr. Miho Takekawa conducts a socially distant Percussion Ensemble class in a large rehearsal space in the music building. A student wearing a mask participates in the Percussion Studio rehearsal. Dr. Miho Takekawa conducts a socially distant Percussion Ensemble class, rehearsing Dr. Greg Youtz’s composition entitled “Calypso Variations” in a large rehearsal space in the music building. Students rehearse on brass instruments outdoors in a tent set up

he talked about what inspires his musical compositions today. “I really didn’t have any particular gift in that area,” Reid said of his mother’s innate talent with the paintbrush. “But I did want to transfer what she did into music. “I found that I liked expression in modern music,” he continued. “I know there were people who didn’t like modern music, but it just seemed natural to me.” The genesis of his career in composition came in junior high, when he composed a guitar piece. He still has the