Note from the Chair

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. I wanted to share some of the music we have made at SCU this past Spring, as we gradually transition back to in-person instruction. Even though our Music Commencement Ceremony still happened over Zoom, it was a time of joy and celebration for our graduating seniors, and for our music community as a whole.

None of our seniors expected their last year to happen under an unprecedented crisis in our society and around the globe. A global health crisis and an economic crisis have only exacerbated rampant inequality and racial injustices in this country and abroad. While we in the United States are lucky to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, our solidarity should go out to all other countries where the pandemic is still raging.

Online education presented huge challenges to all of us, teachers and students alike. I encourage you to read Prof. Bill Stevens inspiring reflection on teaching in the COVID year.

We were glad to be able to make some music in person and away from our laptop screens (socially distanced, and masked!). Chamber Singers and Jazz Combo rehearsed in a Parking Garage throughout the Spring, as you will see in some of the videos below. It was a safe, transitional space for outdoors music making, as indoor rehearsal spaces were still closed. Some of our ensembles were able to record or live stream from the Mission Church, though with no live audience yet. In spite of all these unusual arrangements, students and faculty were overjoyed to be able to make music together again, in the same room.

Because we are musicians and we can't stop making music and learning music, we found a way to make it all happen. Because Music is about connection -- human connection through sound -- we were, perhaps not surprisingly, well-positioned to create opportunities for us to remain connected in a year of disconnection. It was not at all easy, but it was well worth the effort.

From student recitals to end of year ensemble concerts, we are happy to share below the music we have made. Please enjoy, and have a great Summer!

Bruno Ruviaro
Chair, Music Department

Katie Elkind & Mary Harmon

Mary Harmon and Katie Elkind share their vocal talents and diversity through their Junior Recital “Taking Flight”. Performing a variety of pieces ranging from the baroque and English classical periods, to Sondheim, and ending with contemporary musical theater, they will keep you engaged and thoroughly entertained with their charming character and personalities.

Program Notes  |  Listen

Jonathan Claridad

Pianist Jonathan Claridad presents a Senior Recital with jazz standards and original pieces.

Program Notes  |  Listen

Siobhan Ortolano

Mozart through Weill: A collection of songs and poems about the nature of love.

Program Notes  |  Listen

Gabe Reed

A junior recital of solo works for piano. Gabe plays Beethoven's Sonata Op. 31 No. 3 and the 1931 revised version of Rachmaninoff's Sonata No. 2, Op. 36

Program Notes  |  Listen

SCU Choirs

After a year of only collaborating online, the SCU Chamber Singers returned to the Mission Santa Clara on June 4 for a live-streamed performance of music of longing, sorrow, and hope. The Chamber Singers was joined virtually by the SCU Concert Choir for the premiere of two new virtual choir pieces created this spring.

Listen

Jazz Concert

After being apart for so long, the SCU Jazz students came together to create a special set of music. Recorded in person, these selections showcase our students in a variety of Jazz styles. Hear what our students prepared and share in the joy of music-making!

Listen

World Music Ensemble

Joined by members of the renowned Common Sounds Ensemble, Santa Clara University's World Music Ensemble presents four awesome selections of music from all over the world, including a special arrangement of Killing Me Softly, as sung by Roberta Flack.

Listen

SCLOrk

SCLOrk (the Santa Clara Laptop Orchestra) is an ensemble dedicated to the creation and performance of live electronic music. Created in the Spring of 2012 by SCU faculty Bruno Ruviaro and students, this interdisciplinary group explores the intersection of music composition, live performance, human/computer interaction, programming, and sound design. SCLOrk has continued to make music over the internet throughout the pandemic. This June 2 concert brings some of the results of our effort to remain connected through a year of disconnection. All pieces were performed live.

Listen

Wind Ensemble

The SCU Wind Ensemble presents a palette of chamber and wind band music ranging from traditional to contemporary.

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Fusion

Our end-of-year Fusion concert is the place where many of our ensembles meet and work on collaborations. Due to the limitations of our online format, this year we decided to make Fusion to be a showcase compilation of the best work from many of our ensembles. In particular, watch out for our SCU Orchestra's rendition of Villa-Lobos’ Ciranda Das Sete Notas, featuring senior Emma Brennan on bassoon.

Listen