| |
Welcome back!
I hope you had a relaxing and productive summer, and that you’re ready to start the new academic year afresh. As a first step, you should contact your advisor to ensure that you’re on track. If you don’t know your advisor, please contact my office for assistance.
Since my student days at UCLA and time as a faculty member, I have found that the one constant about this university (and our department) is change. While tradition exists (for example, we continue to have "coffee hour" during seminar breaks, and the spring festival concerts remain a hit), it is enhanced by innovation. It is this dynamism that makes attending classes, obtaining a degree, or working at UCLA exciting. Of course, there are no perfect situations, however, I believe ehnomusicology at UCLA comes very close.
Because there is not enough space to go into detail about all changes, I’ll only mention a few at this time.
New Faces/New Ideas
The department welcomes the entering class of 2006-07. To continuing students, please do not hesitate to introduce yourselves to the entering class. To new students, please let us know how we can help you in your transition to academic life at UCLA.
New graduate students
New undergraduate students
In Student Services, the heart and soul of any department, we have two new faces - (1) Edward Blancarte, the new student affairs officer, and (2) Sandra McKerroll, the new staff graduate advisor -- to complement Alfred Bradley, our longtime staff undergraduate advisor. Although you may have received email introductions about Ed and Sandra, I want to re-introduce them because they are important to your academic training and success in the Department of Ethnomusicology. Please get to know them. Like the rest of us, they are here to assist in whatever they can.
Al Bradley
Sandra McKerroll
Ed Blancarte
In addition to our capable staff advisors, the department has initiated two new faculty advisor positions - (1) a Director of Undergraduate Studies and (2) a Director of Graduate Studies - that we believe will greatly improve student services. While Professor Tara Browner will work with undergraduates, Professor Helen Rees will concentrate on graduate students. Many of you may already know them, however, you should re-acquaint yourselves with them to learn more about their new responsibilities. As the year progresses, they will provide you with details on how their new positions will enhance your academic training and success in the department.
Tara Browner
Helen Rees
There is another new face, Phoebe Nelson, in the Ethnomusicology Archive to complement our longtime and capable head of cataloguing, Maureen Russell. Phoebe replaces John Vallier who resigned as archivist on July 31, 2006, to accept a position as Head of Media Services at the University of Washington. Until we find a permanent replacement, please welcome Phoebe to the Archive. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/news/nelson.htm
Other new faces include two faculty members: (1) Clayton Cameron who will teach jazz performance and percussion and (2) Tagumpay De Leon who will teach a new performance course on music of the Philippines. Offered on Tuesdays from 7-10 PM, we believe the course on Philippine music will greatly enhance our current performance offerings.
Clayton Cameron
Tagumpay De Leon
In summer session 2006, the department initiated its first World Music Summer Institute (WMSI). Held June 25 to July 1, 2006, I’m pleased to report that it was more successful than we could have imagined, thanks to the excellent work of our faculty, staff, and teaching assistants. With 39 students, who came from various parts of Southern and Northern California and as far as away as Louisville, Kentucky, and New York City, we exceeded our goal of 33 students. We hope that WMSI becomes a tradition, and will expand in future years. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/news (click "First Annual World Music Summer Institute A Success")
The School of the Arts and Architecture has a new image and a new home, the top floor of the newly built Eli and Edythe Broad Art Center. To celebrate the re-invigoration of the arts at the School level, many activities will take place on September 29, 2006, and throughout the year. To stay informed, please check the School’s web site regularly. http://www.arts.ucla.edu/
Activities for 2006-07
There are several activities taking place this year. The two that I want to bring your attention at this time include: (1) a concert of Persian music that will take place on November 4, 2006 in Popper Theater and (2) Professor Kenny Burrell’s birthday celebration. To celebrate his 75th birthday, a major concert by Kenny Burrell and friends will take place in Royce Hall on December 2, 2006. In addition, a recording of Professor Burrell’s composition, The Ralph J. Bunche Suite will be published by our department and made available for purchase at the concert on December 2. For those who cannot attend the concert, details about purchasing the recording will be forthcoming. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/upevents.htm
Enhanced Web Site and Staying in Touch
Thanks to Donna Armstrong, the Chair’s Assistant, our department web site has received a face-lift http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/index.htm. We encourage you to visit it regularly for updates on our academic program http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/students/ and special events http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/upevents.htm. In addition, we want you to send us news about yourself. Last year, many of you did a wonderful job of keeping us informed about your activities and achievements. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/news/studentnews.htm. This is something we would like you to continue. Please send all information to Donna at <donna@arts.ucla.edu>.
Congratulations!
I want to congratulate students who received awards for 2006-07 (see web site) and those who graduated between winter and summer 2006. The calendar year 2006 has set a record for the department. So far, ten students (the largest number ever) have filed their doctoral dissertations, and the year is not over.
1) Student Awards for 2005-06 and 2006-07
2) Graduation Reception 2006
3) Recent Doctoral Dissertations
In addition, I want to acknowledge the successes of our faculty. Bobby Rodriguez received his DMA degree from UCLA’s Department of Music; James Roberson celebrated the 10th year anniversary of the founding of his record company, JDI; and Gerald Wilson has been awarded UCLA’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Non-Senate Faculty for 2006-07. Everyone’s successes and accomplishments are a tribute to us all.
1) Bobby Rodriguez
2) James Roberson
3) Gerald Wilson
On behalf of the faculty and staff, I wish you a stimulating year. Let’s continue in the tradition of moving forward.
Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje
Chair
|
|
|
