On 22 January, the Department of Music will welcome Dr Pedro Faria Gomes. He will highlight aspects of his compositional work that engage in dialogue with existing music through quotation and paraphrase. Faria will draw on examples from various works, focusing on his Suite J and Sonatina for solo piano – largely grounded in pre-existing musical materials, and recorded by Kenneth Hamilton on a disc released in 2024, Scenes from Childhood.
On 29 January, Dr Esther Cavett and Javier Rivas will report on their research into the experiences and collaborative learning practices of teachers working in a community music school and outreach initiative known as the Academy, based in Southwark. Their findings suggest that participation in the Academy facilitates self-reflection, personal growth, and cultural exchange among teachers. They become part of an organic network where innovative pedagogical practices are discussed and adopted.
On 5 February, musicologist, performer and storyteller Dr Samantha Ege will combine a mix of lecture and recorded performance to bring to life the story of the South Side impresarios – Chicago’s Black female intellectuals and creatives who shaped a new vision for classical music that transformed the city in the first half of the twentieth century.
Additional events scheduled to take place in February and March featuring Dr Steven Berryman, Dr Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey, Dr Caroline Gleason-Mercier, Dr Tonia Ko, Dr Stefan Williamson Fa and others will be announced on the Colloquium Series page.
The Colloquium Series represents a broad field of contemporary research in composition, musicology, ethnomusicology and sound studies. Since its inception, the series has hosted hundreds of visiting speakers.
