Music School Unveils 2020-21 Dean's Office Scholarship Award Winners

Music School Unveils 2020-21 Dean's Office Scholarship Award Winners

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has recognised the 2020-21 recipients of the Dean's Office Opportunity Award, who have been commended for their projects that emphasise community engagement, social justice, and cross-collaboration with diverse artistic communities.

1. Community and Social Justice Focus

Many of the awardees developed initiatives addressing pressing social issues, using music and the arts as a platform for advocacy and change. Themes included racial justice, inclusivity, and amplifying underrepresented voices through performance, composition, and educational outreach.

1. Cross-Collaboration with Diverse Artistic Communities

The recipients worked across disciplines and cultural boundaries, partnering with local communities, artists from various genres, and interdisciplinary groups. This approach fostered dialogue and innovation, blending different musical traditions and artistic practices.

1. Notable Projects
2. Some awardees created multimedia performances combining music with visual arts or spoken word to explore identity and social themes.
3. Others organised workshops or community-based events designed to engage and empower marginalised groups through collaborative music-making.
4. Certain projects integrated technology and new media to expand accessibility and participation in the arts.
5. Impact and Goals

Overall, the recipients aimed to create meaningful artistic experiences that resonate beyond the concert hall, encouraging social awareness, community healing, and cultural exchange.

The Dean of UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, Eileen Strempel, stated that music is an influential guiding force. She believes that music's power will be critical in navigating historic injustice and the post-pandemic reality. According to Strempel, music has the power to connect, heal, and facilitate meaningful change.

In response to COVID-19, faculty were encouraged to consider projects that highlight themes of community and social justice. Some of the funded projects showcase the uniting power of music, such as a new version of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

Selected initiatives aim to expand engagement with Los Angeles' diverse and artistic communities. The funded projects represent music's broad reach across cultures, generations, and political affiliations.

For specific names of recipients and detailed descriptions of each project, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's official announcements or website archives from 2020-21 would provide the most comprehensive information. The awarded faculty projects aim to advance the school's mission and embrace cross-collaboration with UCLA's other arts units. The projects also aim to address historic injustice and the post-pandemic reality through music.

The Award will curate and highlight woman composers of Jewish heritage. The Dean's Office Opportunity Award recipients' projects aim to intentionally grapple with historic injustice through music and highlight the power of music during challenging times. Eileen Strempel's statement underscores the role of music as a uniting force, particularly during dark and divisive times.

1. In an effort to inspire and educate, several awardees developed projects that combined music with education and self-development, aiming to uplift marginalized communities and foster cultural exchange.
2. Beyond traditional performances, some recipients integrated entertainment and music, creating dynamic multimedia projects that explored social issues and amplified underrepresented voices.

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