On January 31st, the Adams State University Chamber Choir, under the direction of Beth Robison, D.M.A., performed at the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The program, A Vision Unfolding: Building Hope through Connections, was part of the Music Department’s ETHOS: Exploring Equity through Music initiative and featured the music of Kyle Pederson. She chose the music of Mr. Pederson due to his messages of positivity, honesty, unity, and compassion during these divisive times.
With his latest multi-movement work, A Vision Unfolding, Pederson calls for us to reach out, build connections with those to whom we might not normally reach out, and have those difficult conversations with empathy and grace. “To explore what our nation has stood for in its best moments… a nation rooted in equality, freedom, justice, and inclusion.” To peel away the layers of otherness and find the seeds of commonality, which are central to us all. If we are committed to doing the hard work with kindness and care, we can build those bridges and create communities of hope that celebrate and demonstrate the best of our humanity.
Music faculty members, Anna Hawkins, D.M.A., piano; Melinda Leoce, D.M., percussion; James Lind, D.M.A., trumpet; and Brooke Miller, D.M.A., clarinet; were also featured in this performance.
Matthew C. Schildt’s, Ph.D., professor of music, compositions “Two Autumn Reveries” and “O Lonely Watcher of the Skies” were presented at the Society of Composers Conference at the University of Maine and the College Music Society Conference at Roosevelt University in Chicago in February and March of this year.