Yellow and purple colchicum bloom in the grassy areas of the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville as rehearsals for spring concerts abound in the practice rooms of Billingsley Hall. Joining the myriad of melodies on a recent warm March morning were professors Nophachai Cholthitchanta (clarinet), Cristina Ballatori (flute) and Theresa R. Delaplain (oboe).
The trio are preparing to perform a new composition, “Trois Pâtesseries de Paris” by composer Chia-Yu Hsu, for the seventh annual SHE Festival, returning to campus March 14-16. Delaplain was part of the commissioning committee for the piece.
“It’s important for the students to see faculty supporting new music, music by women, music by underrepresented composers and also being part of that creative process,” explains Ballatori during a pause in rehearsal. “I think sometimes students see their professors as maybe they’ve reached the pinnacle of what they can do. But when you’re commissioning new music and you’re learning music, and you’re working it out together, it’s important for students to see that [and] to be inspired and motivated.”
The SHE Festival highlights women in music through performances, lecture-recitals, presentations, poster sessions and more given by students, faculty and visiting artists. Now in its seventh year, the festival is open to the public as well as students and faculty.
This year’s festival is supported by a “gift from Reed Greenwood in honor of Claudia Burson’s contribution to Northwest Arkansas’ musical vibrancy, and in memory of Mary Ann Greenwood and her commitment to the arts,” according to the committee behind the festival.
“Mary Ann Greenwood was herself a pioneer in her career, so it is significant that a gift in her memory has been made to the SHE Festival, which recognized the women pioneers in the field of music,” Delaplain explains. “Mary Ann had a lifelong commitment to supporting the arts, and the SHE Festival is very grateful for this gift.”
“Claudia Burson is a mainstay of the Northwest Arkansas jazz scene and has taught piano and coached jazz groups at the University of Arkansas for over 25 years,” says Alan Gosman, department chairman and professor of music theory.
Gosman adds the festival gives “much fuller sense of what’s happening in the musical world today.” The repertoire also includes scholarship and music by women who were often a sidebar in music history.
Cholthitchanta points out students may be unaware of women’s early contributions to music.
“We have to remind our students to be aware that in the past all the music was all male-dominated,” he says.
A returning UA alum, Jennifer Rose, who incorporates 8-bit sound design and orchestral elements into her compositions, was commissioned to compose a piece to be performed at the festival. She will give a composer talk along with visiting artist Aliyah Danielle.
Katey Jahnke, assistant professor of horn, is excited to welcome fellow brass player Aliyah Danielle, who will be a featured artist for performances opening the festival. She’ll also work with music industry students as well as lead a masterclass.
Jahnke describes her as a multi-genre performer and singer whose primary instrument is French horn.
“It really is just an absolute refreshing take on how to use a classical instrument in a nonclassical way,” she says.
Jahnke says she didn’t realize until later in her own career how few women play brass instruments at a professional level. She’s happy her students have a chance to see a performer of Danielle’s caliber at the festival.
“I have students who are going to be educators, who are going to be performers, who are going to be composers,” she says. “They get a really nice worldwide view of what diversity in music can be at all sorts of different levels.”
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FAQ
SHE Festival
WHAT — An annual music festival highlighting women composers, musicians and issues through performances, lecture-recitals, academic presentations, and poster sessions. The festival will also include an exhibit hall that will feature exhibits by companies and businesses that are women-owned and/or women-led.
WHEN — March 14-16
WHERE — Faulkner Center and Giffels Auditorium on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville
COST — Free to UA students and faculty. Some performances are free to the public, but there are fees to attend the entire festival. See the webpage for registration.
INFO — she.uark.edu