For his final DMA lecture-recital on December 1, 2014, at the Butler School of Music, Jun Seo (MM ’11, DMA ’14) composed and performed a original set of Theme and Variations for Solo Cello. About his new composition, Jun writes:

“I wrote this theme and variations for solo cello to use it as a pedagogical tool. In order to aid future cellists with their technical study, this theme and variations guides a player’s technique from the basic skill of sound production through advanced techniques such as string crossings, chords, octaves, pizzicato, clear bow articulation, ponticello and artificial harmonics. The concept of the theme and variation form is to build upon one simple idea or melody in an improvisational manner. For inspiration, I studied several theme and variations of Beethoven, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Martinu and Paganini.”

The sheet music to Jun’s Theme and Variations for Solo Cello is available for download here.

On Friday and Saturday, December 12-13, Ying Zhang (DMA ’15) performs with the Conspirare Youth Choirs in their winter production The Heavens Unfastened. Other guest artists include UT Butler School of Music professors Thomas Burritt (percussion) and Delaine Leonard Fedson (harp).

Conspirare Youth Choirs (CYC) were formed in 2005 as an outreach program of the five-time Grammy®-nominated ensemble Conspirare. CYC seek and train young musicians who share a love and commitment for creating music at a high level of excellence.

For ticket, venue and more information, visit conspirare.org.

Daniel Smith (DMA ’15) has been chosen as a winner of the 2014 UT Symphony Orchestra String Concerto Competition. He will perform the Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, with conductor Gerhardt Zimmermann and the UTSO on Monday, May 4, 2015, in Bates Recital Hall. For venue, ticket and more information, visit music.utexas.edu.