Outreach
Community Involvement
The University of Arizona School of Music is firmly committed to providing accessible, varied, and meaningful arts experiences to the community. As a land-grant university, The University of Arizona is mandated to emphasize educational access, research, and outreach. The School of Music provides service within southern Arizona and around the State in the form of concerts, recitals, school visits, workshops, local internships, collaborative projects, community ensembles for youth and adults, partnerships between the local schools and the music education program, and conferences presented by students, faculty members, alumni, guest performers, and scholars. These events and collaborations provide the foundational basis for our bond with Arizona’s communities and to expand educational opportunities, as mandated in our land-grant status.
The University of Arizona School of Music’s outreach endeavors encompass both on-campus and off-campus offerings to extend the reach to as many community members as possible. On campus, the School offers ensemble participation and music instruction to youth and adults in our community and the School presents over 300 events open to the public each academic year. Off campus, students and faculty are involved in performances and field experiences in local schools, conference presentations, internships, community collaborations, student tours, and benefit performances.
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
UA High School Honor Choir
The UA choral program leads a weekend event for fifty distinguished high school singers. These students, selected by audition, partake in classes, workshops, and performances. This program also enriches local choir teachers’ professional development.
UA Wildcat High School Honor Choir
Outstanding high school students participate in weekly rehearsals and concerts each semester.
Master Classes
The voice area offers various master classes that are advertised and open to the public. The students and the audience have the opportunity to engage with and work with masters in voice/opera/recital.
Outreach Performances
The voice area offers outreach performances to the community and presentations in various venues around the city. Venues include assisted living centers, churches, restaurants and community centers. These performances are free to the community.
Opera Previews
The opera program offers previews of the upcoming operas in conjunction with other organizations such as opera guilds and community centers.
Studio Recitals
The voice area presents studio recitals which are open to the public and at times performed outside of the university. Donations are collected which go to outside organizations in need such as food banks or other programs.
Tucson Desert Song Festival
The voice area maintains a close relationship with this major international festival through master classes and performances, which are open to the public. The Young Composers Songwriting Competition and Showcase offers southern Arizona students in grades K-12 the unique opportunity to write original songs and to have their songs performed at the festival.
The voice area offer classes in Orvieto, Italy through the Arizona in Italy study abroad program.
Music + Festival
This annual event was inaugurated in 2008. It is a two to five day festival held each October which celebrates the music of two to three composers. The festival includes a series of four concerts and a scholarly symposium, and occasionally a film. Living composers are invited to discuss their music, and visiting scholars and specialists take part in the symposium alongside faculty of the Fred Fox School of Music. All large ensembles and many faculty and students participate in the performances. All events are open to the public.
CMT Colloquium Series
A series that takes place on the last Friday of the month throughout fall and spring semesters. Each colloquium features a presentation by a faculty member, student, or guest in the areas of Composition, Musicology, or Music Theory, followed by a time for questions, comments, and general discussion. These monthly sessions serve as an opportunity to communicate current ideas and research in these areas within the University of Arizona School of Music. These are open to the public with an audience of twenty to twenty-five people, ongoing since 2013.
Rocky Mountain Music Scholars Conference
In March 2018, the University of Arizona School of Music hosted the annual conference of three regional societies: the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Musicological Society, Rocky Mountain Society of the Society for Music Theory, and the Southwest Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology. This conference rotates among the member universities and colleges in the region, and includes two days of papers and presentations as well as concerts by the host institution. Although scholars from the southwest tend to predominate, these regional conferences attract visitors from throughout the United States and Canada.
UA Graduate Student Music Conference
Each February the Fred Fox School of Music holds a student-run conference that features presentations by student scholars from around the continent on topics related to contemporary music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, and music education. Ongoing since 2016.
The Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Program
Lecture by Ellen T. Harris, professor-emeritus Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “How Did Handel’s Audiences Hear His Opera?: Mary Delany and Floridante” and Master Class for Voice, “There are Early Music Instruments, but What’s an Early Music Voice?.” These events are open to the public.
University of Arizona High School Honor Band
This event offers student musicians from across the country to perform in concert on the University of Arizona campus. The three-day honor band include masterclasses with the UA faculty, a faculty concert, full ensemble rehearsals, Fred Fox School of Music orientation, pizza party with the “Pride of Arizona” Pep Band, and concert performance under the directions of University of Arizona band directors.
University of Arizona Regional Etude Workshop
UA faculty provide a night of masterclasses for high school students in each section of the band and the rhythm section for jazz band. Instructional focus includes group fundamentals, regional etudes, pedagogy for each specific instrument, and tips on how to audition.
University of Arizona Band Conducting Workshop
The workshop is for any high school and middle school band directors looking to develop skills and knowledge of conducting and rehearsing concert ensembles, including rehearsal tips and technical conducting instruction. Conducting participants conduct a full wind ensemble of UA music students and receive feedback from the UA band faculty. Participants came from multiple states.
University of Arizona Band Day
Band Day is a community and educational outreach program for secondary schools throughout the southwest region. This full-day marching band exhibition invites entrants from 30+ high school bands to perform their half-time shows. The “Pride of Arizona” also appears in two exhibition performances and over 8,000 students and spectators attend this event.
Pride of Arizona Mini-Camp
During the spring semester, all high school students are invited to experience what it is like to be in the Pride of Arizona Marching Band by learning marching technique from and rehearsing music with the POA directors.
Pride of Arizona Summer Reading Band
On Monday nights during the summer, current Pride of Arizona members, high school students, and alumni come together to read stand tunes and show tunes for the Pride of Arizona Marching Band.
Pride of Arizona Student Recruitment Visits
Students in the Pride of Arizona Marching Band’s leadership class visits local high schools to present information about the Pride of Arizona Marching Band and Fred Fox School of Music.
Pride of Arizona Marching Band and Pep Band
Athletic bands support a variety of UA team sports as well as campus and community events. Athletic events include performing for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, swim, and hockey. Community engagements include the Rodeo Parade, Ronald McDonald House Charities events, morning news appearances, and others.
Arizona Wind Quintet
Founded in 1975, this faculty ensemble performs concerts and offers clinics in Phoenix and Tucson. A week-long residency at UNAM in Mexico City occurred during Spring 2018.
UA Double Reed Day
Oboists and bassoonists of all ages participate in a day of master classes, workshops, recitals, and exhibits. Taught by UA faculty and visiting guest artists, this annual event is attended by approximately 50 students from across Arizona.
Bassoon Bash
An annual tradition, this afternoon of performances is widely attended by community musicians and university students alike.
Arizona Clarinet Day
A mini-festival featuring performances, master classes, clinics, vendors, and participant clarinet choir. The event brings together around 100 clarinetists from the Tucson and Phoenix area for an enriching educational experience.
Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet
This endowed ensemble is comprised of graduate teaching assistants selected from across the world. This ensemble offers outreach performances across the country, including educational concerts at public schools, nursing homes, and other community centers.
UA Saxophone Day
Featuring a day of recitals, master classes, and rehearsals, UA Saxophone Day is open to student and adult saxophonists of all ages.
Catalina Saxophone Quartet
This chamber ensemble represents the top performers in the UA Saxophone Studio. The quartet performs at venues throughout the Tucson community and beyond, including high schools, festivals, retirement homes, and national competitions.
High School Honor Wind Quintet
This ensemble, now in its fifth year, brings together Tucson’s most accomplished high school wind players. Players are selected by audition and coached by UA faculty.
University of Arizona Outreach Honor Band
This program was founded in 1993, and offers community students in grades 6-9 weekly rehearsals and sectionals, and offer an end-of-semester concert. The program is taught by music majors, thus developing their professional skills while they are in school. This program fills a huge void for students who may not have access to an ensemble program in the school. Between 50 and 100 students participate each semester, and most enroll continuously year after year.
Fred Fox Graduate Brass Quintet
This endowed ensemble is comprised of graduate teaching assistants selected from across the world. This ensemble offers outreach performances across the country, and this includes educational concerts at public schools, nursing homes, and other community centers.
Octubafest
Held annually since 2001, a festival of concerts and master classes held during the month of October. This event features UA students, visiting guest artists, and collaborations with local organizations.
Tuba Christmas
This event includes local amateur and professional tuba/euphonium players every December. The performance of traditional carols and other music at the Oro Valley Marketplace Tree Lighting has an audience of 250 and 75 tuba/euphonium players.
Cienega High School Mentoring Project
Seniors at Cienega High School may participate in a mentoring/shadowing project where they observe and work with a professional in a field which they are considering as a profession. In 2015 and 2016 two low brass students observed Matt Tropman during lessons, morning warmup and his faculty recital. They also received free lessons and conducted an interview on topics of their choosing. Both are now FFSOM students.
All-State Video Project
Performance and spoken tutorial of the State of AZ All-State etudes recorded in the FFSOM recording studio (audio and video) and uploaded to YouTube as a free service for AZ high school students learning the Regional and All-State tuba/euphonium etudes.
UA Steel Band
The ensemble offers performances for all ages and also hosts a class for community members.
Flutefinity
This ensemble of flute students performs in various community venues across Arizona.
Malleus Graduate Percussion Group
The ensemble offers performances for all ages and also hosts a class for community members.
UA Percussion Day
This event includes workshops, classes, and rehearsals for community percussionists.
Rosewood Marimba
The Rosewood Marimba Band performs for many functions on campus and in the Tucson area. This ensemble reaches audiences of all ages.
University of Arizona Jazz Camp
This program is a weeklong residential jazz camp for students ages 14 and older. Students participate in classes, workshops, and performances.
Faculty Service Outreach
Faculty are board members of the Tucson Federation of Musicians (AFM Local 33), and performing members of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and True Concord Voices & Orchestra.
Masterclasses
The keyboard area routinely works with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra to provide masterclasses with TSO soloist guests for the Tucson community. This includes approximately three master classes per year. The area also coordinates with Arizona Friends of Chamber Music to offer approximately two master classes per year.
Presentations
Keyboard faculty member Dr. Zdechlik invites local and regional guests to present public presentations and invites Tucson Music Teachers Association (TMTA) members to attend. This has included Allison Edwards (CSU Fullerton) and Gail Fischler regarding pedagogical topics.
Competitions
The keyboard area hosts three annual competitions, the Concerto, Moore, Trester competitions. These events are opportunities not only to draw local and regional audiences, but to interface with donors, judges, and local organizations such as Tucson Music Teachers Association. UA keyboard faculty members judge competitions around the state such as Desert Valley Tucson Music Teachers Association, AZ Musicfest, and Arizona Music Teachers Association.
Faculty Service Outreach
Members of the keyboard faculty serve as collegiate chair of MTNA (national outreach), on the board of the Arizona Guild of Organists board (national outreach), and on the board of the Oracle Piano Society (regional outreach).
Performances
Students perform in many local concert series. All organ students are active professionally in the community including in community churches. Interarts collaborations such as Les Noces, providing four pianists for an extended run with the School of Dance. UA Musicians on Tour sends three piano students annually on short tours in Arizona and California.
Music Education Colloquium Series
A series that takes place on the first Friday of the month throughout fall and spring semesters. Each colloquium features a presentation by a faculty member, student, or guest in the areas of Music Education, followed by a time for questions, comments, and general discussion. These monthly sessions serve as an opportunity to communicate current ideas and research in these areas within the Fred Fox School of Music. Established in 2017, these colloquia are open to the public and all interested students.
UA Wildcat High School Honor Choir
Outstanding high school students participate in weekly rehearsals and concerts each semester.
University of Arizona Outreach Honor Band
This program was founded in 1993, and offers community students in grades 6-9 weekly rehearsals and sectionals, and offer an end-of-semester concert. The program is taught by music majors, thus developing their professional skills while they are in school. This program fills a huge void for students who may not have access to an ensemble program in the school. Between 50 and 100 students participate each semester, and most enroll continuously year after year.
UA Graduate Student Music Conference
Each February the Fred Fox School of Music holds a student-run conference that features presentations by student scholars from around the continent on topics related to contemporary music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, and music education. Ongoing since 2016.
Collegiate National Association for Music Education
The student chapter of NAfME is a club for music education students that meets monthly to assist music education majors with relevant issues and concepts in music education. Master music teachers often present various topics related to their programs and their expertise. Students in CNAfME help teachers and local programs with masterclasses and sectionals.
Field Experiences
Music education students serve their last semester student teaching with local schools music programs.
Faculty Service
Faculty present research and workshops at music education conferences throughout the country. Faculty travel to schools within and outside of the state of Arizona to provide masterclasses, professional development, festival adjudication, and workshops for K-12 school music programs.
University or Arizona String Project
The UA String Project is an official National String Project Consortium site. This outreach program offers lessons and orchestra rehearsals to seventy-five students ages 4-16. The program is taught by ten music majors, thus developing their professional skills while they are in school. This program fills a huge void for students who may not have access to an ensemble program in the school, and is many young community students only exposure to music education. Seventy-five students participate in this program, and most enroll continuously year after year.
HarpFusion
HarpFusion is the largest touring harp ensemble in the world. This popular student ensemble performs classical, jazz, and popular music, and has toured South America, Asia, and the U.S. The ensemble has produced two compact discs and two videos.
Tucson Guitar Festival
An international festival of master classes, and a young artist competition. This event brings to the Tucson community the most celebrated guitarists in the world.
UA String Invitational
This one-day festival involves high school students from across Arizona. Last year 150 students participated in a recording project, master classes, and clinics. Also, high school orchestra teachers participate in this annual event.
Tucson Cello Congress
The two-day Cello Congress includes more than 100 cellists of all ages from across the southwest and features a cello choir, master classes, workshops, guest artist recitals, and a young artist competition. Collegiate, private, and K-12 music teachers from Arizona participate in this event.
Bass Jam
Bass Jam is a one-day event features a bass ensemble, rehearsals, master classes, workshops, performances, and guest artists. Local bassists of all ages participate as K-12 music teachers.
Master Classes
Public master classes have been given by leading concert artists recently including the Juilliard Quartet, Matt Haimovitz, Robert Mealy, Paul Kantor, Amit Peled, James Buswell, Jeffrey Solo, and others. The string area collaborates with the Tucson Symphony and Arizona Friends of Chamber Music to enable classes with outstanding guest artists.
UA Graduate String Quartet
This endowed ensemble is comprised of graduate teaching assistants selected from across the world. This ensemble offers outreach performances across the country, and this includes educational concerts at public schools, nursing homes, and other community centers.
UA String News
This monthly e-newsletter reaches over 200 music educators. The content includes articles by UA faculty of a variety of topics including audition tips for students, teaching tips, and upcoming string events at the UA.
Mariachi Arizona
Membership in Mariachi Arizona is open to all UA students, faculty, and staff. Members of the ensemble perform original Mexican music as well as traditional mariachi songs. The program offers clinics to local schools reaching a vast amount of students in southern Arizona, and the ensemble has performed nationally and internationally.
Faculty Service Outreach
Members of the string area serve on the Arizona American String Teachers Association board and the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music board.
All-State Honor Festival Hosting
The school hosts the High School All-State Festival on a three-year rotation with two other state universities. This festival attracts the top choir, orchestra, and band high school performers from Arizona.
AMEA/MENC Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival
Every January the School hosts the Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival for the Arizona Music Educators Association. Approximately 1000 students participate in this two-day event.
Arizona Study Program
This program was created by the Arizona Music Teachers Association. This sequential performance and theory program for K-12 pianists is hosted by the Fred Fox School of Music. Students perform for faculty and take a variety of written music theory tests.
Involvement with ASTA, NAfME, and Other Music Organizations
The School regularly hosts many conferences and competitions by NAfME, ASTA, Tucson Music Teachers Association, and other organizations.
Alumni Recital Series
This series features graduates of the Fred Fox School of Music who return to offer performances to the Tucson and University community.
Involvement with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra
The Tucson Symphony concert master and other roles are filled by University of Arizona faculty members.
Conference Appearances
Faculty present and are involved with state conferences such as the Arizona Music Educators Association as well as national and international conferences.
In-School Visits and Clinics
The faculty visit a large number of K-12 schools across the southwest offering clinics and master classes to choir, band, orchestra, and other programs. Faculty are involved with youth ensembles such as Tucson Youth Philharmonia Orchestra, and Tucson Junior Strings.
Many of our special research collections also serve as resources to scholars and performers worldwide and their holdings are regularly borrowed. Please visit our Research page to see a complete list of these collections.