UF School of Music

🎹 Pianist Hsiang Tu kicks off the season with our first faculty recital this Monday.

The program will feature:

Schubert
Impromptu No. 3 in B-flat Major, Op. poth. 142, D. 935

Beethoven
Sonata No. 21 in C Major (“Waldstein”), Op. 53
Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111

Brahms
Three Intermezzi, Op. 117

Don't miss this incredible performance. As always, it is free and open to the public!

Monday, August 31, 5:30 pm, UF School of Music Building Room 101

The School of Music is open during construction. Please use the south entrance near Steinbrenner Band Hall.

Join us this Sunday for a recital on the lawn as members of the UF Carillon Studio perform on the 61-bell carillon housed in Century Tower.

Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and a light lunch — it's fun for the whole family.

The best listening locations are at least 100 feet away — if you can see the bells at the top of the tower, you’ve found a great spot! Program details are available near the base of the tower.

Sun 8.23.26 | 1:30 PM | Century Tower
Free & open to the public

We hope to see you there!

Our events calendar is filling up! Join us for the first recitals of the season starting this Sunday — and they are all free and open to the public.

Sun 8.23.26 | 1:30 PM | Century Tower
Carillon Studio Recital

Members of the UF carillon studio perform on the 61-bell carillon housed in Century Tower. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and a light lunch — it's fun for the whole family. The best listening locations are at least 100 feet away — if you can see the bells at the top of the tower, you’ve found a great place! Program details may be found near the base of the tower.

•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•

Thu 8.27.26 | 7:30 PM | MUB 101
Guest Artist Recital: Alejandro Rutty — Why Bass?

The UF School of Music welcomes composer and bassist Alejandro Rutty as he presents music from his Why Bass? project, an ongoing series exploring the extended-range electric bass as a solo instrument and in collaboration with other musicians. Blending elements of South American music, jazz, classical, and experimental traditions, Rutty’s work pairs lyrical melodies, intricate rhythms, and adventurous textures.

Alejandro Rutty is Professor of Music Composition at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He will be joined by UF Assistant Professor of Bass Alex Pershounin.

•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•–•

Mon 8.31.26 | 5:30 PM | MUB 101
Faculty Recital: Hsiang Tu, Piano

Join our own Hsiang Tu for an unforgettable evening as he performs music from 19th century Viennese composers.

Schubert: Impromptu No. 3 in B-flat Major, Op. poth. 142, D. 935
Beethoven: Sonata No. 21 in C Major (“Waldstein”), Op. 53
Brahms: Three Intermezzi, Op. 117
Beethoven: Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111

Events are subject to change. For the most up-to-date info, please visit: https://arts.ufl.edu/programs-schools/school-of-music/events/school-of-music-calendar/

Welcome Jane Kozhevnikova — Visiting Assistant Professor of Composition 🐊🎶

Composer, performer and educator Jane Kozhevnikova joins the UF School of Music as a visiting professor for the 2026-27 school year.

Her music has been described as “consistently beautiful, deeply moving and accessible,” with art songs featuring haunting melodies and sensitive text setting. Her work spans solo and chamber music, orchestra, theater, film, jazz and popular music, reflecting her wide-ranging interests as both a composer and performer.

Dr. Kozhevnikova holds master’s degrees in jazz composition and performance from Western Michigan University and earned her Ph.D. in Music Composition from the UF School of Music, where her research focused on vocal music.

Her work has received numerous honors, including the Renée B. Fisher Composer Award, Gena Branscombe Art Song Prize, and first prize in the Opus Ignotum International Composers’ Competition in the Czech Republic. She was also a Fulbright Fellow from 2017–2019.

Stop by the UF SOM table College Fair, 1:00-3:00 pm Dennison Center for Rec and Wellness!

Many in the University of Florida College of the Arts community already know Kevin Robert Orr as a professor, concert pianist and longtime director of the UF School of Music. This summer, he's taking on a new role: dean of the college.

In his first month as dean, COTA In the Loop News caught up with Dr. Orr to talk about the people and experiences that have shaped his approach to leadership and what’s on his mind as he envisions the future of the college.

Read our conversation with Dean Orr at the link in the comments.

A message from Interim Dean Setlow:

Dear College of the Arts community,

I am pleased to announce that Paul Richards, DMA, has been named Acting Director of the School of Music, effective July 1, 2026.

In the role of acting director, Dr. Richards will oversee the school’s administrative operations and provide guidance in its academic, research, fundraising, and performance activities. His responsibilities include:

• Managing SOM’s administrative, budget and fiscal, facilities, and academic operations and degree programs.

• Providing leadership in the unit’s artistic and academic activities.

• Articulating the unit’s vision, goals, and accomplishments to its constituencies.

• Leading efforts to secure external funding from the private and public spheres.

• Recruiting and retaining high-achieving students, faculty, and staff.

• Developing, fostering, and maintaining a welcoming and collegial environment that capitalizes on the strengths of SOM students, faculty and staff.

Dr. Richards first joined the UF School of Music in 1999 as an assistant professor in music composition and theory. Throughout his 27 years with the College of the Arts, he has demonstrated extensive expertise in his field, deep integrity, and a longstanding commitment to the growth and success of his students and colleagues at the School of Music. He currently serves as Professor of Music and will step back from teaching responsibilities to focus on his administrative duties as acting director.

Dr. Richards succeeds SOM director, Kevin Orr, DMA, who will step into his new role as Dean of the College of the Arts on July 1. The college plans to conduct the search for a permanent director in the 2027-2028 academic year.

I am truly looking forward to working with Paul in this new role. His calm, thoughtful, insightful approach to everything that I’ve had the pleasure of working on with him, as well as his deep knowledge of the School of Music, makes him the perfect person to lead the school during this time of transition.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Setlow
Interim Dean
UF College of the Arts

The UF School of Music welcomes Benjamin Horne, Visiting Assistant Professor in Bands for the 2026-27 academic year!

Horne is a conductor, educator, and composer. Horne has served as a guest conductor and clinician for many diverse ensembles and mediums across the U.S. Horne began his teaching career as a middle school band director in Georgia. He has worked with numerous athletic bands at both the high school and collegiate levels, including the Spartan Marching Band at Michigan State University and the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps.

As an award-winning composer, Horne’s works have been widely performed internationally by ensembles such as Musiqa, Decoda, Picosa, the SOLI Chamber Ensemble and the Atlanta Chamber Players. His works have also been programmed by several leading U.S. wind bands, winning the 2025 National Band Association/William D. Revelli Memorial Composition Contest.

Horne holds a DMA in wind conducting and a MM in composition from Michigan State University. Horne also completed a MM in music performance from Indiana University and two BM degrees from Columbus State University in music education and music performance.

Welcome to UF, Ben!

Join us this weekend for the UF International Piano Fest!

This year's competition features 17 talented performers and an exciting new format inspired by American Idol — judges will offer live, on-stage feedback to each participant.

Cap off the day with the Faculty Recital at 7:00 PM in the University Auditorium, featuring performances by Kevin Orr, Evan Mitchell, Hsiang Tu and Jasmin Arakawa.

Check out the full event program here:https://files.constantcontact.com/a0a73549901/08be8de0-c85a-4d34-bd59-3502c031313f.pdf

STUDENT COMPETITION
10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Steinbrenner Band Hall

• 10:00 AM – Session I
• 11:20 AM – Session II
• 1:20 PM – Session III
• 2:40 PM – Session IV

FACULTY RECITAL
7:00 PM
University Auditorium

It's all FREE & open to the public! We hope to see you there!

More info: https://arts.ufl.edu/event/international-piano-festival/

The UF School of Music welcomes Allie Brault, Visiting Assistant Professor of Voice for the 2026-27 academic year.

Brault is a versatile performer and teacher from Long Island, New York. Her research has been presented at universities, synagogues and international conferences, and has been supported by multiple prestigious awards and fellowships.

In 2021, Brault made her Off-Broadway debut in David Harrower’s "Blackbird." Her operatic roles include Blanche in "Dialogues of the Carmelites," Mabel in "The Pirates of Penzance," and Wesley in the world premiere of Tom Cipullo’s "Mayo." An active concert artist, her repertoire spans from Baroque to 21st-century works, including the U.S. premiere of Sacchini’s "Giacchè mia sposa sei."

Brault is a DMA candidate in voice pedagogy at the University of Maryland. She holds an MM from Penn State and a BM from The Crane School of Music.

Welcome to UF, Allie!