VCUarts Music

Big news for the VCU Percussion Ensemble 🥁 ✨ they've been selected to perform at the 2026 Virginia Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference!

Chosen through a rigorous peer-reviewed process, the ensemble will take the stage at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in November alongside Virginia's finest school and collegiate programs.

VMEA Conference: Nov 19 to 21 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center

🌟 The VCU Commonwealth Singers have been selected to perform at the 2026 VMEA - Virginia Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference, November 19 to 21, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center

The evening before the conference opens, join us for a FREE public concert featuring the Commonwealth Singers, Vox Concordia, the Choral Arts Society, and the Vocal Chamber Ensemble.

Pre-conference concert: Tuesday, November 17 in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, 922 Park Ave, Richmond

VMEA Conference: November 19 to 21 | Greater Richmond Convention Center | Free to all registered attendees

arts.vcu.edu/music

VCUarts Music's own Dr. Magdalena Adamek, 🎹 ⭐ Assistant Professor of Piano and Collaborative Piano and Coordinator of Piano Area at VCU, tackles one of the most common phrases in music teaching: "Play with more character."

Her article "Play with Character, but...How?" was just featured in the Virginia Music Teachers Association's Spring 2026 newsletter and distributed to educators across Virginia.

A great spring read for any musician ⬇️

📄 Read the article here:

Spring 2026 VMTA Newsletter (Pedagogy Corner).pdf

The 2026/27 Rennolds Series is here! 🎵🌟 Five world-class performances, one extraordinary season at the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall.

Miró Quartet with David Shifrin. Hermitage Piano Trio with Jordan Bak. Santiago Cañón-Valencia. Shai Wosner. Turtle Island Quartet.

More here: arts.vcu.edu/music/concerts-and-events/rennolds-series/

NEW CLASS: Caribbean Rythms and Beats with Dr. Bernard Moitt
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Music, music, sweet music! For many decades, the unique sounds of the Caribbean have resonated around the world due largely to the Roots Rock Reggae music of the LEGENDARY Jamaican singer, Bob Marley, who achieved superstardom status, and whose music is still adored globally.
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Beyond reggae, this course will explore other genres of Caribbean music including Calypso, Soca Zouk, Beguine and Compa.
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The West Central African origins of Caribbean music, including Highlife from Ghana, will provide historical context and underpinnings. The class will consist of weekly lectures and audio-visual and musical presentations that chart the evolution and development of Caribbean music from the seventeenth century to the present.
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T/R 12:30 PM in person

VCU College of Humanities and Sciences VCUarts VCUarts Music

Sometimes the classroom turns into a century-old beautiful Church 🎹💛 VCU Music students took over Grace and Holy Trinity Church this April for Convocation, a performance class designed to help them practice performing and get comfortable on stage 🎼
📷 Photos by Tyler Brady

Congratulations to the incredible Ken Wood on his well-deserved retirement after 17 years with VCU Music! 💛🎵

From the opera stage to the classroom, Ken has brought world-class artistry and dedication to this department - shaping singers, building our opera program, and leaving a mark that will last long after his final bow with VCU Music.

We are so lucky to have had him, and we are cheering him on as he steps into this next chapter. Thank you for everything, Ken ✨

Read more here: https://arts.vcu.edu/news/six-decades-of-excellence-celebrating-the-distinguished-careers-of-six-retiring-faculty/

Want to be featured in the VCUarts Department of Music pamphlet? 👀🎶

Current students - We're putting together something special to share about our program, and we want YOUR voice in it.

Fill out our quick form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyThtkjVrGs6cyKCbfcpRRg2Q4bZ11184fI44oZ1_jFc0HlQ/viewform

🎹 Congratulations to piano graduate Allison Estabrook (BM '26) on being selected for the Washington International Young Artist Music (WIYAM) series!

Selected from a highly competitive international applicant pool, Allison will perform at prestigious cultural venues throughout Washington, D.C. She credits her preparation to the performance opportunities at VCU Music along with the mentorship of piano professors Dr. Magdalena Adamek and Dr. Maria Yefimova.

"I'm looking forward to performing among other artists who all share the same passion of creating beautiful music. Meeting fellow artists is a wonderful opportunity as we are the ones who will be bringing music into the future." — Allison Estabrook

Read the full story and watch her perform the Grieg Piano Sonata: https://arts.vcu.edu/news/2026-piano-graduate-selected-for-washington-international-young-artist-music-series/