Category Archives: Music



Promotional Photo for Hannah Steward CSU Music Major

Music major Hannah Steward accepted to National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute

Hannah Steward, a Colorado State University first-year trombone performance major, was one of sixty exceptional young musicians accepted to the prestigious National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute. Steward was excited to see her selection email from The Kennedy Center, especially given the large number of applicants. “Dr. Leslie made a difference just encouraging me to […]


Chandler Peveto performing Harry in Steamboat Opera's Company.

CSU Voice Major, Chandler Peveto, Performs as Emerging Artist with Steamboat Opera

Dr. Nicole Asel, professor of music in the voice area, contacted Peveto about an opportunity with Opera Steamboat after a previous performer found himself unable to sing. This opportunity led to a contract for Peveto to fill the role of Harry in Stephen Sondheim’s Company. When Peveto auditioned a second time this past summer for Opera Steamboat, he was contracted to perform two roles; Pinellino in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and Peter Zegner in Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up.



CSU Trombone Choir performing at ITF 2023

CSU Trombone Choir at the 2023 International Trombone Festival

Colorado State University’s Trombone Choir performed four world premier pieces at the 2023 International Trombone Festival, including compositions by Chris Evan Hass, Amber Sheeran (B.M. Music Education, CSU ’21), James M. David (CSU Professor of Music), and Kevin Poelking (CSU Assistant Professor of Bands). The group was invited to perform based on a submitted recording. […]


The American Prize Logo

2023 American Prize Winners Announced and CSU Music Faculty Make the List

Three of CSU’s music faculty received 2023 American Prize recognition in the Instrumental Performance professional division. The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts is the nation’s most comprehensive series of contests in the classical arts. The prize is “nonprofit, unique in scope and structure, and is designed to evaluate, recognize and reward […]


Budapest Scoring Orchestra Recording Photo

Assistant Band Director Kevin Poelking’s With Eyes Anew performed by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra

CSU music instructor and assistant director of bands, Kevin Poelking (M.M. Conducting Specialization, 2019), was honored in July 2023 to work with the award-winning Budapest Scoring Orchestra on a recording of his new composition, With Eyes Anew. The work, which takes the audience on a five-minute journey conveying a “story of ego, reflection, growth, and […]


The Duo Francois FICA21 Promotional Poster

Violin Professor Ron Francois and the Duo Francois travel to Mexico for annual festival

The Duo Francois – comprised of CSU faculty violinist Ron Francois and pianist Silvana Santinelli – will be featured at the FICA21 festival at the University of Veracruzana in Xalapa, Mexico. The International Camerata 21 Festival (FICA 21) of the Faculty of Music of the Universidad Veracruzana (UV) has been held uninterrupted since 1998. Founded by […]


Dawn Grapes headshot

Dr. K. Dawn Grapes presents at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Dr. K. Dawn Grapes, associate professor of Music History in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, was invited to present a paper at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gordon Jacob’s “William Byrd Suite.” According to windrep.org, Jacob’s William Byrd Suite is one of 400 pieces completed by the prolific […]