Category Archives: School of Music, Theatre, and Dance


CSU Music student at Spur

Recent graduate Paul Beyer reflects on his first year teaching music

Recent graduate Paul Beyer reflects on his first year teaching music We recently connected with Paul Beyer, who graduated from CSU with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2023. Paul reflected on his first year teaching elementary and middle school music in Colorado. Tell us a little about your job–where you teach, the […]


Phuong Nguyen headshot

Phuong Nguyen has built a classroom culture around high standards and making music fun

Phuong Nguyen has built a classroom culture around high standards and making music fun Dai-Phuong Nguyen (B.M.E. ’01, M.M.E. ’08) is a perfectionist as a performer of multiple instruments and genres and a music educator. He has created a classroom environment that balances high standards, curiosity, and interactive play. His range of musical interests is […]


Denver West High School

Hollie Ryckman embraces multiple cultures and student-led approaches in her Denver classroom

Hollie Ryckman embraces multiple cultures and student-led approaches in her Denver classroom Hollie Ryckman, M.M. in Music Education ’20 Many CSU music education graduates expand upon normalized approaches to music pedagogy to accommodate their students’ needs and interests. Denver music teacher Hollie Ryckman is part of this transformative movement. Ryckman’s teaching philosophy embodies a belief […]


Jana Webster Wheeler

Jana Webster-Wheeler’s experiences were a catalyst for teaching music and more

Jana Webster-Wheeler’s experiences were a catalyst for teaching music and more Jana Webster-Wheeler in her music classroom at Webber Middle School in Fort Collins, Colorado. As a woman with a rich history who has turned her trauma into a wellspring of wisdom, Jana Webster-Wheeler, B.M.E. ’00, has used her difficult experiences to teach so much […]


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 […]


Bellamy album cover

Dr. Cayla Bellamy releases new album of contemporary works for bassoon

Dr. Cayla Bellamy, CSU’s bassoon professor, has recently released an album titled “American Bassoon Voices, Contemporary Works for Solo Bassoon,” published by Mark Records and available on Apple Music and Spotify. Performing collaborators include CSU faculty pianist, Jooyeon Chang and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony from Iowa conducted by Jason Weinberger. Compositions include “There and Back, […]


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Dr. Cayla Bellamy to perform at international conference

Dr. Cayla Bellamy Dr. Cayla Bellamy, CSU’s bassoon professor, has been invited to give a concerto performance and a chamber recital at the 53rd annual International Double Reed Society conference. Dr. Bellamy will be joined by CSU music instructor, Dr. Megan Lanz, on the chamber recital that includes world premieres of commissions for flute and […]


2024 CSU Trumpet Day graphic

Fourth annual Trumpet Day at CSU

The fourth annual CSU Trumpet Day occurs at the University Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 4, 2024. The day-long event features guest artists Dr. Chloe Swindler and Gabriel Mervine to discuss their careers and trumpet-playing ideas. CSU Trumpet Day, led by trumpet professor, Dr. Stanley Curtis, is a day of learning and performing […]


Colorado Bandmasters Association logo

Percussion Professor Shilo Stroman works with marching bands across the state

Shilo Stroman, senior instructor of music for percussion and marching band drumline, shared his marching expertise with many Colorado high school marching bands throughout the competitive season. “Now that the marching band season in Colorado is officially over, I’d like to thank the ensembles who trusted me to create music for them,” said Stroman after […]