Peabody LAUNCHPad has introduced a new blog, The Creative Wire, featuring the voices of student contributors. New monthly posts will highlight student perspectives on finding inspiration, harnessing creativity, and supporting other artists to make an impact in the world. The Creative Wire joins LAUNCHPad’s Max Q Podcast in providing a platform for performing artists to foster an ongoing flow of inspiration. You can catch up on archived episodes, learn about new posts, and join the conversation on the LAUNCHPad Stories page.

It is almost impossible to believe that we are at the one-year anniversary this week of moving all our programs and operations off campus almost overnight to ensure the safety of our community in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. I don’t know that any of us at the time could have foreseen the winding road back, or what would happen. And to be sure, while it’s not a happy anniversary to celebrate, we can at this point see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the ongoing vaccination programs.

We are in hybrid modality at Peabody this semester after being fully online through the end of fall semester. Things have mostly gone very well, a few “hiccups” aside. We’ve been able to keep our faculty, staff, and students safe through testing and safety protocols, and because our community has behaved responsibly. Our students have been able to continue to learn and pursue their goals, our faculty teach at the highest level, and now we can at least look ahead and know that we are headed back to an increasingly normal existence. At the same time, Peabody has stepped up to help lead a conversation across our field about post-pandemic life in the performing arts - and what “normal” actually might look like - as discussed at our February symposium, The Next Normal: Arts Innovation and Resilience in a Post-COVID World.

We have also learned a lot through this pandemic. We’ve learned how to more effectively leverage technology; expanded our view of the performance experience; and surely become even more appreciative of what it means to be able to gather and participate in a common experience, whether it’s a music or dance performance, a play, or a walk through a museum - precious experiences all. I can also report that despite the pandemic, Peabody has continued to thrive in enrollment, fundraising, and advancing important strategic objectives as I outlined in my recent quarterly newsletter. And yes, we’ve had to make some hard decisions too. Yet generally, we are enormously grateful as we are mindful of how difficult the last year has been for so many. As always, I am also grateful for the wonderful faculty, staff, and students who have shown such flexibility, adaptability, creativity, and good spirit that has made this last year just a little bit easier.

Fred Bronstein, Dean

Hip hop collective the Baltimore Boom Bap Society, including Peabody assistant professor Wendel Patrick, will present an original performance addressing root causes of gun violence with guest vocalist and emcee J Pope and bassist Jeron White, in support of Baltimore Ceasefire. This is the first event of the Racial Justice Concert Series, a collaboration among Johns Hopkins students, faculty, and staff, which features performances by Baltimore musicians and provides a platform for racial justice organizations to educate audiences about their efforts. On April 3, the next concert in the series will feature the Mount Vernon Virtuosi, led by Peabody professor Amit Peled.

Opera NexGen presents a live virtual performance of W.A. Mozart's Così fan tutte. Sarah Baumgarten (MM ’15, Voice Pedagogy) is the assistant director, faculty vocal coach Claire Galloway (MM ’15, Voice) performs the role of Fiordiligi, and Taylor-Alexis DuPont (MM ’16, Voice) performs the role of Dorabella, with Aaron Thacker (MM ’16, Piano) as the pianist.

Peabody’s Fret Fest is a daylong online celebration of the guitar for students of all ages and experience levels. Morning classes and workshops will be offered for both classical and acoustic guitar and include topics such as technique, composition, improvisation, and practice strategies. Afternoon performances will feature guest artists Kaki King and Andrew York as well as Peabody faculty artists.

Clifton Joey Guidry III (BM ’18, Bassoon) will be featured in a livestreamed performance titled “The Answer is Rest.” Presented by the new music organization NUMUS, the performance also features projections by digital media artist and filmmaker Samay Arcentales Cajas.

Soprano Toni Marie Palmertree (BM ’06, Voice) and pianist Ellen Rissinger present a digital concert entitled “The Heart of a Woman,” inspired by the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. The program includes songs by Argentinian, French, German, and American women composers. The concert streams live on March 20, 2021, and on demand for ticketholders any time until April 20, 2021.

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Peabody Notes highlights select off-campus performances featuring Peabody performers. For other events, please visit our Peabody Conservatory Facebook page.