Getting into the groove: Temple Dance Department celebrates 50 years

by Maria Klecko
September 04
Looking down on the Tomlinson Theater stage, Terry Beck, BYR ’79, felt mesmerized. Up in the lighting booth, he watched bodies sway as the Zero Moving Dance Company rehearsed. At the time, he was a special education major fulfilling a work-study job. Beck didn’t know much about dance or theater, but he was inspired. He took as many dance classes as he could, eventually matriculating to the Dance Department and joining the dance company he once observed from afar. Now Beck is returning to the Tomlinson Theater stage to perform as a guest artist. This event on Sept. 6 and 7...

Diamond Marching Band selected to perform in Macy’s 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade

by Ayana Jones
August 29
The Temple University Diamond Marching Band is excited to bring its rhythmic flair to New York for the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Diamond Marching Band is one of nine bands chosen by Macy’s to perform in the annual holiday spectacle that is televised nationally on NBC.  The band was informed of the selection when Temple and Macy’s made a surprise announcement Sunday afternoon following an exhibition performance. As part of the announcement, Charlie Bibeault, store manager for Macy’s Center City, presented the Diamond Marching Band with a $10,000...

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra celebrates the 100th Birthday of its Legendary Founder with Centennial: The Music of Thad Jones

by DL Media / Shaun Brady
August 15
Recorded Live at the Iconic Village Vanguard, Centennial Features an All-Star Ensemble Including Dick Oatts, Douglas Purviance, Terell Stafford, Billy Drewes, Gary Smulyan and Others Available August 30 via BCM+D March 28, 2023 would have marked the 100th birthday of the legendary trumpeter, composer and bandleader Thad Jones, who passed away in 1986 at the age of 63. Always ahead of his time, Jones had anticipated the occasion by more than four decades, recording “My Centennial” in 1980 with his big band Eclipse.   That piece inevitably makes up part of the...

UArts students find new home at Temple

by Stephen Orbanek
August 08
So far, more than 300 former and prospective UArts students have committed to enrolling at Temple this fall. This includes 129 students in Boyer; 110 in the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts; 77 in Tyler; four in the Klein College of Media and Communication; and one student in the College of Liberal Arts. For first-year students who were prospective UArts students, the most popular major at Temple for these incoming students is the first-year foundations program at Tyler. For former UArts students who are transferring to Temple, the most popular majors are jazz studies...

The melody of success: BCM&D Records spins musical careers at Temple University

by Deirdre Childress Hopkins
July 11
It’s not just all that jazz. Sometimes, it’s Grammy nominations and the chance for a win, too. Nestled within Temple’s bustling campus, the Boyer College of Music and Dance is home to BCM&D Records, an innovative record label dedicated to showcasing the exceptional talent of students and faculty. The label has received five Grammy nominations since its inception 15 years ago by Dean Robert T. Stroker and several Temple faculty members. This year, this musical team hopes to add two pieces into contention for those prestigious awards. The unique musical magic of BCM...

Information for University of the Arts students

by Boyer College
June 03
The Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University affirms our commitment to providing an accessible college education for all and our intent to make the path to enrollment at Temple seamless and transparent. Temple has set up a centralized point of information and inquiry for University of the Arts students. Please visit this page to learn more and request more information about the enrollment process. We are also available to speak with you one-on-one about our programs. Please feel free to reach out to us with questions about our program offerings: For Dance...

Temple University's 2023-2024 Faculty Awards include three Boyer faculty

by Boyer College
April 18
On April 10, Provost Gregory N. Mandel hosted the 2023-2024 University Faculty Awards Ceremony. The Boyer College of Music and Dance was honored to have three members of its faculty included in this year's recipients. Professor of Keyboard Studies Charles Abramovic received the Great Teacher Award, which recognizes faculty members for their continuous excellence in teaching. Abramovic's name joins the Great Teachers Wall in the Founder's Garden on Temple campus. Professor of Dance Sherril Dodds received the Paul W. Eberman Faculty Research Award, which recognizes a...

Concert choir’s April show will honor Matthew Shepard

by Jonny Hart
April 10
Temple University Concert Choir will honor the life, death and legacy of Matthew Shepard in their upcoming show, Considering Matthew Shepard. The performance will take place on Tuesday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Temple Performing Arts Center. The show, which is free and open to the public, is the Philadelphia premiere of Considering Matthew Shepard.  Shepard was a gay man and the victim of a hate crime murder in 1998. Shepard’s death gained international attention, became a symbol of the violence and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community, and was a catalyst...

WRTI Young Artist Spotlight: Clarinetist and Conductor Sara Bock

by Lydia Veilleux
April 09
Sara Bock is a clarinetist and conductor pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance in the studio of the world-renowned clarinetist Gi Lee. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Sara has soloed at the Strathmore Music Center, The National Presbyterian Church, and The National Arts Club. She has been recognized for her significant artistic development and impactful arts leadership, having been twice awarded the Certificate of Merit in Music Performance by the National Society for Arts and Letters, as well as...

Temple University Jazz Band embarks on its Midwest Tour

by Boyer College
February 21
Tomorrow, the Temple University Jazz Band hits the road for a very special tour of the Midwest. Performance stops include: February 22: Noblesville High School (Noblesville, IN) February 23: Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival (Notre Dame, IN) February 24: Elmhurst University Jazz Festival (Elmhurst, IL) February 25: Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) February 26: Byron Center High School (Byron Center, MI) In addition to these performances, the band will get to enjoy jazz festival performances (including one by Elmhurst headliner the Maria...

WRTI Young Artist Spotlight: Flutist Nicole Hom

by Lydia Veilleux
February 13
Nicole Hom is a third-year undergraduate flute performance major at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance. Originally from Paramus, NJ, Nicole studies with Patrick Williams, Associate Principal Flute of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Nicole’s flute and piccolo playing has been recognized in multiple ensembles, including the New Jersey Youth Symphony, The Chamber Music Center of New York, Yamaha Music for All’s Honor Band of America, Temple University Wind Symphony, and the Temple University Symphony Orchestra. She has had the opportunity to perform in venues...

The Arts and Quality of Life Research Center celebrates 20 years

by Boyer College
February 09
In one week, the Arts and Quality of Life Research Center celebrates its 20th anniversary through the annual Arts and Quality of Life Conference, entitled Revisioning Ability, Equity and Community for 2024. An effort of the entire Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts, this free, one-day conference will serve as a platform for new conversations, innovation, collaboration, and the unlimited potential of all arts disciplines within our communities. The Arts and Quality of Life Conference will feature keynote speaker Shavon Norris, adjunct faculty for the...

Boyer College Fall 2023 Faculty News

by Boyer College
February 02
The faculty of the Boyer College of Music and Dance had a busy and exciting Fall 2023 semester. Many of them made significant appearances both nationally and internationally through new publications, speaking and performance engagements, guest scholar and lecturer appearances, releases for recordings and new works, and more. Read Boyer College of Music and Dance Fall 2023 News

WRTI Young Artist Spotlight: Saxophonist Katie Neary

by Lydia Veilleux
December 18
Katie Neary is an 18-year-old jazz saxophonist from the Philadelphia area. She is a first-year jazz studies performance student at Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, where she participates in various jazz ensembles. Katie attended Harriton High School and was formerly a member of the Lower Merion and Harriton Jazz Bands, the Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Helen K. Schwartz Advanced Jazz Ensemble at Settlement Music School, and the Kimmel Cultural Campus Creative Music Program jazz ensemble. Outside of playing music, Katie is learning the dance...

Boyer's 2023 soloist competition awards four winners

by Boyer College
December 14
This week, Boyer music students competed in the semifinal and final rounds of the 42nd annual student soloist competition. The adjudicating panel, comprised of Boyer's instrumental and vocal faculty, selected four winners who will perform their winning repertoire with the Temple University Symphony Orchestra on April 25 at the Temple Performing Arts Center. Julia Kuzmina (MM in Violin Performance), student of Laura H. Carnell Professor Eduard Schmieder: CHAUSSON Poème, Op. 25 Andreia Lucaciu (MM in Voice Performance), student of Associate Professor Christine...

Fall updates from Temple Music Prep

by Boyer College
December 01
This fall, Temple Music Prep hosted a variety of guest artists and saw many successes among its students, alumni and faculty. In October, Temple Music Prep continued its cultural exchange partnership with the Tónskóli Sigursveins D. Kristinssonar, based in Reykjavík, Iceland. Visiting students from Iceland spent the week rehearsing, performing and engaging in master classes here in Philadelphia, including a joint master class with the Center for Gifted Young Musicians (CGYM) featuring Music Prep alumna and violist Sheila Browne. Videos from their concert at the Trinity...

Honoring Larry McKenna

by Boyer College
November 22
The Boyer College of Music and Dance mourns the loss of saxophonist and jazz legend Larry McKenna. McKenna's storied career in performance, arranging and music education transcended six decades. A longtime friend of the Boyer College, McKenna spent several years as adjunct faculty for the Jazz Studies department, imparting a wealth of musical knowledge on many generations of Temple jazz students. McKenna's final recording project, World on a String, was released on Boyer's BCM&D Records label earlier this year. Jazz adjunct and Boyer alumnus Dan...