Steve Pond Retires
Music students, faculty, and friends celebrate beloved professor Steve Pond's retirement
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Performance is a fundamental part of Cornell’s cultural life. The Department of Music encourages music-making through a wide array of chamber and large ensembles, as well as its offerings in private lessons and directed coaching by members of the music faculty. Master classes, degree and non-degree recitals, contemporary music concerts, and an annual concerto competition supplement the music department’s concert offerings.
Performance Links
Audition Updates
Click here for the latest information on auditions for ensembles and individual lessons.
Featured Ensemble Performance: Symphony Orchestra, 4/29/18
Cornell Symphony Orchestra (CSO), led by conductor Chris Younghoon Kim, features Tchaikovsky's Slavonic March and Symphony No. 6.
Music events
May
20
Monday
07:30 PM
Mayfest: Cornell's International Chamber Music Festival 5/20
Barnes Hall
Auditorium
May
21
Tuesday
07:30 PM
Mayfest: Cornell's International Chamber Music Festival 5/21
Barnes Hall
Auditorium
May
24
Friday
06:00 PM
Wind Symphony Commencement Concert: CU Music
Ithaca Commons
May
24
Friday
08:00 PM
Glee Club and Chorus Commencement Concert
Bailey Hall
Jul
12
Friday
07:00 PM
Paul Merrill Jazz Ensemble
Arts Quad
Music news
Cornell jazz musicians bring home awards from DownBeat Magazine
For the first time in university history, Cornell students have won Student Music Awards from DownBeat Magazine, one of the world’s premiere jazz publications.
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Four faculty receive 2024 Carpenter Advising Awards 
Among those recognized for contributions to advising undergraduates are Paul Merrill, associate professor of practice in music, and Ravi Ramakrishna ’88, professor of mathematics.
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Mayfest, Cornell’s Int’l Chamber Music Festival, begins May 17
Mayfest is “a festival of joy, music, friendships, and deep connections among the musicians and with the loyal and wonderful audiences,” said co-artistic director Miri Yampolsky.
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Christopher Miller awarded Fulbright Scholar Award
In Spring 2025, Miller will travel to Indonesia and teach two courses at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.
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Pasqualini wins leadership award
PhD candidate Alex Pasqualini recognized with the Exemplary Leadership Award from the Graduate School Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement
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CTI grant recipients build student confidence, connection
James Spinazzola is one of the 2023-2024 recipients of an Innovative Teaching and Learning Grant, harnessing immersive technology to help students build confidence as they learn to conduct an ensemble.
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The Klezmatics to play in Cornell Concert Series April 13
The Klezmatics’ music is steeped in Eastern European Jewish tradition and spirituality, while also incorporating contemporary themes such as human rights and antifundamentalism, and eclectic musical influences — from jazz and punk to Arab, African, Latin and Balkan rhythms.
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