Student’s Composition Kicks Off Blair School’s 50th Anniversary
For 50 years, from its beginnings as Blair Academy of Music in 1964 to its expanded existence on Blakemore Avenue as part of Vanderbilt, the Blair School of Music has prepared students for the study of music as a human endeavor and as a performing art. As Blair began anniversary celebrations with a kickoff concert March 16, it was fitting that a precollege alumnus who is now a senior in Blair’s undergraduate division should be featured as exemplifying both aspects, signifying a nod to Blair’s roots as well as its future.
Sean Calhoun has written a chamber piece, Divertimento, which was played at the March gala by a quartet consisting of himself on piano and three other Blair precollege alumni: Collin Lewis, clarinet; current Blair sophomore Nathan Lowry, violin; and Wesley Skinner, cello.
“It’s been really fun to work on,” Calhoun says. “Much of the piece is very syncopated—putting the rhythms together will be a lot of the challenge of playing it.”
Calhoun was approached about writing the piece by Pam Schneller, associate dean of the precollege and adult program, and Melissa Rose, associate dean of the collegiate program, last summer. He worked on the piece during the fall semester under the direction of Michael Slayton, associate professor of composition and theory.
His interest in composing developed primarily during his high school years, though he tried his hand at it as a preteen.
“I’ve had pieces performed in student recitals or student composer concerts,” Calhoun says, “and I’ve had one in a piano faculty concert. That’s the most prominent performance so far, but [I’ve had] nothing like this before.”
The Blair School of Music 50th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration took place Sunday, March 16, in Ingram Hall. Joining Calhoun and his fellow precollege graduates on the program were the Blair Children’s Choruses, collegiate Symphonic Choir, and precollege and collegiate instrumental musicians together in a performance of John Rutter’s celebrated Mass of the Children. Signature faculty ensembles the Blair String Quartet, Blair Woodwind Quintet and Blair Brass Quintet also performed.
Read about Roland Schneller—hired as the Blair School’s first full-time faculty member nearly 50 years ago and still going strong.