woman compusing music in front of piano

Prof. Patricia Julien

UVM helps students hone their skills and passion to prepare for a lifetime of music.

Alumni of the Department may follow their studies with graduate school training, or immediately pursue careers in fields such as:

  • performance, public school education, private lesson teaching, composition, music technology, concert production

Careers in Teaching Music

Zoe in a classroom with a group of young children

Zoe Harris ’16, B.S. Music Education

Zoe currently teaches K-5 general music, 4-5 band, and the Westhill High School saxophone section in the Stamford Public School District in CT. At UVM, Zoe participated in many ensemble offerings. Her primary instrument is saxophone, which she studied with Michael Zsoldos. She earned her masters in Music Education from Boston University in 2020.

The first four years teaching brought her many challenges and restrictions, especially with the restrictions on music-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, the challenges she faced made her more creative, better prepared, and helped her focus on gratitude for the little moments when she sees her students' faces light up in music class.

Her advice for current music education majors? “You have amazing teachers, so ask them questions, take lessons in anything you wouldn't feel comfortable teaching, know your students, and have a blast making music at UVM.”

 

 

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Rebecca Wood  '13, B.S. Music Education

Becky teaches K-8 General, Choral, and Instrumental Music at Weathersfield Elementary in Ascutney, VT. "It is a lot of work, but never boring!" She also directs a church choir, youth choir, and community choirs in her hometown. She is an active member of her town's community arts board, which has helped to initiated a jazz festival, community folk dances, and community shows. She is a former member of Bella Voce and Cantiamo women's choirs, and plays saxophone in the Vermont Wind Ensemble. She recently began graduate work at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT where she completed her Level 1 training in Kodaly. She is looking forward to completing the other levels in the upcoming summers.

 

 

 

Rob Duguay ('05, B.S. International Business Management)

Although he graduated with a degree in business, Rob took advantage of opportunities to perform in multiple jazz ensembles each semester. He was the UVM big band bassist for four years and had the chance to perform with Clark Terry, Paquito D'Rivera, and Arturo O'Farrill. Rob performed with many of Vermont's busiest jazz ensembles, including the Red Thread Trio, Dan Silverman Quartet, Big Joe Burrell and Friends, Cam Cross Trio, Justin Purdue Trio, Guagua Latin Jazz, and the Geoff Kim Trio. He also led many groups of his own and started a jam session every Friday night for local jazz musicians.

After graduation, Rob headed off to graduate school in New Orleans. Unfortunately the Katrina disaster cut short his plans and he soon found himself relocated to the prestigious jazz program at William Paterson University in New Jersey. From there he spent a productive year working as an intern at the Smithsonian Institution under Dr. John Hasse. Currently, Rob is laying down his infectious grooves all over New York City. Check out robduguay.com to find out where he's playing.

Jennifer Murdoch ('85, B.A. Communication Science & Disorders)

Jennifer played flute in concert band and hockey pep band, and bass clarinet in the Vermont Wind Ensemble at UVM. Her graduation gift was a tour of Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary with the USA Winds (playing a baritone sax she borrowed from the school!), led by UVM faculty member Herbert Schultz. She is now an associate director at a community mental health agency, wife, and mother of two teenagers. She plays various instruments in the Bristol Town Band, Middlebury Community Wind Ensemble, Vermont Wind Ensemble, Vermont Symphonic Winds, LC Jazz Band, pit orchestras, and small ensembles.

"I am your average adult community musician. There is so much opportunity to play as much, or as little as you desire post UVM. I really encourage any person entering the school to join one of the ensembles to maintain and grow your skills, enjoy the camaraderie, and keep the joy of making music in your daily life!"

Sandra Dahl ('74, B.S. Music Education)

Sandra played clarinet at UVM, then picked up brass instruments and the viola as well. She taught for 39 years in Vermont public school music, retiring in June 2013. She taught in 4 school districts for 11 years, 3 school districts for 4 years after that, then finished the next 24 years in 2 districts. "I wanted to be a music teacher ever since I was in third grade. I had the best job in the world because I got to sing, dance, and make music every day of my career and share that with children." Sandra is pictured playing cornet with the Green Mountain Brass Band.

Careers in Music Performance and Composition

Tom Hanson playing guitar surrounded by other band members

Tom Hanson '16, B.A. Music - Classical Performance

After graduation, Tom toured as a solo musician with Carnival Cruise Lines, performing 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. He was away from friends and family for several months at a time, but got to meet people from all over the world and travel to many different destinations.

Tom studied voice with Sarah Cullins and David Neiweem during his time at UVM, which was crucial to developing his vocal health, technique, and stamina. His professors taught him how to internalize the meaning of songs and convey them to an audience - which in turn made him a better vocalist and performer. "The skills I've learned from the UVM Music Department have prepared me for anything."

Tom is now based in Rhode Island, where he gives solo performances and plays guitar with 7 Day Weekend.

 

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 Natalie Slack '14, B.A. Music - Classical Performance

As a UVM student, I double majored in English and Music and was fortunate enough to study piano with Paul Orgel for four years. I also had the opportunity to intern with the Lane Series, which inspired me to combine my areas of interest into a career in arts administration. I started working as an editor in the Marketing and Creative Services department at Carnegie Hall the summer after I graduated. I edit and project manage a wide range of print and digital materials, from program notes and bios for our daily Playbill programs, to curriculum books and marketing materials. I currently specialize in working on projects related to the Weill Music Institute, the music education and social impact programs arm of Carnegie Hall.

Rachel Marie Capobianco '95, B.A. Music

Rachel is the founder, owner, and sound engineer of Vermont Sound and Light. She has provided sound and lights for UVM's a cappella groups for a decade, as well as the school's annual Convocation ceremony and Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. She has worked with performers such as Phish, Bill Kreutzmann, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Harry Belafonte, Neko Case, and Jon Stewart. Rachel has played drums for over 25 years and plays with Burlington-based all-female rock band Steady Betty. Her passion for excellence in audio, lighting and event production for the last twenty plus years has garnered the recognition and high praise from all levels of the entertainment industry.

Alex Toth '06, B.A. - Jazz Studies

A New Jersey native, the trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Alex Toth brought his unbounded energy and edgy soulfulness to Vermont. During his time at UVM Alex was the prime mover behind many ad hoc student groups as well as creative jazz and poetry projects in collaboration with the UVM English professors and renowned writers, Major Jackson and John Gennari.

As a member of the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Big Band, he also performed the music of Frank Zappa with Ed Palermo, Sketches of Spain with Randy Brecker, and the music of Jim McNeely with the composer directing and playing piano. After graduation, Alex moved to Boston where he started touring with the popular ska/reggae band John Brown's Body and co-founded the critically acclaimed band Rubblebucket, an indie-dance pop band with six EPs and four LPs to their name.

Annakalmia Traver '06, B.A. - Jazz Studies

A woodwind player and vocalist from Woodstock, Vermont, Kal Traver now resides in Boston where she plays with the nationally recognized reggae band John Brown's Body and is a member of the acclaimed Afro-beat ensemble Rubblebucket Orchestra. She also composes for her own groups, and works as a freelance saxophonist, singer, and web-designer for artists and musicians.

Her compositions, she explains, "are inspired by sounds in nature, old-time music, chorales, loud drums, shouting, dancing, and all kinds of tiny, big and ancient vibrations," and her saxophone playing "comes from the alto spirit: quick, mischievous, and dirty at times; but fruity too, searching and emotionally exuberant." While at UVM, Kal played and sang with the 15-piece funk band Soulvation Army and performed and recorded with other UVM jazz students in the jazz group, the Lazybirds. Fluent in several languages including Spanish, Kal gained valuable musical experience during UVM-sponsored trips to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

Scott Kipnis '14, B.A. Music - Classical Performance

Scott graduated from the Music Department in 2014 and hasn't stopped performing since! He is currently a member of the New York Choral Society, performing a season with a wide range of music every year across multiple New York City venues. He was also involved in the chorus of Apotheosis Opera's inaugural production of Wagner's opera Tannhauser in East Harlem in the summer of 2015.

Russ Flynn '08, B.Mus - Jazz Studies

A multi-instrumentalist and composer from Huntington, Long Island, Russ Flynn has contributed to numerous musical projects both on-campus and in Burlington's thriving music scene, including performing in popular bands such as Roku and Premarital Sextet in downtown clubs like Nectar's and the Radio Bean.

Russ has developed a sophisticated yet naturally flowing compositional style. In fall 2008 he began graduate study with acclaimed composer Michael Philip Mossman at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in New York City, and earned his M.Mus in Jazz Composition and Arranging in 2010. Listen to some

 

Careers in Concert Production and Marketing

Elise Albertini in her workspace

Elise Albertini '19, B.A. Music Technology and Business

Elise is the Booking and Event Production Manager at ArtsRiot, a performance venue, gallery, and cafe in Burlington's South End Arts District. In addition to booking artists, she runs production operations for concerts: setting up performance equipment, seeing to artist hospitality, and communicating with venue staff. An sound technician internship with ArtsRiot during senior year familiarized her with the venue's operations, which came in handy when she took on her full-time position during the pandemic.

Elise studied percussion at UVM, and is still an active performer with her bands Father Figuer and Lake Waves. Studying Music Technology and Business helped her break into a career in music without relying on being a full-time musician. Her time with ArtsRiot has led to many valuable connections within the Burlington arts community. Read the full interview with Elise.

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Natalie Slack '14, B.A. Music - Classical Performance

As a UVM student, I double majored in English and Music and was fortunate enough to study piano with Paul Orgel for four years. I also had the opportunity to intern with the Lane Series, which inspired me to combine my areas of interest into a career in arts administration. I started working as an editor in the Marketing and Creative Services department at Carnegie Hall the summer after I graduated. I edit and project manage a wide range of print and digital materials, from program notes and bios for our daily Playbill programs, to curriculum books and marketing materials. I currently specialize in working on projects related to the Weill Music Institute, the music education and social impact programs arm of Carnegie Hall.

 

Rachel Marie Capobianco '95, B.A. Music

Rachel is the founder, owner, and sound engineer of Vermont Sound and Light. She has provided sound and lights for UVM's a cappella groups for a decade, as well as the school's annual Convocation ceremony and Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. She has worked with performers such as Phish, Bill Kreutzmann, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Harry Belafonte, Neko Case, and Jon Stewart. Rachel has played drums for over 25 years and plays with Burlington-based all-female rock band Steady Betty. Her passion for excellence in audio, lighting and event production for the last twenty plus years has garnered the recognition and high praise from all levels of the entertainment industry