The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University

Summer days on the Peabody campus are hot… and quiet. The tinkling of piano keys gives way to silence as the halls empty of students and faculty. Where does everyone go?

We asked Peabody faculty and students to take a moment from their travels—across the country and around the world—to check in and let us know what they’ve been up to. A sampling…

Hello all!

We are enjoying the Colorado Rockies immensely with the beautiful warm days and cool evenings. The music at the Aspen Music Festival is wonderful and the lack of humidity is a fantastic thing! It feels like we are at Peabody because every corner we turn there is either a student from Peabody or someone else associated with Peabody. I thoroughly enjoyed an inspiring master class given by Pam Frank; and Herby [Greenberg] and I have run into each other backstage at our respective concerts. A true highlight was that I saw a black bear on the street! Enjoy the rest of the summer and see you all in September…
Vicky Chiang, Conservatory viola faculty with Markand Thakar, Conservatory conducting faculty

Hello from Boston!

I’m nearing the end of my five-week experience as a participant in the International Fusion Arts Exchange being hosted by Northeastern University here in Boston. The program has just been an amazing experience! There’s too much to tell. I’ve collaborated with colleagues and mentors from everywhere—the U.S., Ireland, India, South Africa, Mali, and Brazil! Our trips to New York City and Tanglewood have been fabulous, and we’ve listened to, studied, and performed a wonderful variety of 20th-century American music. We’ll soon be taking our last trip to Washington, DC, where we will finally say our goodbyes, but I’m going to take some serious knowledge and some wonderful memories back to Baltimore with me.
See you at Peabody!
Jessica Abel, MM voice student of Mariana Busching with Evan Rogers, MM composition student of Michael Hersch

Fairbanks Alaska Summer Arts Festival

“In the land of the midnight sun. Eye masks required for sleeping.”
Steve Rainbolt and JoAnn Kulesza, Conservatory voice faculty

Greetings from Indianapolis!

I just finished my first summer as the new artistic director of the Indianapolis Early Music Festival. What a great time! I heard concerts by Hesperus, the Boston Camerata, and Ensemble Caprice from Montreal, featuring Peabody alum Charlie Weaver on lute and Early Music Department faculty members Gwyn Roberts, recorder, and Risa Browder, baroque viola. The weather was gorgeous and I got to swim in a lovely lake every day. See you in September.
Mark Cudek, director of Peabody Early Music

Marlboro Festival, Vermont

“An oasis for music lovers.”
Marina Piccinini and Christopher Theofanidis, Conservatory flute and composition faculty

Beijing Bound!

I’ve just ended my six-week stay at the beautiful Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. This was my fifth year as the cello artist faculty there, and it really starts to feel like a second home! I was pleased to have Peabody represented by Artist Diploma student Si-yan Li. Now I’m about to leave for China for my first visit to the Beijing International Music Festival. Trading the constant sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and glorious beaches of California for the intense heat and bustle of exotic Beijing should be quite an interesting cultural contrast. Then again, music is music wherever we go! In Beijing, I’ll be joined by former Peabody student Caleb Jones, current undergraduates Suah Kim and Domenica Romagni, and incoming first-year master’s student Alexandra Sia.
Alan Stepansky, Conservatory cello faculty