Attending the 38th Chamber Music America Annual Conference

Grant:

Lecturers' Professional Development Fund (LPDF)

Academic Year:

2015 - 2016 (June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016)

Funding Requested:

$2,000.00

Project Dates:

Thu, 01/07/2016 - Sun, 01/10/2016

Applicant(s):

amycheng

Overview of the Project:

Chamber Music America is one of the leading organizations in the world for Chamber Music. The organization promotes Jazz, Classical Chamber Music and Contemporary Collaborative Arts through its commissioning and performing grant programs and provides critical information in the field of Chamber Music through its comprehensive website, Chamber Music Magazine and E-Newsletter. I believe that attending the Chamber Music America 38th Annual Conference will be an opportunity for me to observe and be in contact with what is at the forefront of the Chamber Music field. I believe that attending the conference will be a way to establish a presence as a representative for the U of M Piano Chamber Music area. Furthermore, the information I will gather will directly benefit our students in LP 588 (Piano Chamber Music Survey) and ENS 466-566 (Piano Chamber Music). In addition, I am hoping to develop a relationship with the New York Intercultural Music Society, Inc. (NYIMS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to performing, promoting, and commissioning musical works from intersections of Western and non-Western cultures. My vision is to develop a collaborative relation with the NYIMS and Confucius Institute either through a performing concert or lecture presentation on the U of M Campus, and perhaps also in New York City.

Final Report Fields

Project Objectives:

To observe and to be in contact with what is at the forefront of the current Chamber Music field by participating in the 38th annual Chamber Music America Conference. CMA promotes Jazz, Classical Chamber Music and Contemporary Collaborative Arts through its commissioning and performing grant programs. I believe that attending the conference will be a way to establish a presence as a representative for the U of M Piano Chamber Music area. Furthermore, the information I gather will directly benefit our students in LP 588 (Piano Chamber Music Survey) and ENS 466-566 (Piano Chamber Music).

Project Achievements:

The conference was packed with informative events, seminars and showcases. For me, the CMA Conference brought two very crucial concepts into focus: Creative Entrepreneurship and Artistic Integrity. To be successful in the field of Chamber Music, these two concepts must work together. The conference offered much insights into these important matters. It has had an impact on how I mentor my ensembles who are seriously considering making Chamber Music a career path. It also offered me much needed information to share with my Chamber Music Survey class, where I devoted a session on career in Chamber Music for pianists.

Continuation:

Attending the conference has had an impact on my outlook on the most current Chamber Music field. This goes beyond just the duration of the conference. It keeps me informed about the latest trends, concepts and level of playing that is happening in the professional Chamber Music field. The conference was informative for me as a teacher, and it was important for me to be able to bring the information back to my students. Beyond that, I found the conference to be energizing for me as an artist teacher. However, I was not able to accomplish one item from my original proposal. I had planned to meet with the director of the New York Intercultural Music Society, Inc. (NYIMS) in order to develop a relation for future artistic exchange with their unique chamber ensemble. Unfortunately, the director was out of the country during the CMA conference.

Dissemination:

I was not the only faculty from SMTD who was present at the conference. The Dean of SMTD, Interim Chair of the Chamber Music Department, another prominent faculty member as well as representative from the M-Prize were also at the conference. I believe that there is a mutual understanding amongst the colleagues that the CMA is a significant platform for all things Chamber Music.

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