Backround on diversity efforts

In November 2015, the College of Music began to form two diversity and inclusion working groups—one comprised of faculty, the other exclusively of students. These two groups met collectively and independently to formulate strategies for strengthening equity, inclusion and diversity both within the college and across campus.

The first faculty committee consisted of the following members:

  • Richard Fracker, professor of voice (tenor) and chair of the vocal arts area
  • Juliet Hess, assistant professor of music education
  • Chen-Yu Huang, assistant professor of harp
  • Marcie Ray, assistant professor of musicology
  • Diego Rivera, associate professor of jazz studies, saxophone and Improvisation, and associate director of Jazz Studies
  • Mark Sullivan, associate professor of composition
  • Talitha Wimberly, director of Undergraduate Student Affairs, College of Music
  • Rodney Whitaker, Group Facilitator, university distinguished professor of Jazz Bass and director of Jazz Studies

In 2019, Dean Jim Forger, Associate Dean David Rayl, and Rodney Whitaker met with each area within the College of Music. The consensus was that all areas should have representation on the Diversity Committee.

The committee has since expanded and is also working closely with the independent, student-led group Color Me Music. 

Students have been selected based on recommendations from faculty and staff to represent both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Landing Listening Lounge sessions were created as additional opportunities for music majors across all disciplines to have greater understanding and respect for each other’s musical cultures and traditions.


2018-2020 College of Music Diversity Initiatives by Area

Dean’s Office

  • Create Fall Semester 2019 All College Convocation
  • Created a Convocation for International Students
  • Executive Staff Meetings (Fall 2018 included the Director of Diversity & Inclusion
  • in weekly executive staff meetings)
  • Met individually with each of the College of Music Areas re: Diversity

Theory

  • Focused on More Diverse Recruitment Activities
  • Provide Diversity training for graduate assistants
  • Continue the I80E course—which benefits the underserved minority students
  • Guest lecturer - gender balance

Woodwinds

  • Focused on More Diverse Recruitment Activities
  • Host Imani Winds—which is a predominantly African-American chamber wind ensemble
  • Perform more Minority and female composers/cross discipline works

Musicology

  • Present diverse guest speakers: Melvin Butler (African American) and Naomi Andre (African American)
  • Revamp musicology survey to reflect diversity
  • Musicology students engaged with the Cristo Rey Center

Brass

  • Focused on More Diverse Recruitment Activities
  • Perform music by women composers
  • Host more diverse composers

Piano

  • Working with a large international student population
  • Diversifying student body, including recently attracting students of color with an AAGA
  • Celebrating the Spectrum—4th Summer Piano Festival for Students with Autism
  • D. Polischuk recent CD, Latin American Music for Two Pianos
  • Grant submitted for a piano teaching development center

Band 

  • Guest conductor and composer Omar Thomas

Music Education 

  • Reforming the graduate curriculum
  • Disabilities studies course-fall semester 2019/J. Hess
  • Equity infused
  • Provide diversity training for CMS-Detroit

Jazz Studies

  • Outreach at CMS Detroit
  • Jazz for Young People Concerts in Detroit Public Schools 
  • Tanya Darby, female, African-American lead trumpeter/soloist
  • Hosting several African-American Guest Artists 

Voice

  • Guest artist events
  • Joint studio events
  • 5-6 diverse guest artist
  • Recruited the most diverse class 2019-20
  • Outreach in 4-6 schools in under-served communities
  • Color Me Music organization 

Percussion

  • Joint studio classes
  • Lolly Allen, guest artist
  • Kevin Jones, Afro Cuban Percussionist/Grand Rapids
  • Mbira Ensemble
  • Sarah Long-led event
  • Diversified the curriculum
  • Studio class
  • Randy Gelispie
  • African drumming
  • Steel band
  • Brazilian band

Strings

  • Harp Day/Patricia Terri Ross, African-American Harpist
  • International Student Gathering, October 3, 2019 (David Rayl/Susan Hoeskstra/Chen-Yu Huang)

Composition/Science Gallery

  • Detroit Based Student Organization-MOCAD
  • Afro-Latino Students/Detroit 
  • Arab-American National Museum 
  • ACCESS
  • Dearborn-Health Care, Human Trafficking, Music Series
  • Jonathan Evers Group