Overtones: Spring 2024

In the Spring 2024 issue of Overtones, as we begin to unveil a new visual identity and messaging that communicates the artistic excellence of Curtis, we also discuss the influence of Curtis on chamber music and the American musical landscape and look back at the history of classical music in the Olympic games. We follow Curtis musicians as they perform on a Star Trek-themed cruise and sit down with James Ross, Curtis’ new director of orchestral studies, to discuss his aspirations for the school’s expanded conducting program. In Sound Off, we speak with four members of the Curtis community about performance anxiety, and in our Q+A, we talk with renowned composer, violist, and Curtis alumna Nokuthula Ngwenyama (’96). Four alumni discuss how the skills they honed at Curtis transferred from the concert stage to the courtroom and beyond, and we look back at the history of premiering new works with Curtis Opera Theatre and Commencement ceremonies of the past. 

“As part of our rebranding process, we developed a new visual system with preeminent design firm Pentagram. We also crafted a concise positioning statement for the school: Curtis is where the world’s great young musicians become the leading artists, creators, and innovators in classical music.”

—Vince Ford, Senior Vice President, Digital Strategy and Innovation Executive Director, Performance Innovation Lab Field-McFadden Chair in Digital Studies Career Studies