New Center for American Music - Items of Interest - established by the University of Texas at Austin School of music - Brief Article

American Music Teacher, Feb-March, 2003

The New Center for American Music was established by The University of Texas at Austin (UTA) School of Music to advance the teaching, scholarship and performance of American music from all traditions, including concert, folk and popular music.

The Center will establish UTA as a leading institution for the study and performance of American music.

"In keeping with the richness and diversity of the United States, the Center will attend to the variety of music in America through research, educational, and performance programs of the highest quality directed to all those who love American music," said B. Glenn Chandler, director of the School of Music.

David Neumeyer, chair of the Center and noted film music scholar, said, "The Center is the only such institute to be integrated with a comprehensive school of music within a major research university. The School of Music aims to create a unique community of scholars, performers, and industry professionals in a collaborative learning environment."

New courses in the music of Texas, for example, will incorporate historic sound recordings and photographs found at the Center for American History into lectures and presentations. In the near future, the New Center for American Music also will house new School of Music programs, including recording technology, music business and a UTA recording label.

A goal of the Center is to forge links between the academy and the community to facilitate an unprecedented exchange between musicians, scholars, students and citizens of Austin.

For more information contact UTA at (512) 475-8195 or visit www.utexas.edu/cofa/music.