The °µĶų³Ō¹Ļā€™s Eastman School of Music has announced a new bachelor of music (BM) in music creation and technology, a degree program designed for students whose musical practice is grounded in electronic and digital technologies.

Led by ā€™05E (DMA), associate professor of music and technology and former head of music learning at music software company Ableton, the new major will emphasize electronic music production and performance, sound design, recording and editing, DJing, and the development of software and hardware. The inaugural class will begin study in fall 2027.

The program is part of °µĶų³Ō¹Ļā€™s newly established , an interdisciplinary academic collaboration between two leading °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ schools: Eastman and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. The department also serves as the academic home for faculty engaged in SoundSpace, a transdisciplinary research center advancing °µĶų³Ō¹Ļā€™s leadership in music and technology.

Together, the new major, department, and research center reflect the inspiring combinations possible at °µĶų³Ō¹Ļā€”where artistry, engineering, creativity, and emerging technologies come together to shape how music is made, studied, and experienced.

• Read more about Eastmanā€™s .

The °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ is hosting the inaugural from October 16 to 18. Jointly organized by the Universityā€™s and its , the festival is the first of its kind in North America, exploring the intersection of music, sound technology, and visual media.

Located in Rochester, New York, the birthplace of film and mediated imagery, Soundtrax underscores °µĶų³Ō¹Ļā€™s transdisciplinary strengths in acoustics, optics, engineering, and music while building on Eastmanā€™s legacy as a leader in film-music education and performance.

Spring 2024 marked the beginning of a new concert series to connect the , located near downtown Rochester, to the surrounding community. ROC City Concerts, funded by the John and Mary Celentano Chamber Music Fund, brought performances of live chamber music to underserved populations throughout the city. Elinor Freer, an associate professor of piano and chamber music at Eastman, part of the °µĶų³Ō¹Ļ, coordinated the inaugural season.

ā€œROC City Concerts celebrates the power of live music to transcend racial, economic, ethnic, and societal barriers,ā€ says Freer. ā€œAll people, regardless of their current life circumstances or the choices they have made, deserve the chance to feel human, and experiencing live music is one of the best ways to feel alive. We at ROC City Concerts look forward to bringing our music out into the community and to connecting with many different types of listeners.ā€

A special ensemble comprising Eastman students and faculty, plus members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, presented five concerts in April. A highlight was a performance at the Monroe County Jail. That event marked the first time Eastman musicians have held a concert in a correctional facility as well as the first time that music has ever been performed for members of Monroe Countyā€™s incarcerated population solely for the purpose of enjoyment.

ROC City Concerts also performed for unhoused veterans living at Richardā€™s House (part of the Veterans Outreach Center); residents and clients at East House (for substance abuse recovery); high school students at Villa of Hope School; and for those who benefit from Spiritus Christi Churchā€™s Prison Outreach, Mental Health Center, and Grace of God Recovery House.

East House President and Chief Executive Officer Lindsay Gozzi-Theobald says, ā€œMusic is not just a melody; itā€™s a symphony of healing, capable of harmonizing emotions, fostering connection, and inspiring growth.ā€ Gozzi-Theobald notes that East House is integrating ā€œthe transformative power of musicā€ into its behavioral health programs and residential settings.

ā€œMusic connects us all through a shared experience where there are no barriers.ā€

At the time of the event, Gozzi-Theobald shared that it would ā€œorchestrate a path towards holistic well-being, where every note resonates with purpose and every individual can find their unique rhythm of recovery. East House serves 1,250 people who are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders every year, many of whom live at or below the poverty level and do not have easy access to the arts. Together, we are making our community a healthier, more accessible place to live.ā€

ROC City Concerts is aligned with the University of Rochesterā€™s Live the Six initiative, led by its Office of Equity and Inclusion to combat all forms of hatred and racism. Community engagement is a major component of ā€œLive the Sixā€ and the cornerstone of the concert series.