National workshop is designing relevant, thriving 21st-century music programs

The second in a series of two national events placing the UofSC School of Music at the center of the American higher education music profession, the Carolina/College Music Society Summit 2.0 will leave attendees inspired and armed with a flexible, transferrable step-by-step process for catalyzing positive change at their own institutions.

Summit 2.0 is an experiential workshop on designing relevant, thriving 21st-century music programs. It builds on the unprecedented success of the sold-out first event in June 2016 at the University of South Carolina School of Music, during which interdisciplinary teams designed innovative new undergraduate degrees. The 2019 Summit 2.0 extends the conversation among the 238 participants from all over U.S. and internationals.

The focus for Summit 2.0  is on VALUES and CHOICES, considering a different and immediately relevant question: How can music programs better emphasize 21st-century priorities within existing courses and curricular structures? During the workshop multiple teams collaborate to reimagine traditional offerings, and then pitch proposals during a friendly competition.

Summit 2.0 stresses creative problem solving and healthy dialogue, emphasizing both product and process. In addition to team activities, Summit sessions consider:
•    Adopting relevant, distinctive school values
•    Transforming existing courses and degrees
•    Strategizing to enhance the student experience
•    Building buy-in and a shared collective vision
•    Finding time and money to emphasize these priorities

With a core belief that each of us plays a crucial role in helping music programs stay relevant and thrive, faculty and administrators representing a wide array of disciplines and institution types benefit from participating:
•    Applied study (all genres)
•    Ensembles (all types)
•    Theory/composition/improvisation
•    Musicology/ethnomusicology
•    Music education
•    Music executives, administrators, entrepreneurs, and others committed to designing a thriving future for music in higher education
•    UofSC’s award-winning Southern Exposure New Music Series kicks off the summit with a concert by GRAMMY-winning Roomful of Teeth. Dedicated to reimagining the expressive potential of the human voice, the members number some of the most versatile young singers in the country, including Pulitzer-winning composer Caroline Shaw.  

Led by Summit director David Cutler, keynote Richard Kessler, and an all-star team of 75 thought leaders, Carolina/CMS Summit 2.0 will leave attendees inspired, armed with a flexible, transferrable step-by-step process for catalyzing positive change.

Southern Exposure Kick-off Concert

UofSC’s award-winning Southern Exposure New Music Series kicks off the Summit with a concert by GRAMMY-award winning Roomful of Teeth. Dedicated to reimagining the expressive potential of the human voice, the members number some of the most versatile young singers in the country, including Pulitzer-winning composer Caroline Shaw. 

Keynote Speaker

The Keynote speaker, Richard Kessler was described by Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times as a "firebrand." Kessler holds a dual appointment as executive dean for the Performing Arts at The New School and dean of Mannes College, the century-old music conservatory at The New School. ßIn his role as executive dean for the Performing Arts, Kessler is working to unify the performing arts schools of The New School. As dean of Mannes, Richard Kessler developed and implemented a comprehensive strategic plan designed to make Mannes the most progressive high-quality music conservatory in the world. The plan leaves little untouched and has resulted in a significantly expanded curriculum reflecting a rethinking of the nature of music education in the 21st century. The plan created new degree programs, minors, and core proficiencies and a wide range of new activities in partnership with the other colleges of The New School.

Core Summit Team

Tayloe Harding - University of South Carolina (SC)
David Cutler - University of South Carolina (SC)
Mark Rabideau - DePauw University (IN)
Jennifer Snow - Frances Clark Center (CA)
Jeff Nytch - University of Colorado-Boulder (CO)