School of Music faculty member Phyllis Byrdwell got the call not long before incoming University of Washington president Robert J. Jones’ inaugural address to the UW community last October at Meany Hall. Event planners envisioned a performance by the UW Gospel Choir to kick off the entire event.
A non-auditioned group of singers from across the UW’s degree programs that Byrdwell has directed for more than 25 years, the Gospel Choir had met for a couple of preliminary rehearsals by then—the new academic year was barely under way—and some of the singers had never sung in a choir before, but Byrdwell accepted the honor. And then she and the singers got busy.
“We got it together in about two weeks as the class had just begun the quarter,” Byrdwell says. Their hard work paid off in a confident and spirited performance. “The group sounded very good,” she agrees, “and I know Dr. Jones enjoyed their presentation.” As did the entire audience, which greeted the choir’s rendition of “Do Not Pass Me By” with enthusiastic applause.
The choir’s performance was only the beginning of the School of Music’s involvement in welcoming the new UW president. Just before Dr. Jones’ address, doctoral piano student Cicy Li delivered a sparkling interpretation of Ravel’s Je Deux, reprising her well-received performance from September at the UW’s annual Recognition Gala.
Doctoral piano student Cicy Li performed before Dr. Jones' address (Photo: UW Photography).
Upon his introduction, Dr. Jones acknowledged Cicy and the Gospel Choir along with the speakers preceding him, saying, “Thank you for contributing so much to the community and to our joyful celebration today.”
More music followed. At the conclusion of the president’s remarks, the UW Husky Marching Band filed onto the stage to perform –What else? – the UW’s fight song, “Bow Down to Washington,” led by conductor and School of Music alumnus Corey Jahlas. Attendees then enjoyed a reception in the Meany Hall lobby and live music by students from the UW Jazz Studies program.
Alumnus Corey Jahlas directs the Husky Marching Band (Photo: UW Photography).
An abundance of music at a welcome event for a new UW president is especially appropriate in the case of Robert J. Jones, who holds music among his areas of specialty and interest. Along with his credentials as a renowned scholar of crop physiology and record of service as an innovative leader at several top public universities, Dr. Jones is a former member of St. Paul-Minneapolis-based Sounds of Blackness, a Grammy-winning vocal ensemble for which he sang tenor. At his UW residence, HillCrest, he is able to make music on one of the School of Music’s Steinways, on loan to the president’s residence both for his own use and for use at special University events hosted there.
“We’ve been pleased to take part in welcoming our new UW president, Robert J. Jones, and delighted to learn of his interest in music,” says School of Music director Joël-François Durand. “We look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”
UW Jazz Studies students performed at the reception after Dr. Jones' address (Photo: Joanne DePue).