Music School Introduces Fresh Academic Staff
New Faculty Join UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has welcomed three new faculty members for the fall 2021 semester.
Jan Berry Baker, a founding member of the Committee on the Status of Women in NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance), has joined the department as an Associate Professor of Saxophone and Woodwind area head. Baker is also the co-artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble, Bent Frequency. An active orchestral saxophonist, Baker frequently performs with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
David Kaplan, a UCLA alumnus who earned his bachelor of arts degree in music from the institution, has returned as Assistant Professor of Piano Performance. Kaplan is a core member of Decoda, the affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall and ensemble-in-residence at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. As an accomplished soloist with orchestra, recitalist, and chamber musician, Kaplan is set to bring his expertise to the School of Music.
Catherine Provenzano, who earned her Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from New York University, has joined the department as Assistant Professor of Musicology. Provenzano's academic focus is on voice, mediation, and labor in contexts of popular music production, with a regional specialty in North America. She has conducted ethnographic research with software developers, audio engineers, music producers, and artists in Los Angeles, Nashville, Silicon Valley, and Germany. Provenzano has published an article in the Journal of Popular Music Studies and has presented research at meetings of the Society for Ethnomusicology, EMP PopCon, The New School, Berklee College of Music, and McGill University.
All three faculty members express excitement and enthusiasm about joining the engaged academic community at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music. Baker, Kaplan, and Provenzano are thrilled to contribute to the school's commitment to excellent public education and to learn and grow in an environment of such range and vitality.
While the search results do not provide specific information about the new faculty members for the fall 2021 semester, it is best to consult UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music official announcements or archived news/releases from that period directly for accurate historical information.
Despite their busy schedules filled with education, performance, and research, the new faculty members at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music – Jan Berry Baker, David Kaplan, and Catherine Provenzano – still find time for personal interests such as attending concerts and listening to music for entertainment. On their days off, they often immerse themselves in the world of popular music, seeking self-development by learning about different genres and styles, including classical, jazz, rock, and electronic music.
