by Russell Fisher, Music Department, University of Bridgeport
University of Bridgeport’s Music department has moved from its longtime home in the Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center to a new space in the John C. Cox Student Center.
The new location places the Music department in the heart of daily student life. “I am excited about our new spacious classrooms and proximity to the rest of campus,” says department chair Dr. Mya Scarlato. The flexible space provided by the Student Center classrooms will allow for the department to maintain all of its performing ensembles’ rehearsal space, while having the flexibility to have general seminars, discussion, and lectures as well.
Since 1947, UB has been training musicians, and today’s music degree provides students with the preparation they need to build a career in the music world. With dedicated and experienced artist-teachers, the program gives the sort of personal attention and advising found at small colleges, with the sort of spacious and well-designed facilities typically found at large universities. The Bachelor of Music degree provides pre-professional training in music, including concentrations in Music Business, Music Education, and Music Performance, while the School of Education offers a master’s degree that leads to initial Connecticut certification in several subjects, including Music Teaching Certification (K-12).
Recently, the department welcomed guest lecturer Professor Collin Edouard who took full advantage of the flexible space of the new department home. In a lecture titled, “Music in Secondary Schools: Practical and Theoretical Approaches to Teaching Music of the Global South,” Professor Edouard began by instructing the class of graduate students in traditional West African dance, and then moved into a more conventional lecture and seminar. This format was the perfect fit for UB’s new flexible class spaces.
The new home of the UB Music department consists of faculty offices, renovated practice rooms and rehearsal spaces, flexible classrooms and a music technology computer lab. Come visit and join us in our new location!
Learn more about the Music program at UB.
Russell Fisher is a percussionist and educator. Russell has commissioned new works for many mediums as an emerging voice in the contemporary music landscape.
As a chamber musician, Russell has been featured in the Yale Percussion Group, Yale In New York Concert Series at Carnegie Hall, on the Brooklyn Bound Series, the Sō Percussion Summer Institute, and the Oneppo Chamber Music Series at the Yale School of Music. Fisher is a co-founder of several chamber music groups, including a percussion quartet, percussion duo, and viola-percussion duo.
Russell is an active member of the booming steel pan scene. He has performed in Panorama competitions with both Crossfire Steel Orchestra and CASYM Steel Orchestra. It has been his personal mission to continue to commission and perform new works for steel pan. Most recently, Russell commissioned Liam Teague to write a solo for double seconds.
Russell has earned a Master of Musical Arts Degree from the Yale School of Music, a Master of Music Degree from the Peabody Institute at the John’s Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Music Degree from New York University. He is an assistant professor of Music and director of ensembles at the University of Bridgeport and a Doctorate of Musical Arts Candidate at the Yale School of Music.