Guest Artists at UIndy

The University of Indianapolis Music Department has a strong record of providing students with access to world-famous guest-artists of various genres including Pullitzer Prize-winning composer Anthony Davis, the Emerson Quartet, cellist Janos Starker, the Juilliard Quartet, conductor Raymond Leppard, Ashley Dixon, Prof. Stan Ford, the London Chamber Orchestra, and jazz greats Emmet Cohen, Dick Oatts, and Dave Stryker.

Anthony Davis

In February 2025, the Department of Music welcomed Anthony Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and one of the most important voices in contemporary music, for a two-day residency of talks, performances, and community engagement.

Described by The New York Times as “one of the great living American composers,” Davis has reshaped the landscape of modern opera and chamber music. His works, including X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X and the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Central Park Five, blend jazz, classical, and avant-garde traditions while confronting urgent social and political issues.

Highlights of the residency included:

• Public Interview & Discussion – Music sociologist Joshua Thompson led a wide-ranging conversation with Davis, interwoven with video excerpts from the Metropolitan Opera’s production of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X and The Central Park Five. Together they explored Davis’s career, creative inspirations, and the role of political art in society.
• Faculty & Guest Artist Concert – UIndy faculty and guest performers presented a live concert of Davis’s music, featuring chamber works that fuse classical and jazz traditions, as well as a moving baritone aria inspired by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

About Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking operas and genre-defying compositions. His career bridges jazz improvisation, classical forms, and social commentary, redefining the role of artists in contemporary society. His music has been performed by leading ensembles and opera houses worldwide, and his influence continues to shape both the concert stage and conversations about the intersection of art and justice.

We were honored to host Anthony Davis at the University of Indianapolis and grateful for the opportunity for our students, faculty, and community to engage with his music and vision.

Ashley Dixon 

The UIndy Department of Music was honored to welcome renowned mezzo-soprano Ashley Dixon for a public masterclass in October 2024. A rising star in the opera world, Ms. Dixon worked with a select group of UIndy vocalists in a dynamic evening of one-on-one vocal coaching.

This special event offered audience members—from experienced musicians to curious newcomers—a behind-the-scenes look at professional voice instruction. Attendees observed live feedback and real-time performance development, gaining insight into the technical and expressive elements of classical singing.

The masterclass featured UIndy vocalists:
Casey Adams, Gabby Graves, Jackson Lee, Daniel McClure, Sofia Casasola Wust, and Ava Obermeyer. 

Ashley Hall-Tighe

In October 2024, the Department of Music welcomed Ashley Hall-Tighe, Principal Trumpet of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and former member of The Canadian Brass, as part of our Music Departmental series.

In addition to her distinguished performance career, Hall-Tighe is also an educator and certified life coach. Her session focused on musician wellness and overcoming performance anxiety—a topic vital to developing healthy, sustainable artistic practices.

During the interactive workshop, students reflected on their own experiences as musicians, answering questions about thoughts, feelings, and performance habits. Hall-Tighe then transformed this input into a dynamic presentation, using the students’ responses as a springboard for coaching strategies tailored to the realities of learning, growing, and performing musicians. Her visit reminded us that artistry is not only about technical mastery, but also about cultivating resilience, self-awareness, and balance as we pursue our craft.

Professor Stan Ford 

In April of 2025, the Department of Music was honored to welcome pianist and pedagogue Prof. Stan Ford for a series of events with our students and community.

During his visit, Prof. Ford worked closely with our pianists in a public master class and offered German Lied coaching for our singers. He also shared insights from his distinguished career, including his studies with legendary pianist Ruth Slenczynska, his approach to piano pedagogy, and his experiences performing and teaching internationally.

Highlights of the visit included:

• Piano Master Class – UIndy pianists performed works by Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Brahms, and Haydn, receiving direct feedback from Prof. Ford.
• Vocal Coaching – Student singers explored German Lied repertoire under his guidance.
• Lecture & Q&A – Prof. Ford discussed his career, his Fulbright-supported studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and his work with students around the globe.

About Prof. Ford

Originally from St. Louis, Prof. Ford studied with Ruth Slenczynska, the last living student of Sergei Rachmaninoff. He later earned a Fulbright scholarship to study at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg with Hans Leygraf, eventually joining the Mozarteum faculty and becoming an Austrian citizen. His career has taken him across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, including performances at the renowned Bregenz and Salzburg festivals. His students now hold positions as performers and educators at leading institutions worldwide.

We were delighted to host Prof. Ford and grateful for the opportunity our students had to learn from his artistry and experience.

Maestro Raymond Leppard

Maestro Raymond Leppard enjoyed a long and rich relationship with the UIndy Music Department throughout his illustrious career. For over two decades, he made annual appearances here and, on his passing, gifted his piano to the Music Department. 

Maestro Raymond Leppard conducted at the Gala Opening Concert of the 2018-19 Faculty Artist Concert Series.

Emmet Cohen

Pianist Emmet Cohen visited and worked with students in classrooms.