Category: Spotlights

Senior Spotlight: Ishani Kulkarni ’22

Jun 14, 2022

“Singing Francis Poulenc’s Figure Humaine with the Chamber Choir was a highlight of my time at Princeton. We started the piece in 2020, but didn’t get to perform it, and then started it again at the beginning of this year. It was extremely challenging to learn, and the rehearsal process was intense and exciting. It was the most rewarding experience to be able to perform it this year with such a wonderful group of people.”

Senior Spotlight: Noel Yu-Jen Peng ’22

Jun 14, 2022

“From my time at Princeton, I’m most proud of how much I’ve grown as a musician here. I truly could not have envisioned myself giving a senior recital, nor traveled where I have with the Glee Club, nor allowed myself to take myself seriously as an artist. It’s truly wonderful to be a part of this passionate and devoted community, and I’m lucky to have found the energy that allowed me to flourish so much.

Senior Spotlight: Ashwin Mahadevan ’22

Jun 14, 2022

“I have deeply enjoyed working with Gabriel Crouch. Since the beginning of my freshman year, he has inspired me to continue pursuing music and to expand my musical horizons. He has singlehandedly fostered my love for choral music and informed my musical tastes. My experience at Princeton would have been wholly unfulfilling without his mentorship.”

Senior Spotlight: Delaney Rose McMahon ’22

Jun 14, 2022

“Donnacha Dennehy has been the most supportive figure for me, both academically and personally. He is so encouraging, and his bubbly enthusiasm for music rubbed off on me right away. And yes, I did accidentally call him ‘dad’ twice to his face.”

Senior Spotlight: Ally Wonski ’22

Jun 7, 2022

“I love creating stories and bringing them to life across different mediums such as composition, writing, and performance! I particularly work within fantasy and the supernatural and typically create works that have a sort of haunted but beautiful, ethereal feel to them.”

Senior Spotlight: Theodore Renzo Trevisan ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Theodore Renzo Trevisan, from Princeton, NJ, wrote a thesis composition for choirs and electronics that was performed in the Princeton Universtity Chapel—an endeavor that also combined his pursuits in Certificates in the Applications of Computing and Vocal Consort Singing, and his talents as a vocalist, conductor, and electronic musician.

Senior Spotlight: Daniel Shen ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Daniel Shen, from Naperville, IL, applied his studies in the Applications of Computing to create a senior thesis exploring pop music hook generation using neural networks. In reflecting on his time on campus, he most appreciates the intellectual vitality of the Princeton community, and the ease with which one can make friendships and other meaningful connections within that community.

Senior Spotlight: Maya Stepansky ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Maya Stepansky, a drummer from Montclair, NJ, wrote her senior thesis as a composition that explored of sonic painting through drum performance and computer music. A member of Jazz Small Group I, her favorite musical memory on campus was getting to play with the great Dave Holland in Richardson Auditorium.

Senior Spotlight: Bryant So ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Bryant So, from Colorado Springs, CO, has participated as a violinist with the Princeton University Orchestra and Opus Chamber Music Ensemble, and as a vocalist with the Katzenjammers a capella group.

Senior Spotlight: Natalie Stein ’22

Jun 7, 2022

“From my time as an undergraduate student at Princeton, I’m most proud of all the music I’ve written here, especially my thesis. Regardless of what the future holds, I will always be able to carry it with me.”

Senior Spotlight: Maya Keren ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Maya Keren, from Philadelphia, PA, has spent many happy moments on the towpath dock—her favorite spot on campus—while pursuing a concentration in Music with Certificates in African American Studies and Music Performance, and playing at Terrace Club with the Julien band from her first to senior years.

Senior Spotlight: Emily Liushen ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Emily Liushen, from Louisville, KY, has dedicated her studies to both the composition and performance of music. For her senior thesis for the Music Department, she wrote a clarinet quintet.

Senior Spotlight: Anson Jones ’22

Jun 7, 2022

“From my time at Princeton, I am most proud of how much I’ve explored different topics and fields, how much I’ve learned about what my real passions are, and how much I’ve discovered about who I am.”

Senior Spotlight: Akiva Jacobs ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Akiva Jacobs, a guitarist and bass player from Newton, MA (and, as they think people would be surprised to learn, a scorpio!) composed and conducted an original composition for jazz large ensemble for their senior thesis in the Department of Music while pursuing Certificates in Music Performance and Latin American Studies.

Senior Spotlight: Ed Horan ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Ed Horan, from Hoboken, NJ, has created a concept album/audio-only musical retelling of the original Pinocchio story in culmination of his composition concentration in Music.

Senior Spotlight: Jeffrey Gordon ’22

Jun 7, 2022

“For me, being a music major meant always trying to prioritize what feels most important and most moving! I’m not sure what’s next for me yet, but I think that I’ll carry forward this ability to listen ‘inwardly’ for sure.”

Senior Spotlight: Justin Coon ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Justin Coon, a Wisconsin native, wrote an original composition for his senior thesis in the Department of Music.

Senior Spotlight: Leila Ruth Abou-Jaoude ’22

Jun 7, 2022

Leila Ruth Abou-Jaoude, from Lexington, KY, composed an original musical about the German Romantic concert pianist and composer Clara Schumann for her senior thesis.

Senior Spotlight: Mariana Corichi Gomez ’21

Jun 7, 2021

“From conducting Camerata in a program of Mexican composers to conducting the Glee Club in Mexico City for a loving audience, I cherish these moments and the opportunity to share my culture with my ensembles.”

Senior Spotlight: Alexandra Lee Rice ’21

Jun 7, 2021

“Before coming to Princeton, I was torn between going to a music conservatory and pursuing an academic degree. The music certificate program at Princeton, however, has enabled me to pursue both of my passions, and it has given me the freedom to teach or to pursue further education in music in the future, should I wish to do so.”

Senior Spotlight: TJ Li ’21

Jun 7, 2021

“We sang Franz Biebl’s setting of ‘Ave Maria’ once to ourselves, with no audience … That moment is still special to me because it encapsulates a lot of what I’ve cherished most about my time at Princeton – making music with other singers just for the joy of making music together.”

Senior Spotlight: Lawrence Chiang ’21

Jun 7, 2021

“My favorite musical moment from my time at Princeton is going on tour with the Princeton University Orchestra to Spain! And with the Opus Chamber Music Ensemble to Sweden!”