Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music is celebrating an exceptional showing at the Chamber Music America (CMA) Awards as its faculty and alumni received three of the organization’s top honors. These awards, which underscore the Shepherd School’s influence on the chamber music landscape, will be presented during the CMA National Conference in February 2025. For the first time in its history, the CMA conference will take place outside New York City and will be hosted in part by the Shepherd School, which will serve as the official sponsoring partner. The event also coincides with the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
“We are honored that Chamber Music America has chosen the Shepherd School as a partner for its 2025 conference,” said Dean Matthew Loden. “It is a privilege to celebrate our faculty and alumni who have made remarkable contributions to the field of chamber music. These awards reflect the incredible talent and legacy of the Shepherd School community, and we are grateful to see their work recognized by such a prestigious organization.”
The Interdisciplinary Collaboration of the Year Award was presented to Musiqa, led by Shepherd School professor of composition and theory Anthony Brandt, for its groundbreaking project “Meeting of Minds.” This innovative work, created in partnership with NobleMotion Dance, the University of Houston’s BRAIN Center and Sam Houston State University, blends music, dance, neuroscience and immersive projection design. By tracking brain activity via EEG technology, “Meeting of Minds” offers audiences a visceral exploration of neural dynamics and interpersonal connection. DMA composer and multimedia artist Badie Khaleghian created the projections while Shepherd School alumni and students Astrid Nakamura, Nanki Chugh, Molly Wise, Gabe Galley and Chris Ellis performed the work. Brandt’s leadership, along with contributions from fellow Shepherd School composition and theory professors Karim Al-Zand and Pierre Jalbert, has helped cement Musiqa’s reputation as a trailblazer in interdisciplinary art.
“The award from Chamber Music America is a wonderful validation of our collaboration, which presented a unique hybrid of artistic performance and scientific experiment,” Brandt said. “I’m very grateful for the support of Rice’s Creative Venture Fund that made our work possible.”
The Ensemble of the Year Award went to Apollo Chamber Players, a Houston-based ensemble founded by Shepherd School alumnus Matthew Detrick ’05 and featuring fellow alumnus and cellist Matthew Dudzik ’04. Apollo is celebrated for its innovative programming and commitment to expanding the chamber music repertoire through multicultural new music commissioning. Under Detrick’s leadership as executive and artistic director, Apollo has reached audiences worldwide through international broadcasts, while Dudzik has played a vital role as the ensemble’s chief financial officer, guiding the organization through capacity-building initiatives that ensure its continued success.
The Album of the Year Award went to the Jasper String Quartet for “Insects and Machines: Quartets of Vivian Fung.” Alumni J Freivogel ’08, the quartet’s founding violinist, and Rachel Henderson Freivogel ’08, the founding cellist, both pursued advanced degrees in string quartet performance under Norman Fischer at the Shepherd School. The Jasper String Quartet, winners of the CMA Cleveland Quartet Award and Professional Quartet in Residence at Temple University, has earned international acclaim for its compelling artistry and commitment to contemporary music.
“From Anthony Brandt’s visionary leadership with Musiqa to the artistic excellence of Apollo Chamber Players and Jasper String Quartet, these individuals exemplify the best of what chamber music can offer,” Loden said.
Via a CMA Commissioning Grant, the CMA also commissioned Al-Zand’s string quartet “Strange Machines” for the Balourdet String Quartet, which is made up of Shepherd School alumni Angela Bae ’20, Justin DeFilippis ’20, Benjamin Zannoni ’20 and Russell Houston ’20. The piece has garnered national attention and will also appear in an upcoming issue of Chamber Music magazine.
As the CMA National Conference approaches, the Shepherd School anticipates welcoming artists, scholars and audiences from across the country to celebrate the vibrancy of chamber music. Performances, workshops and panel discussions will be held at Rice’s acclaimed music facilities, offering participants an unparalleled opportunity to experience Houston’s diverse cultural scene.
Learn more about the Shepherd School here.