Convocation

Frederic Rzewski and piano majors

MUSI 1101: Convocation, Concert, and Recital Repertoire

Fall 2025 – Fridays, 1:25–2:15, von der Mehden Recital Hall 

Required of all undergraduate music majors every semester of residence. Zero credit. Students receive a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory).

Coordinator

Dr. Louis Hanzlik; office hours: by appointment.
Office: Backstage von der Mehden Recital Hall; ext: 6-3728; louis.hanzlik@uconn.edu

Participation Requirement

Participation as a listener and/or performer of ten (10) convocations is required. Convocation participation will now be recorded via QR code scanning. At the start of each semester, you will receive a unique QR code to your UConn email address, which must be scanned when you enter vdM for Convocation and when you exit vdM. You must record an entrance and exit scan in order for your participation to count. Anyone experiencing difficulty in meeting the participation requirement is urged to see Dr. Hanzlik early to arrange a substitute requirement. 

Attendance of a music department concert outside your performance medium area (i.e., attending a brass recital if you are a singer, jazz concert if you are a violinist, etc.) will equal participation at one Convocation. You must bring us a program signed by a faculty member to receive Convocation credit or send a picture of yourself at the performance to music@uconn.edu. When master classes occur outside of the regular Convocation schedule, you may attend these and substitute them for participation at Convocation, but only for master classes outside your performance area.  You must present the Program Assistant with a copy of the master class program signed by a faculty member to confirm your attendance or send a picture of yourself at the performance to music@uconn.edu.

 

 Undergraduate Performance Requirement

  1. Four performances (strive for one each year), in Convocations and/or elective recitals, are required for graduation. Degree recitals are required in addition to these appearances. Performances must be on one’s primary instrument and approved by the teacher or coach.
  2. Students must perform twice as a soloist and twice as a chamber musician, i.e., an unconducted ensemble with one instrument or voice per part.
  3. Students may substitute one conducted performance for a chamber music performance. Student conductors and/or composers may not receive convocation performance credit for conducting.
  4. Convocation Agreement forms must be completed at least one week prior to the earliest appearance date requested. Forms must be signed by all performers—including accompanists and other collaborators—and a private teacher or coach in the case of chamber performances. If the performance is conducted, a member of the conducting faculty must sign the form.
  5. Ordinary staging requirements must be communicated to the von der Mehden staff during the hour preceding Convocation. Unusual needs must be made known at the time the form is submitted.

    Convocation Schedule

     

    August 29th Opening Convocation: Theo (Hayes) Claveles, Mezzo-Soprano (Alumni Performer and Speaker)
    September 5th Music Industry Series: Bios and Resumes, Steve Kligerman, Center for Career Readiness/Life Skills
    September 12th Meet your Music Student Advisory Council (MSAC)
    September 19th Guest Artist: Alice Dade (flute) and Sophie Shao (cello), This Is (not) Chamber Music!
    September 26th Music Industry Series: Samantha Lane, Vice President for Sales & Marketing, Eastman Music Company
    October 3rd Study Abroad Info Session and Q&A with Dr. Eric Rice
    October 10th Guest Artist: Eric Reed, Jazz Pianist & Composer
    October 17th Coffee and Convo-sation with Dr. Hanzlik & Advising Q&A with Amanda Wilde and Emily Cole!
    October 24th Guest Artist: Chris Newell, Singer-Artist & Collaborator, Director - Native American Cultural Programs at UConn
    October 31st Concerto Competition
    November 7th Music Industry Series: Russell Allyn (Librarian, Boston Symphony Orchestra) & Sam Boss (UConn Archives)
    November 14th Student Performances
    November 21st Student Performances
    December 5th Student Performances