Music School Introduces Fresh Academic Staff
The Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has welcomed new faculty members for the 2022-2023 academic year. Among them are Catherine Provenzano, David Kaplan, and Jan Berry Baker, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective fields.
Catherine Provenzano, who earned her Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from New York University, has joined the department of music as Assistant Professor of Musicology. Provenzano is excited to join the engaged academic community at the Herb Alpert School of Music and is eager to teach and learn in an environment of such range and vitality. Her academic focus is on voice, mediation, and labor in contexts of popular music production, with a regional specialty in North America.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Provenzano has conducted ethnographic research with software developers, audio engineers, music producers, and artists in Los Angeles, Nashville, Silicon Valley, and Germany. She has also published an article in the Journal of Popular Music Studies and has presented research at various meetings, including the Society for Ethnomusicology, EMP PopCon, The New School, Berklee College of Music, and McGill University.
David Kaplan, a UCLA alumnus who graduated in 2005, has returned to the Herb Alpert School of Music as Assistant Professor of Piano Performance. Kaplan is an accomplished soloist with orchestra, recitalist, and chamber musician. He has also been a core member of Decoda, the affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall and ensemble-in-residence at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
Jan Berry Baker, who earned her master's and doctoral degrees in music from Northwestern University, has joined the department of music as Associate Professor of Saxophone and Woodwind area head. Baker is an active orchestral saxophonist who has performed with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Atlanta Opera, Joffrey Ballet, and Grant Park Orchestra. In addition, Baker is co-artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble, Bent Frequency.
Recent search results do not provide a comprehensive list of new faculty members at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music nor their detailed roles and notable achievements. However, Gabriel Esperon, currently a master's student at the Herb Alpert School of Music, was appointed as a Judith and Thomas L. Beckman LA Fellow, signaling recognition of his potential and involvement with the school. Additionally, a part-time lecturer position in Jazz Performance (voice) for the 2025–26 academic year in the Global Jazz Studies program was announced, but the specific appointee's name and achievements were not listed.
The school has also recently partnered with Universal Music Group (UMG) to establish the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship supporting high-potential students in the Music Industry Program, reflecting a commitment to nurturing future music industry leaders rather than faculty hires.
Provenzano, Kaplan, and Baker join the ranks of the Herb Alpert School of Music's distinguished faculty, each expressing excitement to contribute to and learn from the vibrant community at the school.
- Catherine Provenzano, beyond her academic commitments, also conducts ethnographic research on popular music production, encompassing various industries such as Los Angeles, Nashville, Silicon Valley, Germany, and journal publications.
- Alongside musicology, entertainment aspects are intertwined in Jan Berry Baker's accomplishments, as she is an active orchestral saxophonist and co-artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble, Bent Frequency.
