Music School Faculty Recognized as Notable Professors
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has announced the promotion of two of its esteemed faculty members, Peter Kazaras and Ian Krouse, to the rank of Distinguished Professor. This prestigious title is UCLA's highest faculty rank, awarded to outstanding professors who are pre-eminent authorities in their fields.
Peter Kazaras, who arrived at UCLA in 2007 after a celebrated career as an opera performer, director, and leader of young-artist programs, has been a significant figure at the school. As the inaugural Susan G. and Michel D. Covel MD Chair at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, Kazaras has directed, supervised, or produced nearly 40 productions at UCLA. His performances have graced many of the world's leading opera houses, and he has sung in lauded premieres of new works by preeminent American composers, including Leonard Bernstein and John Corigliano.
Kazaras's contributions to the school extend beyond the stage. He regularly directs for major professional companies, including the Washington National Opera, Seattle Opera, and the Los Angeles Opera. His dedication to nurturing the next generation of artists is evident in his role as the director of Opera UCLA.
Ian Krouse, on the other hand, is a renowned composer known for his exceptional creativity and gifted teaching. His works have been performed and recorded by major orchestras, choirs, wind ensembles, chamber groups, and soloists worldwide. Krouse's compositions have been commissioned by numerous organizations, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Kronos Quartet, and the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University.
Krouse's influence at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music extends beyond his role as a professor of composition. He is also the director of the UCLA Composers' Forum, where he fosters the creative growth of student composers. His service to the school includes a tenure as chair of the department of music and as an inaugural academic associate dean.
Krouse's works have earned him numerous prizes, including the ASCAP Foundation's Morton Gould Young Composer Award and the BMI Foundation's Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize. In April 2015, his Armenian Requiem premiered to great acclaim and was commemorated in a commercial recording on the Naxos label.
The Herb Alpert School of Music is honored to count both Kazaras and Krouse among its musical community and looks forward to their continued contributions and leadership. Their exceptional scholarship and artistry embody the highest quality of work at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
It is worth noting that while Arturo O’Farrill, Carter, and Michael Beckerman are notable faculty members at the school, the search results do not explicitly list the current Distinguished Professors. For an authoritative and current list, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music official website or direct contact with the school would provide the most accurate information.
Krouse and Kazaras join a select group of distinguished professors at UCLA, including Arturo O’Farrill, Professor in the Global Jazz Studies department and Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, appointed in 2019. Carter, a professor of music at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, is also mentioned in relation to discussions with women musicians. Michael Beckerman, recently named dean, is known for his scholarship on Czech and Eastern European music.
Ian Krouse, in addition to being co-division chair and professor of composition, is also the director of the UCLA Composers' Forum. Krouse is recognized internationally as a leading composer of classical guitar music today. His exceptional creativity, gifted teaching, and outstanding service have influenced generations of UCLA students and enriched the musical fields and broader culture.
Peter Kazaras's contributions to education and self-development, evident in his role as the director of Opera UCLA and numerous productions, are integral to his personal growth as well as the learning of future artists. Ian Krouse's influence on student composers at UCLA, nurtured through his role as the director of the UCLA Composers' Forum, demonstrates his commitment to personal growth and the advancement of learning in the field of music.
