With grant support, Schultz acquires entire Valerie Coleman music library for Coastal Carolina University

“The student woodwind ensemble that I direct played Coleman’s Umoja, and we just fell in love with it,” Schultz said. “We played it in the courtyard, we played it in a recital – the students couldn’t get enough of it.” They also learned and played Coleman’s “Portraits of Langston” in multiple arenas, as well as music by contemporary composer Amanda Harberg.

“One challenge we have as professors is that so much of our music, music commonly studied, is now in the public domain. You can just go to an online music library and print it for free. You can’t do that with music by living composers. If students want to work on a piece, they have to buy. The cost, maybe $40, becomes a significant investment when students could study something for free.”

“This initiative is meeting the cultural unrest moment that we’re going through in all segments of society,” said Schultz. “Part of the challenge coming out of the wake of 2020 is, can we translate our beliefs into action? We had all these institutional manifestos coming out of 2020; now what can we do? And that’s why I’m so grateful to be part of the CIE and the Edwards College -- this is a place where I have funding. I have real support.”

Read the full article here.

Listen to the CCU Woodwind Ensemble perform Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, arranged for the group by Schultz