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Medici Mondays: Kalanit-Liat Chalstrom By Charlie Snyder, Arizona Arts

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Sunday, December 8, 2024
College of Fine Arts, School of Music

Kalanit-Liat Chalstrom conducted dissertation research in the Library of Congress, thanks to support from the College of Fine Arts Medici Circle.

Kalanit-Liat, a second-year PhD candidate studying musicology, explored the recorded tapes of Samuel Bernstein discussing Judaism in the Library of Congress’ Leonard Bernstein Archive. She listened to and transcribed several recordings to gain a better understanding of these connections for use in her dissertation on American composer Leonard Bernstein, winner of seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards and 16 Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I believe that these recordings are unexplored sources that can connect Samuel more closely to his son’s musical expression, and that they can help to contextualize Leonard Bernstein’s experiences as a Jewish individual in American music history,” she said.  

Students: Become a Medici Scholar. | Supporters: Join the Medici Circle.

“Through this experience I felt a deeper connection not only to my Jewish heritage, but to my field of study. Having the opportunity to explore the Leonard Bernstein Archive and listen to the voices of the past was an indescribable experience that truly changed the way I pursue my research as a Jewish individual, and the way I think about Jewish musicology as a whole. 

“I am deeply honored to have had the opportunity to hear Samuel Bernstein’s story directly from the man due to the preservation of these materials.”

Medici Circle Appreciation

“Thank you to Dr. Pamela Becker and Dr. Vincent Immordino for sponsoring my project and helping me to explore these archives!”

Medici Circle support allows talented artists and scholars like Kalanit-Liat to pursue an educational summer project beyond the classroom. 

Previously on “Medici Mondays”