Faculty
Nathan Hesselink, Associate Professor, PhD. University of London, SOAS, 1998
Prof. Nathan Hesselink is a researcher-performer of South Korean drumming traditions. His most recent research addresses the challenges faced by traditional musicians living in Seoul who are looking to incorporate the new/hybridity into their work. He leads the UBC Korean percussion Ensemble and has composed for samul nori ensemble.
John van Deursen, Sessional Lecturer, DMA. University of British Columbia, 2007
Dr. van Deursen has a wealth of experience from his ties to Asia. From 1995 until 2005 he held the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Taipei Philharmonic and was Director of the Taipei Philharmonic Pops; he also led the group in prestigious concert halls in the Czech Republic, Sweden and Helsinki, as well as the National Concert Hall in Taipei. Dr. van Deursen has been the Music Director of the Hsinchu Philharmonic in Taiwan and has made guest conducting appearances with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the Taipei City Symphony. Dr. van Deursen spent several years as assistant to Henry Mazer at the Taipei Philharmonic, and has also given brass masterclasses on trombone in Taiwan, China, Korea and Canada.
Alan Thrasher, Sessional Lecturer, PhD. Wesleyan University, 1980
Prof. Thrasher began his study of East Asian music during the 1970s, following earlier training in Western musicology. Dr. Thrasher’s fieldwork, conducted in Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, Japan and northern Thailand, has been focused primarily on Chinese instrumental music. His publications have appeared in journals such as Asian Music, Ethnomusicology and The World of Music, with other important contributions appearing in The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments (1984), Ethnomusicology: Historical and Regional Studies (1993) and The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,, 2nd ed. (2001). He has written three books: La-li-luo Dance-songs of the Chuxing Yi, Yunnan Province, China (World Music Press, 1990), Chinese Musical Instruments (Oxford University Press, 2000) and Sizhu Instrumental Music of South China (Brill, 2008).
Programs
PRIMA
PRIMA is a language, music and cultural training program. All parts of PRIMA and IUSPP (International Undergraduate Study Preparation Program) are conducted in English (6.5+ IELTS or equivalent, although there are ESL courses available for students below this level.)
The focus of the PRIMA music courses is to:
- Improve the student’s overall musical technique, while broadening their stylistic approach
- Build confidence in the ability to set and achieve artistic goals in a new and exciting atmosphere
- Increase the student’s awareness of what it takes to be successful musically at the personal, North American, and international levels
- Strengthen the overall approach to personal development
PRIMA consists of the following core components:
- Private lessons weekly with School of Music faculty. Each student is mentored by their instructor and guided through the process of auditioning for the School of Music including audition repertoire and complete preparation. Students are expected to demonstrate continual and strong progress through the course of their private lessons.
- Academic preparatory courses as part of the ISUPP program.
- Access to UBC’s outstanding facilities, including the state-of-the-art 1400-seat Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, and the 300-seat Recital Hall.
