Music Department Introduces New Academic Staff
The Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is expanding its faculty roster with the addition of several distinguished musicians and scholars.
Jan Berry Baker, an accomplished orchestral saxophonist, has joined the department of music as Associate Professor of Saxophone and Woodwind area head. Baker performs with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Grant Park Orchestra. She is also co-artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble, Bent Frequency. Additionally, Baker is a founding member of the Committee on the Status of Women in NASA (North American Saxophone Alliance).
Catherine Provenzano, another new faculty member, has joined the school as Assistant Professor of Musicology. Her academic focus is on voice, mediation, and labor in contexts of popular music production, with a regional specialty in North America. Provenzano has conducted ethnographic research with software developers, audio engineers, music producers, and artists in Los Angeles, Nashville, Silicon Valley, and Germany. She has published an article in the Journal of Popular Music Studies and presented research at various academic institutions.
David Kaplan, a UCLA alumnus who graduated in 2005, has returned to the school as Assistant Professor of Piano Performance. Kaplan is an accomplished soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, and is a core member of Decoda, the affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall. He studied conducting at the University de Künste in Berlin on a Fulbright fellowship.
Peter Kazaras, Director of Opera UCLA and holder of the inaugural Susan G. and Michel D. Covel MD Chair, is also a new addition to the faculty. Kazaras is an internationally acclaimed operatic tenor with expertise in opera direction, production, and vocal performance.
The school has also indicated a 2025-26 part-time lecturer position in Global Jazz Studies, suggesting new faculty involvement in jazz, although the specific individual is not named in the available information.
Gabriel Esperon, a master's student at the school, has been appointed a Judith and Thomas L. Beckman LA Fellow, linking closely to vocal performance and student leadership rather than a faculty appointment.
Each of these new faculty members brings a unique perspective and expertise to the Herb Alpert School of Music, enriching the school's commitment to excellent public education and fostering an environment of range and vitality. Baker, Kaplan, and Provenzano are all excited to teach and learn in this vibrant community, while Kazaras is honoured to return to UCLA to share his passion for opera with the next generation of musicians.
Jan Berry Baker is excited to teach at the university, combining her professional music career with education and self-development, as she performs with renowned orchestras while also serving as Associate Professor of Saxophone. Catherine Provenzano, on the other hand, brings her scholarly focus on popular music to the entertainment field, linking music with academia as Assistant Professor of Musicology.
