Hello Everyone

So, here it is: my first blog entry. I have wanted to start blogging since the beginning of internet time. After years of procrastination and false starts, the opportunity has finally arrived! I’m thrilled to start keeping you in the loop on student life here at the School of Music and Dance (henceforth referred to as “SOMD”), application updates, audition tips, Q&A sessions with our amazing faculty, and much more. I guess to start with, I should introduce myself. I grew up in Poland and moved to the States at age ten. I play violin and live with a cute little mutt, Oskar. I just moved to Eugene this summer and here are my 5 favorite things so far: Drastic Improvement in Commute Time: 1.5hrs in LA -> 6-7 minutes in Eugene Daily Deer and Wild Turkey Sightings. Baby deer are ridiculously cute, turkeys are a close runner up. EcoMadness. I’ve never been to a greener, more eco-friendly place, e.g. my office paper recycling bin has three compartments: white paper, mixed paper, and colored paper. Weekend Activities. Ongoing series of weekend festivals: Music, Wine, Arts, Folk, Country . . . you name it, we’ve got it! Free Poetry. In the little sidewalk containers that usually hold realty flyers with property information, I find “To Autumn” by John Keats.  (I just had to!) Blackberries. No, not the phones, I mean the fruit! I had no idea that berries priced at $5 a pint in L.A. could be free and so abundant here in the Northwest. Also, know that when I am not at work, you can probably find me loading up on raspberries at the Saturday farmer’s market, broadening my culinary skills with unusual local vegetables, or spending way too much time at the dog park. Now about SOMD: classes don’t officially start until Sept 27, but such great things are around the corner that I can’t resist giving you a sneak peak. Workshops like the one entitled: “How to have a career as a classical saxophonist (without joining the army)” and masterclasses with world-renowned flutist Luis Julio Toro and conductor Andrew Bisantz will keep us busy in October.. Curious? Please come and check out my next post! P.S. I just found out that our gospel choir won 1st place (beating out top choirs from around the country) in the Disney Choir Fest in Epcot Park, Florida. They then performed at the Magic Kingdom in front of several thousand people!!

Welcome!

My name is Eska Laskus and I'm the new Director of Admissions and Recruitment for the School of Music and Dance. I'm thrilled to join this amazing institution! The beauty of the school, the warmth and intelligence of all the faculty and staff and the vibrant community of Eugene have all made me feel truly welcome and at home.  As I get settled into this new position, I have discovered that I am joining the school at the end of an eventful academic year.  I am delighted by the number of recent student accomplishments, including:

• A performance of contemporary music theater in Berlin, Germany at the Konzerthaus
• Performance at the annual Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA
• Recipient of the prestigious Alvin H. Johnson AMS 50 Dissertation Fellowship
• The award for best Jazz Arrangement from the leading jazz publication Downbeat Magazine
• Top prize winners at the OMTA piano competition and MTNA northwest competition
• Graduates continuing their education at Juilliard, Rice, University of Maryland
• Faculty positions won at University of South Carolina, University of Idaho, Rice University, Vienna Conservatory in Austria and Indiana University among others. 

We look ahead to another exciting year that will include a choir tour to Estonia and Finland, the celebrated Chamber Music@Beall series, and distinguished artists such as flutist Luis Julio Toro from Venezuela and the renowned conductor Marin Alsop in a side-by-side concert with the Eugene Symphony. Personally, I am also looking forward to kicking back and listening to some groovy tunes at our weekly Jazz Café and participating in the frenzy of the grand Festival of Bands which happens every year at our very own Autzen Stadium. Also in the works are career preparation seminars that we will be hosting for our students and alumni. We will feature outstanding alumni and visiting artists who will talk about their career paths and offer insightful tips and strategies for having a successful career in music.

As the year starts, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions that you might have about our school, our programs or the School of Music and Dance application. I hope that you will find the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance every bit as inspiring as I do and that I can make the college application process, whether you are a student, parent or a teacher, as smooth and easy as possible, perhaps even somewhat enjoyable.

I look forward to meeting you and keeping in touch throughout the year!

All the best,

Eska Laskus
Director of Admissions and Recruitment
School of Music and Dance
University of Oregon

P.S. Please be on the lookout for my new Admissions Blog, where I'll post our latest admission events, application tips, faculty interviews and my reflections as I travel to different schools and college fairs this year.