Upper School Music Director Awarded High Honor

Dr. Nicholas Lockey, new director of the Upper School Music Program, has been honored with the opportunity to update a key source for information on composer Antonio Vivaldi.

 

Oxford University Press has asked Lockey to edit and update the list of compositions for their Vivaldi article in the Grove Dictionary Of Music. The dictionary is the number one source for anyone seeking scholarship on almost any topic in music.

 

“New Vivaldi pieces turn up every year, so it’s time to update the list. When I first saw the list in 7th or 8th grade I never imagined I would one day be asked to update it,” says Lockey.

 

The organization contacted Lockey based on recommendations from his previous work. Vivaldi, one of Lockey’s favorite composers, was also his research speciality. Dr. Lockey wrote his master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation on Vivaldi’s music and published several reviews of Vivaldi-related books.

 

The average Grove Dictionary article is updated only once a decade, making Dr. Lockey’s invitation to edit so unique.

 

Dr. Lockey says there is plenty that Benjamin students can do now to set themselves up for a similar opportunity in the future.

 

“Develop strong communication skills (especially written), begin exploring topics and periods that might be of interest . . . develop good time management skills and study habits, and learn to at least read comfortably in another language (or two),” he advises.

 

“If a book, a sculpture or a piece of music intrigues you, try to find out more about it . . . you never know when you might stumble upon a question that no one has yet answered. You could be the person to finally answer that question.”