Vanderbilt University welcomed Global Scholar in Residence Marc Vanscheeuwijck, a Baroque cellist and professor of music history at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, to campus April 15-20. Vanscheeuwijck interacted with students at Blair School of Music and the Romance language studies department, visiting musicology classes, leading master class sessions, and performing alongside students.
The visit was coordinated by Blair’s Molly Barth with assistance from Maria Romero Ramos, and included a signature event, “Celebrating Baroque Music with Marc Vanscheeuwijck,” April 17 in the Ingram Hall lobby, featuring Baroque chamber performances by current Blair students, faculty, and alumni.
“After spending my Fall 2022 sabbatical studying Baroque performance practice with Marc, I knew that his vast areas of expertise would greatly benefit many facets of Vanderbilt, especially the Blair School of Music,” said Barth. “His dedication to respecting the culture and background surrounding the music, whether it be Baroque music or music written last year, will carry with us.”
“Marc’s visit opened our students’ minds to what it means to be equal parts performer and scholar through a culturally informed perspective,” added Maria Romero Ramos. “It was exciting to see how working with such a well-rounded and inspiring artist positively influenced the students’ musicianship and expanded their idea of what is possible in our field.”
A professor of music history and Baroque cello at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, Marc Vanscheeuwijck is also professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Oregon, where he has been teaching undergraduate and graduate music history courses in the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, performance practice, and Baroque cello from 1995 until 2022. He holds a BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Ghent in Belgium.
Introduced in November 2022, the Global Scholars Program seeks to grow Vanderbilt’s global profile through scholarly partnerships and collaboration. Visiting scholars are selected through an application process that prioritizes new scholarship, collaboration across departments and schools, and investment in ongoing relationships. The goal is to establish new relationships around that world that produce ongoing scholarship and open new avenues for grants and fundraising.
