A new edition of Claudio Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine of 1610, also known as the Vespers of 1610, was prepared by 10 College of Music students and music history assistant professor Hendrik Schulze.

Prestigious music publishing company Bärenreiter requested that Schulze edit the Vespers, 14 movements for soloists, chorus and orchestra considered a master work that defines 17th century sacred music.

Schulze enlisted students Clare Carrasco, Kimary Fick, Emily Hagen, Devin Iler, Sean Morrison ('12 M.M.), J. Cole Ritchie, Jonathan Sauceda, Brandon Stewart, AnnaGrace Strange ('13 M.M.) and Chia-Ying "Charles" Wu to begin work in fall 2011. The edition was published in April 2013. They transcribed the original source materials into modern notation and corrected inconsistencies as they deemed fit according to their research.

Receiving this real-world experience is rare and will help the students in academic or publishing careers, Schulze says.

"As these students enter the academic job market, this experience will give them a big advantage," he says. "When I talk to potential employers, the fact that our students have practical experience in editing is met with truly enthusiastic responses. It makes our students stand out in a highly competitive job market and opens up for them alternatives to traditional jobs in academia — they're now equally qualified to work with publishers and collected editions projects."

Proceeds from sales of the edition go into a scholarship fund to support UNT musicology students' research. The UNT Collegium Singers and members of the Baroque Orchestra premiered the new edition Oct. 25-26 in Dallas and at the Murchison Performing Arts Center in Denton.

The extraordinary opportunity for students may not be at an end. Schulze has already received an offer from Bärenreiter for a follow-up project.