Wesley Wagner (BM ’99) (l) and Branson Garner (MM ’14) are instructors for the U.S. Army School of Music at Joint Base Little Creek in Virginia.

Associate Dean for Operations and Professor of Violin, Felix Olschofka, was featured as part of Chamber Music on the Mountain on the KUAF 91.3 Public Radio show “Ozark at Large” hosted by Kyle Kellams (2nd from l). He performed in guest artist recitals at the Momentary Museum in Bentonville (AR) and the Mount Sequoyah Center in Fayetteville (AR). He also gave a master class to pre-college violinists during the chamber music festival. Also pictured l-r are Daniel Valesco and Tomoko Kashiwagi.

Austin Ford (BM ’21) has been named one of six international finalists of the 2021 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition sponsored by the International Trumpet Guild and the Herb Alpert Foundation. This event is one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for jazz trumpeters. He will compete live at the Lamont School of Music in October for the $10,000 first place prize.

https://liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/caruso-competition

Jacob Nydegger (MM ’20, BM ’17) was awarded second prize in the 2021 William Knabe International Piano Competition (Concerto Division). William Knabe Piano Institute. Nydegger earlier this year was awarded 1st Prize in the Senior category of the 2021 Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition, and as part of his award will perform in the Elgar Room of the Royal Albert Hall in London during the 21-22 season. He has in the past year also won awards in the Ann and Charles Eisemann International Young Artists Competition and the 2021 Music International Grand Prix Competition.

From 2017. Professor Allen Hightower conducts the UNT A Cappella Choir performing Holy Radiant Light from Slavonic Ecclesiastical Songs, Opus 23 (c.1901) by Alexandre Gretchaninoff (1864-1956).

https://tinyurl.com/UNTRadiantLight

D.J. Rice (BM ’20 and MM student in jazz composition) is the Grand Prize recipient of the USA Music Composition International Competition by IYMC for his composition, Song for Renel. There were 102 entries from 35 countries. Receiving the grand prize reflects the judges perfect score of 100. DJ, trombone; Will Nathman, saxophone; Henry Dickhoff, piano and John Sturino, Drumset.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqc1q1i_B-Y

University of North Texas alumna Allison Ponthier’s ‘Hell Is A Crowded Room' reviewed by Ann Powers for National Public Radio.

https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2021/07/08/1014208513/allison-ponthier-hell-is-a-crowded-room

Professor of Composition, Jon Christopher Nelson, was awarded the International Computer Music Conference 2021 Music Award for his composition, When Left to His Own Devices. The award recognizes the work as the best among the more than 400 global submissions.

https://tinyurl.com/NelsonDevices

At the Texas Choral Directors Association conference, eight University of North Texas students/alumni were awarded academic scholarships - Kimberley Ahrens, Francis Cathlina (DMA ’21), Skylar DuBose, Hasoo Eun, Jessica Hausmann, Celli RaMatheny, William Swinney and Sheridan White.

From 2018. Professor David Itkin conducts the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra performing Symphony fantastique, Opus 14 (1830) by Hector Berlioz (1803-1869). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3PyCipyl2o