Horn music education major, Ben Ruiz, won the horn position with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Concert Band. He begins basic training following his graduation in May.

CBS Mornings announced that UNT alumna Annie Ray (BM ’17) was named recipient of the 2024 Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy™ and GRAMMY Museum™

After serving UNT and its College of Music students since 1986, Jesse Eschbach, Professor of Organ, announced his intent to retire at the close of the 2023-2024 academic year. Dr. Eschbach is University of Michigan, Indiana University and Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison educated, a published author, performer, lecturer and pedagogue. Among others, he studied organ with Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier and piano with Christiane Devos. His students sit on important organ appointments throughout the world. In 2023 he oversaw major expansion and renovation of the 100-year-old 1949 Möller IV/78 in UNT's Main Auditorium originally built in 1924.

UNT alum Kristopher Carter (BM ’93) and his two partners Lolita Ritmanis and fellow UNT alum Michael McCuistion (BM ’87), were nominated for “Best Music-TV/Media” in the 51st Annie Awards™ for their composing of the music for the Warner Brothers animated movie, “Babylon 5: The Road Home!” The award honors excellence in the field of animation.

Professor of Saxophone and Coordinator of Woodwinds, Eric Nestler, received renewal of his appointment as DISTINGUISHED TEACHING PROFESSOR.

Director of the Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia (CEMI) and Professor of Composition, Panayiotis Kokoras, named REGENTS PROFESSOR by the University of North Texas.

David Childs, Professor of Euphonium and Co-Director of the UNT Brass Band, honored by the University of North Texas with DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH PROFESSOR designation.

The College of Music joins in celebrating Willem van Schalkwyk's (MM '06, DMA '09) appointment as Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano and Vocal Coaching. His new position begins Fall 2024.

Cherisse Williams named Second-Prize Winner of the William Gammon Henry Concerto Competition and will perform at the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas during their 2024-2025 season and with the UNT Concert Orchestra conducted by Clay Couturiaux.

Alumni Shara Nova (BM ’98) has two choral projects nominated for the Grammy’s Best Choral Performance. Austin, Texas-based Conspirare’s “The House of Belonging” conducted by Craig Hella Johnson, for which she wrote two songs, one being the title track, and then Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based choir, The Crossing's album “Carols After A Plague,” conducted by Donald Nally, on which appear three of her compositions.

The Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers, by UNT Associate Professor of Choral Studies, Marques L. A. Garrett, named Presto Music's Choral Publication of the Year. “A landmark collection… we chose this collection as our winner for its original and exceptional content, as well as its aim to improve representation within the choral sector.”