Dave Richards (BM ’05 and MM ‘09) joins the funk and soul band Tower of Power as trumpeter and trombonist.

University of North Texas alumna, composer Lisa DeSpain (BM ’91) and librettist David Simpatico, brought “That Hellbound Train” to Voertman Concert Hall for a free public scenes workshop.

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.

Pianist and UNT alumna, Elena Dorozhkina (DMA ’12) released Russian Piano Gems showcasing works of Mosolov, Glinka, Scriabin, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. Fanfare Magazine said, “Her debut disc reveals a remarkable talent ... a thoroughly successful and musically satisfying debut on disc.” This PARMA Recordings (Navona Records) album is available at the link below.

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.

Greg Abbott has appointed Cathy Bryce, Ed.D. to the University of North Texas System Board of Regents for a term expiring 2029. See parts of her remarkable experiences here.

Two UNT Vocal Studies Alumni have been chosen from more than 1,000 applicants for the Santa Fe Opera apprentice program for singers. Alumni Kayla Nanto, mezzo-soprano, (MM '18) and David Bogaev, tenor (MM '20) will be Santa Fe apprentice artists in 2024. "This is one of the most prestigious and competitive apprentice programs in the nation."

Shane Morris Wise (BM '87) serves as Artistic Director of the Kauai Chorale who is in its 60th year and serves as the community chorus of Kauai County in Hawaii.

Winners of the 2022-2023 National Opera Association Opera Production Competition announced. The judges gave a total of 24 awards from the 87 applicants. The University of North Texas College of Music production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” by André Previn & Philip Littell was named Division VII 1st place winner. UNT Associate Professor and Music Director of Opera, Stephanie Rhodes Russell, conducted, Taylor Rachel Carnes was stage director, Donna Marquet was scenic designer and Michael Robinson designed costumes. NOA divisions are based on student classification, production size and budget. Photo: Cathy Vanover.

The Recording Academy has nominated College of Music alumnus Nathan Carlisle (BM ’06), tenor, who played the role of Drag Queen #4 as a member of The Metropolitan Opera Chorus in the Best Opera Recording category for Blanchard: Champion. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducted the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera Chorus.