The Music Business Association has named @UNT College of Music Assistant Professor of Music Business, Jessica Muñiz-Collado, as finalist for its Bizzy Award “Music Business Educator of the Year." MBA says, “The award celebrates a music business educator who inspires students to enter the music business. The winner will lead by example and teach across the breadth and depth of the industry to open students’ awareness to the possibilities available in the music industry today. The winning candidate should expose students to the importance of connection and relationships in this industry while continuing to learn and be a part of the industry themselves.”

Assistant Professor of Music Theory, Andrew J. Chung, has been awarded a nine-month fellowship at the American Antiquarian Society, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Chung’s fellowship will assist him in the completion of his book, “Music’s Long Anthropocene: The Climate of Empire and the Sound of Ecological Disaster.”

The College of Music announces that Liudmila Georgievskaya will join the faculty as Assistant Professor of Piano.

UNT Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy, Oscar Macchioni, presented at the 46th International European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) Conference at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland. Pianists from 27 countries spent four days presenting and performing. Dr. Macchioni presented piano pedagogy curriculum for implementation in universities and conservatories.

UNT President Neal Smatresk (l) shown presenting Professor of Violin, Philip Lewis, with art glass recognizing his 45 years of service to the College of Music. Photo: Hubnik/UNT

With a by-line by Carly May Gravley, the Dallas Observer published an article highlighting the @UNT commercial music degree. It includes interviews with program coordinator Federico Llach, alumna Ashleigh Smith and Grammy-winning producer and engineer Tre Nagella.

The College of Music announced that Mark Tempesta will join the faculty as Assistant Professor of Voice and Vocal Pedagogy.

Chair of the Division of Instrumental Studies and Professor of Clarinet, Kimberly Cole Luevano, received the 2024 Creative Impact Award from the University of North Texas Division of Research and Innovation. The award is granted to a member of the faculty, “whose research accomplishments or creative endeavors have been truly outstanding.”

The College of Music announced that Miguel Garcia was joining the faculty as Assistant Professor of String Music Education beginning Fall 2024. Mr. Garcia’s research interests include musical identity, string pedagogy, gender and music education, and the relationships between music participation and identity development. He is also a professional violinist and violist.

College of Music Dean John W. Richmond announced that Brian Walker will be joining the UNT faculty as Associate Professor of Trumpet beginning Fall 2024. Dr. Walker came to UNT from Tarleton State University. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the International Trumpet Guild and is an alumnus of UNT receiving his DMA in 2011.