Duran Ritz (BM ’11) and his Vancouver, BC based alternative rock band RARE AMERICANS received a Canadian JUNO Award nomination for "Breakthrough Group of the Year." Duran played drums in the One O'Clock Lab Band®.
Flute student and College of Music Ambassador Kiana Kawahara awarded 1st place in the undergraduate student category for the Nicholas and Anna Ricco Ethics Award for the 2023-2024 academic year by the UNT Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success. The “competition was created to promote intellectual debate and discussion on ethics as related to students’ areas of study at UNT.”
Congratulations to The Metropolitan Opera and University of North Texas College of Music alumna Latonia Moore receiving Best Opera Recording at the 65th GRAMMY Awards for "Fire Shut Up in My Bones."
Congratulations to Snarky Puppy and University of North Texas College of Music alumni Michael League, Shaun Martin, Justin Stanton, Chris Bullock and Mike Maher for receiving Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for "Empire Central" at the 65th GRAMMY Awards."
Assistant Professor of Viola, Daphne Gerling, awarded the Fredell Lack Outstanding Young Studio Teacher Award from the Texas String Teachers Association. TexAsta president Kevin Garcia-Hettinger presented the award.
Michael Clement (BM ’18, MM ’21) won the inaugural Bob Ravenscroft International Jazz Piano Competition.
Tyler Austin (MM ’14) serving as Director of Bands at Old Dominion University’s Dien School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia.
Justin Benavidez (BM ‘05 Tuba Performance) accepted position of Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the Eastman School of Music to begin Fall 2023.
UNT graduate bassoon student, Molly Smit, was named a finalist at the 2023 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition. International Double Reed Society Toulouse Graduate School
Professor of Piano, Gustavo Romero, designated as University Distinguished Research Professor. Michael McPherson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said. “…your selection demonstrates the very high caliber of faculty such as yourself who merit this honorable distinction.”
In Hot Springs, UNT Choral Conducting Associate Kenneth Sieloff, first-year MM student, conducted the Arkansas All-State Tenor/Bass choir.
UNT Associate Professor Alan Baylock directed the First Jazz Band during the Arkansas All-State Music Conference – All-State Clinic performances.
Assistant Professor of Music History and specialist in American popular music history, Brian Wright, presents "Play Guitar with the Ventures!: How Amateurs Reshaped Rock 'n' Roll" at the Cleveland, Ohio Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Rock Hall's joint lecture series with the American Musicological Society.
Collaborative Piano Alumna Lauren Koszyk (MM'20) awarded the Music Teachers National Association MarySue Harris Fellowship. The grant, funded by the MarySue Harris Endowment Fund, is presented annually to a recently graduated independent teacher who demonstrates commitment to the music teaching profession and outstanding studio development.
The Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy won an award for outstanding multi-author publication from the Society for Music Theory featuring one chapter by Associate Professor of Music Theory David Heetderks with another by Doug Donley (MA ’16, PhD ‘21) and Andrew Vagts (PhD ‘20).
Bree Nichols, (DMA ’21) soprano, awarded 1st place in the Artist Division of the National Opera Association's 2023 Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition, receiving the Todd Duncan Legacy Award.
The University of North Texas Foundation awarded April Prince, principal lecturer in music history, theory and ethnomusicology with its Outstanding Lecturer Award.
Brendon Wilkins (BM ’16, MM ’19, Honors College) is serving as director of jazz ensemble, wind ensemble and applied music associate teaching woodwinds at Colby College.
Crystal Lynn Gerrard-Ramirez, Assistant Professor of Music Education, published an article, “Denying America”: Vivian’s Counterstory of Undocumented Status," in the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education.
From correspondent Christina Ruffini, The "CBS Mornings" show featured Texas native and UNT alumna Latonia Moore.
Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Music Theory, Vivek Virani, published, "From Satsaṅg to Stage: Negotiating Aesthetic Theologies and Aspirational Subjectivities in a North Indian Bhajan Competition,” in the Society for Ethnomusicology Journal.
Paul Rennick, Professor of Percussion, contributes to new book, Rehearsing the Concert and Marching Percussion Ensemble by James Campbell.
Associate Professor and Division of Jazz Studies Chair, Rob Parton, directs both the Florida and New Mexico All State Jazz Bands.
Edited by Associate Professor of Bassoon, The Big Book of Sight Reading Duets for Bassoon: 100 Sight Reading Challenges for You and a Friend, available.
Dave Hall, Associate Professor of Percussion, joins the Percussive Arts Society Board of Advisors.
