The Medal of Excellence is the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization recognizing extraordinary classical Black and Latinx artists who early in their career demonstrate artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination and an ongoing commitment to leadership and their communities, along with awarding a $50,000 career grant. David Portillo is a tenor who has performed at many of the leading opera houses, including The Metropolitan, Washington National, Houston Grand and Dallas opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, the Glyndebourne Festival, Opera Philadelphia, Opera Australia at the Sidney Opera House and the Wiener Staatsoper.

Christopher Curcuruto leads University of Texas at Arlington’s Department of Music faculty as Director of Opera, Instructor of Vocal Pedagogy and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice.

Mary Mills of Berlin, Germany will join us as Visiting Lecturer in Voice in the Division of Vocal Studies this fall. Ms. Mills graduated from the College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, received a Master of Music from Yale University, and has sung the great operatic roles on many of the major stages in Europe and the United States. Her repertoire ranges from Monteverdi to Mozart and Verdi, Puccini, Strauss, and Wagner to Janáček, along with many contemporary works. She is equally at home in the Italian, French, German, and Slavic repertoires and in the operas of her native USA, and has interpreted new and unfamiliar works from both early 20th-century- and contemporary opera.

Mills made her debut with Houston Grand Opera, sang more than eighteen productions with San Francisco Opera including the world premiere of the role of Cecile in Conrad Susa's The Dangerous Liaisons, and was acclaimed as Zdenka, Micaela and Mimì at The Metropolitan Opera. She made her European debut as Charpentier's Louise in Geneva in 1992, a success that immediately resulted in invitations to the Wexford Festival in Ireland (Camille in Herold's Zampa) and the Bregenz Festival (Olga in Giordano's Fedora). Ms. Mills originated the title role of Joan of Arc in Walter Braunfels' new opera Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna in a Christoph Schlingensief production at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin to rave reviews. In Paris, she enjoyed success with a series of French roles including Manon, Micaela, and Marguerite at both the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier.

OPERA America announces that UNT Associate Professor and Music Director of UNT Opera, Stephanie Rhodes Russell, as recipient of a 2023 Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors. She will conduct THE KNOCK (Aleksandra Vrebalov, composer; Deborah Brevoort, librettist) at Cincinnati Opera. “These grants open doors for women artists by incentivizing professional opera companies of all sizes to engage women in key artistic roles. These hires enrich the production and performance of new operas and works from the inherited repertoire and inspire future generations of creative artists who identify as women.”

Vocal DMA student and incoming MBA student in music business, Cherisse Williams, is the recipient of the 2023 Eagle Award: CommUNiTy Activist for an Individual. The award honors a student who “demonstrates a significant and exceptional commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the UNT community.” Annually, UNT Student Activities collaborates with the Center for Leadership and Service and Multicultural Center in recognizing students, organizations and advisors. Photo: Lauren Salazar.

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.

Kevin Neill Hawkins returned to campus October 18th speaking to students about his career.

Countertenor and University of North Texas lecturer, Daniel Bubeck, was among the soloists singing El Niño composed and conducted by John Adams at The May Festival with the Festival Chorus, Youth Chorus and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Artega Wright performed the role of Porgy in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess for the Des Moines Metro Opera reflecting his mainstage debut. He is a DMMO Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist.