The ASCAP Foundation announced the 20 recipients of the 2021 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards. Yu Nishiyama (BM '17) was awarded for Honorary Whites for 17-piece big band. 
https://tinyurl.com/UNTNishiyama

Aaron Powell (BM ’11) appeared on episode 1219 of ABC’s Shark Tank. Read the story by Amber Gaudet. Photo by Jeff Woo.
https://tinyurl.com/DRCPowell

DMA student Sungyun Kim won first prize in the Bill Hall Pipe Organ Competition while Jonathan Story, GAC student, received second prize and best hymn award.

Jacob Nydegger (MM ’20, BM ’17) was awarded 1st Prize in the Senior Category of the 2021 Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition. As part of his award he will be making his performance debut in London at Royal Albert Hall, Elgar Room.

Dave Pietro, alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto flute, piccolo - Best Large Jazz Ensemble, Best Instrumental Composition - Sputnik (Maria Schneider Orchestra).

Snarky Puppy for Best Contemporary Album - with alumni Michael League, Shaun Martin, Justin Stanton, Chris Bullock and Mike Maher.

Francis Cathlina and McKenna Stenson, both doctoral choral conducting students, have been named semi-finalists for the American Prize in conducting. Francis Cathlina for his work with the UNT Men’s Chorus and McKenna Stenson for her work with the Manassas, VA Chamber Ensemble.

Dion Tucker chats with Professor of Trombone, Tony Baker, for Episode 2 of The Black Trombone Chronicles. 
http://youtu.be/9Au5z3bMCn0

Trio Resonance - a classical guitar trio comprised of DMA students Héctor Torres, Noe Garcia, and Zhi Li (DMA ’20), has released its debut album Sound & Motion. This recording includes the debut of The Art of Sound and Motion by New Zealand composer Bruce Paine as well as pieces by Piazzolla, Glass and others. Available across all platforms. 
http://tinyurl.com/TrioResonance

College Gazette named the University of North Texas the Best Performing Arts College in the United States. According to the authors, “These [ten institutions] are exceptionally prestigious schools that regularly invite major guest artists to campus, are highly selective, and have stellar faculty who are accomplished performing artists themselves.” In addition to the significant offerings of the College of Music, the ranking includes our friends in UNT Department of Dance and Theatre along with the extensive UNT Music Library. 
http://collegegazette.com

 The Yamaha Institution of Excellence program has included the UNT College of Music in its inaugural list of 10 distinguished colleges and universities recognizing extraordinary commitment to innovation in the study of music. “These schools rise to the level of exceptional academic leadership that first inspired Yamaha to introduce this vital program and we are eager to join with them in a shared mission,” said Dan Rodowicz, senior director, Institutional Sales, Yamaha. According to John W. Richmond, dean of UNT’s College of Music, “We are thrilled to be included in Yamaha’s inaugural class of Institutions of Excellence and are eager to evolve our relationship with Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) from a transactional one to a collaborative one. We envision collaborations across domains in music performance, music technology, music education, music production/distribution, instrument design/engineering/testing, music business and musicians’ health. We believe this new way of work to be enlightened and momentous. We can’t wait to get started!”
https://tinyurl.com/yamahaunt