A FIRST: Faculty and alumnus join Alfred Music in releasing Suzuki Trumpet School, Volume 1 - the very first Suzuki Method book for the brass instrument family. See Caleb Hudson, Assistant Professor of Trumpet and member of Canadian Brass along with Michael Schneider, (BM ’99), a classical pianist, collaborator, educating artist and composer.
The A Cappella Choir accepted an invitation to perform at the Southwest Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Little Rock, Arkansas 2022. The A Cappella choir recently also appeared at the 2020 TMEA conference and the 2021 National ACDA conference.
Austin Ford (BM ’21) won the Collegiate Division of the 2021 Army Blues Solo Competition. He will travel to Washington, D.C. to record with the U.S. Army Blues. That live-streamed concert will be released Fall 2021.
Collective Storytelling in Journalism, Composition and Performance presented by HAVEN Trio along with ensemble member Kimberly Cole Luevano, Professor of Clarinet and incoming Chair of the Division of Instrumental Studies at University of North Texas. The symposium presented by the University of Toronto's Jackman Humanities Institute.
Five University of North Texas music alumni are currently serving in the 25th Infantry Division Band in Hawaii. L-R Jamie Edwards (MM ’14 saxophone), Stephen Thacker (2004-2008, percussion), Philip Blienberger (MM ’06 trombone), Ross Shone (BM ‘17 trombone), Trevor Duell (DMA ’16 trumpet). “We all traded the Mean Green for Army Green! Go Mean Green!”
Jonathan Orellana (class of 2025) trumpet, won the High School Division of the 2021 Army Blues Solo Competition. He is a graduate of Westfield High School in Chantilly, Virginia. As part of the prize, he is scheduled to record with the United States Army Band. https://tinyurl.com/FordBlues
Greg Satterthwaite (DMA ’20) has become the Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano and African-American Studies at the UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia.
Kevin Rosacia (BM ’20, Composition) was selected as a finalist for One Found Sound Emerging Composer Competition with his latest work for orchestra titled, "Pendulums" (2021). According to their website, One Found Sound "is a democratic, collaborative orchestra at the forefront of equitable and barrier-free music."
Seth Colter Walls pens the Philip Glass Opera Satyagraha and named it one of The Metropolitan Opera’s greatest stagings of the 21st century. Released on DVD and CD, the opera is sung in Sanskrit, with Distinguished Research Professor of Voice Richard Croft, tenor, as Mahatma Gandhi and Professor of Voice and Chair of the Division of Vocal Studies, Molly Fillmore, as Mrs. Naidoo.
Éva Polgár, (DMA ’16, GAC ‘18) released music of Liszt by Hunnia Records & Film Production titled Harmonies Patriotiques et Religieuses. This is her first solo album and is available through online services. She is Assistant Professor of Piano at Azusa Pacific University School of Music.
Alfred Music released Lisa DeSpain’s (BM ’91) choral arrangement of highlights from In The Heights.
Alyssa Grey (PhD ’21) was appointed Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education, tenure-track, at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia.
Jack Eaddy, Jr., (DMA ’19), was named Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University that includes leading the largest collegiate athletic marching band in the United States.
Esme Wong, pianist (MM ’17), is part of the short film "To the Afflicted" with Raehann Bryce-Davis, mezzo soprano, singing “All’afflitto è dolce il pianto,” an aria from Gaetano Donizetti’s 1837 opera Roberto Devereux. "To the Afflicted is a solemn remembrance, a celebration, a clenched fist around the reigns of destiny, an open hand raised in praise. I dedicate this to the afflicted, those in opera and those fighting on the front lines for justice and equity.” - Bryce-Davis
Nathan Kock, Bachelor in Music Education candidate and clarinetist, was published in Southwestern Musician – “Fostering an Inclusive Music Education Experience for All.” https://tinyurl.com/nathankock
Beginning Fall 2021, Colleen Clark (DMA ’19, drum set), will begin her tenure as Assistant Professor of Jazz at the University of South Carolina.
Madeline Adkins (BM ’98), Concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, performs Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Lark Ascending" honoring her mother, Alis Dickinson Adkins (PhD ’73), organist, musicologist and former faculty member.
Hentus van Rooyen, (MM '15, DMA '19) was selected as semi-finalist in the 12th Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition and will compete in the next round in Kaliningrad, Russia.
Francis Cathlina, DMA student in choral conducting, will become Visiting Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music Fall 2021.
Professor of Piano, Joseph Banowetz, has released The Performing Pianist's Guide to Fingering - providing practical fingering solutions for technical musical passages. Get your copy here:
John W. Richmond, Professor and Dean of the College of Music, has announced that University leadership has approved multi-million-dollar funding for significant renovations to North Texas Jazz | UNT Division of Jazz Studies instructional, rehearsal and performance space known as Lab West (Room 282). Planning is now underway with renovations occurring during Summer 2022. This renovation aligns with the 75th anniversary celebration of the UNT Jazz Studies program.
The University of North Texas Office for Faculty Success in partnership with the Office of Research and Innovation, celebrating the scholarly and creative accomplishments of members of the faculty, recently named Lynn Seaton as Regents Professor of Music (Jazz Studies – Bass). https://www.lynnseaton.com/index.html
The album ENDURANCE was released with Pianist Matthew McCright of music performed from Carnegie Hall, includes Associate Professor of Composition, Kirsten Soriano Broberg, Composer's “Rain Gardens.”
"Soundtracks For Trying Times" is the debut solo album by North Texas Jazz and The One O'Clock Lab Band’s Brian Donohoe (BM ‘05, MM ’07) featuring guest appearances by noteworthy musicians including North Texas alumni Chris McQueen (BM ’05) and Matthew Muehling. Guests include members and alumni of Snarky Puppy, H.E.R., Bokante, Kanye, Gwen Stefani, Myron Walden, and Brian's fusion group Progger. Album artwork: Alumnus Jared Stone.
https://briandonohoe.bandcamp.com/releases
The Choral Society of Pensacola (FL) announced the appointment of Peter Steenblik (DMA ‘15) as its new artistic director beginning with the 2021-2022 season.
