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

Eugene Corporon, University of North Texas Director of Wind Studies, Regents Professor of Music and Conductor of the Wind Symphony along with Chair of the Division of Conducting and Ensembles, Associate Professor of Wind Studies and Conductor of the Wind Orchestra, Andrew Trachsel, spoke about their respective chapters in the new Teaching Music through Performance in Band, Volume 12.

Taught by Nick Finzer and directed by Jack Courtright, the UNT Jazz Studies student ensemble, U-Tubes, won the Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition while the University of North Texas Trombone Consortium, conducted by Natalie Mannix and Steve Menard, announced as the winners of the Emory Remington Trombone Choir Competition - both led by the International Trombone Association http://trombone.net/general-information/

Oxford University Press just released a new book by UNT Professor of Music History Margaret Notley, entitled Taken by the Devil": The Censorship of Frank Wedekind and Alban Berg's Lulu.

Crystal Lynn Gerrard, Assistant Professor of Music Education, published an article entitled "It's More Than Playing Music: Exploring Band in a Predominantly Latinx Community" in the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education.

Sean Murphy (DMA '19, MM '13), owner of Murphy Music Press, LLC has published Fanfare Politeia composed by Kimberly K. Archer. The new composition is being premiered today by the "The President's Own" United States Marine Band during the 2021 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.

Yamaha Drums recently announced that John Sturino (MM ’18, BM ’16) was added to the roster of Yamaha Artists. Sturino is based in New York and is drummer, arranger, composer and educator.https://tinyurl.com/YamahaSturino

Kris Chesky, Professor and co-director of the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health, joins the Association for Body Mapping Education Scientific Advisory Board.

Professor of Euphonium, David Childs, presented “Reflections - David Childs and Friends - A New Year’s Eve Concert” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtThp8yHvmE

Opera News features University of North Texas alumna Latonia Moore and speaks to her “coming of age in a time when operas by Black composers and on Black subjects are finally getting recognition by major opera companies.” Story by #NaomiAndré. Images by Jeffery Salter.

Lyanne Alvarado (BM ’16) has been included in the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis inaugural class of Fellows for the Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship, a program designed to cultivate leaders in arts administration who come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.