College of Music in the News

October 31, 2023

Percussion Students and Faculty in Poland

Twenty percussion faculty and students of the University of North Texas College of Music presented concerts and clinics at Poland’s Krakow Academy of Music, The Opole School of Music and served as featured soloists/judges and clinicians for Europe's largest percussion festival, Drum Fest and the Polish National Marimba/Vibraphone Competition. Former faculty member Nicholas Williams (BM ‘97, MM ‘04, DMA ‘09) conducts the Opole Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra involving UNT students and faculty.

l-r Dave Hall, Michael Crawford, Mark Ford, Paul Rennick and José Aponte. Students include John Thomas Baker, Jase Ballard, Desmond Bigler, Jacob Fullinwider, Aidan Henderson, Sam Koch, Raina Liao, Sophia Lo, Nathan Siegel, Zeke Strawn, Denton Sutherlin and Maddie Wallace.

 

Ryan Giraldi
October 31, 2023

Student Wins Organ Prize

Organ performance student, Ryan Giraldi, was selected as recipient of the 2023 M. Louise Miller–Paul E. Knox Scholarship. The award is presented annually by the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Brian Wright
October 30, 2023

Wright Presents Paper

Assistant Professor of Music History, Brian Wright presents his paper, “Before Bootsy: James Brown’s Early Electric Bassists and the Development of Funk,” at the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, United States branch Conference held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Album cover art
October 30, 2023

Professor Releases Cd

UNT’s Merrill Ellis Intermedia Theater hosts Professor of Composition Jon Christopher Nelson’s performance of works from the Neuma Records release of  The Persistence of Time and Memory. It is, "...inviting the listener to perceive connections with sounds they may remember from their past."

August 8, 2023

Alumnus Receives Major Career Prize

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.

August 8, 2023

Brad Beckman Awarded

The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy awarded UNT Assistant Professor Brad Beckman (MM ‘89, DMA ‘94) with a Frances Clark Center Outstanding Service Recognition Award. This award is presented for ongoing leadership, highest-quality expertise, and support for the advancement of piano teaching, learning, and performing.

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