Ruth Mertens, a harp music performance student from Natchitoches, Louisiana, has been named the University of North Texas College of Music’s 2018-19 Presser Scholar and recipient of a $4,000 Presser scholarship. Dean of the College of Music, John Richmond and Director of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Harp, Jaymee Haefner presented Ruth with her award.

The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award is presented annually to a student entering his or her senior year who has shown extraordinary musical and academic accomplishments. The Presser award is considered the most prestigious undergraduate award in music at UNT and is provided by the Presser Foundation that awards annual scholarships, grants and funds for the furthering of music education and music in America.

"I am so excited and surprised,” Mertens said. “UNT has such an outstanding music school and so many of my fellow musicians are worthy of this award. It was an honor just to be nominated."

The winner is nominated and selected by UNT music faculty. The scholarship has been awarded annually for more than six decades.

Haefner, who nominated Mertens for the scholarship, said, "In every opportunity, Ruth represents the best of the UNT College of Music and does so with poise and humility. Currently in her junior year, Ruth is preparing and performing repertoire which would be challenging for some doctoral students. In the summer of 2017, Ruth accompanied the UNT HarpBeats in their Hong Kong performance for the World Harp Congress which featured one of her arrangements. This past summer, she performed  with the other members of our harp studio at Lyon and Healy Hall for the Summer Concert Series in Chicago. She is an exemplary student with many bright opportunities ahead and I’ve been so honored to work with her." Mertens said she credits Haefner for putting opportunities in her path to help her grow both as a musician and a scholar and that the scholarship will open doors for her to pursue a postgraduate degree."

DENTON (UNT), Texas — Assistant professor of jazz guitar at the University of North Texas, Davy Mooney and Tokyo-born drummer, Ko Omura have released their first album entitled “Benign Strangers.”

“The album’s title describes our creative experience,” said Mooney. “Ko had never met the rest of the band. He flew in from Tokyo and met everybody for the first time at the recording studio. It’s remarkable that people from far off places and different walks of life can have an immediate, dramatic impact on each other after meeting just once.”

Mooney and Omura toured together previously in Japan and recognized their strong musical chemistry. The two decided to collaborate on an album, each contributing five compositions. In January, Mooney and Omura joined John Ellis: saxophones and clarinets; Glenn Saleski: piano; and Matt Clohesy: bass to record the album in New York.

Mooney, a UNT College of Music alumnus, stays on top of the New York and international jazz scene, recording and touring when he is not teaching. He says that being a professional musician and a teacher is a perfect fit that benefits both him and his students.

“I am fortunate to get to collaborate with students who are incredibly innovative and performing at a really high level,” said Mooney. “It’s exciting to work with them and share what I’ve learned while on tour and in the recording studio.”

Mooney has recorded eight CDs as a leader and many others as a sideman. “Benign Strangers,” “Hope of Home” and “Perrier St.” are released on Sunnyside Records. Mooney has also self-published two novels, “Annalee” and “Hometown Heroes.”

DENTON (UNT), Texas - In March, the finest trumpet players from all over the nation will converge on the University of North Texas for the 26th annual National Trumpet Competition, the largest of its kind. Competitors will vie for thousands of dollars in prize money and have opportunities to network with other top talent.

“It’s truly a trumpet-centric event and one that brings together the brightest and best for healthy competition, networking and instruction,” said Jason Bergman, assistant professor of trumpet and host of the event. “UNT has a rich history of excellence in our trumpet studio that spans more than 60 years. We are embarking on a new period of excellence and bringing the trumpet world to UNT for this competition can serve as an impactful coming out party for our students.”

This year, 600 participants were selected to compete, including 17 UNT trumpet students.

“That’s the largest number we’ve ever had and is a testament to the hard work our students are doing,” Bergman said. “I think it’s fantastic that UNT students can compete in the premiere trumpet competition in the world at their home university. It’s sort of like competing in a hometown Super Bowl.”

The event also will feature guest artists who will perform with the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band and the North Texas Wind Symphony.

The event will be held March 8-10 (Thursday-Saturday) in various locations across campus. View the schedule here for event times and locations. The public is invited to free concerts featuring world-renowned guest artists.

One O’Clock Lab Band concert, 8:30 p.m. March 9 (Friday) features:

Frank Greene

Grammy-winning trumpeter and UNT alumnus Frank Greene is one of the most in-demand lead trumpet players in New York. He has performed as the lead trumpet in the CBS Orchestra for The Late Show, as well as with other big-named ensembles including the Christian McBride Big Band and The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.

Carey Deadman

UNT alumnus Carey Deadman is a freelance trumpet player who remains one of the busiest studio and theater musicians in the Chicago music scene. He also is in great demand as an arranger, orchestrator, producer and teacher.

Scott Belck

Scott Belck, UNT alumnus, currently serves as the director of Jazz and Commercial Music and professor of Music at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where he directs the CCM Jazz Orchestra and teaches applied jazz trumpet. He currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.

UNT Wind Symphony at 2 p.m. March 10 (Saturday) features:

Ryan Anthony

Virtuoso trumpeter Ryan Anthony, noted for his varied career as a soloist, educator, chamber musician and orchestral player. Having departed the world-renowned ensemble Canadian Brass nearly ten years ago, Anthony quickly became one of the most sought after trumpet players in America both as soloist and an orchestral player.

Craig Morris

Trumpeter Craig Morris emerged onto the international classical music scene by winning the prestigious position of Principal Trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, assuming that post from the legendary Adolph “Bud” Herseth in 2001. A desire to more fully focus on his own artistic projects, however, led Morris to leave his position with the CSO and pursue a career as a soloist and chamber musician. 

All of the guest artists, as well as the Dallas Symphony trumpet section, will present master classes for participants. Finals will be held March 10 and will culminate in a 9 p.m. awards ceremony.

DENTON (UNT), Texas - On Monday afternoons during the University of North Texas fall and spring semesters, the Denton Senior Center is filled with the vibrant sounds of a traditional concert wind ensemble – woodwinds, brass and percussion all working together in harmony. But, there is something unique about the musicians sitting in the chairs of the two Denton New Horizons bands – they are either active adults or retirees.

Buddy Givens, who played music in college, the Air Force and a Shrine band, says when he moved to the area, he was looking for new musical opportunities.

“I saw an article in the newspaper regarding the band right after I had retired and had the time to devote to it,” said Givens, who’s played bassoon in the band for seven years. “Now that my wife has retired, she has joined the band as a beginner percussionist, so we are able to enjoy it together.”

The two bands, one strictly for beginners, the other for more advanced musicians who want to hone their skills or re-learn how to play an instrument, are part of the New Horizons International Music Association, created by Roy Ernst, a professor at Eastman School of Music. Debbie Rohwer, University of North Texas associate to the president, chief of staff and professor of music education, studied at Eastman and, after seeing the success of Ernst's program, brought it to Denton in 1998.

“I love this program and what it represents – anyone at any age can make music with others and have a great time doing it,” Rohwer said. “These individuals embody what it means to live life to the fullest, even at 92 years old, as one of our members is, and going strong.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary of UNT’s New Horizons Band and they are celebrating the milestone with a special concert at 7 p.m. March 26 (Monday) in Margot and Bill Winspear Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, located at 2100 S. I-35E.

Two UNT instrumental education doctoral students – Olivia Tucker and Samuel Escalante – work with the bands and will be conducting at the concert. Tucker says she has really enjoyed spending time with the band members as they prepare for the upcoming event.

“I love being a part of New Horizons because it is a meaningful way to extend music education outside formal schooling as a participatory, community endeavor,” Tucker said. “I think the group is a special slice of the arts, music and community spirit of Denton.”

Escalante says he loves working with the ensembles and helping the members realize their potential through music.

“What I enjoy most is everyone’s passion for being part of a musical experience purely for enjoyment, personal growth and socialization,” Escalante said. “I believe it is critical that we join and support community ensembles of all kinds.”

There are now six New Horizons Bands in Texas, with more than 200 across the world. Denton's bands alone have close to 80 members who come from cities across North Texas including Coppell, Carrollton and Dallas.

The Denton bands meet on Monday afternoons during the school year at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Ave. The beginner band starts at 2:45 p.m., and intermediate and advanced players meet at 3:45 p.m. In addition to the anniversary concert, the bands offer performances throughout the year including appearances at the Denton Arts and Jazz festival each spring, and a benefit concert in the fall to raise funds for a local charity.  

Eugenia King, clarinetist for the band, says that everyone in the band is extremely welcoming regardless of your skill level.

"I came in 10 years ago with only five months of clarinet training in high school,” King said. “I just want you to know that if I can do it, anyone can.”

DENTON (UNT), Texas - The University of North Texas College of Music is presenting a benefit concert in memory of Reuben Allred, an accomplished piano student who died unexpectedly in April 2017.

Allred was working on his doctorate of musical arts in piano performance and earned a graduate artist certificate at UNT. He was assistant chorus master of the Dallas Opera and served as artist-in-residence and guest lecturer at universities around the world.

“Mr. Allred was a highly respected and sought-after collaborator, accompanying 25 to 30 concerts each year,” said Regents Professor of Piano Pamela Mia Paul, Allred’s mentor at UNT. “He was also a very active solo pianist, coach, teacher, jazz improviser, studio musician and transcriber who performed with numerous ensembles.”

The benefit will be at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in the College of Music Recital Hall, located at 415 S. Ave. C, and will feature several faculty, as well as Allred’s closest musician friends. Funds raised at the event will be used for the Reuben Allred Collaborative Scholarship Fund.

“The scholarship was established in Ben's name in order to honor his life and his memory and in recognition of the many, many musicians – instrumentalists and singers – with whom he collaborated so enthusiastically and so professionally throughout his all-too-short life,” Paul said. “While he was also a most accomplished solo performer, I felt that his legacy would be honored best by establishing a collaborative scholarship in his name.”

Donations will not be taken at the door. For more information or to learn how to contribute, visit the event page.

What: Gospel Meets Jazz conducted by Brad Leali.

When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 (Sunday).

Where: Paul Voertman Concert Hall, 415 S. Ave. C in Denton.

Cost: Free.

DENTON (UNT), Texas – Brad Leali, College of Music jazz saxophone professor, presents his fifth annual Black History Month concert, “Gospel Meets Jazz,” at the University of North Texas.

“We are celebrating black history, the contributions of the African American culture, as well as sending the message that by working together we can attain peace, goodness and acceptance,” Leali said.

The performance will consist of UNT faculty/students and members of the Village Church in Denton and Morse Street Baptist Church choirs. It features vocalist Katina Butler and UNT professors Tanya Darby on trumpet, Quincy Davis on drum set and Pat Coil on piano. The choirs will be led by Bobby Hicks.

Azaria Hogans, Texas Woman’s University graduate student, will be performing a dance segment and Larry Willis, pastor for Morse Street Baptist Church, will be a featured special guest.

The concert will consist of a variety of songs from the gospel and jazz genres, including some new original materials.

Song selections include “Emmitt T.,” “Strange Fruit,” “Jesus is Real” and “I Know I’ve Been Changed.”

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Two University of North Texas alumni were part of projects that earned three awards at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (Jan. 28). Here is a round-up of the winners:

Edward Stephan

Alumnus Edward Stephan is a timpanist for the Pittsburgh Orchestra, which won in the categories of Best Engineered Album (Classical) and Best Orchestral Performance.

Frank Greene

Alumnus Frank Greene is lead trumpet for the Christian McBride Big Band, which won Best Large Jazz Ensemble.

“The history of success among UNT College of Music faculty, students and alumni in Grammy nominations and winning projects is simply remarkable and has very few rivals in American higher education,” said John W. Richmond, dean of the College of Music. “Grammy awards are certainly not the only metric of success at UNT, of course, but they are among the most noticed in the music profession internationally. It is a joy to applaud our alumni this year and celebrate their tremendous accomplishments.”

UNT alumni were part of projects that received nominations in 11 categories for this year’s Grammy awards.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Bruce Broughton, 10-time Emmy Award winner and 2017-18 University of North Texas composer-in-residence, will return to the College of Music to join the Symphonic Band in a performance of his compositions and participate in a unique on-stage conversation where he will discuss his music, career and contributions live for the audience. Media: Download image here.

 What: “The Music of Bruce Broughton,” a UNT Symphonic Band performance with famed composer Bruce Broughton, featuring his compositions.

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 (Tuesday).

Where: Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, 2100 Interstate 35E, Denton.

Cost: $10 for the public; $8 for UNT faculty, staff and Alumni Association members; free for UNT students. Students can pick up their free ticket at the Murchison Performing Arts Center box office. UNT faculty, staff, alumni and the public, may purchase their tickets at the Murchison Performing Arts Center online.

Parking: Free parking will be available in the lot next to the MPAC, with overflow parking available in lots 4 and 26. View the UNT parking map here.

More information: For a complete list of UNT College of Music events, including faculty and student recitals, visit the College of Music online calendar at http://music.unt.edu/calendar and connect with the College of Music on Facebook at Facebook.com/UNTCollegeofMusic and on Twitter at @UNTCoM.

“It’s always exciting for me to collaborate with composers on performances of their music. It brings a special energy and intimacy that is unique for our students,” said Dennis Fisher, associate director of wind studies and conductor of the Symphonic Band. “Having him be a part of the performance in preparation for, and then at the concert is something I will always remember and I know the students will as well.”

The performance will feature Broughton’s Harlequin, Fanfare for 16 Horns and From Sea to Shining Sea, along with other favorites, including the opening scenes from his Academy Award-nominated score for the movie “Silverado.”

“I'm most curious to hear the Fanfare for 16 Horns,” said Broughton, who also wrote scores for “Tombstone,” “The Rescuers Down Under,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Harry and the Hendersons,” among others. “It was composed originally to open a concert at The Hollywood Bowl as part of the International Horn Convention when there were a lot of horn players available and I wasn't sure whether I'd ever hear it played again. This piece will be a rare performance simply because it takes an extraordinary number of horns to play it.”

Fisher says he’s most excited about Spacious Skies, a piece that was commissioned by the United States Air Force in 2017 and required special permission from them, as well as Broughton, before it could be performed.

“I became familiar with the piece when I produced a recording session with the Air Force in April,” Fisher said. “When Bruce and I talked about this concert, I knew Spacious Skies was one piece I would really like to include, as it features a saxophone quartet with the band. The sax section in the Symphonic Band has played quartets together extensively over the past several years and I knew it would be a perfect fit for them.”

Broughton says he’s enjoyed the experience of being UNT’s composer-in-residence and is very much looking forward to the performance.

“It's one thing to compose music, another to perform it and another thing entirely to hear someone else perform your compositions,” Broughton said. “I generally always find someone else's performance interesting because they usually bring something new to the piece in the way that they play it.”

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- University of North Texas College of Music master’s student Kyle McKay was playing a gig with a band in New England when he noticed what turned out to be a common theme – freelance musicians need help with their finances, including tax preparation. That’s what inspired him to create The Musician’s Bookkeeper (musiciansbookkeeper.com).

“I mentioned that I needed to keep track of the miles I was driving so I could deduct them on my taxes. The other band members’ minds were blown – they had no idea they could deduct certain performance-related expenses,” McKay said.

McKay, who is also working on a finance degree from Harvard, working three jobs and interning, is a clarinetist who worked for his mom as a bookkeeper growing up. It was during that time that he learned of his proficiency in bookkeeping.

 “It’s something I fell into looking for an outlet outside of music so I wouldn’t lose my love for it,” McKay said. “It’s what I did when I took time off between my undergraduate degree and graduate degrees. I started with basic data entry and eventually got a certification through Quickbooks as a Certified Quickbooks ProAdvisor and now have almost three years’ experience as a bookkeeper.”

He says he was able to create his business with the help from two programs at UNT. He won third place in the Career Development and Entrepreneurship in Music’s inaugural Music Entrepreneurship Competition and second in the College of Business’ Westheimer New Venture Competition for a total of $6,000 in prizes. After he won the competitions, his mother and his fiancé convinced him to take the leap.

“It really gave me the initial capital I needed to start the company – applying for the L.L.C. and getting the technology in order,” McKay said. “It gave me the boost to really get my business going. The initial push can be really difficult. You always hear, ‘anyone can be an entrepreneur,’ but no one ever says exactly how much work it takes to be successful.”

McKay has already landed a big name classical musician/booking agent – Deborah Brooks – and, through her word of mouth, has picked up several more clients.

“I completed financial books for her and her 2016 tax return. She and her CPA called to tell me the books were excellent,” McKay said. “I’ve had other clients tell me I’m their saving grace.”

He also has words of wisdom for others aspiring to become entrepreneurs.

“You can be guided to be an entrepreneur but what you really can’t teach is the dedication and the effort,” McKay said. “You have to just stick it out, blood, sweat and tears all the way, and make it happen.”

What: University of North Texas’ Early Childhood Music program offers music classes for children from birth to 5 years old. The classes are designed to accelerate childrens’ development in song, rhythm and expressivity.

When: There will be a 10-week winter session held Fridays from Jan. 5 - March 9 and Saturdays from Jan. 6 – March 10.

Where: Room 115 of the Music Annex Building, at the corner of Avenue C and Highland in Denton (1630 W. Highland St.).

Cost: The cost for the infant class (for newborns and babies up to to 24 months old) is $150 and $170 for children ages 2 to 5 years old, with a $20 application fee per family once per academic year. Families who enrolled in the fall session do not need to pay the application fee for the winter. Families who enroll more than one child will receive a 50 percent discount for each additonal child. Visit the Early Childhood Music program page for more information or to register. Registration is now open and required by Jan. 3.

Parking: On Fridays, a Parkmobile lot is available at the corner of Highland Street and Avenue C for $2.25 per hour. Saturday parking is free in the Faculty/Staff lots. For more information on parking, visit the transportation website or view the UNT parking map here.

DENTON (UNT), Texas — Studies have shown that the first five years of a child's life are fundamentally important to their growth and learning achievement. Nurturing musical development early maximizes children’s musical learning opportunities and provides them with the readiness needed for music instruction later in life. The University of North Texas College of Music's Early Childhood Music Program exposes young children – infants to age 5 – to a rich, music-filled environment in which they participate in listening, vocal exploration and music babble. These skills eventually lead to beat competency and accurate singing.

“With your child, you will sing and chant traditional folk songs and rhymes, sing a variety of songs without words in a variety of tonalities and meters, explore musical instruments and participate in fun beat and movement activities,” said Kateri Lavacek, assistant director and instructor for the program. “These classes will fill your little one with a sense of wonder, imagination, and the building blocks of music that he or she will benefit from throughout life.”

The winter 10-week sessions will be held Fridays from Jan.5 – March 9 and Saturdays from Jan. 6 – March 10 in Room 115 of the Music Annex Building, which is located at the corner of Avenue C and Highland in Denton on 1630 W. Highland St. Friday attendees will have to pay for parking, which is available in the Parkmobile lot at the corner of Highland Street and Avenue C. Parking is free on Saturday. For more information on parking, visit the transportation website or view the UNT parking map here.

The sessions will be divided into four different age groups: 

• Infant – 0 to 24 months
• Toddler – 2 to 4 years
• Pre-K – 3 1/2 to 5 years
• Multi-age – 0 to 5 years

The 10-week program is $150 for infants and $170 for all other age groups. Families who enroll more than one child will receive a 50 percent discount for each additonal child. The sessions for infants will be 30 minutes in duration, and the other sessions will be 40 minutes.

The schedule for the classes is as follows: 

Friday Sessions

• Infant: 9:30 – 10 a.m.
• Toddler: 10:10 – 10:50 a.m.

Saturday Sessions

• Infant: 8:30 – 9 a.m. and 9:10 – 9:40 a.m.
• Toddler: 9:50 – 10:30 a.m.
• Multi-age: 10:40 – 11:20 a.m.
• Pre-K: 11:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. 

“It is so exciting to see the growth these children have during the sessions,” said Lavacek. “I have seen such incredible musicianship from the youngest of babies and it is so amazing to see how they internalize and then express themselves musically.”

Parents are required to be present with their children for each class. Register here. For more information, contact Kateri Lavacek at 317-213-3763 or email her at ecmusic@unt.edu.

About UNT's Early Childhood Music Program

Directed by Warren Henry, associate dean of academic affairs in UNT's College of Music, the Early Childhood Music Program aims to maximize children's musical learning opportunities. Classes differ according to the age levels and readiness of the children, but all classes include songs, chants, movement and instrument exploration.