Alumni Spotlights

Kirstin Garrison (B.M. Music Education, 2009) was recently selected as the newest member of the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA) Board of Directors.

Cmdr. Jason Pittman, B.M. 1998 and a Distinguished Graduate of UT NROTC, took command of the fast attack submarine, USS HELENA (SSN 725), this month at a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. He is the first Music major to be accepted to the Navy's nuclear propulsion program and the first to take command of a nuclear powered ship.

Christina Wright-Ivanova (D.M.A. 2012) has been appointed assistant professor of music/vocal coach and collaborative artist at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She begins her faculty residency in fall 2015. There were 90 applicants for the position, and Wright-Ivanova says her success is due in no small part to the Butler School of Music faculty and students with whom she worked in her three-year residency.

Hai Zheng, concert cellist (BM 1988, MM 1990) and Dr. Kiyoshi Tamagawa (DMA 1988) recently made their third Asia concert tour together. They first gave master classes and recitals at Bangkok and Hua Hin in Thailand, then went on to the Yong Siew Toh-Asia's International Conservatory in Singapore and finished their tour at China Conservatory in Beijing. Hai Zheng is Assistant Professor and Artist in Residence at Southwestern University. Dr/ Kiyoshi Tamagawa is Professor of Music and Associate Dean for the Sarofim School of Fine Arts at Southwestern University.

Alan E. Hicks (D.M.A. 2009) recently completed two seasons as the staff Assistant Director at Seattle Opera. For the 2015-16 season, Alan will join the staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago assisting Susan Stroman on The Merry Widow and Daniele Abbado on Nabucco. Alan will also make directing debuts at Minnesota Opera, Opera Santa Barbara and Miami Summer Music Festival.

James Jeter (B.M. 1971) will perform solo bassoon with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players at the Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center in Virginia this June and with the Conductors Institute Orchestra at Bard College this July. He will also teach and perform at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in western Michigan for his tenth summer.

Butler School of Music alumnus and conductor Brett Mitchell (M.M. 2003, D.M.A. 2005) has landed a two-year contract extension with the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, along with a promotion from assistant conductor to associate conductor. Mitchell's duties will shift to those of an active conductor and will entail more opportunities leading pops, family and education programs.

Soloist Mela Dailey (M. Music, 2003), won a Grammy this week for Best Choral Performance as part of the ensemble The Conspiraire Symphonic Choir and their performance of "The Sacred Spirit of Russia." Dailey is a faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance as well as a Butler School alumna.

Jo Ann Champion (B.M. Music and Human Learning, 2000) was selected as recipient of a Texas Music Educators Association Graduate Scholarship for 2014, and was selected in May as recipient of the Texas Music Educators Association Pat McNallen Scholarship for graduate study. In addition, Champion was one of 98 students at Stephen F. Austin State University nominated by the Faculty Council to Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

Jeremy Marks (D.M.A. Brass/Woodwinds/Percussion, 2013) was recently appointed as Adjunct Professor of Trombone & Euphonium at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.