Alumni Spotlights

Headshot of James Sclater

James Sclater's (D.M.A., Composition, 1970) new Concerto for Violin and Orchestra premiered by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra

February 13, 2024

The three-movement, 23 minute work was commissioned by the First Presbyterian Church Choir of Jackson, MS in honor of Kemp's selection as the new concertmaster of the MSO.

Altin Sencalar portrait holding a trumpet

Altin Sencalar (B.M., Jazz Studies, 2017) releasing his 5th album on Posi-Tone Records

January 30, 2024 | Dusty Groove

The album releases on March 29.

Hermes Camacho portrait

Hermes Camacho (D.M.A., Composition, 2011) appointed deputy director at Austin Soundwaves

January 25, 2024

An arts education nonprofit based on El Sistema that works with more than 1,100 students throughout greater Austin and with nearly 30 full and part-time staff, Austin Soundwaves partners with schools and community programs to provide orchestra, band, and mariachi teaching, teacher coaching, mentoring, and creative youth development. Hermes has been with the organization since 2012.

Yutaka Kono looking down at his conductor's table

Yutaka Kono (D.M.A., Tuba Performance, 2002) appointed as the Music Director of Orchestra of Central Tokyo

November 17, 2023

Kono has also been appointed as the Associate Director/Head of Program in Music of the School of the Arts at the University of Vermont. He has been the Orchestra Director and the Head of String Area at the university since 2011.

Lee Kohlenberg, Jr. (B.M., Organ, 1966) played a recital for the Anderson SC AGO

October 18, 2023

Kohlenberg, Jr. also played on L'Organo series of Piccolo Spoleto in June, which was his sixth time performing.

Andrew Sigler (D.M.A., Music Composition, 2014) promoted to Associate Professor of Music Composition at the University of Tennessee College of Music

October 5, 2023

Sigler is the area coordinator of the Theory, Composition, Technology and is president of the National Association of Composers, USA (NACUSA).

Kyle Jones (A.D., Woodwinds, 2020) selected as a recipient of a 2023 Rocket Grant

September 11, 2023 | Charlotte Street

Jones's project, entitled Seasons and Cycles, he will be partnering with composer Paul Berlinsky to envision a public concert that will take place in February 2024 at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium in Kansas City's Union Station. Featuring baritone saxophone and electronics, the new work centers our relationship to nature as human beings, as well as the importance of cyclical change.