Alumni Spotlights

Flutist Joan Schubert (B.M., Applied Music/Performance, 1982) and guitarist Bryon Dahl’s recent album, Our Favorite Things, went live on Pandora Radio in June 2016.

John Steffa (D.M.A., Composition, 1985) will present a recital of new, original, chamber music for the students in the Department of Music at the University of North Carolina-Asheville on Sept. 30. A repeat program will be presented that evening for a general audience. The recital precedes a program on Oct. 7, in the Music Room of the Strathmore Mansion in Bethesda, Maryland. 

James Welsch (D.M.A., Orchestral Conducting, 2016) was recently appointed Music Director/General Manager of the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras and Assistant Conductor of the El Paso Symphony.

After teaching in The Department of Music at Tumaini University Makumira for two years, Emmanuel Kaghondi (M.M., Music and Human Learning, 2014) received admission to the University of Minnesota for the Ph.D. in Music Education program in fall 2016. His research focus is in multi-cultural music education. Upon graduation, Kaghondi plans to return to Tanzania to continue teaching music.

Hank Hehmsoth (B.M. 1975; M.M., Applied Music/Voice/Piano, 1976), a composer and jazz performing artist in the School of Music at Texas State University, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Senior Specialist Program grant to Santiago, Chile in music this summer. 

Art Brownlow (D.M.A., Trumpet Performance, 1994) was selected as a recipient of the University of Texas System Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award for 2016.

Artina McCain (D.M.A., Piano Performance, 2011) will join the faculty at the University of Memphis as Assistant Professor of Piano this fall. Photo by Claire McAdams.

Cellist Hai Zheng (B.M. 1988; M.M., Applied Music/Voice/Piano, 1990) Assistant Professor of Music and Artist in Residence at Southwestern University, released in May her sixth CD, Remembrance on the Amatius Classics label.

Wayne Ching (B.M. 2013, M.M., Keyboard, 2015) will join the Cactus Pear Music Festival's 20th season as a festival artist, performing chamber music concerts across South Texas this summer.

Stefan Sanders (M.M. 2010, D.M.A., Conducting, 2013) is one of five featured conductors chosen from a pool of nearly 150 applicants from 18 countries, selected for their experience, talent, leadership potential, and commitment to a career in service to American orchestras. On May 11, they will lead the Nashville Symphony for an audience of music director search committee members, artistic administrators, and artist managers from League member organizations across the country.