Alumni Spotlights

Luis Eduardo Bellorín (A.D., Chamber Music, 2020) announced as a recipient of a 2023 Sphinx Organization MPower Grant

September 7, 2023 | Sphinx Music

Alan E. Hicks (D.M.A., Voice and Opera, 2009) joins the faculty of the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts, Texas Tech University as Assistant Professor and Director of Opera

August 24, 2023 | Texas Tech University

Michael Austin (M.M., Theory, 2007) appointed Senior Lecturer in Music & Sound at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, England

July 24, 2023

Christopher Guzman (D.M.A., Piano, 2011) has been appointed Professor of Piano at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music

July 18, 2023 | Northwestern

Jacob Schnitzer (B.M., Music and Human Learning/Music Education, 2016) named a recipient of The Solti Foundation U.S. 2023 Career Assistance Award

June 8, 2023 | Solti Foundation

This award was given to Schnitzer in recognition and support of his work as Artistic Director of Density512 (Austin, TX) and Assistant Conductor of The Missouri Symphony. The award is granted to career-ready conductors in the early stages of their development, thereby helping to continue the art form.

Dr. Christopher Diaz (B.M., M.M., Music and Human Learning/Music Education, 2012) receives patent for his work on spatial audio for VR purposes.

June 7, 2023

Marco Antonio Santos (D.M.A., Jazz Studies, 2022) releases new album, "About: Silence"

May 31, 2023 | All About Jazz

Released May 5, the album’s 11 tracks feature a jazz guitar trio—guitar, upright bass, and drums—joined on four tracks by a woodwind quartet and on five by a string quartet.

Hyeyoung Song (D.M.A, Piano, 2006) inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame

May 31, 2023 | Weatherford College

The honor recognizes piano teachers for their commitment and passion for piano education. Song is invited to attend an early October induction ceremony at the historic New York Steinway factory and her name is displayed on a commemorative display wall inside the Steinway Factory.

Nathan Mertens (M.M., Woodwinds, 2014; D.M.A., 2017) appointed Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Colorado Boulder

February 23, 2023 | University of Colorado Boulder

Altin Sencalar to release his first book titled, "Connecting the Dots: The Warmup Guide for the 21st- Century Versatile Trombonist"

February 8, 2023 | Last Row Music

The book will be released April 17, 2023. Sencalar (B.M., Jazz Studies, 2017) will be self publishing the book and it will be available through his website at www.altinsencalarmusic.com for purchase for physical or e-book copies. The book includes several topics related to trombone pedagogy as well as exclusive audio examples by Sencalar and a forward written by 2023 Ellis Marsalis Jazz Educator of the Year & 4x GRAMMY winning trombonist, Michael Dease.