Alumni Spotlights

Morrongiello (B.M., Voice and Opera, 2016) will cover Monostatos in The Magic Flute, and The Metropolitan Opera covering the Dean of the Faculty in Cinderella, Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro, Player 2 in Brett Dean’s Hamlet, and Sellem in The Rake’s Progress.

Ramos' (M.M., Voice and Opera, 2013) album will feature two song cycles "Tres Poemas de Alfaro" and "País de Sombra" by Bolivian composer Jaime Mendoza-Nava. The CD is expected to be released by the end of the year. Ramos has been serving as the Associate Director for Music for the Diocese of Austin since 2013. In January 2021, she was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. 

Recipient of the 2021-2023 NBCUniversal Composer Diversity Initiative, Chambers (B.M., Music Theory, 2017) has had a dynamic career as a self-titled “composer-creative” entrepreneur. She is the owner of Sweets by Jocelyn, a baking business she started at six years old; author of “The Era of Mixed Feelings,” a collection of curated stories about adolescent experiences and struggles; founder of the online magazine “Majesty Mag”; and host of “The I Am Loved” podcast, which discusses love and self-love.

Amsel (B.M., Conducting, 2012) will lead the orchestra in a variety of programs including Symphonic, Chamber, Family and Education concerts. Prior to this appointment, he was selected to the Aspen Conducting Academy, where he will perform in eight concerts this summer at the Aspen Music Festival.

Zuniga (D.M.A., Double Bass Performance, 2015) has been appointed to a faculty position as Double Bass professor at the National University Panamá in Panamá. 

Following the release of Fears' (B.M., Music Performance, 2013) powerful new six-song EP, "Canopy," Jeff McCord from KUTX called it "intimate, intense and sublime." 

Taylor (B.A., Woodwinds, 2000) is currently a PhD student at UT Tyler studying human resource development with a focus on the effects of gender bias on the workplace. The mission of the Pat Tillman Foundation is to unite and empower remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self.

In this role, Sidey (B.M., Music Education, 2005) will be responsible for launching the inaugural Music Education Partnerships Grants program. This new funding opportunity is designed to support partnerships between community choruses and schools to increase access to choral music education and promote non-arts learning and cultural literacy, all while upholding the principles of access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Muñoz (B.M., Trumpet Performance, 2018) is one of the the 35 Black and Latinx music professionals who are pursuing or considering academic careers. The fellowship will prepare them with the skills, insights and networks to flourish professionally and influence generations of musicians.

LOLA, or Local Opera Local Artists, will present a free online concert featuring soprano Dr. Nicole Taylor (M.M., Music, 2006; D.M.A., Music, 2011) performing songs by Black Composers. Pianist Nikki Birdsong accompanies. The concert is at 4:30 p.m. CDT on June 5 on LOLA’s YouTube Channel.