Congratulations to Sam Reenan ’18E (MA), ’21E (PhD) on his appointment as Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), beginning August 15, 2025. Prior to this appointment, Sam served as Theory Coordinator and Director of Graduate Studies at Miami University where he was also an elected member of…
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Congratulations to Henry Cheng ’07E for being named the new Music Director of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra (JCSO), following a rigorous selection process that began with an international search of more than 100 applicants. As 1 of 3 finalists featured in the Orchestra’s 18th concert season titled, Three Maestros, One Podium, he curated and…
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Congratulations to recent Eastman graduate Timothy Coene ’25E (MM) for winning the Tenor Saxophone position in the West Point Band, the United States Army’s oldest, active-duty band, officially established in 1817 on the grounds of the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. He will be enlisting in August 2025. Timothy earned his Master…
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Eastman DMA students Shangru Du and Jonathan Mamora are among an exceptional group of pianists competing at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, TX from May 21-June 7, 2025. The concluding rounds of this year’s competition include 28 musicians, narrowed from 340 applicants representing 45 countries. Those reaching the finals will have played four+ hours…
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Congratulations to recent Eastman graduate Alexander Lehmann ’25E for winning the Tallon Perkes Flute Competition on May 9, 2025, performing the Prokofiev Sonata first movement for his solo piece, in addition to the memorized Mozart concerto exposition and excerpts. The jury was comprised of this year’s clinician, Timothy Hutchins, principal flute of the Montreal Symphony,…
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Congratulations to Eastman students Zachary Costello (Master of Music candidate in Saxophone Performance), Kai Gray (undergraduate student in Percussion Performance), and Yanzuo Nicole Liu (Master of Music candidate in Performance and Literature) for winning the 36th Annual Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition. As winners, they will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the YYPA Celebration…
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Congratulations to piano student Jiaxi Li for placing in the Arlington Philharmonic’s 2025 Young Artist Competition, winning second prize in the Peter Tannenwald Division and an award of $650. Jiaxi earned her Bachelor of Music in Applied Music from Eastman and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree, studying with Professor Joseph Rackers and…
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Congratulations to Haniel Anugerah for being selected as one of six Piano Fellows at the Tanglewood Music Center for Summer 2025, where he will be collaborating with renowned conductors including Anna Handler and Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Haniel is currently completing his Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Literature, studying with Professor Joseph Rackers. Haniel…
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Congratulations to Eastman’s Jazz & Contemporary Media Department for being recognized in DownBeat Magazine’s 48th Annual Student Awards: Eastman Jazz Voice Ensemble Sara Gazarek, faculty Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble – Outstanding Performances – Undergraduate College Kiersten Conway on “Round Midnight” Outstanding Soloist Jack Snelling, “Under a Willow Tree” Christine Jensen, faculty Original Composition…
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Congratulations to the winners of the 43rd Annual Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition that took place on Saturday, May 10 in Kilbourn Hall: Honorable Mention: Caleb Borick (pianist) 3rd place pianist: William Shi 3rd place singer: Emily Kondrat 2nd place pianist: Chaeeun Lee 2nd place singer: S Joshua Sheppard 1st place pianist (Ann C. Fehn Memorial…
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Congratulations to Harry Hwang ’21E (MM) for his recent appointment as Second Clarinet with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera. Harry earned his Master of Music degree in Performance and Literature from Eastman, studying with Professor Michael Wayne. He will begin playing with the SP&O later this spring.
Congratulations to second-year student Andrew Foster, who is pursuing a dual degree at the University of Rochester in Horn Performance from the Eastman School of Music and Chemistry from the College of Arts and Sciences. Andrew was 1 of 5 undergraduate students chosen nationally for the IRES CRYSTAL Dynamics program, a prestigious summer internship through…
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Congratulations to Jerome Bell, a PhD candidate in Music Theory, for being named a recipient of the Ball Dissertation Fellowship. This University-wide fellowship is given to just two candidates from across the humanities and social sciences. The fellowship will support the completion of Jerome’s dissertation, “Applying Analytical Approaches to Contemporary Black Gospel Music.”
Congratulations to Alexander Little, candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree, for winning First Place and the Audience prize at this year’s Arthur Poister National Organ Competition held on April 4 in Syracuse, NY. Alex is a student of Professor David Higgs.
Congratulations to Zachary Costello, a first-year Master of Music student in Saxophone Performance, for being awarded the Grand Prize at the 2025 Naftzger Young Artist Competition. He is also a 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition winner and won second prize in the 2025 Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition in Classical Saxophone. Zachary studies under Professor…
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Congratulations to Katherine “Kat” Jolliff, a senior undergraduate in the studio of David Higgs, for winning First Prize and Audience Prize at the National Undergraduate Organ Competition in Ottumwa, IA, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. She was chosen along with two other finalists from many recorded auditions. Kat has won numerous competitions in recent years,…
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Congratulations to Jonathan Mamora, a DMA piano candidate studying with Professor Douglas Humpherys, for winning first prize and the gold medal at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition on March 17, 2025. The prize includes a $20,000 cash award, another Carnegie Hall concert, and a second recording contract on the Steinway and Sons label. Jonathan…
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Congratulations to several Eastman students who placed at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Competitions that were held earlier this month (March) in Minneapolis, MN. Saxophonist Austin Shilling, from the studio of Professor Chien-Kwan Lin, won the Young Artist Woodwind competition. Violist Vivienne Lucier, from the studio of Professor Masumi Per Rostad, won second place…
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Congratulations to Colin Mann ’18E (MM), ’25E (DMA) for being appointed Associate Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Georgia. Colin is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting, studying with Professor William Weinert.
Congratulations to Hanisha Kulothparan, a PhD student in Music Theory, for accepting the position of Assistant Professor of Music Theory in the Arthur Satz Department of Music of the University of Rochester. The job comes with a secondary appointment in the Eastman Music Theory department.
Congratulations to Ethan Blake, a Master of Music student in the studio of David Ying, for winning the assistant principal cello position in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. It is the third chair in the section and his responsibilities will vary from blending appropriately to leading the cello section when needed. Ethan will join the orchestra…
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Congratulations to Noah Kahrs ’19E (MA), ’24E (PhD) on his appointment as assistant professor of music in music theory at The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Noah earned degrees from Eastman in both music theory and music composition. His tenure-track position begins on August 1.
Congratulations to Xiaoliang Qian, a DMA piano candidate in the studio of Marina Lomazov, for winning the first prize and audience choice award at the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. In addition to a cash award, Xiaoliang will perform with the orchestra in the 2025-26 season.
Congratulations to Jacob Eichhorn, a PhD candidate in Music Theory, for winning the 2025 Dorothy Payne Award, named for alumna and legendary former Eastman professor Dorothy Payne ’56E, ’67E (MM), ’74E (DMA). This award is given annually to the best student paper delivered at The Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic conference. Jacob’s winning paper…
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Congratulations to Isabel Chen for winning the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra’s first-ever nationally advertised Young Persons Concerto Competition. She will be featured in the Orchestra’s fourth concert of their 2024-2025 season on Saturday, March 15 at 3:00 PM at Christ Church Episcopal in Cooperstown, NY. Isabel is completing her final year towards receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Violin…
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Congratulations to Yunxin (Dorothy) Nie for winning the Neva Stevens Pilgrim Award at the Civic Morning Musicals 48th Annual Competition for Singers, taking home a $500 prize. The competition was held on February 8 in Syracuse, NY. Dorothy is a second-year, undergraduate soprano from the studio of Professor Kathryn Cowdrick.
Congratulations to Evan Martschenko, a first-year PhD Theory student, for publishing an article in Music Theory Online, one of the discipline’s top peer-reviewed journals. Evan’s article, “‘Feel the Emptiness’: Micro-Schemata in the Music of Henryk Mikołaj Górecki,” demonstrates that a few key threads define Górecki’s compositional language even as his style ranged from Polish sonorism…
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Congratulations to Sō Percussion including Jason Treuting ’99E for winning Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance in the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.’s 67th GRAMMY Awards that took place on Sunday, February 2, 2025. Jason earned his Bachelors in Music and the Performer’s Certificate at Eastman where he studied percussion with John Beck…
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Eastman’s songSLAM took place Saturday, February 1, with a standing-room only crowd in Sproull Atrium! Hosted by Associate Professor of Vocal Coaching Alison d’Amato and co-founder of Sparks and Wiry Cries Martha Guth, the celebration of new song works premiered fourteen composer-performer teams with a wide range of styles, texts, and duo collaborations. Winners were…
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Tenor Travon D. Walker ’21E has joined IMG Artists’ roster for general management, where he will be represented by Associate Artist Manager, Noah Sesling ’22E. Travon, a current second-year young artist at The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, graduated from Eastman with a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance. Noah, also…
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Congratulations to Alexandra Rose Hotz ’20E (MM), ’23E (DMA) for winning the Joy In Singing’s 60th International Art Song Competition, where she received a cash prize and will be singing in a debut performance at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 7:00 pm. Alexandra is formerly from the studio…
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Congratulations to Paul David Flood, PhD Musicology candidate, for being the 2024 winner of the Presser Graduate Music Award, a substantial grant from the Presser Foundation to support a professional-development project by a graduate student. During the summer of 2024, he traveled to Malmö, Sweden to pursue innovative ethnographic research into the cultural significance of…
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On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Monroe County Legislature presented baritone Holden Turner ’25E with a proclamation recognizing his achievements in music as the 2024-25 William Warfield Scholarship Fund recipient. Congratulations, Holden! “The legacy of William Warfield is deeply inspiring to me as a young artist,” says Turner. “It’s a privilege to honor his…
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Congratulations to senior horn performance major Morgan Chalmers for winning a position with the horn section of The United States Army Field Band, the touring ensemble of the Army music program. She will begin her appointment after she graduates in May 2025. Morgan is from the studio of Peter Kurau.
Congratulations to Yiran Zhao, a DMA conducting student, who is the winner of the American Prize in Composition in the college/university division for shorter works for chorus.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Freimuth ’96E on her appointment as professor of horn at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Freimuth received bachelor’s degrees from Eastman in French horn and music education. She is currently the principal horn and Mary M. & Charles F. Yeiser Chair of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO).
Congratulations to doctoral student Angela Rubin on winning the first AMP Up Grant. Angela received funding to support her efforts in developing an audience for her DMA recital that took place on Sunday, November 24, 2024 in Kilbourn Hall. Learn more about Angela’s funding award and performance here.
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Congratulations to Ruixue Hu, a third-year Ph.D. student in music theory, for receiving Honorable Mention for the Society for Music Theory’s Diversity in Course Design Award. His award-winning syllabus, “Engaging with Timbre,” explores timbre in a wide range of global musical genres.
Congratulations to the winners of the Central New York Finger Lakes NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) chapter student auditions held at Buffalo State University on November 2, 2024, which included students from the voice studios of Joshua Conyers and Katherine Ciesinski: Treble Voices post High School: Evan Anderson, First Place 1st year Kai…
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Congratulations to Jazz Voice student Harrison Candelario, from the studio of Sara Gazarek, for being selected by the Recording Academy®‘s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team and the GRAMMY Museum® as a recipient of the Quinn Coleman Memorial Scholarship. Aiming to elevate the next generation of Black and Brown music creators, this scholarship offers a comprehensive…
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Congratulations to undergraduate jazz bassist Gavin Rice for winning the 2024 Young Talent Award from the Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Festival, a festival dedicated to the preservation of early jazz/popular music from the turn of the century to the 1930s. The award is given to a young musician ages 18–23 who shows extreme talent and…
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Timothy Long ’92E (MM), Artistic and Music Director of Eastman Opera Theatre, was featured in the New York Times today: “The Musician Building the Great Native American Songbook.” Long—a pianist, conductor and teacher—conceived his project to fill a cultural need: “There is no repertoire like this in existence.”
Congratulations to Evyn Levy ’24E (MM), from the studio of Michael Wayne, for securing the position of Second/Eb Clarinet with The Louisville Orchestra. Evyn is currently in her first year as a clarinet fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami (which she accepted in lieu of the principal job she won with the Arkansas Symphony…
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Congratulations to doctoral student Luke Poeppel ’24E (MM) for being named a David T. Beals III assistant conductor of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra for their 2024/2025 season.
Congratulations to Jack Earnhart, a master’s student in Music, Teaching and Learning, for receiving an award at the Greater Rochester Excellence and Achievements in Technology event hosted by TechRochester on October 15, 2024 (pictured left). Recognized as a “leader and visionary” within the music industry, Earnhart’s company, which builds custom brass mouthpieces, was honored for…
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Congratulations to Erin Hannigan ’96E for her recent appointment as professor of oboe at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. During her time in Rochester, Hannigan studied under Professor Richard Killmer, who is Eastman’s oboe professor to this day. Hannigan is currently the principal oboist and Nancy P. & John G. Penson Chair of the…
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Congratulations to Eastman clarinetist, and current master’s student, Zhiwei “Victor” Ni ’24E for being named a “Performance Today” Young Artist in Residence for 2024/25! This program showcases young soloists from American conservatories who have demonstrated strong potential for careers in music. As a Young Artist in Residence, Zhiwei will be interviewed by Performance Today host…
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Congratulations to third-year tuba student Addilae Canning and first-year tuba student Jonathan Miller for being named S.E. Shires Rising Artists. As Rising Artists, they will participate in a two-year program in which they are mentored by internationally recognized teachers and performers via seminars and masterclasses.
Congratulations to violinist Paul Halberstadt ’20E on his appointment to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Paul is formerly from the studio of Professor Juliana Athayde.
Congratulations to violinist Angelina Phillips ’24E for winning the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster audition. Angelina is formerly from the studio of Professor Juliana Athayde. “Having just started her MM at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University with Paul Kantor, (my former teacher!), this is an enormous accomplishment to be celebrated! Bravo!!!!” -Juliana…
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Congratulations to doctoral candidate Ryan Chan who was the First Prize and Audience Prize winner in the National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance (NYACOP) held in San Francisco during the 2024 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). Ryan is a student of Minehan Family Professor of Organ, David Higgs.
Congratulations to clarinetist Seunghee Lee ’90E on the release of her new album, Intermezzo. About the album: Intermezzo, a term often used in opera, refers to a musical interlude that offers a pause for reflection and transition within the overarching narrative—a momentary break between acts. Experience the captivating melodies and rhythms of Michele Mangani, beautifully…
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Congratulations to Lauren Gibson, an undergraduate student in the inaugural class of jazz voice majors, on winning the 2024 Deborah Landon Memorial Jazz Scholarship from the Jazz Education Network. In addition to a $1500 award, the scholarship comes with one year of success coaching and a year-long membership to the JEN organization.
Isrea Butler ’04E ’06E (MM) was appointed Director of the School of Music at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas!
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Congratulations to recent graduate Serena Reuten ’24E (MM) for her appointment as the Omaha Symphony‘s next Assistant Conductor!
Congratulations to John Upton ’12E, student of Professor Richard Killmer, for his appointment as principal oboe of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra!
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Four-time Grammy nominee Curtis Stewart ’08E, ’08 received the 2025 Sphinx Organization Medal of Excellence!
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Congratulations to Alexandra Stokes, a current student of professors Bonita Boyd and Anne Harrow, for winning the acting piccolo position in the North Carolina Symphony!