Sean Meyers (A.D., Woodwinds, 2020) alongside Vanguard Reed Quintet, release a debut album in June. The full-length album, Red Leaf Collection, features six world-premiere recordings of compositions for reed quintet. The ensemble has won Silver Medal at the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Second Prize at the 2017 Briggs Chamber Music Competition and Honorable Mention at the 2019 Plowman Chamber Music Competition. Photo by Curtis Noborikawa III
Constance Cortez receives 2020 Digital Extension Grant
Constance Cortez (M.A., Art History, 1986) received a 2020 Digital Extension Grant from the American Council of Learned Societies for her work "Generative Rhizomes: Extending Digital Discovery of Mexican American Art,” the first national-level digital portal focusing on Mexican American Art.
Tamara Johnson to present Nasher Windows exhibition
Tamara Johnson (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2007) is set to present the Nasher Sculpture Center's Nasher Windows exhibition, a new series sited within the Nasher’s entrance vestibule on Flora Street, from May 22 through May 27. As an homage to the Nasher collection, Johnson created a piece titled "Deviled Egg and Okra Column.” The work is a nod to Brancusi’s "Endless Column,” and features a mirroring tower of stacked deviled eggs and pickled okra, cast in resin and spanning the height of the vestibule space. Photo by Trey Burns
Natalie Svacina named 2020 Western Region Museum Education Art Educator
Natalie Svacina (B.A., Art History, 2006) was awarded the National Art Education Association’s 2020 Western Region Museum Education Art Educator Award. She was recognized for her exemplary contributions, service and achievements. She currently serves at the Education + Residency Director at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in Houston, Texas, where she oversees all of HCCC’s educational programming, including hands-on activities, workshops, camps and the artist residency program. Photo by Andrew Buckler
Ruben Balboa accepts new position at Illinois State University
Ruben Balboa (D.M.A., Strings and Harp, 2020) will serve as Instructional Assistant Professor of Viola, Assistant Director and Master Teacher for the ISU String Project for the 2020-2021 academic school year at Illinois State University.
Roberta Rust releases CD and performs recitals
Anthony Gatto releases two albums
Anthony Gatto’s (M.M., Composition, 1991) two newest albums, The Making of Americans and Wise Blood, were commissioned by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and are set for release in July 2020 by New Focus Recordings. The first opera is based on the novel by Gertrude Stein while the second is based on the novel by Flannery O'Connor. Photo by Chris Larso
Andrew Rodriguez featured in streaming production from Actors Theatre of Louisville
Andrew Rodriguez (B.F.A., Theatre Studies, 2019) will be a featured member of the 2019-2020 Professional Training Company for the play Are You There? This production depicts how technology has revolutionized the way we communicate with each other and can be streamed from the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays. Photo by Jonathan Roberts
Hayley Austin to publish her first monograph
Hayley Austin (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2009) will publish her first monograph, “The Springs,” with Kris Graves Projects in April 2020. The book is comprised of photographs taken in Las Vegas in 2018 and is a limited edition, with only 250 copies available for pre-sale.
Altin Sencalar releases second album
Altin Sencalar (B.M., Jazz Performance, 2017) released his second album, Realization, featuring performances by jazz veterans and luminaries. Sencalar is touring with his co-led group across the nation, and they will be featured as guest artists at the 2020 American Trombone Workshop at Fort Meyer in Washington, D.C. He was also named as one of the "Artists in Residence" for the 2020 Jazz Institute at Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina. Photo by Jessica D. Cowles
Robert Di Donato to be part of festival lineup
Robert Di Donato (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2016) helped create the performance collective Frank W/Men Collective and has been selected to be part of The Fusebox Festival 2020 lineup. Photo by Alex Masi
Joan Schubert to record and perform original music
Joan Schubert (B.M., Woodwinds, 1981) has most recently recorded works by Astor Piazzolla, Django Reinhardt and Maurice Ravel. Schubert will also be performing and recording original music for voices and piano, “Caged Bird,” with text by Maya Angelou. Photo by Bryon Dahl
Garrett Keast debuts his 2019-20 season
Garrett Keast (B.M., Music Studies,1995) debuted his 2019-20 season with the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Orquesta Sinfónica del Principal de Asturias, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta de Lausanne, Tonali Orchestra and Berlin Opera Academy. Photo by Marco Borggreve
John Salmon sponsoring Dave Brubeck Centennial Symposium
John Salmon (D.M.A., Keyboard, 1988) is sponsoring a Dave Brubeck Centennial Symposium at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro starting Oct. 22. The event will include an opening concert, two stagings of Brubeck's Christmas pageant and one performance of his cantata, lectures by prominent scholars and a group discussion with the Brubeck siblings.
Bill Green plays roles in Shakespeare productions
Bill Green (B.F.A., Drama, 1950) played The Ghost in a production of Hamlet and more recently, the Porter in Macbeth. Green is also a member of The Drilling Company, an off-Broadway theater company.
Rachel Anne Steinkamp becomes book lead for Pixelberry Studios
Rachel Anne Steinkamp (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2015) led the completion of the Regency romance trilogy, Desire & Decorum, for Choices by Pixelberry Studios as the team’s book lead.
Kimberly Antwerp showcases mixed-media sculptural works
Kimberly Antwerp (B.A., Studio Art, 1993) showcased some of her mixed-media sculptural works in Pretty and Peculiar, at Fe Gallery. The show runs through Feb. 28. Photo by Kimberly Antwerp
Hank Hehmsoth documents Jazz Master Dan Morgenstern’s 70-year career
Hank Hehmsoth (B.M., Piano, 1975; M.M., Piano, 1976) worked with a 2019 National Endowment for the Arts NEA ArtWorks grant to produce the website, “Dan Morgenstern Collection,” which documents the complete archive of NEA Jazz Master Dan Morgenstern’s 70-year career as a jazz advocate, scholar, author and educator. Photo by Milo Hehmsoth
Rachell Ellen Wong named winner of J.S. Bach Competition
Rachell Ellen Wong (B.M., Strings and Harp, 2013) is the winner of the inaugural Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition at the Stony Brook University. She will be performing at the first annual Island Symphony Bach Festival January 26, 2020. Photo by Jiyang Chen