Alumni in the News

Kate Stubbs joins faculty at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Aug. 26, 2015

Dr. Kate Stubbs (D.M.A. Collaborative Piano, 2015) has just been appointed to a faculty position as Instructor and Collaborative Pianist at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma.

Kate Stubbs

Alumni Painter Michael Gillespie

July 20, 2015

Michael Gillespie (B.F.A. Art Education, 1983) spent a month as Artist in Residence at a 5-star boutique luxury hotel in Tuscany, Italy. He did plein air painting and taught art lessons to the guests. He was recently commissioned to paint an oil portrait of Ray and Nancy Ann Hunt of Dallas. 

Michael Gillespie sketching next to an Italian brick building

Iva Kinnaird to be Featured in Hello Project Gallery Exhibition

July 7, 2015

Work by Iva Kinnaird (B.F.A. Studio Art, 2014) will be featured as part of Hello Project Gallery's "Summer Party Too" exhibition, which also marks the Houston gallery's one-year anniversary. Also featured in the show is current Fine Arts graduate student Rachael Starbuck. The exhibition runs July 10 to August 8. 

Marcia Green Santore co-chair of Force of Nature exhibition at Plymouth State University

July 1, 2015 | Force of Nature exhibition website

Marcia Green Santore (B.F.A. Studio Art, 1982) is co-chair of the Women's Caucus for Art/NH Chapter's national juried art exhibition FORCE OF NATURE: Exploring the Power of the Feminine in two venues on the campus of Plymouth State University. Juried by Judith Brodsky, this exhibition brings the work of more than 80 artists across the U.S. to New England.

Force of Nature exhibiton

Ariana Vincent Receives Award From Alliance for Massage Therapy Education

July 1, 2015

The Ariana Institute for Wellness Education is pleased to announce that Ariana Vincent (B.F.A. Studio Art, 1977) is The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education 2015 Continuing Education Provider of the Year, recognizing her excellence in massage and bodywork education.

Ariana Vincent

Jason Pittman takes command of submarine USS HELENA

June 29, 2015 | United States Navy website

Cmdr. Jason Pittman, B.M. 1998 and a Distinguished Graduate of UT NROTC, took command of the fast attack submarine, USS HELENA (SSN 725), this month at a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. He is the first Music major to be accepted to the Navy's nuclear propulsion program and the first to take command of a nuclear powered ship.

Jason Pittman

Christina Wright-Ivanova appointed assistant professor, collaborative artist at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

June 29, 2015

Christina Wright-Ivanova (D.M.A. 2012) has been appointed assistant professor of music/vocal coach and collaborative artist at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She begins her faculty residency in fall 2015. There were 90 applicants for the position, and Wright-Ivanova says her success is due in no small part to the Butler School of Music faculty and students with whom she worked in her three-year residency.

Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova

Hai Zheng and Dr. Kiyoshi Tamagawa complete third Asian concert tour

June 29, 2015

Hai Zheng, concert cellist (BM 1988, MM 1990) and Dr. Kiyoshi Tamagawa (DMA 1988) recently made their third Asia concert tour together. They first gave master classes and recitals at Bangkok and Hua Hin in Thailand, then went on to the Yong Siew Toh-Asia's International Conservatory in Singapore and finished their tour at China Conservatory in Beijing. Hai Zheng is Assistant Professor and Artist in Residence at Southwestern University. Dr/ Kiyoshi Tamagawa is Professor of Music and Associate Dean for the Sarofim School of Fine Arts at Southwestern University.

Hai Zheng and Dr. Kiyoshi Tamagawa

Alumnus Alan Hicks wraps up second year at Seattle Opera

May 31, 2015 | www.alanhicks.com

Alan E. Hicks (D.M.A. 2009) recently completed two seasons as the staff Assistant Director at Seattle Opera. For the 2015-16 season, Alan will join the staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago assisting Susan Stroman on The Merry Widow and Daniele Abbado on Nabucco. Alan will also make directing debuts at Minnesota Opera, Opera Santa Barbara and Miami Summer Music Festival.

Alumnus Alan Hicks wraps up second year at Seattle Opera

Alumnus Luke Leonard to direct multiple projects this fall

May 28, 2015 | www.lukeleonard.com

Luke Leonard's (M.F.A. 2010) upcoming directing projects include the Houston premiere of Bum Phillips: All-American Opera Sept. 24, 2015 at The Stafford Centre; the Australian premiere of The Difficulty of Crossing a Field in October 2015 at the Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival; and the world premiere of Welcome to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a musical play written and directed by Luke with music by Peter Stopschinski and co-lyrics by Katie Pearl, Oct 7-25, 2015 at 59E59 Theaters in New York.

Alumnus Luke Leonard to direct multiple projects this fall