Alumni in the News

Dr. Matt Hightower Appointed Assistant Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at the University of Kentucky

April 30, 2018 | ITEA News

Matt Hightower (D.M.A., Music, 2014) was appointed Assistant Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at the University of Kentucky and will begin in the fall of 2018.

Matt Hightower with his Euphonium

Amelia Winger-Bearskin wins Engadget Award

April 30, 2018 | Variety

Amelia Winger-Bearskin ( M.F.A, Studio Art, 2008) received an Engadget Award for her interactive room-scale VR project, "Your Hands Are Feet."

Amelia Winger Bearskin wearing a virtual reality headset

James Ogden Interviewed by American Theatre for Set Design Work

Feb. 21, 2018 | American Theatre

James Ogden (M.F.A., Theatre Design and Technology, 2014) was interviewed by American Theatre for his set design work for “Angels in America” production.

a photo of James Ogden wearing sunglasses

Alumni Host PBS Show About Personal Finance

Feb. 21, 2018 | Facebook Watch

Julia-Lorenz Olson (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2008) and Philip Olson (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2007) host a new PBS show called "Two Cents", a new weekly series about personal finance for millennials and Gen Z that airs on Facebook Watch.

an illustration with two headshots of the hosts for PBS show, "Two Cents"

Laurel Shear Gains Gallery Representation with Fort Gansevoort in New York

Feb. 21, 2018 | Fort Gansevoort

Laurel Shear (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2015) gained gallery representation with Fort Gansevoort in New York.  Known for shape-shifting in a competitive gallery environment, Shear’s representation signals further expansion to the west coast for the gallery.

a picture of Laurel Shear

Will Davis Placed on New City Stage's 50 Top Players of 2018 List

Feb. 21, 2018 | New City Stage

Will Davis (M.F.A., Directing, 2013), Chicago's American Theater Company’s artistic director, listed in New City Stage’s “Players 2018: The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago.”

 

Will Davis holds papers while directing

Eddie Lopez supports COFA through scholarship, sponsored event

Feb. 14, 2018

Eddie Lopez's  (B.A., Music Studies, 2008) company, Perform America–TX, is sponsoring the Butler School of Music alumni gathering at the 2018 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) conference in San Antonio. Lopez also pledged the Edward R. Lopez Endowed Scholarship in Music in 2017 for undergraduate UT music majors. 

black and white photo of Eddie Lopez

Jarrod Beck's Work Commissioned by Rice Public Art

Feb. 13, 2018

Jarrod Beck (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2007) is the artist-in-residence for the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University, through April 2018. His piece Origin, 135 degrees was commissioned by Rice Public Art.  

Jarrod Beck

Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt promoted to Assistant Vice President for Academic Services at Texas State

Jan. 24, 2018 | Texas State University

Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt (Ph.D., Music Education, 1998) was recently promoted from her position as Professor of Music Education and Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication to Assistant Vice President for Academic Services at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

image of Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt

Natalia Anciso presents work at INTO ACTION

Jan. 22, 2018 | Into Action

Natalia Anciso (B.A., Studio Art, 2008) has been selected to show work in INTO ACTION, a pop-up group exhibition, Jan. 13 - 21, in Los Angeles.

an image of black ink block artwork on a sheet, hanging on a laundry line