Alumni in the News

Sonya Berg (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2010) solo exhibition Re-Membering opens at grayDUCK this month

Jan. 20, 2026 | Gray Duck Gallery

Sonya Berg

Virginia Lee Montgomery (B.F.A., Studio Arts, 2008) named 2025 Houston Artadia Awardee

Jan. 20, 2026 | Glasstire

Virginia Montgomery

Mason Rosenthal (M.F.A., Theatre, 2020) and Zachariah Ezer (M.F.A., Writing, 2023) awarded grants from Creative Capital

Jan. 20, 2026 | Creative Capital

Mason Rosenthal and Zachariah Ezer

Raul de Lara (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2015) among 26 people to watch in Austin politics, business and culture

Jan. 20, 2026 | Austin American-Statesman

Raul De Lara

Russell Podgorsek (D.M.A., Composition, 2013) wins second place in 2025 American Prize for Composition for Steel Drum Concerto

Jan. 9, 2026 | The American Prize

Steel Drum Concerto was premiered by the UT Symphony Orchestra in 2023, featuring Butler School alumni Diana Loomer (steel drum soloist) and Tamara Dworetz (conductor). Russell Podgorsek is a faculty and staff member in the Butler School.

Russell Podgorsek

Lisa Holt (B.M., Music Studies, 2007) named finalist for Grammy Music Educator Award

Jan. 9, 2026 | Butler School of Music

The head choir director at Cedar Park High School also performs with Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Lisa Holt

Stella Richman (M.F.A., Design, 2024) discusses her path to brand designer

Jan. 9, 2026 | School of Design and Creative Technologies

Stella Richman

Colleen Blackard (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2024) opens exhibition at Flatbed Center for Contemporary Print Making in Austin

Jan. 6, 2026 | Flatbed

Colleen Blackard, Assisi, 2025, Monotype on paper,

Robert Honstein (M.M., Composition, 2007) earns Harvard's Fromm Music Foundation Commission

Jan. 5, 2026 | Fromm Music Foundation

Robert Honstein

Jaime Casteñeda (M.F.A., Theatre, 2006) named artistic director of Dallas Theater Center

Dec. 18, 2025 | KERA News

Jaime Castañeda