Alumni in the News

Noted for his “gorgeously constructed stage pictures,” Miller’s (D.M.A., 2015) most recent directing credits include Albert Herring at Chicago Summer Opera, Le nozze di Figaro with the Crane Opera Ensemble, Suor Angelica/ Gianni Schicchi at St. Petersburg Opera (Theatre Tampa Bay nominee for Best Direction) and Turn of the Screw with Texas State University (National Opera Association Production Winner).

Ebling (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2011) joins the Tony and Grammy-winning musical, which will play cities across the US including, but not limited to, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and Austin.

This fall, McCombs Hall of Famers Gaddis (B.F.A., Studio Arts, 1978), awarded in 2020 and honored at the upcoming 2021 Awards Ceremony, and Lynn Utter launched a new development program at the McCombs School of Business entitled, "Women Who Mean Business." The brainchild of Gaddis, the program propels female leaders forward in their careers, while offering business owners a resource for nurturing diversity and strong leadership skills.

Gaddis (B.F.A., Studio Art, 1978) is the only female recognized in this year's ceremony and the 11th female recipient since the McCombs Hall of Fame began over 40 years ago in 1980. Gay is being recognized for illustrious career as an entrepreneur, author and artist. Gay is the founder of T3, an innovative digital advertising agency that she grew into the largest female-owned agency in the U.S. under her leadership for over 30 years.

Gaddis (B.F.A., Studio Art, 1978) also released a limited-edition silk "Burnt Orange Victory Scarf" featuring an original painting with 100% of proceeds benefiting a scholorship for a University of Texas student.

Faires (B.A., Studio Art, 1980) bids farewell to the Austin Chronicle after working as its first and only Arts editor for 35 years in his last article, Last Bow of an Accidental Critic.

Life (and Love) was released by Centaur Records on August 6 and is now available anywhere you buy music: Amazon, Apple, Spotify, etc. It includes two song cycles, Robert Schumann's Frauenliebe und Leben and Sara Carina Graef's A Woman's Life and Love. Dr. Boover (D.M.A, Voice and Opera, 2007) and Dr. Tian recorded the album in the summer of 2019. Critical praise from the early release noted: 

"Boover's mezzo-soprano provides just the right penetration of warmth and immediacy to put these songs across with the greatest effect. And let's not forget her superb rapport with Tian, whose role calls upon her to conclude the cycle with a postlude by the piano based on a reprise of the first song. At this point, it all comes together beautifully, the piano effectively carrying on the vital message of A Woman's Life and Love where more words would only prove superfluous. Beautifully realized in the present performance, it adds to a very noticeable feeling of unity." -Atlanta Audio Club

Asche (B.M. '76, M.M. '78, D.M.A. '83, Keyboard) is the Senior Continuing Lecturer in Piano at the University of California at Santa Barbara. The award is the highest award granted by the organization and previous recipients include renowned pianists John Perry, Stewart Gordon, and Daniel Pollock, as well as mezzo-soprano Federica von Stade and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. Butler School of Music alumnus William Wellborn is also a previous recipient of the award. 

Balboa (D.M.A., String and Harp, 2020) will be teaching String Techniques, String Techniques II and Instrumental Performance Literature. He is also the new string project coordinator and assistant director of the University of Texas at Austin String Project.

The Music Industry Award, received by Lopez (B.M., Music and Human Learning/Music Education, 2008), is presented by the TBA Board of Directors to a Business Member who has a long history of supporting music education and the Texas Bandmasters Association.