Alumni

Sadie Cheslak (MM, Voice Performance and literature, 2019) is one of five winners of The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

Trombone Alumnus Ben Carrasquillo (MM, 2017; DMA, 2023) has been appointed Assistant Professor of Trombone at Penn State University, beginning in the fall of 2025.

Sadie Glass (MM '13) has been appointed Assistant Professor of Practice (Horn), and Program Director of Brass and Percussion with the University of the Pacific's Music Conservatory. She was a student of Bernhard Scully. Congratulations, Sadie! You can read more about Sadie's accomplishments here.

Kelly Langenberg (DMA, 2023) will be joining the faculty of Troy University this fall as Assistant Professor of Horn and Music History.

Donald Nally (DMA ’95, Choral Music) won his fourth GRAMMY Award for Best Choral Performance at the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards for Ochre, performed by The Crossing.

Erin Brooker-Miller (BM, Harp Performance, 2014), a student of Professor Ann Yeung, has been appointed Executive Director of the New Hampshire Music Festival (NHMF), effective October 20, 2024.

Flute Alum Isabelle Libbrecht (BM, Music Performance, 2022) wins second flute position with Anchorage Symphony.

Warren I. Smith (BME ’57, Music Education) has been honored with the FAA Legacy Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the American jazz and music scene.

Sinhaeng Lee (DMA, 2022, Choral Music), currently serving as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Programs at Colgate University, has been named the distinguished runner-up in the first-ever MidAmerica Productions, Inc. International Choral Conducting Competition at Carnegie Hall.

Harp Alum wins Principal Harp positions with two orchestras.

Flute alum Allison DeFrancesco (BM, Music Performance, 2016) has been appointed as the Third Flute/Principal Piccolo for the Sarasota Orchestra.

A New Look on the North Side of the Music Building!

Illinois Harp Studio alumna Mary Duplantier and graduate student Jonathan Schneider have won principal harp auditions this fall! Duplantier (BMus 2020) won both the Akron Symphony Orchestra in Ohio and Peoria Symphony Orchestra in Illinois auditions. Schneider won the Jackson Symphony Orchestra audition in Michigan.

Donald Nally (DMA ’95, Choral Music) and Craig Hella Johnson (MM ’85, Choral Music) shine in 2024 Grammy nominations for Best Choral Performance.

Jazz Vocal Alumus Darden Purcell released her third album Love’s Got Me in a Lazy Mood on Origin/OA2 records. " ...a rich and swinging affair, with powerful, impeccably performed arrangements...Music full of joy..." PETER ELDRIDGE, NEW YORK VOICES