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Alumni News

Alumni News

Doctoral student Daren Weissfisch (DMA, Orchestral Conducting). Photo: UW Photography.

Summer 2024 Student and Alumni Notes

June 18, 2024
School of Music students and alumni report recent academic and artistic appointments, awards and distinctions and new career directions in the beginning weeks of Summer 2024. School of Music doctoral student Daren Weissfisch (DMA, Orchestral Conducting) was recently announced as the new music director of Seattle’s Lake Union Civic Orchestra. The selection followed a year-long search and a season of auditions. “The orchestra and the audience loved his infectious energy... Read more
School of Music choral conducting alumni Jen Rodgers and Leann Conley Holcom (Photo: Joanne DePue).

Alumni, friends return to campus for second annual UW Music Homecoming

June 14, 2024
School of Music friends and alumni returned to campus on May 31, 2024 for the second annual UW Music Homecoming. Co-hosted by the School of Music and the UW Alumni Association, the event followed a performance by the UW Symphony Orchestra and Combined UW Choirs at Meany Hall, the final School of Music performance at Meany for the 2023-24 concert season.  Held at the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, the reception included live jazz by a UW student trio featuring Toby Miller, drums;... Read more
School of Music graduate Olivia Wang has been awarded the 2024 Arts and Sciences Dean's Medal (Photo: Joanne DePue).

School of Music graduate Olivia Wang awarded College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Medal

June 14, 2024
School of Music graduate Olivia Wang has been named a 2023-24 recipient of the University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Medal, a distinction awarded to the top graduating senior of each division of the College.  “This is one of the most distinguished honors we bestow, and I’m very pleased to commend you on your amazing record of academic achievement,” wrote Arts and Sciences Dean Dianne Harris in her commendation letter to Wang.  Along with making exceptional progress in... Read more
Students of piano professor Craig Sheppard

Spring 2024 Student and Alumni Notes

May 23, 2024
School of Music students and alumni report recent honors, performances, career milestones, and other notable achievements.  Alumna Jiannan Cheng (’16 MM, Wind Conducting), former student of Timothy Salzman, recently returned from Romania, where she competed in an international competition with 200 conductors from countries throughout the world. She finished second in the finals, competing against accomplished conductors from orchestras and opera houses in Italy,... Read more
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Seattle performing musicians balance creativity and 'portfolio careers'

May 9, 2024
Featured on KNKX NPR 
Hannah Chou headshot

Winter 2024 Student and Alumni Notes

March 6, 2024
School of Music students and alumni report recent academic appointments, performances, career milestones and other notable achievements. Daren Weissfisch (’21 MM, DMA Orchestral Conducting), student of David Alexander Rahbee, is conducting all four productions this year at the Tacoma Opera. He is a finalist for the music director position at both the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and the Lake Union Civic Orchestra. Ryan Farris (’18 MM, Cello, DMA,... Read more
John C. Hanford (Photo: Steve Korn).

Why I Give: John C. Hanford

November 14, 2023
Scholar Mark Buford’s visit to the University of Washington on November 17 to deliver the School of Music’s 2023 Lecture in American Music is made possible by the generosity of a longtime School of Music friend whose ties extend back decades to his days as a UW student and his 20-plus years as a popular lecturer in the Music History program. John C. Hanford’s (’03 PhD Music History) studies in musicology at the School of Music culminated in a PhD and two graduate dissertations, “Realities... Read more
Participants in the Halloween Organ Concert

Fall 2023 Student and Alumni Notes

November 8, 2023
School of Music students and alumni report recent academic appointments, honors, performances, and other artistic and scholarly accomplishments. Jiannan Cheng (’14 MM, Wind Conducting) has been selected as a cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Her responsibilities include understudying the scores for the music director and guest conductors, giving pre-concert lectures, and conducting in rehearsals and concerts as needed. Her first rehearsals with the orchestra... Read more
Carmen at Tacoma Opera

UW talent abounds at Tacoma Opera 

November 8, 2023
Tacoma Opera’s recent production of Carmen may as well have been staged on the UW campus for all of the current and past students and faculty involved on stage, in the pit, and in a host of roles behind the scenes. Credit for this proliferation of UW-connected personnel lies in no small part with the leadership of Limuel Forgey, Tacoma Opera’s general director and a doctoral voice student at the UW. Since his appointment at Tacoma Opera earlier this year, he has noticeably—and... Read more
Alumna Barbara Reeder Lundquist

Passages: Barbara Reeder Lundquist, Professor Emerita, Music Education, Sociomusicology

September 15, 2023
Read full obituary in the Seattle Times Distinguished music educator Dr. Barbara Reeder Lundquist died in Seattle on August 17, aged 89. Predeceased by beloved late husband Elon H. Lundquist, parents Rev. Ed and Lois Cooke, and sister Karen, Barbara leaves behind many dear friends and relatives. A native of Hays, Kansas, Barbara earned a BM in cello... Read more
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