The College of Arts and Sciences has named School of Music student Romaric Pokorny the 2015 Dean’s Medalist for the University of Washington arts division in recognition of his exceptional academic achievement at UW. The award is the University’s top student honor for undergraduates. Pokorny completed his degree studies earlier this year, earning a BM in viola performance.
A student of viola professor Melia Watras, Pokorny has been an active and engaged member of the UW music community, having served as principal violist for the UW Symphony and as a key member of the Oceana Quartet, a chamber group of UW music students who performed as the School’s official chamber group in 2011-12 and 2012-13. His range of abilities and interests have drawn him into performance and study of music from early to modern and involvement with nearly every area of study represented at the School of Music.
“In addition to his impressive accomplishments as a musician and scholar, perhaps what sets Romaric apart is his active participation and seemingly endless contributions to our community at the UW School of Music,” Watras wrote in her letter of recommendation for the award. “Romaric is always available to lend a hand to a colleague, or volunteer his time and efforts to those around him. From video recording recitals of his fellow students to leading viola sectionals to conducting the UW Viola Choir at a recent concert, Romaric always has the community's best interests in mind.”
While completing studies at the UW, Pokorny has worked outside of school in various music-related capacities: church organist, recording engineer, soloist with various community and professional orchestras and ensembles, and most recently, as an organ builder at Kenmore-based Artisan Instruments.
School of Music Director Richard Karpen says that Pokorny is a standout among numerous talented graduating music students. “He is a mature, deep thinking humanist/artist with a great career ahead of him,” he says, adding that Pokorny is “unequivocally worthy of the Dean’s Medal, having all of those qualities that this honor is intended to recognize.”