The School of Music celebrated the success of 70 Class of 2015 graduates with refreshments, music, and accolades June 12 at the School’s annual Grand Finale celebration.
Among the 30 undergraduates receiving music degrees in areas of specialty from throughout the school’s programs, about one third also earned degrees in other UW programs, including biochemistry, neurobiology, communications, psychology, political science, speech and hearing sciences, history, and biology. Graduate students receiving degrees include 15 DMAs, four PhDs and 21 MM or MA degrees.
Graduating seniors claimed a number of prestigious distinctions. Senior Romaric Pokorny was named the UW Arts and Sciences Dean’s Medalist in the Arts, and seniors Nora Gunning and Mona Sangesland both were awarded the UW Libraries Research Award for Undergraduates, the first-ever music students to be awarded the honor.
Grand Finale attendees heard remarks from Organ Professor Carole Terry, along with graduating Jazz Studies and Improvised Music master’s student Raymond Larsen and undergraduate Mona Sangesland, who graduated with departmental honors along with earning a BM in Orchestral Instruments.
Music was by Percussion Studies Chair Tom Collier and the school’s scholarship chamber group, Trio Andromeda, in the group’s farewell School of Music performance.
The School’s 70 Class of 2015 graduates are among more than 5,000 students earning degrees from through the University of Washington.