The School of Music celebrated the success of its 2017 graduates June 9 at the school’s annual Grand Finale celebration.
Director Richard Karpen and Associate Director Joël-François Durand congratulated students participating in the stage ceremony at Brechemin Auditorium, which recognized grads present among 62 awarded degrees by the School of Music, including 37 masters, doctoral and PhD students and 25 undergraduate students. Of the undergraduate degree earners, nearly half were double majors, with 10 students earning second degrees in a range of areas, including biochemistry, speech and hearing sciences, Italian, communications, musical theater, and American ethnic studies, among others.
The ceremony was preceded by a performance by the UW’s outgoing scholarship chamber group The Corda Quartet and good vibes in the lobby provided by emeritus professor Tom Collier, vibraphone.
Student speakers Kaley Eaton (who earned a DMA in Composition) and Addie Francis (who earned a BM in Voice Performance and a BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences; Communication Disorders) shared reflections from their time at the University, and School of Music Director Richard Karpen thanked parents and family members for their unflagging support of the graduates as well as recognizing the daunting challenges inherent in the study of music.
Refreshments, introductions, reunions, and a Grand Finale photo booth all added celebratory flair to this annual event honoring the achievements, perseverance, and dedication of the School of Music’s graduates.
Photos from the celebration may be viewed here. Congrats, Grads!
2017 UW Music Graduate Degree Recipients
Miriam E. Anderson
MM Choral Conducting
Sarah G. Bost
MA Music Education
William F. Bryant
DMA Organ
Zachary S. Buker
MM Voice
Irene Chen
MM Piano
Paiyu Chiu
DMA Piano
Leann M. Conley-Holcom
DMA Choral Conducting
Giuliana Conti
MA Music Education
Julia G. Day
PhD Ethnomusicology
Kaley L. Eaton
DMA Composition
Andre-Jacques P. Elias
PhD Ethnomusicology
Ryan H. Ellis
DMA Choral Conducting
Gwen E. Franz
DMA Strings
Joaquim Freire-Neto
DMA Composition
Skúli Gestsson
MA Music Education
Amanda K. Harris
DMA Piano
Jane E. Heinrichs
DMA Piano
Daniel A. Helseth
DMA Brass
Amanda G. Huntleigh
DMA Choral Conducting
Britanee Hwee
MM Piano
Leanna L. Keith
MM Woodwinds
Katie E. Kelley
MM Voice
Mike Kohfeld
MA Ethnomusicology
Emerald D. Lessley
DMA Voice
Christopher Mena
MA Music Education
Brenda J. Mohr
DMA Choral Conducting
Zachary A. Myers
MA Music Theory
Sonja L. Myklebust
DMA Strings
Abigail J. Naze
MM Instrumental Conducting
Taryn O’Keefe
MA Music Education
David A. Oliverio
MM Jazz Studies and Improvised Music
Alisa Sargsyan
DMA Composition
Evan A. Smith
DMA Woodwinds
Brooks N. Tran
DMA Piano
Lauren G. Wessels
MM Harp
David Wimett
MM Choral Conducting
Michiko Urita
PhD Ethnomusicology
2017 UW Music Undergraduate Degree Recipients
Andrew W. Abel
BM Orchestral Instruments
John C. Aguilar
BM Music Education
Heather R. Borror
BM String Instruments
BS Biochemistry
Sabrina E. Bounds
BM Orchestral Instruments
Yoojeong Cho
BM Voice Performance
BA Italian
Nicholas P. Durand
BA American Music
Addison E. Francis
BM Voice Performance
BS Speech & Hearing Sciences: Communication Disorder
Erin K. Kelly
BM String Instruments
Joshua K. Langager
BM Voice Performance
BA Drama
BA Individualized Studies: Musical Theater
Peyton E. Levin
BM Music Education
Yusi Liu
BM Composition
BA Communications
Brendan C. McGovern
BM Jazz Studies
BA History
Natalie E. Meek
BA Instrumental
BA International Studies
Colin D. Moen
BM Jazz Studies
Anastasia Nicolov
BM String Instruments
BS Bioengineering
Christine E. Oshiki
BM Voice Performance
James J. Phillips
BA Instrumental
BS Biochemistry
Nicholas H. Reynolds
BA American Music
BA American Ethnic Studies
Matthew Sablan
BA Ethnomusicology
Elizabeth A. Solon
BM Orchestral Instruments
Yun En Tsai
BA Instrumental
BA Communications
Alexander L. Tu
BM Orchestral Instruments
Darian U. Woller
BM String Instruments
Zeze Xue
BM Piano Performance
Hajung Yuk
BM String Instruments