School of Music students and alumni report recent appointments, performances, honors, and achievements.
Alumnus Terry B. Ewell ('79 BM; '88 MA; '94 PhD) has completed his 25th year as a professor at Towson University in Maryland, the state's second-largest public institution. In all, he has taught for more than 46 years in higher education, starting in Hong Kong and continuing through Washington state and West Virginia. In spring 2025, he served as interim chairperson for the Department of Music. Also, that year, he served as the head evaluator for a National Association of Schools of Music visit. Dr. Ewell is recognized as a leading pedagogue for the bassoon throughout the world. His 800+ “Bassoon Digital Professor” videos have well over 1.5 million views on YouTube and 2reed.net and are available in 10 languages. He has published more than 100 articles on various aspects of bassoon pedagogy and performance, with a print publication every academic year since 1989. His most recent online publication is Método: Music of the Americas for Bassoon. Método is online, free, and available in Spanish and English.
Ryan Dakota Farris (DMA, Orchestral Conducting) recently guest conducted Seattle Festival Orchestra for its Holiday Concerts and is serving as interim Director for Bainbridge Chorale, in addition to his role as music, director of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and Bainbridge Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Soledad Mayorga Maldonado, second-year master's student in the studio of Carrie Shaw, has been active in the greater community throughout the year, working with Seattle Opera's educational outreach and performing as a featured soloist with Orquesta Northwest.
Zayn Mir, junior in voice performance in the studio of Carrie Shaw, won first place in the Western Washington National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions in January. He advances to the Northwest Regional competition being held in February.
Isabelle Villanueva, senior in voice performance in the studio of Carrie Shaw, presented her work on the songs of Melissa Dunphy at the 36th annual Festival of Contemporary Artists in Music this February at Washington State University.
Claire Wei (BM, Flute Performance) is winner of the 2026 UW Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Guitar, Harp Concerto Competition. She will perform the first and third movements of Carl Reinecke’s Concerto with the UWSO in May 2026. Last summer, she was winner of the National Flute Association’s Masterclass Performers Competition and was invited as a featured performer at the NFA convention in Atlanta, GA.