School of Music alumni go on to enjoy fulfilling and productive careers in the arts, higher education, and many other areas after earning their degrees at the University of Washington. Below are just a few recent examples of what our alumni are up to today.
Note: Examples are accurate as of last updates received.
Tigran Arayekalan
DMA, Orchestral Conducting (2016)
Music Director, Northwest Mahler Festival; Artistic Director, Port Townsend Symphony Executive Director, Music Works Northwest
Trevor Ainge
BM, Vocal Performance, BS, Communications Disorders (2019)
Public Relations and Digital Media Specialist, 2s Public Relations
Joslyn Thomas
MM, Choral Conducting (2020)
Elementary Choral and General Music Teacher
Hicksville Public Schools, Hicksville, New York
Juliana Cantarelli Vita
PhD, Ethnomusicology (2022)
Assistant Professor of Music Education
Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford
Elizabeth Yao
BM, Piano Performance (2013)
Lecturer, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University
Timothy Little Trần
DMA, Choral Conducting (2022)
Director, Choral Studies and Assistant Professor of Music
Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania
Matt Goodrich
DMA, Piano (2013)
Music Director, Sandpoint Conservatory of Music
Nanyi Qiang
MM, Piano Performance (2012)
Associate Professor of Piano Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio
Paula Horner Harper
DMA, Music History (2012)
Assistant Professor of Musicology
University of Nebraska
Madeline Ile
BA Vocal Performance, BA Communications (2021)
J.D. Candidate, Georgetown University Law Center
Nick Klein
DMA, Voice (2021)
Head of Voice
Cleveland State University
Joshua Gailey
BM, Music History, BA Italian Studies (2012)
Communications and Public Engagement Manager
Seattle Opera
Sahara Naini
BM, Ethnomusicology (2020)
Inventory Coordinator, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Washington, D.C.
Megan Francisco
PhD, Music History (2020)
Assistant Professor of Musicology, Wake Forest University
Erika Meyer
BM Voice, BA, Music Theory (2019)
Composer, Seattle Opera Creation Lab
Laura Stambaugh
PhD, Music Education (2009)
Professor and Head of Music Education
Georgia Southern University
Tess Altiveros
MM, Voice (2010)
Roles and engagements nationwide—Arizona Opera; Intermountain Opera; Opera Memphis; Seattle Opera
Anthony Vine
MM, Composition (2013)
Winner, 2023 Rome Prize in Composition
Julia Tai
DMA, Orchestral Conducting (2010)
Co-founder, Seattle Modern Orchestra
Music Director, Missoula Symphony
Jérémy Jolley
BM, MM, Composition (2010)
Co-founder, Seattle Modern Orchestra
Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement, Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Lorenzo Guggenheim
MM, Orchestral Conducting (2017)
Music Director, Oakville Symphony
Ontario, Canada
Kassey Castro
BM, Music Education (2016)
Composer, Seattle Opera Creation Lab
Elisabeth Cherland
DMA, Choral Conducting (2019)
Director, Choral Activities
Minnesota State University, Mankato
William J. Coppola
PhD, Music Education (2018)
Assistant Professor of Music, Teaching, and Learning
Thornton School of Music
University of Southern California
Meg Stohlmann
DMA, Choral Conducting (2018)
Director, Choral and Vocal Studies, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington;
Director, Spokane Symphony Chorale
Christopher Koch
DMA, Instrumental Conducting (2003)
Music Director, Juneau Symphony
Christine Chu
BM, Strings; BA, Communications (2022)
Development Communications Coordinator, Seattle Symphony
Chris Mathakul
DMA, Instrumental Conducting (2022)
Assistant Professor of Music
Shoreline Community College
Caitlin Beare
DMA, Woodwinds (2021)
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
Texas A&M University
Jocelyn Mory
PhD, Ethnomusicology (2021)
Senior Analyst, Hypothesis, a market and strategy firm
Darcy Copeland
MM, Composition (2021)
Composition PhD student, Harvard University
Shayna Stahl
DMA, Wind Conducting (2019)
Assistant Professor of Music
University of Kentucky School of Music
Bryan Van Pelt
BM, Jazz Studies; BM, Music Education (2015)
Music Teacher, Assumption-St. Bridget School, Seattle
Ross Venneberg
DMA, Trumpet (2019)
Assistant Professor; Director of Bands; Applied Brass Instructor
Franklin College, Indiana
School of Music Alumni: We would love to include you on this list. Please drop us a line about your latest career accomplishments at jdepue@uw.edu.