Prizes and Awards

Learn more about all Prizes and Awards for Graduate studies.

Teaching Assistant Prize for Excellence in Teaching

The Teaching Assistant Prize is awarded to graduate students who distinguish themselves for excellence in teaching.

Past winners of the TA Prize, 1994-95 through 2011-12

2020-2021 David Falterman, Written Theory; Pallas Riedler, Music History; Eron Smith, Theory Aural Skills; Keane Southard, Computer Engraving/Calligraphy; Cesar Haas Costa, Applied Jazz Guitar; Alex Lo, Applied Piano
2019-2020 Lauren Irschick, Written Theory; Dan Kuehler, Applied Piano; Sarah Luebke, Applied Voice; Derek Myler, Theory Aural Skills; Stephania Romaniuk, Music Teaching and Learning Voice Class; Yidi Song, Applied Flute
2018-2019 Michael Aiello, Applied Voice; David Keep, Written Theory; Joanna Hyun Ji Kim, Music Teaching and Learning Voice Class; William Talley, Basic Conducting Class; Stephanie Venturino, Intensive Written Theory
2017-2018 Gabrielle Cornish, Music & Technology in the 20th Century; Hannah Harrow, Applied Voice; Samuel Reenan, Intensive Written Theory; Nicki Roman, Saxophone Chamber Ensemble; Garrett Wellenstein, Basic Conducting Lab
2016-2017 Emily Dobmeier, Music Teaching and Learning Clarinet Class; Amy Fleming, Graduate Theory Review; Molly Murdock, Intensive Written Theory; Trevor Nelson, Music History Discussion Sessions; Sarah VandenBrink, Applied Voice; Jonathan Wintringham, Saxophone Chamber Ensemble
2015-2016 Daniel Baer, Applied Piano; Benjamin Baker, Theory Aural Skills; Myles Boothroyd, Written Theory; Peter Folliard, Basic Conducting Class; Aaron Grant, Written Theory; Megan Steigerwald, Music History; Meng Zhou, Piano Class
2014-2015 Sarah Fuchs Sampson, Music History Review; Joseph Chi-Sing Siu, Written Theory; Jungeyun Grace Choi, Piano Class; Joseph Maxwell Grube, Music Teaching and Learning Bassoon Class; Nils Klykken, Basic Conducting Class; Yoshiko Arahata, Applied Piano
2013-2014 David Geary, Theory Aural Skills; Aristea Mellos, Composition for Non-Majors; Philip Pierick, Saxophone Chamber Coaching; Devin Sloos, Music Teaching and Learning Euphonium and Tuba Class; Shichao Zhang, Piano Class
2012-2013 Lauren Becker, Applied Horn; Min Hwan Kim, Piano Class; Emlyn Johnson, Applied Flute; Gilad Rabinovitch, Composition for Non-Majors; Matthew Valverde, Applied Voice; James Sullivan, Theory Aural Skills

Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student

Established to encourage excellence in the work of graduate students who assist undergraduate instruction, the E.P Curtis Award for Graduate Students is awarded to up to five nominees per year from across the University.

Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student: Winners from the Eastman School of Music, 1985-2013

2019 Benjamin Baker, Elaina McKie, Nicholas Morandi, Trevor R. Nelson
2018 Myles Boothroyd, Gabrielle Cornish
2017 Samuel Bivens
2016 James Sullivan
2015 C. Aaron James
2014 Sarah Fuchs Sampson

Lecture Recital Prize

The Lecture Recital Prize recognizes and celebrates DMA students at Eastman who present exemplary lecture recitals within a given calendar year.

Click here to see videos of all the award-winning lecture recitals (must be on-campus or connected through the U of R VPN to access videos).

2020 Daniel Kuehler (DMA in Performance and Literature [Piano]), “Messiaen’s Préludes: A Bird’s-Eye View from Three ‘Regards’”
2019 Chan Mi Na (DMA in Performance and Literature [Viola]), “Lillian Fuchs: the pedagogical aspects of her compositions for viola (An examination of Sonata Pastorale for Unaccompanied Viola and related technical studies)”
2018 Blaire Koerner (DMA in Performance and Literature [Bassoon]), “The Collision of 1950’s Classical, Jazz and Pop: Uncovering and Transcribing Alec Wilder’s Hidden Gems”; Caroline Sonett (DMA in Performance and Literature [Flute]), “A Project-Based Learning Recital Model for Post-Secondary Music Education”
2017 Wei-Han Wu (DMA in Performance and Literature [Piano] and Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music), “Works for Chamber Duo and Solo Piano by Eric Wubbels”
2016 Abigail Rockwood (DMA in Performance and Literature [Organ]), “Reorderings: Motivic Uses of Permutation in Bach, Sweelinck, and Messiaen”
2015 James Sullivan (DMA in Performance and Literature [Double Bass] and PhD in Music Theory), “A Post-Tonal Method Book for the Double Bass”
2014 Lee Wright (DMA in Conducting [Choral]), “Spirituals on Stage: The Concert Spiritual as a Reflection of Racial Progress in America”
2013 Albert Kim (DMA in Performance and Literature [Piano]) , “A New Concert Transcription of Ravel’s La Valse”
2012 John Allegar (DMA in Performance and Literature [Organ]), “The Chicago Years of Florence Price: Context and Hybridity”; Timothy Burns (DMA in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music), “Investigating Schumann’s Gedichte Der Königin Marie Stuart, Op. 135″
2011 Man Yui Kitty Cheung (DMA in Performance and Literature [Violin]), “On Performing the Cadenzas of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, a Performer’s Approach”
2010 Daniel Aune (DMA in Performance and Literature [Organ]), “Johann Sebastian Bach’s Leipzig Chorales: New Thoughts On Their Development and Function”

Presser Music Award

Funded by a grant from the Presser Foundation; presented to a graduate student demonstrating excellence and outstanding promise for a career in the field of music.

2026 Presser Graduate Music Award – Call for Proposals

Presser Music Award: Winners from 1989-2015

2024 Chenxin Han (MA in Music Education)
2023 Ruixue Hu (PhD in Music Theory)
2022 Reginald Bowens (DMA in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media)
2021 Kyrsten Chambers Jones (DMA in Performance and Literature [Voice])
2020 Austin Richey (PhD in Musicology)
2019 Jane Sylvester (PhD in Musicology)
2018 Alexis VanZalen (PhD in Musicology)
2017 Derek Remeš (DMA in Performance and Literature [Organ])
2016 Samuel Bivens (PhD in Music Theory)
2015 Aristea Mellos (DMA in Music Composition)
2014 Aaron Grant (PhD in Music Theory)
2013 Sarah Fuchs Sampson (PhD in Musicology)
2012 John Liberatore (PhD in Music Composition)

Jerald C. Graue Fellowship

Established in memory of a respected scholar, beloved teacher, and former chair of the Musicology Department; awarded to graduate students in any field for their outstanding work in musicological research.

Past Winners of the Jerald C. Graue Fellowship: 1983-2015

2020 Bronwen McVeigh (PhD in Musicology)
2019 Anthony LaLena (PhD in Musicology and DMA in Performance and Literature [Guitar])
2018 Jane Sylvester (PhD in Musicology)
2017 Gabrielle Cornish (PhD in Musicology)
2016 Christopher Kayler (DMA in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music) and Gabrielle Cornish (PhD in Musicology)
2015 Alexis VanZalen (PhD in Musicology)
2014 C. Aaron James (PhD in Musicology and DMA in Performance and Literature [Organ])
2013 Tabitha Boxerman (DMA in Performance and Literature [Piano])
2012 Emma McConnell (PhD in Music Theory)

Artist’s Certificate

Reserved for graduate students who already hold the Performer’s Certificate and who demonstrate the highest level of performing ability. Candidates for the Artist’s Certificate are recommended unanimously by their home departments. In addition, these young artists perform two public recitals and a concerto with orchestra; all three events are adjudicated by a special interdepartmental committee appointed by the Dean and the Senior Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.

Artist’s Certificate Recipients, 1936-2014

2020 Malcolm Matthews, organ
2017 Thomas Gaynor, organ
2014 Markiyan Melnychenko, violin
2013 Daria Sergeyevna Rabotkina, piano
2011 Hye Sung Choe, flute
2000 Marina Lomazov, piano

Prizes and Awards