Congratulations to Dr. Zehao (Nick) Bai ’25E (DMA) for being named Assistant Professor of Piano at the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, beginning this fall. A dynamic soloist and educator, he has performed and taught throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Before joining the Mercer faculty, Dr. Bai was…
On April 21, 2026, Associate Professor of Music Teaching and Learning (MTL) Alden Snell ’06E (MA), ’13E (PhD) guest conducted the Nazareth University Wind Symphony’s spring concert, reuniting with his former student and Eastman alumna Anne Kunkle ’16E, ’22E (DMA), who was in attendance. Kunkle, now an applied saxophone instructor at Nazareth University, is the teacher…
Congratulations to Emily Freeman Brown ’89E (DMA) on receiving the 2026 Conductor’s Award from The Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University. Established in 1945, the award is the oldest continuing honor recognizing conductors for distinguished contributions to American music. Brown received a $5,000 prize and a citation from interim President, Claire Shipman. She joins…
The ASCAP Foundation has announced the 2026 recipients of the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, with works selected by a panel of ASCAP composer members for their significance, artistry, and compositional elements. This year’s winners include Eastman Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media students Sam Chandler and Israel (Izzy) Stone, along with alumni Rafael Enciso…
Congratulations to the winners of Eastman‘s second annual songSLAM, held on Saturday, February 7 in Sproull Atrium at the Miller Center. Hosted by Associate Professor of Vocal Coaching Alison d’Amato, participants in this year’s competition included Eastman alumni and students, with eleven world premieres launched with impeccable performances, embodying a wide range of styles, languages,…
Several Eastman alumni are recipients of this year’s Society for Music Theory awards which recognizes significant contributions to music theory, analysis, or history of theory. Congratulations to all! Chris Stover ’02E (MA) Citation of Special Merit: Edwin K.C. Li, Chris Stover, and Anna Yu Wang (editors) – “Music Theory in the Plural” (Music Theory…
Congratulations to the Suen-Kam Guitar Duo, founded in 2019 by Kenneth Kam ’20E (MM), ’25E (DMA) and Shiuen-Huang Suen ’00E (MM), ’04E (DMA), for recently completing a concert and teaching tour across North and South Carolina, performing and giving masterclasses at Wofford College, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg, Winston-Salem Suzuki School, Weaver Academy for…
Congratulations to James Julian ’25E (MM) for accepting a Principal Clarinet position with the Opera Australia Orchestra where he will be performing at the Sydney Opera House. His one-year appointment begins this December. James earned a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from Eastman, studying with Professor Michael Wayne.
Congratulations to Richard Cohn ’87E (PhD) for being appointed to a five-year term as European area research chair at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. Cohn, a specialist in music theory, will explore interdisciplinary approaches to musical time and examine the relationships among music, mathematics, computing, anthropology, and neuroscience for the MusicAnalytica project. Joining Cohn…