URochester launches interdisciplinary Department of Sound Arts and Engineering
The University of Rochester launches the Department of Sound Arts and Engineering, a new interdisciplinary academic department.
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STUDENT | Brena Zhao
Congratulations to Eastman first-year PhD Theory student Brena Zhao for winning the 2026 Presser Graduate Music Award. This prestigious honor supports exceptional graduate music students with the potential to make distinguished contribution to the field and includes a substantial grant from the Presser Foundation for a professional-development project. Zhao will conduct in situ study of gamelan music in Bali, resulting…
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STUDENT | Paul David Flood
APRIL 14, 2026 | Congratulations to Eastman PhD Musicology candidate Paul David Flood on his appointment as Assistant Professor of Musicology at the University of Tennessee’s Natalie L. Haslam College of Music. His tenure-track begins in fall 2026. JANUARY 23, 2025 | Paul David Flood was the 2024 winner of the Presser Graduate Music Award,…
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Eastman Students and Alumni Win 2026 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award
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…
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STUDENT | Jianyi Gu
Congratulations to Eastman piano student Jianyi Gu for being awarded First Prize in the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition last month. In addition to a cash prize, she will be a featured soloist, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, with the orchestra during its 2026-2027 concert season. Jianyi is a candidate…
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STUDENT | James Jeffrey
Congratulations to organist James Jeffrey for recently winning First Prize in the National Undergraduate Organ Competition, held in Ottumwa, IA. He received a $3,500 award as well as the $500 audience prize. James is an Organ Performance major at Eastman, where he studies with Professor David Higgs.
The Eastman-Rochester Chorus and Eastman Philharmonia Present Mendelssohn’s Beloved “Elijah”
Dr. William Weinert will conduct his final Eastman performance on Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Kodak Hall. Joshua Conyers to sing the title role.
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STUDENT | Steven Dong
Congratulations to DMA piano student Steven Dong for winning First Prize at the Lewisville Lake Symphony International Piano Competition, held last month at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. In addition to a $2,000 cash prize, he will perform Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 1 with the Lewisville Lake Symphony on October 9, 2026, as part…
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Music in Action: Inside Eastman’s Partnership with the Mary Cariola Center
At the Mary Cariola Center, Eastman students discover how music can support learning, connection, and joy in unexpected ways.
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STUDENT | Jerome Bell
APRIL 8, 2026 | Congratulations to Jerome Bell, a PhD candidate in Music Theory, on his appointment as Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he previously served as a guest lecturer. APRIL 24, 2025 | Jerome was named a recipient of the Ball Dissertation Fellowship, awarded to only two…
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