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Our Entrepreneurship Center for Music will expand its programming this year with several key grants from across campus: A Roser Visiting Artist Grant; a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Impact Grant from Leadership Support and Programming; and the renewal of an A-Lab grant from the Center for Leadership.

Alumna Christina Lynn-Craig, a board member of the college’s American Music Research Center, is making a generous donation to ensure the continuation of the George Lynn Memorial Award and the Alex Craig and Christina Lynn-Craig Living Music Award. The two awards are given to College of Music students on a rotating basis. This spring, the George Lynn Memorial Award was granted to Glenda Luck and Grace Stringfellow.

Set to graduate next month with a Bachelor of Music degree in composition and a Certificate in Music Technology, McMahon is the College of Music’s 2025-26 recipient of a Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award in recognition of her high level of musical and academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and service, and contributions to an inclusive community. Congratulations to McMahon who’s graduating with highest honors—and to all of our winter 2025 and spring 2026 graduates!

Joanie and David Andrews established the Mary Catherine Ramsour Memorial Endowed Voice Scholarship Fund to continue the legacy of Joanie Andrews’ sister: Mary Ramsour earned degrees in voice performance and vocal pedagogy from CU �Ǹ�Թ� and went on to found an opera company, lead a church music program and make creative expression a central pillar in her life. The scholarship in her name is designed to encourage non-traditional voice students to pursue their dreams, as she did.

Before enrolling at CU �Ǹ�Թ�, alumnus Alan Stanek had been considering other schools; but encouragement from then-Band Director Hugh McMillen, in addition to the prospect of scholarship support, brought him to the College of Music.

Congratulations to the winners—and all participants—of the College of Music’s annual graduate student competition, named in honor of former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Bruce Ekstrand.

Dean Davis shares reflections “from the road” where he’s been engaged in a trio of October conferences as well as two accreditation site reviews for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

On Oct. 24-29, the CU �Ǹ�Թ� College of Music will host a unique klezmer and Yiddish song residency featuring singer Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell, accordionist and composer Dmitri Gaskin, violinist Zoë Aqua and cellist Raffi Boden—all leading musicians in the international Yiddish music scene.

From Sept. 10-12, members of The Cleveland Orchestra will resume a biyearly collaboration with the College of Music that began over a decade ago—including a guest recital on Sept. 11, joined by College of Music faculty and students.

"At the College of Music’s recent Eklund Opera gala, Chancellor Justin Schwartz described the magic of music as a hallmark of human connection; of a civilized society; and as its own kind of renewable energy. As I reflect on the first months of 2025, I’m struck by the countless ways in which our students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters embody these values. In these disorienting times, I’m heartened that our mission is more relevant than ever—as is my commitment to continue to celebrate and support our students and colleagues in their transformative work and artistic aspirations."