Students in the Department of Music are among the most active on campus, distinguishing themselves as artists and scholars. Throughout their student years, regardless of degree program, they are very involved in department ensembles and in local and regional music activities.  In addition, all music students perform degree recitals.
 
Academics:  Each year, approximately 33% of music majors achieve dean's list status.
 
Student Successes:  Students in the Department of Music demonstrate their talent through their successes in academics, research and performance.
 

2013

Amy Schwarz, senior, BME in Instrumental / General Music has been accepted into Indiana University's Master in Public Affairs and Arts Administration Program.

Congratulations to the 2012 - 2013 Outstanding Seniors, elected by the music faculty:

Outstanding Senior in Music Technology: Adam Robison
Outstanding Senior in Music Performance: Dalen Wuest, Saxophone
Outstanding Senior in Music Education: Kavin Ley
Outstanding Senior in Music Therapy: Cassandra Haines
Outstanding Senior in Music and an Outside Field: Hope Arthur

2012

Brianna Gamble, sophomore vocal performance major, was selected to participate in the Opera Festival of Rome this summer. Gamble appeared in several opera productions and studied voice, diction and stagecraft.

Sophomore piano performance student Jason Simon was the first place winner at the statewide competition for the Indiana Music Teachers Association Hoosier Auditions, Collegiate Division (ages 19-22) held at Butler University in May, 2012. As winner of this competition, he will be performed at the Indiana Music Teachers Association state conference in the fall.

Drew Low, junior vocal performance major was selected to participate in the Opera Festival of Rome during the summer of 2012. Low, in addition to studying voice and diction, performed the role of Monostatos in The Magic Flute.

Congratulations to the 2011 / 2012 Outstanding Seniors, elected by the faculty for exceptional accomplishment and professional promise:

Elise Cummings: Outstanding Senior in Music Therapy
Molly Bock:  Outstanding Senior in Music Performance (Voice)
Joel Helton:  Outstanding Senior in Music and an Outside Field (Music Technology)
Jaclyn Nason:  Outstanding Senior in Music Education
Robert Rue-Wilder:  Outstanding Senior in Music and an Outside Field (German)

Sophomore piano performance student Jason Simon was the first place winner at the statewide competition for the Indiana Music Teachers Association Hoosier Auditions, Collegiate Division (ages 19-22) held at Butler University on Saturday, May 19. As winner of this competition, he will be performing at the Indiana Music Teachers Association state conference in the fall. Simon is from the studio of assistant professor of piano Hamilton Tescarollo and has completed his second year at IPFW. Simon also studied with Tescarollo through the Community Arts Academy during high school. For more information about the Community Arts Academy private music instruction call Melinda Haines at 260-481-6025.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts is once again proud to have a Chapman Scholar among its freshman class of 2012–13. Kassandre Yenser from Columbia City, Ind. is an incoming music therapy major.

Seven IPFW music majors were selected to participate in the Indiana Music Educators Associate (IMEA) Intercollegiate Honor Band during the recent convention in January at the Grand Wayne Center.  VPA would like to congratulate Trever Curry, Neil Cindrich, Ben Essick, Kenny Woods, Chris Adamisin, Laura Tomlinson and Katie Hillyer for this prestigious honor.

Music major and guitarist Justin Zych continues to receive international requests for his Metallica medley for classical guitar, arranged in collaboration with Laura Lydy, continuing lecturer in guitar.  He recently was contacted by a guitar ensemble instructor in Melbourne, Australia for permission to perform the piece.  The work appears on the Department of Music YouTube channel that has been viewed more than 46,000 times, making it a significant source of international communication for the department.  Listen

Congratulations to Molly Bock, senior in vocal performance, who won second place at the national level in the Young Artist Competition of Music Teachers National Association in New York, March 26.  Ms. Bock was accompanied by sophomore piano performance major, Jason Simon.

2011

Congratulations to the 2010 / 2011 Outstanding Seniors, elected by the faculty for exceptional accomplishment and professional promise:

Brad Crossland: Outstanding Senior in Bachelor of Science in Music/Outside Field
Evan Keenan: Outstanding Senior in Music Performance
Kim Yoder: Outstanding Senior in Music Therapy
Aubree Doud: Outstanding Senior in Music Education

Aubree Doud, senior music education major, was selected through competitive audition to participate in the honor band of the Collegiate Band Directors National Associations annual convention, Seattle, March 22 – 27, 2011;  upon arrival at the convention she won first chair in the flute section of the Honor Band

Aaron Trammel, senior music education major, was selected through competitive audition to participate in the honor band of the Collegiate Band Directors National  Association’s annual convention, Seattle, March 22 – 27, 2011 upon arrival at the convention won second chair in the trumpet section of the Honor Band

Kenny Woods, senior music education major was selected through competitive audition to participate in the honor band of the Collegiate Band Directors National Association’s annual convention, Seattle, March 22 – 27, 2011. Kenny won the only baritone saxophone slot for the national Honor Band

Hope Arthur, senior in the Bachelor of Science in Music degree program, was selected to participate in the Saarburg (Germany) piano festival where she studied chamber music, solo piano, and performed in recital, July 3 – 17, 2011

Jason Simon, sophomore piano performance major, was selected to participate in the Saarburg (Germany) piano festival where he studied chamber music, solo piano, and performed in recital, July 3 – 17, 2011

Senior Molly Oliver, mezzo-soprano, was a featured soloist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic October 21, performing operatic excerpts. In December, sophomore Brianna Gamble, soprano, will be the featured soloist performing in eight "Holiday Pops Concerts" with The Phil.

Student composer Justin Zych recently enjoyed the power of social networking. Zych was contacted by another university student in California who was interested in performing one of his guitar compositions after seeing the performance from the Department of Music posted on YouTube.

2010

Congratulations to the 2009 / 2010 Outstanding Seniors, elected by the faculty for exceptional accomplishment and professional promise:

Nicholas Bobay: Outstanding Senior in Bachelor of Science in Music / Outside  Field
Richard Bicknase: Outstanding Senior in Music Performance
Brandon Eiler: Outstanding Senior in Music Education
Emily Paar: Outstanding Senior in Music Therapy

Ben Essick, junior music education major, was selected through competitive audition to participate in the Honor Band of the Indiana Music Educators Annual Convention, Indianapolis, January 21, 2010;  upon arrival at the convention he won first chair in the saxophone section of the Honor Band

Aubree Doud, junior music education major, was selected through competitive audition to participate in the Honor Band of the Indiana Music Educators Annual Convention, Indianapolis, January 21, 2010;  upon arrival at the convention she won first chair in the flute section of the Honor Band

Aaron Trammel, junior music education major, was selected through competitive audition to participate in the Honor Band of the Indiana Music Educators Annual Convention, Indianapolis, January 21, 2010;  upon arrival at the convention he won first chair in the trumpet section of the Honor Band

Shannon Schoville, senior vocal performance major, was selected through competitive audition to participate in the Operafestival di Roma, June 30 – July 25, 2010, performing roles in operas and taking classes in stagecraft, language, diction and voice

Molly Bock, senior vocal performance major, was selected through competitive audition to participate in the Operafestival di Roma, June 30 – July 25, 2010, performing roles in operas and taking classes in stagecraft, language, diction and voice

2009

Piano student Evan Keenan was the winner of the District H Hoosier Auditions, Collegiate Division, sponsored by Indiana Music Teachers Association (IMTA). He was also the second place runner-up at the state/final round of this competition, competing with students from colleges state-wide. Piano student Richard Bicknase was the second place runner-up at the District H Hoosier Auditions in the Collegiate Division.

Music therapy majors continue to be placed in exceptional and noteworthy clinical internships. They include Jamie Long at the Danville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Danville, Ill., and Annie Ho at the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Newark, N.Y.

Chad Reichert completed his university-based clinical internship at Turnstone Center for Disabled Adults and Children, Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, and the IPFW Music Therapy Clinic, all in Fort Wayne.