August 2015

'Z' Big Band Wins 'DownBeat' Student Music Award

The School of Music's "Z" Big Band has been named one of the nation's top college jazz ensembles in the 38th Annual DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards. Under the leadership of Assistant Professor Matt Gallagher MM '01 (Jazz Studies), the band was selected as one of only three winners in the "Undergraduate Large Jazz Ensembles" category by a panel of distinguished jazz musicians and educators. Presented by one of the world's leading jazz and contemporary music publications, the DownBeat Student Music Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education. More than 1,000 entries were submitted across all categories this year.

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'NY Times' Features Professor's Photo on Instagram

A photo by Photography professor and alumnus David Graham BFA '76 (Photography) was featured on The New York Times' Instagram page. The image, titled "Route 64 W of Route 89, AZ, 1986" (pictured above), was included in Graham's exhibit "Where We Live: Photographs of the American Home," which recently ran at Laurence Miller Gallery in New York City. The post received more than 3,960 likes.

See the image on @nytimes >>

Recent Grad/Montreux Jazz Vocal Competition Winner Opens for Al Jarreau

Recent School of Music grad Alita Moses BM '15 (Vocal Performance) opened for legendary jazz artist Al Jarreau on July 16 during the 49th Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. Moses scored the opening slot as part of her prize for being named last summer's Shure Montreux Jazz Vocal Competition winner. The West Hartford, Conn., native was also a featured vocalist at this year's Commencement ceremony, where she received the President's Award for academic and artistic excellence.

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UArts Alumni Take Over Summer Reality TV

University of the Arts alumni have taken over reality TV this summer. Former faculty member Virgil Gadson CERT '07 (Dance) [pictured above left], who recently made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning jazz revue "After Midnight," is in the Top 14 on Fox TV's "So You Think You Can Dance." DJ Smart BFA '11 (Dance) and his Freelusion Dance Company have advanced to the live rounds on the NBC smash series "America's Got Talent," while Brad Loekle BFA '00 (Musical Theater) appeared on NBC's Emmy Award-nominated comedy competition "Last Comic Standing."

Read more about Virgil Gadson and DJ Smart >>

Watch Virgil Gadson perform on "SYTYCD" >>

Watch DJ Smart perform on "AGT" >>

Alumni Nominated for Philly Geek Awards

Nominees for the 2015 Philly Geek Awards were announced recently and include crocheted skeleton sculptor Caitlin McCormack BFA '10 (Illustration), who has been nominated for Visual Artist of the Year, and James Rolfe BFA '04 (Film) and Kevin Finn BFA '03 (Film), creators of "Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie," which is up for Feature Length Indie Film of the Year. Hosted by Geekadelphia and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the annual ceremony honoring Philly's vibrant geek community will take place on August 15.

Read about Caitlin McCormack in The Philadelphia Inquirer >>

Above: "C. Orexis" by Cailtin McCormack: cotton string, glue, 2014.

Alumni Council Welcomes New Members, Leadership

On July 1, the Alumni Association welcomed four new members to the Alumni Council, including Cheryl Hazzard BM/BMED '72 (Voice), Faith Patane BFA '06 (Writing for Film + Television), Sarah Rene MFA '09 (Painting) and Eryc Taylor BFA '95 (Dance). In addition, Natasha Goldstein-Levitas BFA '00 (Dance Education) has been appointed Council chair after Michele Kishita BFA '92 (Painting), MFA '10 (Painting) stepped down to pursue new opportunities. Other leadership for the Council includes Josh Levitas BFA '00 (Animation), Mentoring Committee chair, and Michelle Nichols BFA '07 (Graphic Design), Engagement Committee chair.

Above: The Alumni Council welcomes new members. Pictured (l-r): Josh Levitas BFA '00 (Animation), Natasha Goldstein-Levitas BFA '00 (Dance Education), Cheryl Hazzard BM/BMED '72 (Voice), Michele Kishita BFA '92 (Painting), MFA '10 (Painting), TJ Walsh BFA '07 (Graphic Design), Faith Patane BFA '06 (Writing for Film + Television), Jean Plough BFA '70 (Painting) and Sarah Rene MFA '09 (Painting).