A Note from the School of Music
Spring 2025
KC’s Corner
A few weeks ago, a colleague shared a picture with me that he and his family had taken during a picnic at Wheeler Farm in Murray. The photo is of the well-known “Lightning Tree” which has been struck by lightning twice yet continues to root and grow. My colleague graciously offered this image as a symbol of the struggles that many of us have faced this year as well as our perseverance to move forward. To press on. To keep the music playing.
I shared his kind gesture with the rest of my colleagues at the last faculty meeting of the 2024-25 academic year, a year that included quite a few “lightning bolts” for many of us. There is a lot to worry about these days, and each of us lives a life unique with opportunity, stress, success, challenge, reward, and struggle. What I have appreciated most over time, though, is the chance to bear witness to a unique brand of resilience in the University of Utah School of Music. It is one of a kind and it’s as foundational as the gorgeous facility in which we gather, share, practice, and perform.
From new beginnings to personal losses, along with new stressors and old, we have ample opportunity to be reminded of the ever-present potential for growth, strength, and beauty — even amid all that is damaged, misshapen, or complex. This academic year, in particular, proved time and again that we have the courage to face adversity and the grit to handle it with grace. We saw it in the ways we listened to each other through significant curricular change, supported each other’s scholarship and pedagogy, mentored new faculty colleagues, worked together to bring in three new and fantastic faculty members who will join us in August, comforted each other in moments of personal struggle, and stood together to continue to create a world-class education for our students.
Our roots run deep and are consistently nurtured by our talented and successful alumni and our dedicated and supportive donors, friends, and advocates. We are strong. We are steadfast. And we are making a positive difference in the lives of our students every single day.
As I wrap up my first term as Director and look forward to our next three years together, I must share once again how incredibly thankful I am for the community that is the School of Music at the University of Utah. This is a magical place. Stop in and see how we are growing or let me take you to lunch and share the exciting things we are doing and planning. Know that you always have a home in these musical halls, and we are proud of and thankful for the talents you tend and the light you shine on others.
Kim Councill
Director of the School of Music
Alumni Updates
Alumni-founded group Hot House West received the prestigious Governor’s Mansion Artist Award. (Nathan Royal BMU’14, Executive Director)
FAA Accepting Applications
The Fine Arts Ambassadors is an alumni board composed of professionals active in local and national arts communities and eager to advance the mission of the College of Fine Arts. Mitchell Atencio (HBM ‘19), Olivia Custodio (MM‘14), Amanda Hales (DMA ‘18), Justin Morgan (BM ‘18), and Merinda Christensen Starnes (BM ‘22) are currently serving School of Music and CFA as Fine Arts Ambassadors.
- Are you passionate about helping students prepare for rewarding careers in and out of the arts?
- Would you like to reconnect with fellow College of Fine Arts alumni?
- Do you have a vibrant community network that might help a student get connected to future opportunities?
- Do you want to share why you love the College of Fine Arts, and what it may have provided you in your own trajectory?
- Are you looking for volunteer experience that is sure to better connect you with your own professional aspirations?
- Are you looking to build your board/committee experience?
Desireé Miller (DMA ‘18) was a recipient of the Music Teachers National Association 2025 Stecher and Horowitz Power of Innovation Award.
Michael Shoaf (DMA ‘24) is the new Associate Professor of Music, Voice, Director of Music, and Voice Area Coordinator for Eastern Arizona College.
Christian Manley (BM ‘25) is the newly appointed Band Director at North Ogden Jr High.
Ryan Wing (BM ’23) is the Director of Bands at Lufkin Road Middle School.
Sean Wilson (BM ‘25) will attend New York University to pursue a master’s degree in jazz on full scholarship, with a full teaching assistant.
Katie Ann Powell, former member of the U Crimson Harps, was named Miss Washington D.C. 2024. She won most inspirational at the 2025 Miss America Pageant.
Kelariz Keshavarz (DMA ‘22) has accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Nick Burnham (MM ‘13) became the Principal Trombone of the Ballet West Orchestra.
Student Success
Outstanding Senior 2025
Ian Wagman
“I am inspired every day by my peers at the School of Music, both in their talents and their hard work. They push me to strive for my best and to keep my mind open.”
Major accomplishments:
- First prize, SummerArts Piano Competition young artist concerto division (2019)
- National winner, MTNA Composition Competition, young artist division (2023)
- Commission: "Marking the Land: A Song Cycle about Utah" — with funding from the Salt Lake City Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts (2023).
"Ian is a talented composer as well as an accomplished oboist and pianist, both of which inform his work as a composer. He has excellent musical instincts that he develops through hard work, a receptiveness to feedback, and and earnest desire to improve. Last spring, he completed a new work for our Wind Ensemble, which they premiered on their year-end concert. The piece is skillfully written for the group, demonstrating not only good compositional skill but also a clear understanding of band repertoire. The piece has a strong potential for future performances and is indicative of Ian’s potential in composing for band and other large ensembles. Ian is also an active member of the School of Music community, regularly performing in ensembles and collaborating with his fellow students to bring contemporary and historical music to life."
- Jessica Rudman
Assistant Professor, School of Music
Jackson Ongman, who is enrolled in the Music Entrepreneurship Certificate, received a summer internship as an A&R at Capitol Records in Hollywood, CA.
Andie Funk is the Endowed BTSALP Fellow this year, working specifically with Sherise Longhurst (MAT-FA) at Ridgecrest Elementary. Andie will pass the torch to student Cagney Lotz, who will be the Fellow for next year.
Morgan Staker, member of the Condie Brass Quintet, and Ann Gray represented the School of Music at the prestigious National Trumpet Competition in March.
Drew Fallon won the Timpanist position at Ballet West.
Lelia Serki was a finalist for the Reno Chamber Orchestra. She was also accepted to the prestigious Buffet Clarinet Academy summer camp.
Anna Larson won principal oboe with Ballet West.
Zane Jensen was accepted to the prestigious Buffet Clarinet Academy summer camp.
Alina Baron won 3rd place (Strings) in the 2024-25 Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Performance Competition
U Crimson Saxophone Quartet attended the Navy Band Saxophone Symposium this January in Fairfax, Virginia.
Students and alumni attended the 2025 College Orchestra Directors’ Association Conference.
U Mount Olympus Honor String Quartet placed in the top 8 of the Music Teachers National Association Competition.
U Opera’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors and Christmas Carol” won 2nd place in Division V and “A.L.I.C.E” won 3rd place in Division VI at the National Opera Association Conference.
U Saxophone studio attended the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 2 Conference held in Fullerton, CA.
U Opera students placed at the 2025 National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions. 1st place: Kayley Brinkerhoff; 2nd place (tie): Emily Hubert and Jane Pitcher.
Faculty Hightlights
New Emeritus Faculty
“The greatest legacy anyone can leave behind is to positively impact the lives of others.” -Roy T. Bennett
Professor Paul Dorgan joined the faculty at the University of Utah in 1993 and has a long and storied career as an influential coach and collaborative pianist in the classical voice field. Dorgan has served as coach at many major opera houses both in the United States and overseas. Since moving to Utah, he has been a frequent and sought-after performer in the NOVA Chamber Music Series, the Temple Square Recital Series, and has performed countless times in various concerts and recitals for our School of Music.
Dorgan has built a strong reputation as a definitive source of diction and literature for singers at our university and beyond, and his translations are used often by various opera companies for supertitles during their performances. He has been a celebrated master clinician throughout the US, and has been one of the most important resources for diction, literature and vocal coaching for generations of singers moving through our School of Music.
Professor Barlow Bradford joined the University of Utah faculty in 2010 and has maintained a distinguished career as the Ellen Neilson Barnes Presidential Endowed Chair for Choral Studies in the School of Music. Under his direction, our Chamber Choir has been recognized for its excellence on multiple occasions, including through participating in prestigious choral competitions held both at home and abroad. Highlights over the years include the ensemble winning an international choral competition in France and being invited to sing in The Chinese International Choral Festival that was televised to millions of viewers.
Bradford has also composed and arranged over 20 pieces of choral and orchestral music, performed by notable professional organizations across the globe, including The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (now known as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square), Dallas Symphony Chorus, the New York Choral Artists, and his own performing groups, which includes the Utah Chamber Artists that he co-founded over 30 years ago. He has also served as the chorus director of The Grand Teton Music Festival and The Utah Symphony Chorus.
Haruhito Miyagi (PhD '19) (Adjunct Associate Professor) will be joining the faculty at Valparaiso University this fall as Assistant Professor of Music (Organ, Church Music, Composition, and Music Theory) and Director of Chapel Music.
New Professors
Jeffrey Allardyce, Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Classical Saxophone with emphasis in Music Technology/Theory
Carol Anderson, Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Vocal Diction, Coaching, Literature, and Collaboration
Michael Kaufman, Assistant Professor in Cello Performance, Education and Outreach. .
School of Music Highlights
U Chamber Choir in Italy
The 33-singer ensemble, directed by Barlow Bradford and Eric Schmidt, visited beautiful cities such as Milan, Florence, Rome and Vatican City, explored breathtaking landscapes such as Lake Como, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, and gave several performances at iconic venues such as the University of Bologna and the Pantheon.
Music Therapy courses
Launched this spring as one of four foundational courses in the evidence-based field of Creative Arts Therapies, Music Therapy introduced students to professional clinical training, including the history, theoretical principles, and practices of the profession.
“Arts and health have been intersecting since the beginning of humanity,” said Katie Lahue, Music Therapy course instructor. “Students who are in the arts know the health benefits first hand because of their personal experiences, and why they are drawn to it. Learning more deeply about these intersections will help students be able to use their talents for their own health as well as potentially open up unique and fulfilling career opportunities!”
Lahue has been a music therapist for 10 years working in a variety of settings including skilled nursing, school settings, inpatient and residential mental health, and private practice. The majority of Lahue’s career has been spent in the pediatric medical setting. She now has the privilege and honor of managing a team of almost 20 expressive therapists across several pediatric medical and behavioral health sites and developing expressive therapies programs to meet the needs of pediatric patients. Lahue studied undergraduate music therapy and music education and completed a master's in music therapy and clinical mental health counseling. Read more about Creative Arts Therapies courses.
New endowment to fund travel & faculty research
Announcing the School of Music Advisory Board Scholar Endowment. School of Music faculty members can submit proposals for research and professional development which includes at least one partnership with undergraduate students in the 3-year term of the award. By establishing this unique endowment, the School of Music simultaneously offers scholarship support to awarded faculty while enhancing student research experiences.
Scholarships
As we look forward to the summer and embarking on a new academic year, scholarship
support continues to be critical to student success.
“[Scholarships have] inspired me to continue striving for excellence in both performance and scholarship, knowing that there are people who believe in the value of what we do as musicians.”
-Hao Ding, DMA Piano Performance