Where Are They Now?
Congratulations to Chris Boulais, Regan O'Connor, and Nathan Little, former students of Wiff Rudd and Mark Schubert, who were among 10 musicians to successfully audition for the substitute musician list for the Houston Symphony Orchestra last fall. Chris Boulais, currently pursuing his D.M.A. in Trumpet Performance at CU-Boulder also won the principal trumpet position with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra and was runner-up for the third/assistant principal position with the New Mexico Philharmonic.
------
Congratulations to Ross Ahlhorn (B.M., '09), Ben Hauser (B.M., '14), Brandon Emerson (M.M., '22), and Matthew Otte (M.M., '22), more former students of Wiff Rudd and Mark Schubert, for their accomplishments. Ross won the principal trumpet position with the Arkansas Symphony, Ben began his new job as second trumpet of the Florida Orchestra, Brandon successfully completed his basic training for his new job in the Navy Fleet Bands, and Matthew performed a two-month run of Cabaret in Sarasota, FL, in November and December.
------
Zach Bridges (B.M., '14, tuba performance) was hired last fall as the adjunct professor of euphonium and tuba at Shenandoah University. A member of the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own," he also performs as principal tuba in the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.
------
Bille Bruley (B.M., '11, M.M., '14, voice) recently performed the roles of Bacchus in Arizona Opera's recent production of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos in December 2022; the title role in Arizona Opera's orchestral workshop of Frankenstein in December 2022; and is currently performing as Beadle Bamford in Austin Opera's production of Sweeney Todd through February 2023. Some of his upcoming performances include tenor soloist in Britten's War Requiem with the National Youth Symphony, National Youth Chorus, and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Walt Disney Concert Hall this February; the role of Steve Wozinak in Utah Opera's production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs in May; the role of Steuermann (and covering the role of Eric) in Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer in the Santa Fe Opera, in July/August; the role of Steve Wozinak in San Francisco Opera's production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs in September/October; and covering the role of Števa Buryja in Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Jenufa in October.
------
Victor Davila completed his student teaching and graduated in December 2022. Victor received the Texas Music Educators Association's Music Educator Award. This award recognizes Victor "...as among the finest and most dedicated future music teachers in our state."
------
After being a band director in Plano, TX, for a few years, Kamile (Smith) Geist (B.M.E., '90, clarinet) decided to continue her education and pursue a Master's in Music Therapy and a Ph.D. in education. Her life's work led her to be an academic program director and professor of music therapy at Ohio University for the last 19 years. Recently, she was appointed as the new Ava and Cordell Haymon Endowed Chair of Music Therapy at Louisiana State University.
------
Michael Isenberg (B.M.E., '20) (pictured above) was named Teacher of the Year at Brook Avenue Elementary in the Waco ISD. He is a music teacher and also has helped coordinate the Baylor Opera Theatre’s outreach program at Brook Avenue. Congratulations, Michael!
------
Dillon Jefferies (B.M., '19, tuba performance) won the audition for a spot in the U.S. Air Force Academy Band.
-----
Jenna Hernandez McLean (B.M.E., '17, choral; M.M., '21, conducting) made her debut with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale this past December during their annual Winter Festival in Santa Fe, NM. The Santa Fe Desert Chorale is one of the nation's leading professional chamber choirs comprised of 24 professional vocalists from across the country. Jenna maintains an active schedule as a professional choral ensemble singer in the Dallas area and around the U.S. in addition to her role as assistant choir director at Colleyville Heritage High School. Notably, she has performed with the Voces8 U.S. Scholar and currently works as a Voces8 Foundation Teaching Artist.
------
Will McLean (M.M., '21, conducting) spent the fall semester teaching at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he conducted the nationally renowned a cappella choir. In addition to his academic work as a doctoral student at UNT, he has been working as associate conductor of the Dallas Symphony Chorus. This spring, Will is presenting sessions at the National ACDA Convention in Cincinnati and TMEA Convention. In May, his recent research on choral repertoire trends will be published as a featured article in the Choral Journal.
------
Josh Mistrot (B.M.E., '20, euphonium) was hired last fall as an assistant band director at Davis High School in the Aldine ISD.
------
Nicolas Nemitz Moura (B.M., oboe) auditioned for and won the principal oboe position in the Orquestra Theatro São Pedro, in São Paulo, Brazil.
------
Tristan Murray (B.M.E., '22, tuba) was hired as an assistant band director at Salyards Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, where he teaches Concert Winds, Beginning Low Brass, and Horn classes.
------
Ashley Reyes (B.M.E., '19, choral) is the 2022-23 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching nominee from Regency Place Elementary School in North East ISD in San Antonio.
------
Mariah Spiry (B.M.E., '14, choral) is assistant conductor of the Mansfield High School Choral Program and will be the featured harpist with the Mansfield Varsity Treble Choir at the 2023 National ACDA Conference in Cincinnati, OH, in February. Mariah is co-conductor of the Varsity Treble Choir with Reginal Wright, head director, of the Mansfield Choral Department and is responsible for also training and mentoring the beginning treble choir (Concert Choir). The choral department at Mansfield High School is comprised of almost 300 students in a total of six different choirs.