Student Achievements
Let's hear it for our 2024 grads! Together, they've completed thousands of recitals, juries, exams and concerts. They spent countless hours in practice rooms. And they have made invaluable impacts in the School of Music and beyond.
We also want to congratulate this year’s Honors Convocation Award winners (pictured above). Always fling your Green & Gold afar, and sic ’em forever!
Outstanding Member of Baylor Opera Theater
Giselle Bautista
Thomas Stuart Award in Voice
Davian Raggio
Outstanding Graduate Student in Voice
Emily Perry
Undergraduate Academic Achievement Award
Jesse Forgione
Graduate Academic Achievement Award
Craig Adams
Undergraduate Church Music Award
Evan Rivera
Graduate Church Music Award
Logan Moore
Ray Luper Church Music Award
Zariel Rivas
ACDA Outstanding Choral Music Scholarship
Alex Reichert
Outstanding Music Educator Award
April Hull
Ken Howard Choral Music Education Award
Myles LeCroy
Bennett Award in Music Education
Julia Johnson
Richard Floyd Band Music Education Award
McKenna Babcock
Robert Floyd Award for Leadership in Music Education
William Alverio
Roger Keyes Award Outstanding Graduate Student in Piano
Mateusz Perz
Gladys Calder Stinton Award Outstanding Undergraduate Piano
Miles Gillette-Bockhorn
Elizabeth Brient Smith Award in Piano Pedagogy
Anna Templeton
Advanced Performance Certificate Recognition
Cezary Karwowski
Donald Moore Outstanding Graduate Instrumental Performer Award
Blake Moreland
Daniel Sternberg Outstanding Graduating Instrumentalist Award
Sebastian Penso
Larry Vanlandingham Outstanding Instrumentalist Graduate Student Award
Edric Salazar
Martha Barkema Mu Phi Eplison Scholarship Award
Savannah Horton
Ruth Dean Morris Scholarship Award
McKenna Babcock
Outstanding Seniors in the School of Music Award
Giselle Bautista
Katy Sanderford
Bernard and Bessie Smith Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement
Giselle Bautista
Dean's Award for Outstanding Performance
Gina Gravagne
Presser Foundation Award
Blake Moreland
Mina Ahn (M.M., clarinet) will attend the Killington Music Festival in Vermont this coming summer.
The Baylor Clarinet Choir performed at the TMEA convention in San Antonio in February. The choir performed a diverse program featuring Japanese composer Satoshi Yagisawa and living American composer Theresa Martin, as well as pieces by Vaclav Nelhybel and John Williams. World-renowned clarinetist Julian Bliss joined the group as the soloist for the performance of John Williams’s “Viktor's Tale.”
In May, junior music education majors from the MUS 3232 class hosted River Valley Middle School Boys Chorale for a lecture demonstration and voicing.
The Baylor Trumpet Studio took home top awards at the International Trumpet Guild competition, May 28–June 1. In the Wind Band Excerpts division, first place went to Mason Stokes (B.M.) and third place went to Johniel Nájera (B.M.E.). In the Chamber Ensemble Division, Baylor Gold tied for first place. Members of Baylor Gold (pictured L to R) are Camden Smith (B.M.E.), Jacob Lira (B.M.E.), Paul Stancampiano (B.M.), Mason Stokes and Matthew Burn (M.M.). Baylor Gold also claimed second place in the National Trumpet Competition Small Ensemble Division in March. The ensemble performed "The Music of Ernest Williams" arranged by Professor of Trumpet Wiff Rudd, M.M. and Matthew Burn. The Baylor Trumpet Studio also saw Baylor Green in the Large Ensemble Division semifinals and Aidan Finnerud (B.M.E.) and Camden Smith in the Undergraduate Solo semifinals.
Two music education majors presented their research at Baylor’s Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Achievement (URSA) Week in March and at LSU’s Discover Day in April. Junior Emily Bohmer’s (B.M.E., choral) study is titled “High School Singers’ Self-Assessment of Vocal Health Knowledge and Singing Difficulties.” Sophomore Maddie Bowen’s (B.M.E., choral) study is titled “Self-Assessment of Rest Among Texas PreK-12 Music Educators.” Bowen won an Outstanding Presenter Award at Baylor URSA and at LSU Discover Day. Both students were mentored by Kelly Jo Hollingsworth, assistant professor of music education.
Mauricio Castillo (B.M., clarinet) and Marco Cornel (B.M.E, clarinet) will attend the Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy in Florida this summer.
Stephanie Lawrencia Christianto (M.M., piano pedagogy and performance) presented a research poster titled “Musician Burnout is Real! Addressing Mental Health Crises Among Musicians” at the 2024 Music Teachers National Association conference in Atlanta, GA, in March.
Blayne Stonecipher (B.M., church music) recently placed first in the National Association of Teachers of Singing DFW Chapter's TTB Second Year Division. Additionally, Stonecipher was awarded the Outstanding Lower College Private Studio Vocalist award.
Sabrina Watson (B.M., pedagogy) presented a research poster titled “Incorporating Taiwanese Folk Music in Teaching Beginner Piano” at the 2024 Music Teachers National Association conference in Atlanta, GA, in March.
Sophia Yi (B.M., clarinet) and Finley Jones (B.M., clarinet) will attend to ARIA International Summer Academy in MA this summer.