2026 TMEA Highlights for Baylor School of Music
The Baylor School of Music shone bright at this year's TMEA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. With several awards, recognitions and scholarships won, we are delighted to celebrate our talented students and select faculty members.
Undergraduate Student Essay Competition
Maddie Bowen (senior, choral music ed and current student teacher) won the TMEA Undergraduate Essay Competition. This is a state-wide competition and a wonderful recognition of Maddie's scholarship and writing. Maddie is actually the second Baylor music ed student to have won this award in recent years.
Outstanding Student Research Award
Maura Connors (junior, choral music ed) was a co-winner of the Outstanding Student Research Award at the TMEA poster session. Maura was selected as co-winner among both undergraduate and graduate student researchers.
"We are so proud of Maddie and Maura for their hard work and recognition. These awards are well-earned. In addition to being award-winning scholars, Maddie and Maura are wonderful musicians, talented young teachers, and terrific citizens in our School of Music. These awards also demonstrate that not only is the Baylor Music Education program successful in developing great teachers, but we are also a center of excellence for undergraduate research and scholarship in Texas. Sic 'em, Maddie and Maura!"
January Scholarship Winners
A BIG shout out to all the Baylor Music Education students and faculty who received TMEA scholarships in January for the 2026-2027 school year. TMEA awarded nearly 20% of the total scholarships to Baylor students and faculty. Help us congratulate the following winners:
Robert Floyd Scholarship
Tessa Marsh, Sophomore BME in voice, received the Robert Floyd Scholarship for up to four years until completion of Undergraduate degree. Tessa is the inaugural recipient of this new scholarship. She was selected from applicants across Texas, distinguishing her among her peers at other institutions.
One-Year Undergraduate
- Alana Grace Medlin
- Regan Rucker
- Ava Cooper
- Phillip Clark
- Maura Connors
One-Semester Student Teacher:
- Maddie Bowen
- Chanel Daniels
- Zackary Noe
One-Year Graduate:
- Reginal Wright, Lecturer of Choral Music Ensembles
2026 TexASTA: Fredell Lack Outstanding Young Studio Teacher Award
Assistant Professor of Cello Philip Borter, D.M.A., received the 2026 TexASTA: Fredell Lack Outstanding Young Studio Teacher Award for meritorious service and outstanding promise in the collegiate applied studio. The award was presented at the TexASTA membership meeting during the TMEA Convention.
All of these awards continue to recognize the excellence that Baylor students are achieving in our School of Music and the faculty members that instruct them. They are further proof that a Baylor education in music is a premiere experience and is among the very best in Texas.