The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music celebrated 40 of its finest students, faculty, alumni, fellow educators and staff with various teaching, research and service awards at the 2023 Awards Ceremony.
“The School’s annual award ceremony is one of the highlights of the year, where we recognize student achievement, faculty and staff excellence, and honor a distinguished alumni and music educator of the year,” said Dr. Kevin Sanders, Director of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. “It’s a reminder of our impact on the campus, community and the music industry. It makes you incredibly proud to be a part of the School of Music.”
On April 26, faculty, staff, students and special guests gathered in the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center’s Plough Foundation Performance Hall to celebrate this year’s remarkable School of Music award winners. Please join us in congratulating to following recipients:
Douglas C. Lemmon Memorial Scholarship
Given by friends, colleagues and family in memory of Douglas C. Lemmon, professor of trombone at the University of Memphis.
Awarded to Colin Woods
Dr. Charles Schulz Scholarship
Awarded to an outstanding tuba student in honor of professor emeritus Dr. Charles A. Schulz, who served as head of the brass division.
Awarded to Juan Garcia
Patricia Ann Fisher Music Education Scholarship
This award is in memory of Patricia Ann Fisher to support an outstanding student majoring in choral music education.
Awarded to Jacob Bross
Dr. Barbara Mashburn Choral Scholarship
The Dr. Barbara D. Mashburn Endowed Scholarship was established to assist students who desire careers in choral music education.
Dr. Mashburn is a retired choral music teacher and an alumna of the University of Memphis.
Awarded to Karoline Larsen
Shirley W McRae Music Education Scholarship
This award was established to recognize and assist an outstanding student who desires a career in elementary music education.
Awarded to Micayla Scott
James R. Holcomb Music Education Scholarship
This award, given in honor of James R. Holcomb, recognizes an outstanding music education student.
Awarded to Jacob Happy
Ethel Taylor Maxwell Vocal Scholarship
This scholarship, given by Professor Emerita Ethel Taylor Maxwell, recognizes outstanding music students majoring in voice.
Awarded to Caroline Davis
Elba Gandy Memorial Scholarship
Donated by Ellen Davies-Rogers in memory of Elba Gandy, this scholarship is presented to outstanding music students.
Awarded to Keiber Utrera, Ayomide Bolajoko and Nazira Wali
Noel A. Gilbert Violin Scholarship
This award was established to honor Noel A. Gilbert to recognize an outstanding student majoring in violin performance. Gilbert was a former faculty member and was a member of several historic musical organizations in Memphis throughout his lifetime.
Awarded to Dario Santos
Dr. Sidney J. McKay Fellowship
This award recognizes an outstanding graduate student focusing on instrumental music education. McKay was a former University of Memphis band director and served on the faculty for 28 years.
Awarded to Jose Wilder Augusto da Silva
Jim Green and Tag Hedges Green Graduate Fellowship
Established by the Hedges family to recognize an outstanding graduate student pursuing band conducting or instrumental music education.
Awarded to Matt Whitt
Paul B. Earhart Scholarship in Flute
This award was established to recognize an outstanding flutist.
Awarded to Samuel Jesuyemi
Lubrani Clarinet Award/Music Memorial Fund Scholarship
Established in memory of former faculty member Frederick Lubrani, professor of clarinet, this award honors an outstanding clarinetist.
Awarded to Onyinye Igboanugo
James & Christopher Gholson Scholarship
This award recognizes an outstanding student in the woodwind area or music business.
Awarded to Des Taylor
John G. Hughes Music Scholarship
This award, given in memory of John G Hughes, recognizes an outstanding keyboard student.
Awarded to Cora Haslett
Herbert Hermann Memorial Scholarship
This award, given in memory of Herbert Herman, recognizes outstanding students studying keyboard.
Awarded to Nohelia Gomez
Jerry Lee Lewis Endowed Scholarship
This award is given to an outstanding student enrolled in jazz studies pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree.
Awarded to Franko Coleman
Joe D’Gerolamo Memorial Scholarship
Established in honor of Joe D’Gerolamo, a former faculty member in jazz, this award is given to an outstanding student enrolled in jazz studies.
Awarded to Evann Velasquez
Charlie Rich Scholarship
Established by the family of Charlie Rich, this scholarship is awarded to an outstanding music major.
Awarded to SirLatimore Wilson
Sam Phillips Scholarship
Established by his family and friends, this scholarship recognizes the creative achievements of Sam Phillips of Sun Studios, the first to record Elvis Presley. It is awarded to an outstanding music engineering major.
Awarded to brent bonner
Elvis Presley Endowed Scholarship
In memory of one of Memphis’ most iconic musical names, this award recognizes an academically outstanding and financially deserving music student.
Awarded to Emily Weerheim
Robert Kelley Memorial Scholarship
This award is given in memory of Robert “Bob” Kelley, founder of Mid-South Concerts, and recognizes an outstanding music business student.
Awarded to Jilian Acor
Smit Music Composition Award
This award is given in memory of Johannes Smith, professor of composition at the University of Memphis. It recognizes outstanding composition students.
Awarded to Ashley Henry
John & Shelly Baur Prize
This award is given in honor of John Baur, professor of theory and composition at the University of Memphis. It recognizes outstanding composition students.
Awarded to Michael Jones
Early Music Award
This award recognizes the graduating senior who best exemplifies the spirit and practice of historical performance.
Awarded to Kendall Howard
Memphis Gridiron Show’s Berl Olswanger Scholarship
This scholarship, given in memory of Berl Olswanger by the Memphis Gridiron Club, recognizes an outstanding undergraduate music major.
Awarded to Samuel Jesuyemi
Truist Scholarship Fund
The two awards are given to outstanding incoming freshmen in or near Shelby County. The graduate award is given to an outstanding graduate student in music.
Awarded to Ina Torres O’Ryan, Daniel Hernandez and Casey Christopherson
Presser Foundation Scholarship
This award, donated by the Presser Foundation, is the School of Music’s most prestigious award and is given to an outstanding music major who will be a senior next year. This award recognizes someone who combines excellence in their major with a strong record of academic achievement and contribution to the School of Music.
Awarded to Andrew Stine
School of Music Undergraduate Outstanding Achievement
Identifies a student who demonstrates an exceptional level of creative achievements throughout the student’s undergraduate studies in relation to peers within the student’s discipline.
Awarded to Robert Shawn Campbell
School of Music Graduate Document Award
Given to the student in the School of Music whose dissertation or thesis is judged the most outstanding. This year’s winning document is entitled “The New Messiah: A Neo-Baroque Approach to Ornamentation in the Performance of Paul Ayres’ Messiah”
Awarded to TJ Turner
School of Music Graduate Research Award
Recognizes the contributions a student makes in research to their field of study. This year’s winning research is in vernacular music of the Southern United States.
Awarded to john shaw
School of Music Graduate Performance Award
Recognizes a graduate student’s outstanding achievement in the creative arts.
Awarded to Brianna Riley
Marcie Richardson Staff Recognition Award
This award is given in memory of our own Marcie Richardson. It recognizes the hard work and dedication of a staff employee at the School of Music who has exceeded expectations this school year.
Awarded to Kaleb Ritchie
Faculty Exceptional Teaching Award
This award was established to recognize an outstanding faculty member who has exhibited generous and uncommon dedication toward academic excellence and individual student development and has far exceeded expectations for this academic year.
Awarded to Dr. Randal Rushing
2022 Music Educator of the Year
The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music celebrates and honors the accomplishments of educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the music education field and demonstrate a commitment to educating and inspiring the next generation of musicians and music lovers. The purpose of the award is to publicly recognize music educators for distinguished career accomplishments and for exemplary contributions to society and the music they have made.
Awarded to Michelle Johnson
2023 Music Educator of the Year
The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music celebrates and honors the accomplishments of educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the music education field and demonstrate a commitment to educating and inspiring the next generation of musicians and music lovers. The purpose of the award is to publicly recognize music educators for distinguished career accomplishments and for exemplary contributions to society and the music they have made.
Awarded to Christopher Piecuch
2023 Distinguished Alumni Award
The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music celebrates and honors the rich legacy of learning and accomplishments of those graduates who have excelled in their chosen field or performed exemplary service to our community. The award aims to publicly recognize alumni for distinguished personal and career accomplishments and exemplary contributions to society that bring credit to the University of Memphis.
Awarded to Mark Yashida
The Awards Committee 2023
Mary Wilson, Chair
Dr. Kenneth Kreitner
Dr. William Shaltis
Dr. Lenny Schranze