Alumni Stories

Pianist Linda Jung (BA from UMBC in 2018, Linehan Scholar), is graduating from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University in May with her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance.  Linda will continue her studies at Peabody in the fall, working towards a Graduate Performance Diploma, with the graduate assistantship in Keyboard Skills.

Music alum, Michael Wu, will appear in the cast of Lyric Opera Kansas City's production of Amahl and the Night Visitors as King Kaspar. The production will run December 3-6 in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Alumna Christie Finn released a new recording of Christopher Trapani's Waterlines with the Ictus ensemble. The work was written as a response to 2005 disaster, Hurricane Katrina. Below is an excerpt from the composer's program notes:

Karena Ingram (Music '15) was awarded a commission recently with the American Composer's Orchestra to contribute to the innovative online programming BMI has initiated to continue its support for the arts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The work, No Air is a lament for the black lives lost at the hands of police brutality and racism in America, as well as the reflection of grief, frustration, and perseverance in the community. George Floyd’s last words of "I can't breathe" were the same last words of Eric Garner in 2014, Javier Ambler and Derrick Scott in 2019, and Manuel Ellis in March of 2020, in which they all faced the same injustice and murder. "Black Lives Matter" is not a radical statement; it is a cry of justice and equality from people who have been oppressed for generations. No air is our story of strength and power, beginning with the lament of those we've lost, and ending with the lament of those we may lose if our society does not change for the better.

A degree from UMBC can take you anywhere — even a galaxy far, far away. Kimberly Patrick ’08, recipient of UMBC’s 2019 Outstanding Alumni of the Year award for Visual and Performing Arts, has a geek’s dream job, working as a sound editor and foley artist for Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Sound.

Music Alum and Affiliate Artist Yoshiaki Horiguchi has been selected to present at the International Society of Bassists in June.  He will present an interactive workshop on teaching the George Vance Method of playing the string bass at their convention in Bloomington, Indiana that occurs every two years.  

Stewart Dailey was recently featured on the Baltimore City Public Schools "The Newsroom" website.  The feature highlights Dailey's teaching, philosophies, and insights into his life outside of the classroom.  To read the full story, click here.

UMBC alumna Krisztina Dér (Music '12)  won first prize last week at the Raleigh Area Flute Association's Artist competition.  The competition is geared towards advanced flutists starting or on the cusp of developing professional careers in music.  There were three rounds for the competition.  Interested candidates had to submit preliminary recordings, six competitors from across the country were invited to the semi-final round, and three were selected as finalists. 

Congrats to Yoshiaki Horiguchi (Music '13) and Stephen Brouillette (Music '15) on their new jobs!  

Karena Ingram, Music Composition '16, has been hired as the new Audience Development Manager with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society.  Her responsibilities entail overseeing box office operations, implementing the renewal and new prospect campaigns, and managing all subscription and ticket orders. In addition, her oversight in marketing and public relations include overseeing their group sales campaign and writing and distribution of promotional materials.