Natalie L. Haslam College of Music

Jazz Guitarist & Composer Denin Slage-Koch to join UT College of Music

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The University of Tennessee School of Music is proud to announce that Denin Slage-Koch will be joining our faculty this fall as Lecturer of Jazz Guitar!

His slate of professional achievements is long and varied, including three albums of original music, multiple Downbeat Student Music Awards, a 2022 Pathways to Jazz grant award, and a published book. He has worked with several artists, including Ryan Keberle, Shane Endsley, Carmen Bradford, Clay Jenkins, Brad Goode, Wycliffe Gordon, and the Colorado Symphony, and has written music for artists like Melissa Aldana and Carmen Bradford.

“I am thrilled to be joining the faculty of a jazz department with such a long-standing legacy of excellence and to be moving to a beautiful place with a deep, rich musical tradition,” he said. “My new colleagues at the University of Tennessee are all outstanding musicians and educators, and I have already been impressed by the passion and achievement of UT’s music students. The transition from a School of Music to a College of Music makes this an especially exciting time to be coming on-board, as we are entering a new period of opportunity and possibility for empowering our students to express themselves and build meaningful, sustainable careers in music.”

Slage-Koch is also frequently in-demand as a composer and arranger for artists and ensembles across the United States. In 2023, he received a Herb Alpert Young Composer’s award for his piece “It Comes in Waves,” and in 2022 his composition “One for Honey” was recognized as an honorable mention at the Ithaca College Jazz Composition Contest against entries from 15 countries. Slage-Koch has written and arranged for artists including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Melissa Aldana, Carmen Bradford, and the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra, among others, and maintains a consistent workload of commissions. His major teachers include renowned names such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gary Versace, Steve Kovalcheck, Bob Sneider, Dave Rivello, Bill Dobbins, Dan Keberle and Brent Edstrom, and Slage-Koch himself has more than a decade of teaching experience.

Slage-Koch holds a Doctor of Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, and has also received a Master of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies from Whitworth University.

Composer Ryan Lindveit to join UT College of Music

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The University of Tennessee College of Music is delighted to announce that composer Ryan Lindveit will join their faculty as Lecturer of Music Theory & Composition. 

A composer with credits spanning from commissioned performances to a docuseries soundtrack, Lindveit’s work ranges from orchestral pieces premiered in Carnegie Hall and wind ensemble pieces performed at top universities to pieces for chamber ensembles, soloists, electronics, dance, and visual media.  His commissioned pieces have been performed by numerous outstanding ensembles, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Alarm Will Sound, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, American Composers Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony, Interlochen World Youth Symphony Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra, Orkest de Ereprijs, Yale Philharmonia, USC Thornton Symphony, Donald Sinta Quartet, FearNoMusic, the City of Tomorrow, and the wind ensembles at Northwestern, USC, UT Austin, Arizona State, Texas Tech, Illinois, and Yale, among others.   As a conductor, Ryan has premiered several of his own works as well as works by other living composers. 

“I take seriously the tremendous privilege of teaching music to students who are in quite formative moments in their lives and careers, and I look forward to growing alongside UT students as we explore our shared love of music and curiosity for discovery,” he said.

Lindveit holds degrees from the University of Southern California (BM), the Yale School of Music (MM, MMA) and the University of Michigan (DMA). His composition mentors include Michael Daugherty, Aaron Jay Kernis, Chris Theofanidis, David Lang, Martin Bresnick, Frank Ticheli, Andrew Norman, Ted Hearne, and Bright Sheng.

Baritone Stephen Salters to Join UT College of Music

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The University of Tennessee College of Music is proud to announce the addition of prestigious vocalist Stephen Salters to its vocal faculty as Assistant Professor of Voice.

Salters is a widely respected baritone singer with a long list of credits and accolades accumulated throughout his storied career. His evocative performances spanning a wide breadth of repertoire have garnered acclaim throughout much of the globe, including Europe, Asia, and the United States. He has collaborated with acclaimed conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach, James Conlon, Seiji Ozawa, Robert Spano, Nicholas McGegan, Keith Lockhart, Ivor Bolton, Will Crutchfield, Leonard Slatkin, Hugh Wolff, Bobby McFerrin, Jane Glover, Jeff Tyzik, and Martin Haselboeck. On the opera stage, he has performed in more than 30 roles, excelling in both standard repertoire and contemporary works. Recent credits include the lead role of Kovalyov in a rare performance of Shostakovich’s opera The Nose in Boston and orchestra concerts in France, the fantastic role of Elijah in Canada and recitals in Europe and Hawai’i,in addition to several world premieres. 

Salters first gained worldwide attention in 1996, when he won First Place in Belgium’s Queen Elisabeth International Competition of Singing and became the first American to win the Grand Prix of one of the most important vocal competitions in the world. He captured First Place in the 1996 International Puccini-Licia Albanese Competition; National Finalist of the 1996 Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions; first place winner of the Leontyne Price Competition; recipient of the Esther B. Kahn Career Entry Award; candidate of the Marian Anderson Award; and a George London Foundation Award in memory of Bruce Yarnell. It was indeed no surprise when Mr. Salters next obtained America’s most prestigious vocal award, the 1999 Walter W. Naumburg International Competition becoming the first and only musician to win both the Queen Elisabeth & Walter W. Naumburg International Competitions in their combined approximately 180-year history.

“The students of UT consistently showed an insatiable desire to learn, dive into their more authentic selves, and expand their wisdom,” he said. “I am eagerly anticipating this thrilling new adventure in the College of Music, and in this monumental moment, becoming a part of its history.”

Introducing Our New Interim Associate Director of Choral Activities

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Laura Leigh Spillane is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Choral Music at the University of Southern California, where her fields of study are Choral Music, Musicology, Instrumental Conducting, and Vocology. She serves on the faculty at Saddleback and Scripps Colleges in Southern California, directing the Saddleback Chamber Singers, Claremont Concert Choir, and Claremont Treble Choir. As Senior Teaching Assistant for the USC Thornton School of Music, she is the Associate Conductor of USC’s premier choral ensemble, the Chamber Singers. Previously, she served the Thornton School of Music as the Lead Conductor of the USC University Chorus and the soprano section leader of the USC Chamber Singers.

Prior to her studies at USC, Ms. Spillane was the Choral Director and Music Theory instructor at Riverwood International Charter School and the Director of Music Ministries at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Her mastery-level women’s choir, Riverwood Singers, was selected to perform at Georgia State University’s SingFest in 2019.

Prior to her appointment at Riverwood, Ms. Spillane was the choral director at Osborne Middle School, where she directed seven choral ensembles. Her auditioned ensemble, Osborne Chorale, performed at the GMEA in-service conference in 2018. Through her recruitment initiatives, she grew the choral ensembles by 47% in just three years. Under her direction, ensembles consistently scored superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation. She was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Georgia American Choral Directors’ Association Young Director Award in 2019. Additionally, she worked as the conductor of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Summer Music Camp for three consecutive years (2016, 2017, and 2018) and was the clinician for the Sixth Grade Honor Chorus in Cherokee County, Georgia in 2018. 

Ms. Spillane holds the Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Georgia and the Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Reinhardt University, where she was a summa cum laude graduate. At UGA, she was a Carl Hoveland Fellow and graduate assistant. She was selected for the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award in 2015. 

Ms. Spillane has performed with choirs at state, regional, and national levels of ACDA, the annual conference of the Georgia Music Educators’ Association, and several international choir tours. Prior to her studies at USC, she enjoyed six seasons singing Soprano 1 with the Atlanta Master Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Eric Nelson. 

Her conducting teachers include Drs. Cristian Grases, Tram Sparks, Larry Livingston, Daniel Bara, J.D. Burnett, and Martha Shaw. She has worked in conducting institutes and masterclasses with Drs. Joseph Flummerfelt, William Weinert, Craig Hella Johnson, Andrew Megill, Amanda Quist, Jefferson Johnson, Deanna Joseph, and Donald Nally. She is an active member of ACDA, NAfME, and NCCO.

Professor Spillane is very excited to begin her appointment at the University of Tennessee, saying “UT has such a vibrant community of musicians and scholars; it is an honor to join in its rich tradition of choral artistry and excellence in music education. I am thrilled to call myself a Volunteer!”

Ms. Spillane is soon anticipated to become Dr. Spillane and will join the faculty as Interim Associate Director of Choral Activities on August 01, 2023, where she will teach courses in choral music education and conduct the UT Concert Choir. Ms. Spillane will be eagerly available to visit local high school choral programs this fall!

University of Tennessee School of Music Announces New Incoming Faculty

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The University of Tennessee School of Music is proud to announce two new faculty hires, who will join the University in August 2023.

Jaren Atherholt, Assistant Professor of Oboe

Jaren Atherholt joins the University after serving as the Assistant Professor of Oboe at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She previously served as principal oboist of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra from 2007–2018. 

A native of Alaska, Atherholt has performed to stellar reviews as a featured concerto soloist with the Louisiana Philharmonic, A Far Cry, and the Hamptons Festival of Music. Atherholt has performed as guest principal oboist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Detroit Symphony, as well as guest associate principal oboist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Atherholt spent four summers at the Marlboro Music Festival and currently performs each summer with the Grand Teton Music Festival. 

She has served on the faculty of John Mack Oboe Camp, Interlochen Oboe Institute, the Wintergreen Music Academy, and the Vianden International Music School. Recent performances include guest principal oboist with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Benjamin Atherholt, Lecturer of Bassoon

Benjamin Atherholt joined the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as the Assistant Principal Bassoonist and Contrabassoonist in 2006. He also serves as Contrabassoon/Utility Bassoon with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in New York. From 2011-2013 he was acting Contrabassoon with the Houston Symphony, and has performed with the Alabama, Baton Rouge, Grand Teton, Mobile, Naples, National, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras. Atherholt graduated from the High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas, where he studied with Jeff Robinson. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with George Sakakeeny, and continued his studies with Benjamin Kamins at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

The UT School of Music presents a special outdoor showcase concert

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The University of Tennessee School of Music is thrilled to announce a special showcase concert in the heart of downtown Knoxville at historic Market Square.

This showcase will feature a wide variety of ensembles from across the School of Music, showcasing jazz, woodwind, percussion, brass, and string instruments, with a wide variety of musical styles both classical and contemporary. Join us as we celebrate our talented students, faculty, and ensembles!

Where: Market Square, Downtown Knoxville

When: April 14, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

A Common Compassion

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Ask Sarah Buzalewski if she’s excited, and she may ask you “what about?” Indeed, the second-year master’s student in violin performance has much to tout. In addition to her on-campus studies at the University of Tennessee, she is involved with three student-teaching programs, she founded a gig management service while an undergraduate at Penn State University, and she recently started an internship at the highly prestigious arts organization Silkroad.

Her vigorous pursuit of music as a passion was early and voracious. In her elementary school, the music program started teaching strings in the third grade. But it was every day in the second grade that Sarah told her music instructor she couldn’t wait to start learning the violin. And yet, this devotion was indicative of a core part of her that, she argues, started even earlier.

“Music has always been a part of me,” she said. “I was adopted, and it’s in my records that my biological parents were musicians as well. So it’s part of my identity as a Korean-American violinist, musician, and teacher.”

That existing passion took on a whole new meaning when additional hardship struck Sarah during high school. Both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer during that time. The violin, and music in general, became a sort of refuge for her, she says, especially after her father passed away in the summer of 2020.

“I ran to music because it was my way of expressing emotions I didn’t know how to verbalize. It was my creative outlet.”

Soon afterward, she was applying to graduate schools, nearing completion of her bachelor’s degree in music performance at Penn State University. It was a meeting with University of Tennessee Professor of Violin Miroslav Hristov that would bring these elements of her musical passion together. Not only did he see her potential and skill as a violinist, but he also encouraged her to pursue music education.

“I always wanted to teach and be a professor,” she says, “but I never thought about teaching a class here. Then in January of last year, Dr. Hristov told me about this great opportunity to teach in one of the schools here in the community. And I thought this would be a really great opportunity.”

“You can sense when someone has a gift in working with young people and passing on knowledge to them in a way that is so accessible and natural,” Hristov said. “She has a wonderful personality that makes her the ideal music teacher in the classroom, and this is in addition to her talent as a violinist.”

Sarah is now involved in not one, nor two, but three strings teaching roles, including Blue Grass Elementary School in Knoxville, the UTK String Project on campus, and a partnership afterschool program between the University of Tennessee and YMCA at Sarah Moore Green Elementary School in Knoxville.

“The intersection between music performance and music education is really important,” she said. “My love for music and the violin drew me to having a passion for teaching others and having an impact as an educator, touching the lives of a lot of students like me.”

This path has led Sarah to another exciting opportunity – an education programs internship with Silkroad. Originally conceived by world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the organization is named for the historic Silk Road, a network of trade routes used between China and the West for about 1,500 years. That globalization serves as the working ethos of the organization, which began as the Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble, and has expanded to include social impact initiatives and educational partnerships. Sarah is working on the education team on a variety of initiatives, including the American Railroad Project, which uses multiple art forms – including new music commissions, a documentary series, and visual art installations – to illuminate the impact of immigrant communities on the creation of the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad.

“They teach us all of the really important skills related to running a non-profit organization, such as management, marketing, social media, and development. I was really drawn to that,” she said. “I want to make education accessible, high-quality, and diverse, especially with different music and different cultures.”

Sarah summed up the common thread connecting these webs of experience quite succinctly: “A common love for music also brings about a common compassion. Music makes us kinder.”