Eliza Simikian

Spring 2026 Convocation: Celebrating Talent, Community, and Achievement

Last Tuesday marked a special occasion as we gathered to honor the accomplishments of our talented Natalie L. Haslam College of Music students throughout the academic year at our biannual convocation. Attendees were treated to captivating performances, showcasing the top three winners of the Exhibition for Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURECA). The highlight of the event was the recognition…
UT Music Launches New Online MM in Music Education for Practicing Educators

Written by Eliza Simikian Applications are now open! The University of Tennessee’s Natalie L. Haslam College of Music is proud to announce the launch of a new fully online Master of Music in Music Education for Practicing Educators. Designed specifically for working teachers, the program allows educators to continue their own professional growth while remaining in the classroom. As the College’s first…
UT Music Graduate Student Partners with UT Libraries to Modernize Saxophone Repair

Written by Eliza Simikian Access to innovative technologies at the University of Tennessee Libraries is helping students turn creative ideas into real-world tools, including a 3D-printed saxophone assembly board designed by graduate student Alex Singleton. Singleton, a graduate student in saxophone performance, collaborated with UT Libraries to design and 3D-print a custom tray that organizes saxophone screws during instrument disassembly. The tray…
Tennessee Roots to the Silver Screen: Alex Ring Gray Brings Music to Life in The History of Sound

Alex Ring Gray, Natalie L. Haslam College of Music alumnus (BM Composition / Music and Culture ‘18), has added a unique credit to his growing résumé: on-set music supervisor for The History of Sound, a 2025 romantic drama starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor as folk song collectors navigating the aftermath of World War I.…
From Rocky Top to the Opera Stage: Maria Natale Honored with UT Alumni Promise Award

Maria Natale, acclaimed Italian American soprano and alumna of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, was named one of just six recipients of the prestigious UT Alumni Promise Award in 2025. Granted by the UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors, the award recognizes alumni age 40 or younger who have demonstrated distinctive achievement early…
A Little Paws, A Lot of Harmony

When Lecturer of Music Joni Pappas walks the halls of the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, she is often joined by a small, wagging shadow: Clara Belle Pappas, the college’s HABIT-dog-in-training and endearingly referred to as the “special assistant to the dean.” Clara Belle, who is named after composer Clara Schumann, serves as a…
Beyond Rocky Top: Faculty Shaping the Musical World

“WHAT’S UP, MAESTRO?” LEADING THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA James Fellenbaum, associate professor and director of orchestras at the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, was invited this summer to conduct at the Hollywood Bowl for Bugs Bunny at the Symphony. The Hollywood Bowl is one of the most iconic and prestigious outdoor music venues in…
National Stages, Volunteer Sound

UT WIND ENSEMBLE: A 155-YEAR LEGACY REACHES A NEW STAGE For the first time in the University of Tennessee Band Program’s 155-year history, the UT Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) National Conference in Spring 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. The UT Wind Ensemble was one of…
Mrs. Haslam’s Legacy

Some have described walking the hallways of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center as pure magic. From the soft playing of pianos in rehearsal rooms to the vibrant roar of the Pride of the Southland Band at practice, it’s easy to become immersed in the many soundtracks that fill the beautiful Music Center on Volunteer Boulevard. Of…
New Faces, New Possibilities

Stephen Cox Lecturer of Music Business With more than 20 years in the music and entertainment industries, Professor Cox is an award-winning composer and educator specializing in sound design, composition, and audio post-production for television, film, and games. Professor Cox teaches courses in music business such as Music Supervision in Media (Fall) and Project in…