Natalie L. Haslam College of Music

Eliza Simikian

  • UT Graduate Student Presents Research at the American Choral Directors Association 

    Written by Eliza Simikian This past March, Sophia Bennett, a Master of Music student in choral conducting, was selected to present her research at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Southern Regional Conference. Her study, Trauma-Informed Pedagogies (TIP) – Implementation in the Vocal Classroom, explores approaches that recognize all students may have experienced some form of trauma,…

  • UT Music Professor Elected to Society for Ethnomusicology Council

    Written by Eliza Simikian The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music is proud to announce that Mehrenegar Rostami, teaching assistant professor of musicology, has been elected to the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) Council Advisory Board. Professor Rostami, an expert in the music of Central Asia and the Middle East, began her three-year term in October 2025. …

  • UT Music Professor Selected to Attend American Musicology Society Institute

    Written by Eliza Simikian The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music is proud to announce that Professor Dale Disney, teaching assistant professor of musicology and director of online programs, has been accepted into the 2026 American Musicological Society (AMS) Summer Institute. The two-week residential program, “Studying Early Music with Computers: Tools, Formats, and Strategies,” will be…

  • Supported to Succeed: 89% Honors Rate Defines the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music Class of 2026

    Written by Eliza Simikian The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music has established a high standard of academic distinction as the 2026 spring commencement approaches. Final data regarding the graduating class reveals a remarkable trend of achievement across both undergraduate and graduate levels. These figures indicate that nearly the entire Class of 2026 have qualified for Latin honors, which are academic distinctions awarded for high grade point averages…

  • Creating Space Through Music: Sherleen Mwaura’s Journey at UT

    Written by Eliza Simikian The Next Movement: Class of 2026 As she prepares to graduate, Sherleen Mwaura describes her time at the University of Tennessee through a single word: serendipitous. It is a term that suggests a happy accident, but for Mwaura, the “accident” of finding her place at UT was merely the spark. What followed, a…

  • Finding His Voice: Stephen Arthur’s Journey at UT

    Written by Eliza Simikian The Next Movement: Class of 2026 Stephen Arthur didn’t always know he wanted to become a professional musician. He knew he was good at the cello, but for years, that wasn’t the same as calling it a career.  Now a senior cello performance major from Memphis, Arthur has become a defining presence at the Natalie L. Haslam College…

  • Spring 2026 Convocation: Celebrating Talent, Community, and Achievement

    Written by Eliza Simikian 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…

  • 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.…