Spring 2025 Graduates and Alumni Highlights: Spring and Summer, 2025

Spring 2025 Graduate Highlights

Eleftherios Chasanidis (DMA Vocal Performance ’25) served on the Examining Committee of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, May 2, 2025, to examine candidates for the Holy Cross Certificate in Byzantine Music. Holy Cross annually bestows a Certificate of Byzantine Music to graduates of its program in the Psaltic Art and other individuals who have received their training elsewhere and reached an adequate level of knowledge and skills in the sacred art of chanting.

On May 6, 2025, Chasanidis was hosted as a panelist at a group of the United Nations called Pax Romana and presented “From Earth to Heaven: The Sacred Ascent of Byzantine Chant” followed by an open Q&A. Currently he is touring the west coast with the Grammy nominated group Cappella Romana. 

Later this year he will be performing as a soloist with orchestra and choir the role of “Christ” in Ivan Moody’s “Passion and Resurrection” the upcoming days.

Jacob Everts (B Mus Composition ’25) will be working on commissioned pieces, including a concerto for trumpet and wind ensemble honoring Phil Smith. 

Gracie Gambrell (BA Music ,Minor Biology ’25) will be attending Dental College of Georgia. She was also selected for the UGA President’s Award this spring.

Gabriella McClellan (BA in Music,  BA in Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies ’25) - First prize winner of the 2025 Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Competition, Currently a semi finalist in the Atlanta Festival Academy Competition happening in July 2025, Accepted to and will be attending the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, which provides full tuition coverage and free room and board. 

Aizhia Poblate (BA in Music,  BA in Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies ’25) will be attending Augusta University for an MS in Medical Physiology this fall. 

Marianna Schwark (B Mus Performance ’25) will be attending U of Michigan on scholarship for MM in horn performance this fall.

Brennan Sweet (B Mus. Music Ed. ’25) was accepted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society in Spring 2025. Brennan will also be a Resident Assistant at the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in Summer 2025.

Christopher Victor (B Mus. Performance and Music Theory ’25) will attend the University of Illinois this Fall to pursue the Master of Music in Performance degree.

Joshua Wagner (MM Choral Conducting ’25), was appointed Choir Director at Bowling Green High School.

Alumni Highlights: Spring and Summer, 2025

Emma Barnstead (B. Mus. Music Education ’24) won a French Horn position with the Navy Fleet Bands.

Danny Alford (DMA Performance ’24) was recently appointed as the Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of South Alabama.

Joseph Himmelberg (B Mus. Performance and Music Theory. ’24), now an MM student at the Eastman School of Music, was selected to compete at the 2025 Andorra International Saxophone Competition. One of the most prestigious international saxophone competitions, the competition takes place in the country of Andorra and features saxophonists from across the globe. 

Shawna Pennock (DMA ’18), is currently on faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she is the saxophone professor, Undergraduate Coordinator, and an Associate Director of the School of Music, released a recording of saxophone duos with Stephen Page of the University of Texas at Austin. Entitled “Broken,” the recording features works by Meredith Monk and David Lang and can be found on all major streaming platforms. 

Gabriel Piqué (BM Music Performance ’15), was appointed to the faculty of Baylor University as Assistant Professor of Saxophone this fall.