Alumni in the News

Barry Anderson (BME 2000) is acting in the Broadway musical "Legally Blonde" in New York. He has a supporting role, but, as understudy, was thrust into the starring role July 26, 2008, when the leading man went home sick. Read news article.

Michael Andrew (BA 1987) achieves his dream of working as an entertainer and collaborates with Jerry Lewis on plans for a Broadway musical. Read news article.

Jamie Andrews (BME 1998) receives Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award, which acknowledges special achievements and great promise of alumni who are within 15 years of their graduation from UW-Eau Claire.

Rebecca Carson (BA 1996) is the managing director of the Pepperdine Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Read news article.

Aaron Doty (BME 1997) receives the Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award, which acknowledges special achievements and great promise of alumni who are within 15 years of their graduation from UW-Eau Claire. Read news article.

Sam Ecoff (BM 1997) receives the Oustanding Recent Alumnus Award, which acknowledges special achievements and great promise of alumni who are within 15 years of graduation from UW-Eau Claire. Read news article.

Laurie Farnan (BMT 1975) is coordinator of the music therapy program at the Central Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled. Read news article.

Greg Fedderly (BM 1985) performs as a tenor with the New York Metropolitan Opera. Read news article.

Matt Franko (BA 1999) has a successful music career as a Los Angeles area composer, arranger, copyist and performer. Read news article.

Briana Hardyman '05, a UW-Eau Claire theatre arts graduate, is touring as part of the country music duo Good Souls. She and fellow performer Dave Isaacs recently completed their first, self-titled album. Read news article.

Bob Knuth (BA 1990), a UW-Eau Claire theater and art graduate, is the marketing art director at The Second City Theatre in Chicago, as well as producing director and resident scenic director at Circle Theatre, also in Chicago. Read news article.

All that Jazz leads to Broadway for Larry Lelli (BME 1990). Read news article.

Tom Luer (BM 1997) is on tour with Queen Latifah, promoting her new CD "Travelin' Light."

Jazz musician Peter Madsen (BME 1978) releases his latest solo piano CD, "Prevue of Tomorrow." Read news article.

Andrew Neesley (BM 2003) receives the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. Read news article.

Kurt Niska '89, Lorie Carpenter-Niska '89, Terrence Niska '87 and Michael Swedberg '87, '89 are members of the vocal quintet Five By Design, which performs about 65 shows a season, many of them with symphony orchestras throughout the United States. They booked their first gigs as a UW-Eau Claire jazz group. Read news article.

Music to Their Ears - Connie (Harding) Root (BME 1976), Linda Petersen (BME 1980), Karen (Sands) Johnson (BME 1978) lead State Honors Music Project. Read news article.

Scott Pingel (BM 1996) debuted Sept. 8 as the San Francisco Symphony's principal bassist in the group's opening performance of the 2004 season. See related stories from The View and E-View Spring 2005. Scott Pingel receives Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award. Read additional news article.

Gene Power (BME 2002) is the new conductor of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony. Read news article.

Todd Schendel (BM 1998) and Amy (Minor) (BM 1998) Schendel receive prestigious Fulbright scholarships. Read news article.

Toby Yatso (BM 2002), an active performer in the Phoenix area, is starring in the Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company's production of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" in Phoenix, Ariz. (Photo is a scene from "The Producers" with Yatso as Leo. Read news article.