Amplify Alumni
The Amplify: Alumni initiative aims to highlight the many achievements - past, present and future - of UNI School of Music alumni. The amazing impact of the performers, educators, innovators and artists who attended the UNI School of Music can be felt around the globe, and we want to celebrate their accomplishments. Over the next year we will be sharing the stories, professional contributions and exciting projects of UNI alumni. Updates are ongoing, so check back often!
Are you a UNI student, faculty or alumni artist with an alumni-focused story to tell? Share your story and use #AmplifyAlumni to let us know!
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Fall 2024 Highlights
Donovan Klutho
Donovan Klutho recently won an audition for a tuba position with the United States Navy Band. Donovan is from Bettendorf, Iowa where he began playing violin followed by tuba. He completed his BM in Tuba Performance and BA in Music Technology at UNI, where he studied tuba with Dr. Jesse Orth and Dr. Stephanie Ycaza and studied bass trombone with Dr. Anthony Williams. After finishing his bachelor’s degree, Donovan pursued an MM in Tuba Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Tim Northcut. Donovan is currently a member of Navy Band Northwest stationed in Silverdale, Washington and will begin his new position in Washington D.C. in August 2024.
Emma Andersen
In the most recent Topeka Symphony Orchestra auditions Emma Andersen (MM, ‘24) won a section violin position.
The Topeka Symphony is a regional professional orchestra with a nearly 80-year history of serving northeast Kansas. Under the baton of maestro Kyle Pickett, each year the ensemble performs a seven-concert season, provides educational outreach concerts, and collaborates with the Kansas Ballet for a production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. When not performing with the TSO, many orchestra members can be found subbing with the Kansas City Symphony, performing with the Wichita Grand Opera, and teaching at universities throughout the Midwest.
Aubrey Williamson
In the most recent Topeka Symphony Orchestra auditions, Aubrey Williamson (BM, ‘24) was first runner up for the position of second flute and has been offered section substitute work.
The Topeka Symphony is a regional professional orchestra with a nearly 80-year history of serving northeast Kansas. Under the baton of maestro Kyle Pickett, each year the ensemble performs a seven-concert season, provides educational outreach concerts, and collaborates with the Kansas Ballet for a production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. When not performing with the TSO, many orchestra members can be found subbing with the Kansas City Symphony, performing with the Wichita Grand Opera, and teaching at universities throughout the Midwest.
Paul Lichty
Trombonist, composer, and educator Paul Lichty (UNI '17) was recently awarded the CJC Des Moines Jazz Hall of Fame “Next Generation” Award, in recognition of his contributions to the jazz community in the state of Iowa.
Kristin Rasmussen
Kristin Rasmussen (UNI ‘21) was appointed as Guest Experience Manager by Des Moines Metro Opera in August of this year. Her work will positively impact the thousands of listeners who experience the DMMO each year. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Music History from UNI, as well as a Master of Arts in Musicology from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Burns, Jermier & Andrews
Noah Burns (Studio Art, UNI ‘24) won a UNI IAF grant to record Honeybee - a recording and songwriting project which features three original songs, recorded at UNI. Noah was joined by fellow alums Riley Jermier (Music Technology, ‘23), who mixed and mastered the tracks and Reed Andrews (Music, ‘23), on percussion. The music will be released on all streaming platforms October 31. Noah is currently a professional routesetter in Vermont, while Riley interns at Starstruck Entertainment in Nashville, a studio which has recorded artists such as Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. Reed, also based in Nashville, is now on tour with Jeremy Camp. These three exceptional artists are excited for everyone to hear their album!
David Schroeder
David Schroeder (School of Music, ‘83) has been the Director of Jazz Studies at NYU for 16 years and the Chair of the Department of Music for 3 years. Schroeder is a multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, historian, and author of two books entitled From The Minds of Jazz Musicians: Conversations with the Creative and Inspired, Vol. I & II, (Routledge Press), along with published articles in JazzIt Magazine, IAJCR Journal, IAJE Journal, and the Huffington Post. Schroeder is also the creator and host of the popular NYU Jazz Interview Series on YouTube and NYU JazzCast podcast series.
James Linahon
James Linahon (UNI, ‘73) is an award-winning music producer, composer and trumpet artist with more than 300 recording projects for Film, Television, Radio, Musical Theater and CD/DVDs to his credit. He has produced for a wide diversity of artists, studios and agencies worldwide in both music, film and television for Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Award productions. He has received 15 Grammy-award nominations. Jim has an extensive background as a studio musician and has produced/recorded for a wide array of artists, studios and agencies including Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Arsenio Hall, Barry Manilow, Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Mancini, Sarah Vaughn, Beverly Sills, Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Co., Sony, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, A&E, World Projects International, The United States Department of State and The United Nations. He was inducted into the UNI Jazz Hall of Fame in 2018.
Ashley & Austin Wright
Austin and Ashley Wright have served as clarinet players in the United States Marine Corps for the past several years. Austin (of Independence, IA) graduated UNI with a BM in clarinet performance in 2017, and went on to complete an MM in clarinet performance from the University of Missouri in 2019. Ashley (of Webster City, IA) graduated UNI with a BM in Instrumental Music Education in 2019. Austin and Ashley would eventually get married, and after his successful audition for the Marine Corps, they moved to South Carolina to pursue careers as a military musician and a high school band director, respectively. After seeing the unique opportunities given to Austin through the Marine Corps, Ashley decided to take an audition and joined the military alongside her husband in 2022. Currently they are both stationed in North Carolina. Austin (now a Sergeant) and Ashley (now a Corporal) get to do what they love by traveling the world together, playing their clarinets, and serving their country. Bravo Austin and Ashley!