Congratulations to alumni Christina Wilson, Ann Louise Thaiss, and Courtney Gasque (Honey Whiskey Trio). They won the national Harmony Sweepstakes and Audience Favorite. The Harmony Sweepstakes is an annual national competition drawing from hundreds of vocal groups from around the country; regionals are held in eight cities.

Honey Whiskey Trio was flown in to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals on May 18th at the Marin Center in San Rafael, California.

Alumnus Jason Switzer, who studied with Marvallee Cariaga, is one of the singers in the Long Beach Opera production of Van Gogh by Michael Gordon and The Tell-Tale Heart by Stewart Copeland, at the EXPO Building on Atlantic Avenue in Bixby Knolls.

Alumna Ashley Stanbury performed in recital at the Palos Verdes Library series in early May. She has been asked to come back for a another concert next season.

Amie Ma was accepted into the Cremona Music Academy in Italy for studies this summer.

Alicia Doyle (Musicology) was awarded a competitive “Enhancing Educational Effectiveness Through Technology” (3ET) grant from the Faculty Center for Professional Development for her proposal entitled “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action.”  Dr. Doyle will redesign her MUS 190 class for music majors to incorporate active learning and project based instruction.

Alumna Ashely Stanbury received Honorable Mention for the California Women’s Chorus Scholarships. The competition was held their convention this past weekend

Robin Cox’s recent collaboration with former Alvin Ailey Dance Company soloist Andre Tyson will premiere at the Disney’s RedCat Theater on 5/18 and a date TBA at Cal Arts.

June brings the first three performances at Loyola Marymount, Dance Home in Santa Monica, and at ARC Pasadena of his just completed “HOURGLASS II”, an hour-length composition for violin, cello, electronics, video, and community participation.

In July Cox will produce five live performances “HOURGLASS II”, at the 2013 Santa Cruz Fringe Festival. He will also perform solo violin music of Todd Reynolds for Stephanie Nugent’s commissioned choreography on Salt Lake City concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company.

The Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir Has been invited to the National Collegiate Choral Organization’s conference in Charleston, SC next year. Selection was made by a blind review process. The program, “Music is Feeling, Then, Not Sound” features solely the music of Dominick Argento.

Raymond Torres-Santos will conduct the Puerto Rico Philharmonic on May 16.