Congratulations to 鈥攖he College of Music鈥檚 Outstanding Graduating Senior this spring鈥攚ho will graduate with a BM in classical guitar performance, a BA in journalism, and a听business minor with a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate and a Music Theory Certificate, exemplifying the College of Music鈥檚 universal musician mission. Each semester, outstanding students are selected based on academic merit, a strong record of musicianship, and a record of service and leadership. As part of this award, Fincher will be recognized and deliver a speech at the College of Music commencement ceremony on May 11.
鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful and honored to have been selected for this award,鈥� says Fincher. 鈥淚鈥檝e had such an incredible experience here at the College of Music over the past five years and it means so much to receive this recognition at听graduation.鈥澨�
Fincher has also been named Outstanding Graduate of the 精品SM在线影片 College of Media, Communication and Information (颁惭颁滨).听
As a student, Fincher was involved with several student groups, including as a writer and editor at the , and as a member of the College of Music鈥檚 Diverse Musicians鈥� Alliance (DiMA).
鈥淒iMA has been one of my favorite experiences over the past five years,鈥� says Fincher. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been wonderful to be part of such a supportive, diverse community. I鈥檓 Japanese-American and a really important part of my identity is advocating for marginalized, BIPOC composers and musicians鈥攖hat鈥檚 something I鈥檓 really passionate about.鈥�
Fincher also notes DiMA鈥檚 Persevering Legacy project as being particularly inspiring. The project elevates the stories of women composers, aligning classical music with social activism. 鈥淭he Persevering Legacy events had a really big impact on me, inspiring me to seek out diverse composers and champion their works which has become a really important mission for me as a musician,鈥� she shares.听
鈥淔or my senior recital, I鈥檓 programming three female composers鈥攖hat鈥檚 more than half of my program and that鈥檚 something I know I wouldn鈥檛 have been aware of or really advocated for unless I鈥檇 been a part of DiMA.鈥澨�
Fincher felt especially supported and inspired by faculty from across campus鈥攖aking classes at the College of Music, CMCI and the Leeds School of Business.听
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to all the wonderful faculty members I鈥檝e studied with during my time at 精品SM在线影片,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n particular, I wanted to thank my thesis advisor, Professor Chang, for all of his support this past year, Professor Nytch with the Entrepreneurship Center for Music [ECM]鈥攁nd all of those incredible entrepreneurship opportunities鈥攁nd my guitar teacher Professor Spera, of course. He鈥檚 been so encouraging over the past five years, it鈥檚 been incredible.鈥�
To incoming freshmen, Fincher says she highly recommends the Music Entrepreneurship Certificate. 鈥淭he College of Music is such a wonderful resource and we learn so much about music here,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he ECM adds to that by offering important practical skills that we鈥檒l need in the real world beyond the classroom.鈥�
After graduation, Fincher is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she鈥檒l pursue a master鈥檚 degree in classical guitar performance under Ren茅 Izquierdo. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a legend in the guitar world, so I鈥檓 really looking forward to studying with him,鈥� she says.
Congratulations to Fincher and all of the College of Music鈥檚 2022-23 outstanding students, selected by faculty vote:
Outstanding Graduating Senior鈥擨zzy Fincher, classical guitar performance
Outstanding Junior鈥擝en Golden, music education鈥攊nstrumental (trumpet)
Outstanding Sophomore鈥擜nna Kallinikos, trumpet performance
Outstanding Freshman鈥擟hloe Ehrmantraut, viola performance
