SHAUN BAER - Director of Public Relations
DANIEL ELLIS - Academic Professional in Opera and Theatre

September 28, 2023: The short film Heart of Stone, written by and starring Shaun Baer and directed by Daniel Ellis during the pandemic was screened at Cinema Diverse: Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival and won both the “Festival Favorite” award and the “Director’s Choice” award.

RUMYA PUTCHA 
Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology and Women’s Studies

September 27, 2023: Presented on her book The Dancer’s Voice: Performance and Womanhood in Transnational India at the Department of Music at Columbia University in New York City. 

Levi Dean joined Franklin College’s Office of Development in 2023 and is the development associate for Hugh Hodgson School of Music. In this role, he works as a liaison between many stakeholders associated with the Hugh including alumni, faculty, students, and donors. 

Lauren (she/her) is a second-year music therapy major at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She is an out-of-state student from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Her primary instrument is flute, and she is involved in Professor Angela Jones-Reus’ flute studio at UGA. Lauren has been a member of Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and flute chambre ensembles. Lauren is an active member of the Music Therapy Student Association, the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, and the music fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi.

Jodie Stone is a 2nd year AB Music and Biology double major from Fayetteville, GA. She began her musical journey on the violin at age 5, but has been playing the viola for the past 3 years and is a member of the viola studio. She is a former member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and a current member of the UGASO. Jodie has participated in research at the New Materials Institute at UGA, studying the effects of genetic mutations on the efficiency of protein production in cells.

Sophie Ray (she/her) is a fourth-year clarinetist from Bishop, Georgia, pursuing degrees in B.A. Music and B.S. Biology. She has participated in Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, and the Clarinet Choir at the University of Georgia. She is currently a member of the Redcoat Marching Band and Vice President, Ritual of the women’s music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota. Through the ambassador program, she hopes to spread her love of music to all and to foster the positive environment found in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

Peter Kandra is a third-year Piano Performance Major studying under Dr. Evgeny Rivkin. He is a graduate of the Performing and Visual Arts (now Apex Arts) Magnet Program in Annapolis Maryland, and holds two of its highest accolades in Artistic Commitment and Master of Craft. Peter is passionate about all music, but particularly Germanic and Slavic music. In addition to the piano repertoire, he has a great interest in Opera and conducting, and hopes to pursue a Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting. Peter currently studies conducting with Maestro Alfonso Piacentini.

Originally from Seneca, South Carolina, Trey Heaton (He/Him) is a third-year trombonist studying music performance at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. At the Hodgson School, Trey is an active member of the University of Georgia Wind Bands, Trombone Choir, Hodgson Trombone Ensemble, as well as the Recoat Marching Band where he serves as the trombone section leader. Trey’s performance experience includes regular appearances with University and community ensembles, as well as being named a semi-finalist in the 2022 Southeast Trombone Symposium’s S.E.

Olivia Durrence is a third-year student from Buford, GA, and is studying music education. She is a member of the cello studio, along with being a member of the UGA Symphony Orchestra. She is also a lead teacher in the UGA String Project, which helps to provide string music education to elementary-age students in the Athens area. Additionally, she is the president of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) chapter at UGA. In addition to music education, Olivia is also minoring in Educational Psycology and is getting an ESOL certification.