Awards

EARL V. MOORE AWARDS

Presented annually, the Earl V. Moore Awards are given to the top graduates in music, theatre, and dance. The five awards are named for Earl Vincent Moore, who came to what was then the University of Michigan School of Music as a freshman in 1908, joined our faculty in 1912, and served first as Director and then as our first Dean from 1923 until 1960. There are five Moore Award recipients each year: two in music and one each in dance, musical theatre, and theatre.

Logan
FREWEN

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Jazz Studies
Bachelor of Music
Music Education

Logan Frewen graduated from the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance in December of 2021 with degrees in Music Education and Jazz Studies. During his time at the university, he performed with a multitude of ensembles, including the University Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and the Michigan Marching Band. Following graduation, Logan served as Director of Athletic Bands for Saline High School in Saline, MI. He also performs and records regularly with various artists and ensembles in Southeast Michigan. Most recently, Logan was hired as Audio Director for Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY.

Julilanna
GARBER

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Theatre & Drama – Directing
Bachelor of Science
Film Studies
Julianna Garber (they/she) is a dual-degree Directing (SMTD) and Film (LSA) major. They are a sarcastic, young, nonbinary artist striving to develop consent-focused artistic practices, determined to lead the charge into a more communicative creative ecosystem. Recent works include Dogfight (Director, Co-Producer), Small Mouth Sounds (Directing Thesis), Bright Star (Director), and Considering Matthew Shepard (Associate Director), an oratorio performed at UMMA with the Choir department. After graduating they hope to pursue directing as well as intimacy coordination. Immense thanks to her family MDCCJ+E, her class, her professors, and the wonderful Big Ladies.

Stephanie
GENNUSA

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Dance
Bachelor of Arts
Psychology

Stephanie Gennusa (she/they) is a dance artist and aspiring dance/ movement therapist. As a student in the University of Michigan class of 2022, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Through research in these fields of study, they’ve honed their understanding of the holistic nature of the body in motion. Gennusa has performed in works by Robin Wilson, Ron De Jesús, and VIM VIGOR founder, Shannon Gillen. They have served as Artistic Director for an international hip hop group, Dance 2XS Michigan, for the past two years. As a diversely trained dancer in many styles, she is passionate about athletic movement that challenges her physical limits in a healthy manner.

Ji-Hyang
GWAK

Specialist in Music
Performance – Piano

A prizewinner of numerous competitions, pianist Ji-Hyang Gwak has garnered international praise for her versatility, energy, and technical mastery. As a performing solo artist, and a chamber musician, she made appearances across the US, in Czech, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Korea. Gwak has won top prizes at the Sicily International Piano Competition, Seattle International Piano Competition, Franz Liszt International Piano Competition – Ohio, the MFMC Rosamond P. Haeberle Memorial Piano Award, High Point Univ. Piano Competition, Michigan MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition, and the Eastman Concerto Competition. Her most recent achievement was in the 2021 Lyon International Music Competition in France, where she won third prize and a concert engagement from the Association Frédéric Chopin à Lyon. Ji-Hyang holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Seoul National University and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music. She earned a DMA (Doctoral of Musical Arts) degree in piano performance in 2020 under the tutelage of Professor Christopher Harding at SMTD.

Helen J
SHEN

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Musical Theatre

Helen J Shen (she/they) is a BFA Musical Theatre major with minors in American Culture and Musical Theatre Composition. At age five she started her artistic journey with piano and community theatre. They fell in love with music and theatre as a means to connect with people, and she has since found countless opportunities to tell stories at U of M as a writer and performer. Their favorite credits at the university include Hermia in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rose in Dogfight, Crissy in Hair, and writing her Composition Capstone. She is endlessly grateful to all who have supported her.

WILLIS PATTERSON DIVERSITY AWARD

The award is presented annually to a graduating student who has used their talents and scholarly abilities to enhance the development of, and appreciation for, a more culturally and ethnically diverse community at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Willis Patterson is a two-time alumnus of SMTD, a Professor Emeritus of Voice, and served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Minority Affairs for 20 years prior to his retirement in 1999. As a performing artist, educator, and university administrator, Dean Patterson has championed the ideals of diversity and inclusion throughout his career.

Ruby
PÉREZ

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Theatre & Drama – Acting

During her time at the University, Ruby Pérez co-created a list of demands, organized a student strike, and fostered accountability action plans for the Department of Theatre & Drama. While serving as Basement Arts’ Artistic Director, she piloted community engagement opportunities and published a new anti-racist mission statement. Ruby performed in six University Productions and served as a DEI Coordinator on others. She prepared theatre workshops with incarcerated individuals through the Prison Creative Arts Project and co-directed SMTD’s first-ever performance dedicated to empowering Latinx performance students at Michigan. She is among the first in her family to pursue a college degree.

ALBERT A. STANLEY MEDAL

The Albert A. Stanley Medal is the highest honor awarded by the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. It commemorates the long and distinguished service of Albert A. Stanley, who served as the first Director of what was the School of Music from 1888 to 1921. This award is given each year to the graduating senior who, during the past two years, has been most outstanding in their curriculum, with special consideration given to scholarship and public performance.

Eric
BANNITT

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Jazz Studies; Artist and Scholar program

Eric Bannitt is originally from Marquette, Michigan and is graduating from SMTD, earning a BFA in Jazz Studies on piano. During his four years in Ann Arbor, Eric has collaborated with the jazz band, small jazz ensembles, classical vocalists and the Symphony Band. Eric has also music directed several musical theatre shows for student organizations. Eric is the winner of the 2022 Downbeat Student Music Award for his big band arrangement, “Darn That Dream.” After graduation, Eric plans to move to New York City working as a collaborative pianist with vocalists, instrumentalists, and theatre organizations.