The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award is presented annually to a student entering his or her senior year who has shown extraordinary musical and academic accomplishments. The Presser award is considered the most prestigious undergraduate award in music at UNT and is provided by the Presser Foundation that awards annual scholarships, grants and funds for the furthering of music education and music in America.
The winner is nominated by UNT College of Music faculty and selected by the College of Music Council of Division Chairs. The scholarship has been awarded annually for more than six decades.
About the Presser Foundation
The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the Deeds of Trust and Will of the late Theodore Presser. It is one of the few private foundations in the United States dedicated solely to music education and music philanthropy. It is their hope that every institution, organization and individual funded by The Presser Foundation will read about the rich history of The Foundation and the inspiring biography of Theodore Presser.
UNT College of Music Presser Undergraduate Scholars
Before 1951:
*Mary Nan Hudgins (Mailman), piano
Robert Jenkins, percussion
Mary Jane Sullivan, clarinet
Anita Harvey, harp
* Barton Cantrell, clarinet
Lou Ann Hardy, violin
1951-52: * Jack Roberts, piano
Nancy Wright, soprano
1952-53: * Dale Peters, organ/theory
Carolyn Kaps, viola
1953-54: Grace Grainger, alto
Susan Houser, soprano
1954-55: Bennie Middaugh, baritone
Emily High (Hartnett), MUED, piano
1955-56: Leon Nedbalek, MUCP, theory, trumpet
Merriam Godfrey (Paul), oboe
1956-57: Anita Anderson (Wright), MUED, violin
Stanley Potter, piano
1957-58: John Matejowsky, trumpet
Wilna Buckingham, piano
1958-59: Jerry Voorhees, MUED, bassoon
W. Sherwood Dudley, trumpet
1959-60: Sylvia Brummett, MUED, violin and horn
Kristin Webb, flute
1960-61: Carl Moehlman, organ
Pat Dougherty, soprano
1961-62: Nancy Hartman, soprano
Graham Clarke, organ
1962-63: Cecilia Knox, piano
Cary Lewis, piano
1963-64: Carol Ann Reglin, flute
James Rivers, piano
1964-65: Margaret Mitchell, organ
James Stanford, violin
1965-66: * David Breeden, clarinet
Lurline Speer, MUED, organ
1966-67: Janet Remine, violin
Kathleen Keithly, alto
1967-68: Roxanna Hoover, violin
June Nickerson, violin
1968-69: Marilyn Rietz, cello
W. Lane Allen, violin
1969-70: David Eugene Philly, piano
Ann Rebecca Thurmond, violin
1970-71: John R. Hall, cello
Ann Rebecca Thurmond, violin
1971-72: Judy Jonson, piano
Barbara Molinare, violin
1972-73: Harriet Wiles, mezzo-soprano
Steve Paxton, MUCP, bass
1973-74: Marc A. Johnson, double bass & electric bass
Maryann Mickle, harp
1974-75: Martha Whitmore, soprano
Douglas Gibb, trumpet
1975-76: Terry Hawkins, MUED, soprano
Michael Daugherty, MUED, jazz keyboard
1976-77: Barbara Zickler Hall, MUED, clarinet
Peter Nelson, MUED, horn
1977-78: Elisabeth Adkins (Newman), violin
Timothy Vaughn, MUED, baritone
1978-79: Diane Petty, piano
1979-80: Deborah Ragsdale, flute
1980-81: Ms. Lee Seibert, bassoon
1981-82: Mitch Maxwell, cello
1982-83: Barbara Ingraham, horn
1983-84: John Korak, MUED, trumpet
1984-85: Jennifer Allen, oboe
1985-86: Cynthia Thompson, MUED, trumpet
1986-87: Laura Finnell, MUED, bassoon
1987-88: David Matthews, oboe
1988-89: James Quentin Bell, viola
1989-90: Clare Adkins (Cason), violin
1990-91: Kimberly Cole (Luevano), clarinet
1991-92: Mark Hunt, horn
1992-93: Kimberly Stephenson, MUED, clarinet
1993-94: Marcus Lynn Roberts, MUED, euphonium
1994-95: Alexandra Adkins (Wenig), violin
1995-96: Rosana Calderon (Eckert), horn
1996-97: Madeline Adkins, violin
1997-98: Michael Schneider, piano
1998-99: Candis Threlkeld (Bradshaw), oboe
1999-00: Jessie Hinkle, mezzo-soprano
2000-01: Sara Sheffield, mezzo-soprano
2001-02: Elliot Figg, MUCP, harpsichord
2002-03: Shawna Hamilton, cello
2003-04: Andreas Berg, jazz guitar
2004-05: Daniel Stipe, organ & piano
2005-06: Renata van der Vyver, viola
2006-07: Mark Scott, MUCP, trombone
2007-08: Yennifer Correia, violin
2008-09: María José Romero Ramos, violin
2009-10: Samuel Reid, MUED/MUJS, saxophone
2010-11: Ashley Mendeke, flute and MUED
2011-12: Charlene (Charley) Gilstrap, flute
2012-13: Sarah Tran, flute/MUED
2013-14: Alyssa Narum, mezzo-soprano
2014-15: Danielle Cordray, harp
2015-16: Brendon Wilkins, MUED/jazz (flute/saxophone)
2016-17: Gregory Santa Croce, jazz piano and organ
2017-18: Maggie Ng, oboe
2018-19: Ruth Mertens, harp**
2018-19: Samuel Miyashita, music theory/composition**
**Change in Presser Foundation dating resulted in Mertens being designated 2018-19 scholar in spring 2018, and Miyashita being designated 2018-19 scholar in spring 2019.
*Deceased