Texas State alums who studied under Dr. Adah Jones, a professor of flute, have earned college positions this fall.
Daniel Pardo (BM in Flute Performance 2010) received an MM and DMA from UNT where he was a flute TA for Mary Karen Clardy. He recently accepted the tenure track position for Assistant Professor of Flute at Prairie View A&M where he is also teaching music appreciation and music fundamentals. While in the military, Daniel served as Principal Flute in the Combined Armed Forces Pacific Band, the Marine Forces Pacific Band and the 36th I.D. Army National Guard Band. He has performed in a range of ensembles including chamber orchestras, Latin and rock groups, big bands and jazz combos. Owning his own recording studio has also led to collaborations with numerous artists and he has worked as a studio musician and producer in Nashville’s studios in orchestral and commercial settings.
Hilary Janysek (BM in Music Studies 2011) received her MM (2015) and DA degrees (2018) in Flute Performance and Entrepreneurial Studies from Ball State University. This summer, she was offered the adjunct Assistant Professor position in Flute at Texas Lutheran University and an adjunct position in flute at Schreiner University in Kerrville. Also, this August, she gave a presentation “Creating Sustainable Chamber Ensembles” at the National Flute Association convention in a session titled “Lightning Talks” where presenters shared innovative projects and research.
At TXST, Hilary was a Concerto Competition Winner, won Outstanding Senior in Music Education, received the award for Excellence in Undergraduate Theory, received a Francis Schneider Scholarship and the Woods-Kone Scholarship, and graduated Summa cum Laude. At Ball State, Hilary was a TA for both the music education area and the music history area. She studied flute with Dr. Mihoko Watanabe and received the following awards: NAMM President’s Innovation Award, Outstanding Graduate Student in Music, Music History Assistantship, Music Education Assistantship, Graduate Concerto Competition Winner, and a Graduate Merit Fellowship.
Stephanie Hulsey (MM in Performance and Pedagogy 2016) has accepted an adjunct position as flute instructor at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. She also continues to teach in multiple school districts in Central TX carrying a load of over 30 students and conducting numerous flute masterclasses in Hays ISD, Comal ISD, New Braunfels ISD, and Seguin ISD.
Two former TX State flute graduates are starting graduate programs this fall. Ziqing Guan (MM Flute Performance 2018) is a TA at University of South Carolina where she will be pursuing a DMA under the supervision of Jennifer Parker-Harley. Julia Escobar (BM Flute Performance 2019) received a scholarship to attend the University of Illinois where she is pursuing an MM in Flute Performance under the supervision of Jonathan Keeble.
Juan (Tony) Rodriguez and Joshua Valdez (both BM Music Studies) received elementary teaching positions at Copperas Cove and Del Valle respectively.