The College of Music Distinguished Alumni Award

BM (2015), Jazz Studies (bass)

A Detroit-raised recording artist, bassist, and composer, Endea Owens has become known for her unique instrumental command, her vibrant stage presence, and a dynamic bass technique that reveals rhythmic precision and emotional depth. She effortlessly guides her performances with a blend of tradition and innovation. After graduating from MSU, she completed graduate studies at The Juilliard School in 2018 and soon afterward joined The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as a member of the house band. She displays a true passion for philanthropy and teaching, notably creating her Community Cookout which provides free food and entertainment in communities both nationally and internationally.

BM (1999), Music Performance (violin)

Christian Hebel developed one of the most successful and diverse musical careers of modern times with a multi-genre portfolio career. He used his unique talents to become a major musical voice on Broadway, including 12 years as Concertmaster for the New York City production of Wicked. He went on to perform as a recitalist and guest soloist around the world, including as Concertmaster and soloist at some of the most prestigious venues. His mastery of the violin in both classical and popular music led him to frequent high-profile jobs in the worlds of popular music, Hollywood, Broadway, and television, and he has toured the world with rock and pop music icons like Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, and George Benson and recorded, soloed and performed with musical luminaries including James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Diana Ross, and many more.

MM (1948), Music Education

Ed Anderson was a widely recognized music educator and church musician in northern Colorado and throughout the Midwest. During a career extending over seven decades, he influenced the lives and careers of countless young people through his focus on music education generally and, more specifically, spiritual enrichment through sacred music innovation and performance. He spent 34 years at Colorado State University as the Director of Choral Activities, University Singers, and Chamber Singers. He founded two festivals and received CSU’s “Oliver Pennock Teaching Award for Distinguished Service.” He was named by the Colorado chapter of the American Choral Directors Association a “Choral Music Legend.”

BA (1990), Music

Joe Zenas is chief executive officer of Thinkwell, a design and production agency headquartered in Los Angeles with offices and studios in Beijing, Abu Dhabi, Montréal, and Riyadh. A graduate of Music at MSU in 1990 with a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance and cognates in philosophy, computer science, and economics, Zenas has been instrumental in building Thinkwell’s reputation for masterfully dealing with some of the world’s most cherished brands and intellectual properties. Prior to joining Thinkwell, he spent four years with Universal Studios’ Creative Group as a producer and director of the Creative Studio where he oversaw the concept development of new shows and attractions for Universal’s properties around the world.

BM (1946), Music Performance

Referred to as “the young woman from East Lansing who could sing anything” and a “composer’s singer,” soprano Bethany Beardslee is noted for her collaborations with prominent mid-century composers. Universally praised for her impeccably accurate performances, her singing is defined by the effortless quality with which she sang seemingly impossible rhythms and phrases. Many contemporary composers regarded her as the go-to singer for their complex works that challenged classical music audiences. She retired officially in 1984, though she performed a number of times in the decade that followed. Her final public performance was 1993 at the Weill Recital Hall in New York City. In retirement, she was president of APNM (Association for the Publication of New Music) and produced a number of recordings of her own performances, as well as the compositions of her late husband, Godfrey Winham, and her friend Arlene Zallman.

BMUS (2000), Music Performance, with honors

Professional pianist, entrepreneur and Rotarian, Jennifer Heemstra founded two nonprofits, Kolkata Classics in India and the Pitch Pipe Foundation in Michigan, USA. To date, Heemstra has organized and performed in over 100 concerts in India, has successfully organized 72 cultural events in the USA, and 56 events in the Middle East & Central Asia. Heemstra is expanding her international concert series to Brazil to provide free concerts for the public, master classes for young musicians and social services for those in need. She received the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. In addition to her undergraduate degree from MSU, Heemstra also earned her Master of Music from The Cleveland Institute of Music.

BMUS (1989), Applied Music

James Roe is an accomplished musician, arts administrator, and president and executive director of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) in New York City, a position he has held since 2015. At the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Roe oversees more than 70 concerts per season in 20 venues across New York City, as well as a host of education and community programs that help make classical music more accessible for people in New York. Prior to taking over at OSL, Roe served as president and CEO of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO). During his NJSO tenure, he inaugurated multiple initiatives that focused on audience engagement, stressing participation, interaction and relevance to both individuals and communities. He has also served as executive and artistic director of The Helicon Foundation and as acting principal oboe of the NJSO.  Roe earned his master’s from The Juilliard School.

BMUS (1978), Music Theory and Composition

Nancy Faber is a well-known composer and author of the bestselling Piano Adventures® method. She received the “Distinguished Composer of the Year” award from the Music Teachers National Association. With her husband, Randall, the Fabers have combined their backgrounds as performer and composer to become leading supporters of piano teachers and students. Their philosophy embraces highly integrated right and left-brain modes of teaching, learning, and experiencing pianistic sound. They have authored over 300 books and advocate piano study not only for personal expression and performance success, but also as a vehicle for the student’s creative and cognitive development. Faber studied at Michigan State University with Charles Ruggiero.

BMUS (1984), Applied Music; PhD (1993), Music Education

Dr. Robert T. Stroker was appointed Dean and Professor of Music Education at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in 2002, Vice Provost for the Arts in 2011, and in 2012 became Dean of the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts, which along with the Boyer College, is part of the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts. Prior to his tenure at Temple, Dean Stroker was Associate Dean, Head of Music Education, Chair of the Divisions of Music and Dance, and Director of the Meadows Percussion Ensemble at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. At Temple, Dr. Stroker has established Arts Grants for Research and Creative Achievement, a Vice Provost for the Arts Student Advisory Committee, and the Vice Provost for the Arts Lunchtime Series. An advocate for new music, he has commissioned numerous works for the Boyer College, three of which earned a Grammy nomination for “Best Instrumental Composition.”

MM (1966), PhD (1971) Music Education

Warrick Carter began his career in education in 1964, teaching instrumental music and working as the band director at Alton Park Junior High in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1966, he became an assistant professor of music at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. In 1971, Carter was selected to be one of the inaugural leaders of Governors State University in Park Forest, Illinois, as a professor of music. In 1984, Carter was hired as provost and vice president of academic affairs at the Berklee College of Music, and after twelve years he became the director of entertainment arts for Walt Disney Entertainment. Carter was hired by Columbia College of Chicago as president in 2000. He wrote extensively about music, as well as performed.

BM (1984), Piano Performance

Kathryn Brown has performed around the globe as concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. She gave her New York Recital Debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and has been featured around the world. Brown is an advocate of contemporary music and has recorded and premiered works by Gian-Carlo Menotti, Keith Fitch, David Tcimpidis, Margaret Brouwer, Michael Hersch and Matthias Pinscher. Her chamber music credits include founder of the Myriad Chamber Players with members of The Cleveland Orchestra, the Marlboro Music Festival and Ravinia’s Rising Stars series. Brown also performed at Carnegie Hall with The Cleveland Orchestra as orchestral keyboardist under the baton of Christoph von Dohnanyi.

BM (1982), Vocal Performance and Music Education

Soprano Janet Williams has won international critical acclaim for performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Berlin Staatsoper, Paris Opera, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Opera de Lyon, San Francisco Opera, and more, as well as in concerts throughout Europe, North America, Canada, Israel and Japan. Williams has appeared with the Israel Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony, the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York and Tokyo, the New World Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the New York, Los Angeles and Santa Fe Chamber Orchestras, as well as with orchestras throughout Europe in repertoire ranging from Bach and Mozart to contemporary works of living composers. Her interpretations as a recitalist have been critically acclaimed.

DMA (1987), Choral Conducting

Anton Armstrong is the conductor of the St. Olaf Choir as well as the Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College of Northfield, Minnesota. He became the fourth director of the St. Olaf Choir in 1990. Armstrong was invited to conduct the Masterwork Festival Chorus’s performance of Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass at Carnegie Hall on March 18, 2019. He was also the conductor of several All-State Honor Choirs across more than 40 states, most recently being the 2022 Kansas Music Educators Association All-State Mixed Choir. In March 2024, Armstrong was the guest conductor for the Manassas Chorale’s annual “Voices United” concert. He served two terms as president of the Choristers Guild and has led numerous webinars and given lectures for Choristers Guild.

PhD (1995), Music Education

Dr. Warren Henry serves as the Senior Associate Dean in the College of Music at the University of North Texas. With an extensive background in music education and administration, Dr. Henry has been a pivotal figure in shaping the academic and artistic direction of the college. He oversees various academic programs, ensuring they meet the highest standards of excellence. Dr. Henry’s leadership is marked by his commitment to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment for both faculty and students. His contributions to music education extend beyond administrative duties; he is also actively involved in research, curriculum development, and community outreach. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from the Crane School of Music (Potsdam, NY) and his Ph.D. in music education from Michigan State University.

MM (1974), Vocal Performance

Henry Butler was a renowned American pianist and singer, celebrated for his mastery of New Orleans jazz and blues. Born on September 21, 1948, in New Orleans, Butler was blind from birth, yet he developed an extraordinary talent for music, becoming a virtuoso pianist. His playing style blended traditional New Orleans jazz with elements of blues, classical, Caribbean, and funk, showcasing his versatility and depth. Butler released numerous albums, earning acclaim for both his technical proficiency and emotional expressiveness. He was also a respected educator, sharing his knowledge through workshops and performances worldwide. Butler’s legacy extends beyond his music; he was an advocate for artists with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of accessibility in the arts. He passed away on July 2, 2018, leaving an indelible mark on the music world and inspiring countless musicians with his artistry and resilience.

BM (1955), Music Theory

William David “Bill” Brohn was an American arranger and orchestrator, best known for his scores of musicals such as Miss Saigon, Ragtime and Wicked. He won the Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for Ragtime and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations three times. His work was eclectic, orchestrating many different styles of music. His modern scores are known for their keyboard writing for the orchestra pit, and their balance between acoustic and synthesized sounds. Brohn was one of the few theatre orchestrators to use the E-bow attachment to the electric guitar, which can be heard in his orchestrations for Wicked and Mary Poppins. Brohn passed away in 2017.

BM (1992), Trumpet Performance

Following completion of his masters program, Tage Larsen served as solo cornet with the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, in Washington, D.C. He then went on to join the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, in Annapolis, Maryland, where he served as the principal trumpet from 1999 to 2000. Then, he joined the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, where he served as second trumpet from 2000 to 2002. In July 2002, Larsen was the first African American hired in the history of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra where he has served as fourth/utility trumpet of the orchestra’s brass section. Larsen conducts master classes, has performed at conferences hosted by the International Trumpet Guild, and also served on the faculty at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.