The University of Wyoming Department of Music

09/09/2026

🎶 UW Music in action.

Recent Department of Music graduate Jacob Walker arranged Wyoming country artist Ian Munsick’s “Love Is Blind” for the Western Thunder Marching Band — bringing together his experience in performance, jazz, arranging, music education, and four years as a member of Western Thunder.

A Cheyenne native, Jacob graduated this spring with degrees in Music Education and Music Performance. His work on this project is a great example of the musicianship, versatility, and professional skills our students develop at UW.

Congratulations to Jacob, Western Thunder, and everyone involved in bringing this collaboration to life.

Read the full story 👇


https://www.uwyo.edu/news/2026/09/country-music-star-and-uw-graduate-team-up-with-uw-marching-band.html

09/08/2026

We’re off to a great start! 🎶

We kicked off the semester by gathering with many of our music students for our annual All-Department Convocation. It was wonderful to have so many members of our music community together in one place, and the energy in the room was fantastic!

We’re excited for a great year of learning, performing, collaborating, and making music together.

Go Pokes! 🤠💛🎶

07/28/2026

✨ Meet the precision and artistry behind the music! 🎹 The UW Department of Music welcomes Kaleb Ward, our new Piano Technician! 🤠

🛠️Ward brings a unique core philosophy to the university: the perfect marriage of scientific empiricism with artistic sensitivity. He dedicates his passion to refining every instrument under his care with absolute discipline. 🌟🎵

Here is a glimpse into his specialized background:

🔬 Acoustic Researcher: Studied piano technology during his undergraduate and master's degrees at the Florida State University College of Music, focusing heavily on the physics of tone-producing mechanisms, false beats, and inharmonicity.

🛠️ Studio Caretaker: Served as a graduate assistant technician at FSU, providing tailored piano and harpsichord care for faculty, graduate studios, ensembles, and guest artists.

🎼 Early Music Expert: Offers specialized tuning and adaptation of historical temperaments in close collaboration with opera productions and early music ensembles.

🎤 Versatile Musician: He is also an active performer, singing as a baritone, tenor, and countertenor in everything from gospel choirs to early music consorts, playing early instruments, and composing sacred music.

💬 Ready to Collaborate: Ward warmly welcomes cordial feedback and collaboration with faculty, students, and guest artists alike.

🍑🎶 A Note from Ward: If your university instrument, like his Georgia accent, has a little twang to it, please let him know for a touch-up!

We are incredibly excited to have Ward keeping our instruments performing at a world-class level! 🎶✨

07/27/2026

✨🎹 The UW Department of Music welcomes our new collaborative pianist, Mizi Li, to the University of Wyoming! 🤠

📜 Mizi Li maintains an active career in vocal and instrumental collaboration, encompassing art song, opera, chamber music, and orchestral performance. Mizi's career is exemplary:

🏆 Award Winner: Received the John Harbison American Song Prize and the Barbara M. H. Koeng Award (2024).

🤝 Master Collaborator: Partnered extensively with vocal and instrumental studios for lessons, coaching, rehearsals, and performances at the Eastman School of Music, Eastman Community Music School, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts.🎙️ Festival Favorite: Featured at SongFest, Toronto Summer Music’s Art of Song, Source Song Festival, and Wintergreen Music.

🌍 Global Performer: Graced solo and collaborative stages from Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall to Chicago’s Harris Theater, including a live-streamed recital for Shanghai Media Group’s ERC Classic FM.

🎓 Elite Training: Studied at the Central Conservatory of Music and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. She is completing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music at the prestigious Eastman School of Music.

We are so excited to see her bring her world-class artistry and coaching and collaboration skills to Wyoming! 🎶✨

07/22/2026

🎵 Help us welcome the newest member of the University of Wyoming Department of Music, Dr. Louie Eckhardt, joining the faculty as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music (Trumpet)! 🎺

Dr. Eckhardt is a trumpeter, educator, and advocate for new music with a versatile background :

🎻 Orchestral Musician: Dr. Eckhardt has performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and the Victoria Bach Festival, and formerly served as principal trumpet of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra. He currently serves as principal trumpet of the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, the Cathedral Brass Quintet, and the Nebraska Trumpet Ensemble

🌎 Dedicated Educator: He has appeared at the Vail International Dance Festival and presented recitals, masterclasses, and clinics throughout the U.S. and in Panamá.

💿 New Music Champion: Founder of the INTEGERS New Music Series, Dr. Eckhardt has commissioned and premiered numerous works . His debut solo recording, Afterlives, is dropping in Fall 2026!

📜 Baroque Artist: Dr. Eckhardt is dedicated to historically-informed Baroque performance, playing with La Follia Austin Baroque, American Bach Soloists, Mercury, San Francisco Choral Artists, and Bach Society Houston.

Prior to joining UW Music, Dr. Eckhardt served on the faculty of Hastings College in Hastings, NE, where he taught trumpet and music history and conducted the Hastings College Band.

Dr. Eckhardt holds degrees from Hastings College (B.M.), Penn State (M.M.), and Louisiana State University (D.M.A.). 🎓

Please join us in giving Dr. Eckhardt a warm Cowboy welcome! 🤠

07/20/2026

05/29/2026

Our final performance! We’ve been so fortunate to share in so many unforgettable experiences on this tour!

🤠🤎💛🎶

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05/26/2026

UW Collegiate Chorale on tour...

05/22/2026

🎻 The Castleman Quartet Program West (CQPW) inaugural season is officially here! Founded in 1970, the acclaimed Castleman Quartet Program (CQP) cultivates exceptional young chamber musicians.

This summer, UW Professors Drs. John Fadial and Beth Vanderborgh bring CQPWest’s inaugural season to Wyoming. Join us to experience the extraordinary talent and artistry of these rising musicians!

✨ALL performances are FREE and open to the public! Mark your calendars for an incredible June of music in Laramie and Cheyenne:

📅 THE SCHEDULE

🔴JUNE 6 | 7:30 PM – Faculty & Guest Chamber Music Recital (BCPA Recital Hall)
🔴JUNE 11 | 7:30 PM – Deering Quartet Recital (BCPA Recital Hall)
🔴JUNE 13 | 7:30 PM – Viola Faculty Recital (BCPA Recital Hall)
🔴JUNE 15 | 12:00 PM – CQPW Young Artists Feature (Laramie County Library, Cheyenne)
🔴JUNE 15 | 6:00 PM – Musical Cocktail Hour (Backwards Distillery, Laramie)
🔴JUNE 16 | 12:00 PM – Young Artist Chamber Groups (Albany County Library, Laramie)
🔴JUNE 17 | 7:30 PM – Faculty Chamber Music Recital (BCPA Recital Hall)
🔴JUNE 18 | 7:30 PM – Young Artist Sonata Concert #1 (BCPA Recital Hall)
🔴JUNE 19 | 7:30 PM – Young Artist Sonata Concert #2 (BCPA Recital Hall)
🔴JUNE 20 | 3:00 PM – Young Artist Sonata Concert #3 (BCPA Recital Hall)
🔴JUNE 20 | 7:30 PM – Young Artist Chamber Music Finale (BCPA Recital Hall)

Bring your friends, family, and music lovers alike. We can't wait to share these beautiful performances with our community!

05/19/2026

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Jiwon Han!

🎹 He will begin his new role as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Piano and Keyboard Area Coordinator at the University of Wyoming in Fall 2026! 🤠

✨We are thrilled to celebrate this exciting appointment and look forward to his continued leadership and incredible contributions to our students and music community! 🎼🎶